Gentlemen. I am in the position of being able to purchase a new revolver. For a bunch of reasons, I have settled on a Model-19. But, I cannot decide which version to go with, basically because of a lack of info, and opinions. It's between a M-19 "Classic", and a M-19 Carry-Comp. Either will be used for informal paper punching, and as a home defense gun. I presume the load most often used will be .38 +P, 125gr. Any and all thoughts would be welcome. Thanks !
Need some advice on Model-19 selection
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Bladeswitcher
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Are you committed to buying a new one? There's tons of really nice older Model 19s out there on the used market, and they offer qualities the new guns don't possess.
Targets Guy
US Veteran
Home defense go with the .357 round. Holes in paper go with a 158 grain .38 special. If you do use .38s a lot in the gun make sure you clean the chambers extra good as they will get dirtier with the shorter cartridge.
My 1968 Model 19-2 does just fine punching holes in paper.
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My 1968 Model 19-2 does just fine punching holes in paper.
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+1 on the advice to find a good used one. I would say to look for a 19-3 or 19-4.
Bladeswitcher
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Gun magazines rarely bite the hand that feeds them. And 30-50 year old guns rarely purchase full page advertisements. Just saying.
HughD1
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I have a 66-8 four inch and a 66-2 two and a half inch. I love them both. I am more particular about the loads I put in the older gun. The short barrel is louder and will have more muzzle flash. A four inch 357 is a good all around gun. It does everything pretty well. The short barrel guns were built with carry in mind. If you plan to shoot much full bore 125 grain 357 the new guns will serve you well. Be careful with what you clean the new blues guns. Some folks have gotten lemons in the newer Smiths. I have had good luck with them. Hard to beat the four inch guns for all around use. Good luck with your decision. Hugh
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Rpg
Member
You can see that the older 19's are very often viewed as more desireable than the new versions.
Were I in the market for a model 19, a 19-4 or earlier model 19 would be the only versions I'd consider.
I've no doubt the new 19's are good, accurate shooters: so are the older versions. They'll all last for several lifetimes.
The difference, to me, is that the 19-4's and earlier are classic and classy. The new ones aren't.
Were I in the market for a model 19, a 19-4 or earlier model 19 would be the only versions I'd consider.
I've no doubt the new 19's are good, accurate shooters: so are the older versions. They'll all last for several lifetimes.
The difference, to me, is that the 19-4's and earlier are classic and classy. The new ones aren't.
Pretty much the same thing, except I've got a 19-9 and a 19-1. The -9 I don't worry about shooting 357 ammo in. It's made to correct the real or imagined weak spots in the "old" Model 19, and if it breaks, it's got a warranty and Smith and Wesson can and does work on them. The -9 had a very good trigger right out of the box. I like the color, which I suppose is more of a black than a blue. I've never seen any kind of problem with cleaning it. I mostly use plain old Hoppes No 9.
I think it looks pretty good too.
And yes. It has a lock.
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scooter123
Member
NEVER trust any printed "review", they are reliant on the gun manufacturers and in many cases nothing but a fluff job. You can put makeup on a pig and say lots of nice things about it but a pig is still a pig.
In the case of the Model 19 Classic it is a well made and accurate revolver. However you will have to tune the 12 lbs. trigger to something lighter and if it has a serrated trigger wear gloves. Because S&W's serrated triggers are sharp enough to leave you bleeding. Finally it will have that infernal lock.
On the plus side the use of MIM parts in these revolver make tuning the lockwork a matter of changing out the factory 16 lbs. rebound spring for a 14 lbs. rebound spring and filing the Strain Screw 0.030 inch shorter. Do that and you have a single action trigger bread at 3.0 lbs and a Double Action trigger close to 9 lbs. The plus aspect for the MIM parts is that they are so consistent, nothing needs smoothing and no additional fitting is required.
BTW, a few years back I picked up a vintage 2 1/2 inch 19-3, one of the "good ones" per some experts who believe older is better. Based on it's appearance it was a sock drawer special that had only been fired 3 times on alternating chambers). BTW, that is the factory standard test procedure and the cylinder on my 19-3 had evidence of only 3 shots fire on the face of the cylinder. All I can say is that S&W must have been using extremely sensitive primers back then. Because the first time out with my own CCI Primed hand loads I could not get more that 1 out of 6 to fire in double action and in single action only 3 to 4 out of 6 would fire. In looking it over the problem was very obvious, it failed the Dime test due to a short hammer nose. Solved that problem with a new Powers Custom Hammer Nose that was long enough to require so fitting for length and it now functions with 100% reliability. To sum it up, S&W had a Monday and a Friday every single week before our modern era and in the case of my 19-3 the quality was a bit less than perfect. BTW, single action trigger on my 19-3 checked in at 3.2 lbs and the DA pull was 9.0 lbs. So there was a time when you could expect a trigger with a nice weight and stroke, unlike today's revolvers which ship with a lawyer approved 12 lbs. trigger.
Now as for shootability, once sorted the model 19 is a fantastic handgun. It's well balanced and not nearly as barrel heavy as the 686. I can also tell you that my 2 1/2 inch version is actually rather easy to shoot with good accuracy. Yes, it does have a shorter sight radius. However that means that it also has a tighter "fill" between front sight and rear notch and that tighter fill means it is easier for me to see the front blade is well centered. As a result when I am in the mood to shoot long with my model 19 I can put a target 50 yards out and put 12 out of 12 into a 11 inch circle and 8 out of 12 inside 6 inches.
I'm jumping in late but a 19-4 was my first gun ever and I still have it 40 years later. None better. Counter bored cylinders, pinned barrel with a beautiful deep blued finish. She is a safe queen not and not going any where!!
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