gtoppcop
Member
I think all of the K-Frames (post 1957) are stronger than many think. My Gunsmith (B. Burris handel on the forum) always tells me about the Cake-Davis conversions in the 70s and 80s of the Model 60 to .357 Magnum. The guns were ONLY made for cops and were guaranteed for 300 rounds (ostensibly due to the fact that the frame window would become stretched).
Many are familiar with Massad Ayoob's +P torture testing (10K rounds I think) of the J-Frames back in the 80s. The guns went the distance, but shot loose enough for S&W to issue an admonition NOT to subject them to such punishment. They fixed the guns...
The K-Frame (.38/.357) is a very strong gun. Let's remember that the NYSP used .357 Model 10s (later to become the Model 13). I'm not too sure about the 'special' heat treating between Models 13/19/65/66 vs. the Models 10/64/15/67. The Model 12 is something entirely different, however.
I always wished that S&W would have come out with a .357 Model 15/67. My gunsmith said that the modification would most like work, should the cylinder be bored to accept the Magnum cases. That crappy excuse for the Model 15 that S&W now markets doesn't count!!!
The thing that usually dooms the K-Frame Magnums is the rapid firing of errosive (not corrosive) Magnum ammunition. It is thought that the flame hitting the forcing cone is approx. 3000-degrees F. Quick, extended firing of the lighter Magnums without the opportunity to cool is thought as the culprit of them failing.
Really, how many Ks catastrophically failed from factory loads? Most like too few to mention (if any). Smith builds a strong gun.
As for the Colts, they have long been recognized for their superior (at the time) heat treating processes. Many point to the Detective Special being able to digest +P and even +P+ pressures (38-44 loads) long before S&W.
My Colt 357 (pre Trooper) is one STOUT revolver. It was made in 1960. It's often been said that the strongest medium frame DA .357s were the Ruger Security Six, The Colt Trooper and the later Trooper/Lawman/Peacekeeper (MK III). Who knows?
Suffice it to say that with a reasonably modern .38 Special, I believe that you could bore it out to shoot Magnums. I would, but I would shoot them sparingly. No sense in beating a good gun into submission.
Have any of you shot the Buffalo Bore 158gr +P LSWCHP or their new Outdoorsman load? 1100-1250fps with a 158gr bullet out of a 4-inch is plenty good enough for any handgunning chore! They say that ANY post-1957 S&W is GTG with these loads. Plenty good for anybody! Just my $0.02...
Many are familiar with Massad Ayoob's +P torture testing (10K rounds I think) of the J-Frames back in the 80s. The guns went the distance, but shot loose enough for S&W to issue an admonition NOT to subject them to such punishment. They fixed the guns...
The K-Frame (.38/.357) is a very strong gun. Let's remember that the NYSP used .357 Model 10s (later to become the Model 13). I'm not too sure about the 'special' heat treating between Models 13/19/65/66 vs. the Models 10/64/15/67. The Model 12 is something entirely different, however.
I always wished that S&W would have come out with a .357 Model 15/67. My gunsmith said that the modification would most like work, should the cylinder be bored to accept the Magnum cases. That crappy excuse for the Model 15 that S&W now markets doesn't count!!!
The thing that usually dooms the K-Frame Magnums is the rapid firing of errosive (not corrosive) Magnum ammunition. It is thought that the flame hitting the forcing cone is approx. 3000-degrees F. Quick, extended firing of the lighter Magnums without the opportunity to cool is thought as the culprit of them failing.
Really, how many Ks catastrophically failed from factory loads? Most like too few to mention (if any). Smith builds a strong gun.
As for the Colts, they have long been recognized for their superior (at the time) heat treating processes. Many point to the Detective Special being able to digest +P and even +P+ pressures (38-44 loads) long before S&W.
My Colt 357 (pre Trooper) is one STOUT revolver. It was made in 1960. It's often been said that the strongest medium frame DA .357s were the Ruger Security Six, The Colt Trooper and the later Trooper/Lawman/Peacekeeper (MK III). Who knows?
Suffice it to say that with a reasonably modern .38 Special, I believe that you could bore it out to shoot Magnums. I would, but I would shoot them sparingly. No sense in beating a good gun into submission.
Have any of you shot the Buffalo Bore 158gr +P LSWCHP or their new Outdoorsman load? 1100-1250fps with a 158gr bullet out of a 4-inch is plenty good enough for any handgunning chore! They say that ANY post-1957 S&W is GTG with these loads. Plenty good for anybody! Just my $0.02...
