S&W 351C

[Joe Kent]

Does anyone have any experience with one of these yet?

 

[rogo123]

I too am interested. We worry about bullets tumbling in short barrell .22 revolvers

 

[rogo123]

Also, the 351C and 43C have ALUMINUM cylinders. How will they hold up with today's hot ammo in .22 LR and .22 Mag.? (Erosion at cylinder face.)

Maybe they are steel lined? Does anyone know?

 

[rogo123]

351C

My further research indicates that the cylinder is indeed aluminum. So now I worry about the steel locking bolt eating away at the locking notches in this aluminum cylinder.

Is this a "carry a lot and shoot a little" gun? I would hope that S & W tested this design adequately.

Even with all my concerns, I am intrigued by this revolver concept.

I picture myself lounging in front of my camp trailer, with my 351C on an elastic lanyard around my neck under my Charlie Sheen shirt, loaded with the new Hornady FTX rounds, awaiting a campground zombie attempting to raid my cooler of my smoked trout and Amstel Light.

 

[Kenneth L. Walters]

When the 43C was announced I asked an engineer I know at Smith about the aluminum cylinders. He said that they work well in 22's and that they had been used periodically in the 617's with no ill effects. So Smith clearly believes that this isn't going to be a problem and I see no reason to not believe that.

 

[Robinett_11B]

If there were no ill effects, then why did S&W quit offering the 617's with the aluminium cylinders? I wouldn't imagine to save money? .......I wonder if a newer SS 8-shot M63 cylinder would be able to be fitted in place of the 8-shot aluminum cylinder that's supposed to be on the M43C?

 

[ladder13]

Buds has them, 351C's, FYI

 

[whitecoyote]

351C

I just picked up a S&W 351C today. I'm very impressed with the overall quality of the revolver.
Fit, and finish is excellent. The revolver locks up very tight, and is very light weight. Best of all NO LOCK!
I'll try to get out next week for a range report.

 

[noah228]

White Coyote that is very nice!!! Congratulations. I have the 351C's brother the 351PD and I like it alot. Mine has performed very well. Hope to get to try the new Speer gold dot and the Hornady short bbl. loads. Some say its just a gimmick but I've got a few different handgun chamberings and I'm always surprised at the performance of the little 22 Magnum. For its size it has very good penetration. Its an underestimated round for sure. Hope you will post your range report soon.

Noah

 

[410bore]

I have been looking at these....I want one, it should make a perfect CCW....22 Magnum has got tons of punch

 

[HLG]

whitecoyote - Have you had a chance to shoot your 351C yet? How is the trigger pull?

 

[whitecoyote]

whitecoyote - Have you had a chance to shoot your 351C yet? How is the trigger pull?

Yes, I shot it today. It shot very well. The trigger pull is typical of the S&W double action (somewhat heavy, but smooth).
I shot 175 rounds today. 75 Federal Premium, 50 Winchester, and 50 CCI TNT. All shot just fine.
The only problem that occured was when I got to approximately 100 rounds the aluminum cylinder started heating up, causing new cartridges not being able to be inserted all the way into the cylinder until it cooled down. Also, I figured out the cylinder became dirty, also causing difficulty chambering the cartridges. Once the revolver was cleaned there were no problems.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"why did S&W quit offering the 617's with the aluminium cylinders"

Because they didn't sell. My aluminum 617 has a little over 3000 rounds through it, and is great - it shoots fully as well as the ones I have from the 40's and 50's, just 4 more times.

 

[dvincentp2]

I have one for one month now. Shoots really well. It is my primary ccw. I am thinking about getting another one for a NY reload!

 

[Doug M.]

Any feedback on how the gold dot would work for a small potentially sensitive shooter in the 351C? Recoil, blast, etc?

 

[TACC1]

Very tempting! The only problem I have with the 22Mag round
is the incredible muzzle blast. No problems with the recoil of a
NAA Mini-Mag, which weighs about 5 or 6 ounces. With the
j-frame package, it ought to be a real sweet shooter. TACC1

 

[JTaylor]

Yes, I shot it today. It shot very well. The trigger pull is typical of the S&W double action (somewhat heavy, but smooth).
I shot 175 rounds today. 75 Federal Premium, 50 Winchester, and 50 CCI TNT. All shot just fine.
The only problem that occured was when I got to approximately 100 rounds the aluminum cylinder started heating up, causing new cartridges not being able to be inserted all the way into the cylinder until it cooled down. Also, I figured out the cylinder became dirty, also causing difficulty chambering the cartridges. Once the revolver was cleaned there were no problems.

My 43C should be in this week. Any special procedures for cleaning the aluminum cylinder? Regular brush should be fine?

JT

 

[whitecoyote]

My 43C should be in this week. Any special procedures for cleaning the aluminum cylinder? Regular brush should be fine?

JT

I bought a 43C last month. It was already sent back to the factory for repair. The cylinder kept binding up. Could not figure out why. S&W ended up replacing the cylinder. I have not had a chance to get out, and shoot it again.

 

[nossew]

Is that a Tritium sight on the front?

 

[Babalooie]

Regarding aluminum cylinders, I used to own a model 17-8. It was a ten shot revolver with a six inch barrel. I used to take it out on Saturdays and run a brick of ammo through it. Never had a problem. I still don't know why I got rid of it. Just a fit of stupidity, I guess.

Now, I have a 351PD, a seven shot .22 magnum with a 1 7/8" barrel. I replaced the fiber optic front sight with a night sight; installed "The Plug" replacing the Internal Lock; installed a Model 38 hammer to make it more CCW friendly; added some J Frame grips made by some guy in Thailand; and tracked down an eight shot .22LR cylinder to increase my shooting options.

So far, the "new" cylinder appears to be working fine, without issues. I thought I was going to have to replace the original hand to accommodate the extra shot capacity. That wasn't the case. Timing is perfect. I don't know if I'll be shooting CCI Stingers through the new cylinder. Will have to do a bit more research before making that decision.