So Called K-Frame Flaw 125 gr 357 Magnum

[Texas Star]

Texas Star,

I recall an article Bill Jordan wrote in which
he said a fire destroyed his guns, or at least
those at his home or trailer.

He then said he'd need a new .22 rifle, a shotgun,
a centerfire hunting rifle and for good measure
probably another Model 19. This is what I remember
from memory.

He joked in another article that if you didn't
handle matters with your six shooter, it was time
to fill the air with 9 mm from a hi cap auto
as you retreated to a place where you
could practice more.

I don't recall seeing that and he didn't mention it to me, so I'm at a loss there. Might he have been speaking of what he'd need if such a thing ever happened? As a minimum basic "battery"?

As for .22 rifles, he greatly admired the Kimber Super America grade and was lusting for one that we saw at a SHOT show. I had to leave for a meeting, and don't know what he worked out with the company. I hope he got the rifle. He deserved some perks for his long service to the nation and to the NRA, and just seeing him with the rifle would cause many to think about buying a Kimber.

BTW, he was a Marine officer in addition to his Border Patrol career.

 

[UncleEd]

Texas Star,

Maybe it was a "what if" article about rebuilding
a gun collection. Honestly don't remember.
But I do remember a mention of his wanting a
.22 Kimber rifle.

 

[sheepdawg]

If you live long enough to
Outlive your gun
I'll
Buy it. Ps, the 19's lasted longer than the 66's.. carbon steel. Beat to death post. New classic 19 will be my next gun. 66 be damned!

I've heard just the opposite.

 

[Cat91]

This thread had me checking my 19-3 with a 10x magnifier, LOL. It's 48 years old and the cone and top strap look factory fresh. Carried much, shot not much. That said, I carry it EDC with 125 grain Remington Golden Sabers. But I don't shoot .357 or even .38+P at the range, I shoot standard .38 Special. No need to tempt fate, given that I really like it and S&W doesn't have replacement barrels anymore. I'd guess that the current two-piece setups couldn't be retrofitted to it if something went wrong.

 

[BigBill]

In 1975 I was looking for my first revolver in 357 magnum. I was advised to stay away from the s&w model 19 because of the screws coming loose with a heavy diet of magnum loads. Now your talking about cracking or flame cutting too.
I purchased a colt Python insteadin '75. In '76 I purchased the police service six ruger. Both handguns shot and digested my stout magnum loads no problem. I have the m28 & m27 but don't plan on shooting hot loads out of them.

 

[rwsmith]

I've seen them with an irregular......

I've seen them with an irregular cracked chunk out of them with no sign of flame cutting. Either way, a cracked, split, cut forcing cone is bad and the result is the same. A new barrel is in the works.

 

[Doug.38PR]

Jordan in his book No Second Place Winner
mentions that in his youthful days, not knowing
any better, he burned up an awful lot of
full power and wadcutter ammo.

But as his book points out, he turned to wax
bullets for practice and exhibitions.

He devotes an entire chapter to producing wax
bullets.

Bip, bip, bip, he'd demolish an Necco wafer at eight
feet following a fast drawer.

I recall that too. While it certainly indicates that he saved a lot of money by doing his owm wax bullets, it certainly suggests he used to put a lot of lead through his M19.

I wish i could find an old news or tv film on youtube of his demonstrations. Seems like i read he did tv demonstrations in the 50s and 60s occasionally

 

[shil]

So, what you are telling me is that what you have pictured is a flame/gas cut, not a crack? Perhaps I have been misinformed for years?
Anyone willing to lend comment to straighten me out?

You have not been misinformed. At the bottom of the forcing cone is a CRACK. Above the breech end of the barrel on the top strap is an incipient FLAME CUT.

 

[shil]

Happened to me...

I had a new Model 19 with a 6" barrel. Less than 250 rounds of factory Winchester 125 grain JHP loads cracked the forcing cone, just as described. Smith and Wesson kindly replaced the barrel. This was in the pinned-barrel days. I doubt new pinned replacement barrels are even currently available. You'd have to find a good salvage barrel, have it installed, and hope the bluing matches. That or a re-blue is in order. I no longer shoot 125 grain ammunition, factory or handloaded, through my M19. I have a 686 for that.

 

[JWM]

Wadcutters

Actually, the question about how Bill Jordan's model 19 lasted was answered long ago. In those days, most qualification/training was done with wadcutter .38s. Some departments might use RNL .38s, but the vast majority of the shooting was with .38s. And, as noted earlier those would all have been lead bullets.

Yep, that is how I remember it. I was USAF SP/LE and are issued handgun was the model 15. Circa 1979, the first 3 days of LE Tech school, they put us on a bus to nearby Medina annex for handgun training and qualification. All of that handgun training and the subsequent qualification was done with Winchester .38 wadcutters. Never fired a single round of the PGU duty round.