[SkaerE]

the K frames, such as a M19 cannot withstand constant 357 loads?

if thats right then its a pity, cause I love the look of a 3 or 4'' RB M19 but I dont shoot 38's much.

anything out there that looks like a M19 but can withstand constant 357's? I have a 586, but the full underlug gives the revolver a completly different look. still good, just different.

[JohnK]

That's the common assumption, I don't personally know anyone who has shot enough through one to wear it out though.

Closest thing to a K frame Smith that would take the beating better would be an old Ruger Security Six. Here's a picture of a 4" blue one, you can get it with a 2 3/4" barrel and in stainless.

[Mike Irwin]

Define constant.

Define .357 Mag. load.

There's a lot of leeway in both statements.

The Model 19 won't stand up as well as a heavier gun like the 686 or the 28, but it won't go to pieces in a few dozen rounds, either.

I've got 3 Model 19s, and have fired a lot of .357 Mag. throught them.

[mikey357]

...I've got an early-to-mid-70's production Model 19 that went "out of time" after about 2,500 factory Magnum's and about 14,000 .38 wadcutter reloads...had to go back to S&W to get "tightened up"...By the same token, I've got an early 586--no dash--that has had about 35,000 rounds thru it--about 8 or 10 .38's--158-gr. ball, mostly--for every one Magnum load fired thru it...it's still ALMOST as tight as the day I bought it, but MAN, is it in serious need of a reblue!!!....mikey357

[Archie]

are the "modern" 125 grain high velocity rounds.

Not that the older 158 grain stuff won't loosen things up either, but like Mike Irwin said, it takes a while.

You will be surprized to find out how accurate and pleasant factory wadcutters or equivilent are to shoot.

[EJ]

A regular diet of heavy magnums is not for the K frame-\
But few shooters would // need to do that--

If you enjoy full charge magnums-- get an N frame-- or at least and L--

If you're gonna shoot a box or two of mags a year--(Much more than the average shooter) -- than get the K frame and expect it not to loosen up for the next 30 years or so--

[Kahr carrier]

A Model 27 3inch would do the trick.:)

[Albert Shear]

S&W Model 27 came with a 3 1/2" barrel. They are available second hand and have the same lines as a 66 , just on steroids. Both of mine are the most accurate 357s I have.
Al

[Quantrill]

I know a lot of shooters who shoot a lot of .357mag though their model 19s and no one has sent them back yet. I don't say it can't happen and doesn't happen occasionally but I do not think it is as widespread as many folks would have you believe. If Smith chambered it for the .357mag, I would think a lot of testing went into it. On the other hand, while the .357 came out in the 1930s, Smith did not bring out the "K" frame 357 until much later at the behest of Bill Jordan if I remember correctly. Quantrill

[Dave T]

If Smith chambered it for the .357mag, I would think a lot of testing went into it.

By S&W own admission, the 19 was intended to be shot mostly with 38s and carried with Magnums. That was standard procedure for Law Enforcement back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. When "vicarious liability" raised its ugly head departments started practicing with Magnums they noticed a much higher rate of failure with their K-Frames.

My old department issued the Model 66 (stainless version of the 19). When we started training with Magnums the 66s started failing - quickly out of time, stretched frames and in the worst case a cracked forcing cone. This was the whole reason Smith came out with the L-Frame.

By the way, yes the full power 125s are the worst but our practice ammo was a 158g RN bullet at about 1150 fps from a 4" barrel. Our deputies fired their issue 18 Rounds of Remington 125g JHP once a year, the rest were reloads.

[10-Ring]

I only know a couple guys w/ 19's (I'm #3). The other 2 use them normally, range, SD, sometimes as sidearm while hunting. I wouldn't worry about wearing one out ;)

[Ala Dan]

Att: John K,

Very nice pic of a wonderful firearm; the Ruger Security-Six!
Too bad Ruger cut their nose off, in spite of their face.

One of the most awesome weapons I ever took command
of was a 4" barrel stainless steel Ruger Security-Six, that
I purchased NIB. It came from the factory with a set of the
Pachmayr rubber grip's; and it was LOVE at first sight!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[JohnK]

I certainly agree Ala Dan, nearly every day I regret letting my 2 3/4" stainless speed six get away. The Pachmayer Compac Gripper grips fit me best on that particular gun, but the Hogues sure look nice on the 4" Security Sixs.

I've often wondered why Ruger hasn't expanded their revolver lines more, it's obviously worked for S&W and Taurus. I'd think they could easily sell Security Sixs again, and 5 shot GP100s in 41 Mag, 44 Special and 45 Colt would surely sell like hot cakes.

But that's the subject for another thread.

[Gordon]

Here's a couple interesting facts: K frames have longer cylinders than N frames allowing bullets to be seated out further. K frame cylinders go out of time about 50% less frequently than N frames because of heavy rotational forces applied to bolt by heavier and larger N frame cylinder! If you want to load over pressure rounds L frame is the way to go . I don't like L frames though, just a personal thing. I own 3 K frames and 6 N frames go figure.

[fallingblock]

My all-time 'best' N.I.B. revolver was a 4" stainless Speed-Six:)

The fixed sights were spot-on and the action was smooth and rugged...

More on topic...at the same time as I had the Speed Six (1982), I bought a N.I.B. Model 13 S&W. Using only Speer JHP .357's I shot it into unserviceability with less than 500 rounds (it seized-up in the high 400's somewhere).:(

Based on that "K" frame experience, I wouldn't use a lot of hot .357's in one:uhoh: