Some thoughts on the S&W Model 19 and full house .357 loads.

[Trooper Joe]

I just picked up this 19-6 for a great price. It had some dumpy looking rubber grips on it so I sprung for the Altamont grips (laying on the table). However, when I shot it with .357 Mag ammo (158 grn stuff), it really stung (the Altamont grips are a lot thinner than the stock grips). So, I picked up some used, stock grips and added a Pachmayr grip adaptor. It was a lot more pleasant with .357 ammo, but I still think I will limit my shooting to the "FBI" load from Buffalo Bore (158 grn, hp, gas checked, .38 Special +P).



If I want to shoot full house .357 ammo, I am going to stick to this S&W L frame, model 581 (.357 magnum with fixed sights/great gun).



The Pachmayr grips laying on the table were purchased for my model 19, but they are too big and bulky (besides, the grips don't keep damage from happening to your gun even though the felt recoil will be decreased). I may install these grips on this 581 and see how that works out.

I purchased this model 66 (same as model 19 but in stainless) from the widow of our former Michigan State Police range officer. When I first got it, it seemed to be a little "notchy" when I tried to open the cylinder. Took it to the MSP armor and he advised that the former range officer did shoot this gun a lot and probably slightly stretched it. The armor was able to tweak it so the gun works perfect now. It is quite comfortable with full house .357 158 grn loads with Pachmayr rubber grips on it (not quite so comfortable with these wood presentation grips but not bad).







I think that I will use the "FBI" load in my K frame .357 magnums and save the L frame (Model 581) for the full house loads.

As a side note, the +P "FBI" loads are really not very comfortable in my various 38 Specials so I am going to stick to non +P in those (although my heavy barrel model 10 would probably be OK).



Lot of good information on this forum.

Thanks gang,

Trooper Joe

 

[les.b]

Joe, those are some fine looking revolvers, and I agree 100% with your ammo decisions. The K frame magnums were always meant to be shot mainly with 38 spl., and carried with .357, but not fed a steady diet of them. Sounds like a great plan to keep these fine revolvers shooting indefinitely.

Best Regards, Les

 

[dscampbell]

When the sheriff recalled our model 59s S&W replaced them with model 66 4". Issued ammunition was 125 grain jhp .357. The 66s came with presentation grips and qualifying was a royal pain. A number of female deputies complained and the sheriff changed the duty round to 110 grain jhp .357 and allowed deputies to buy rubber grips at our own expense.


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[Doug M.]

I carry standard velocity (but would not have a problem with +P) .38 SWC most of the time in my M66. I use those or WC target loads in my M14, and the same applies - for a more serious use in the K38 I would use the +P, but a 6" barrel is a pin the butt to carry and draw.

I only rarely carry a J frame except as a BUG, but I found most higher performance .38 loads to be pretty obnoxious, and stuck with the WC most of the time, w/ SWC in the speedloaders. My 940 is the only 9mm in which I carry 147 grain ammo, and it is NOT +P - but it is still kind of obnoxious. My 296 is far more pleasant with the 200 grain gold dots, but is not a good choice for most uses due to being a 5 shot revolver but big.

 

[LarryMNH]

Always found .38's +P fine in M66 and M19. Enough gun to have recoil nicely stout and acceptable but not uncomfortable.
I avoid .357 in the K’s. It would hurt if I cracked a barrel that is very difficult to replace.
No better gun than the M28 for the big stuff. Comfortable and deadly accurate plus tough enough for all day max power ammo.
Larry

 

[JohnRippert]

I don't own a 2.5in M19, yet. I can see the smaller grips causing issues with full bore .357's. That is one reason I really love my 4in m19 with target grips. No problem at all shooting 158gr .357's with that combo.

 

[cowboy4evr]

The k. Frame 357's can handle a steady diet of "current load data 357 magnum loads "provided " you use 158 gr or heavier bullets . They are not a "weak sister " design . Trust me I have shot countless full 357 magnum loads using a 180 gr cast bullet I loaded myself using current load data in a 19-5.

 

[Bajadoc]

Nice revolvers and good ideas.

 

[AimHigher]

I avoid shooting the outer limits hot .357 loads in my 19-4, but they're too hot for my shooting tastes anyway. I'm completely comfortable shooting the mid-level 158 gr. loads up to around 1,250 fps. My favorite .357 round is the Remington 158 gr. SJHP. If you can't geter done with this round, probably ain't going to geter done!