New S&W model 619!

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357wheelgunner

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This is the replacement for the model 65 4", it is an L_Frame, 4" Bbl, no ejector rod shroud, 7shot .357, with fixed sights.

I'll be getting one very soon, as I did not want a model 681 for reliability issues. By issues I mean the ejector rod unscrewing and jamming the gun up while firing due to the ejector rod shroud.

I hope the link at the bottom works, it should take you to the new model 619 specs at the S&W website


http://www.firearms.smith-wesson.com/store/index.php3?cat=407530&item=1207352&sw_activeTab=1
 
A new S&W that serves a purpose. How unusual.

Might have to inspect one as I foolishly got rid of a M19 back around 1976. Wish I had kept it. If these are built right a 7 shot .357 would be nice to have.
 
New numbering system to confuse us.

The fixed sight model should be a 613 and the adjustable sight one should be a 619.

A 620 should be a Stainless N-frame, fixed sight .357. :banghead:
 
That's a nice looking revolver but if it has a screwed in ejector rod it can still bind up.When a ejector rod starts to loosen up it binds up at the point of lock up which is at the end of the rod and not the shroud.
 
"Two-Piece, Enhanced Performance, Semi-Lug, Barrel Construction"

What the hell does that mean?

Sad, sad day for S&W.

David
 
Two piece barrel unit have been used on S&W Scandium revolvers since their inception.
It is a good design for everyone except the gunsmith who is unfamiliar with the construction.
The downside is the revolvers are being made to shoot to the point of destruction and then they are to be discarded.
This means a mean service life of 50 years or 50,000 rounds fired.
This is an average based on policies of "Lifetime Warranty" agreements.
Rebuilding and rebarrelling may not prove to be viable options on these guns.

Semi-Lug refers to the standard ejector rod lug which I actually prefer over the heavy lump of steel hanging on under the barrel of most newer revolvers.

S&W still and always will, make a very good revolver and a .357 magnum revolver scaled correctly for the cartridge is a good thing.
 
It's strange that they called the adj sight model a 620. I thought the 620 was going to be an N frame.

bpisler: They've been making Smiths with ejector rods like this since... the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. I use blue Loc-Tite.
 
I use blue locktight myself but i was making the point that a ejector rod could bind up even without a shroud around it.
 
I take it that this 619/620 is the projected "Model 666" that was discussed on the boards and in the gun rags. If so, good move by S&W on changing the nomenclature. I prefer my guns non-Satanic. Seems to me we are striving for more of a "sword of St. George" vibe.

Without fully understanding the implications of the two-piece barrel (and hopefully others will continue to explain them to us less knowledgeable types), the fixed-sight, 7-shot 619 appears a useful car gun or serious carry piece. I hope it shoots and handles well; none of this "combat accurate," 3-inch-groups-at-15-yards nonsense.

Note that the 619 and 620 weigh one ounce less than a 7-shot 686+.
 
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What market is this new gun aimed at? It is a 37 oz. gun with fixed sights and a four inch barrel. Cops don't carry revolvers anymore. Are the armored carriers going to throw away their 6 shooters to get a 7 shot revolver? I wouldn't trade my 4" model 10 with the tapered barrel or my 2" model 10 for this new 619 model. In a 3" model the gun might be a little more appealing. But that bigger cylinder used in the L frame is still going to be uncomfortable to carry concealed. Maybe the reason for buying one is that it won't be in the catalog very long.

Bill
 
How do we know it's an L-frame?

I can find no mention of frame size ion the S&W site.
I realize that 7 in a K-frame would be tight.

But,

S&W is touting the 619 as a replacement for the Model 65 and the 620 for the 66.
 
BluesBear,

7 rounds won't fit in a K frame. I have a 686+ 7 shot revolver (L frame) sitting next to me right now. At their closest point the walls between the chambers are almost paper thin. The rumor going around the forums is that S&W is eliminating the .357 mag in the K frame revolvers. That is a great loss to those of us who appreciate the great feel and balance of the K frame.

Bill
 
There are no rumours about the 357 K frame being discontinued. S&W already announced that they ARE discontinued.

The 619 and 620, which I thought were going to be called the 666 and the 656 respectively, are L-frames. Thus we lay to rest the question about the K frame's durability.
 
If you are talking about how it only took em until the 19 is almost C&R eligible to figure out that the K isn't a 357 platform, then I agree that they lack sense. They've should've migrated the Ks to the L frame when the 686 and 586 debuted.

But hey! It's going to be a good year for Smith fans. No new unobtainium guns, the SW1911 billboard is gone, a few new revolvers and an honest to goodness 200 yd revolver. It looks like the TR M21 is a hit. I hope that the shirts at S&W take notice and start trickling back those extinct N frames this year!
 
Will the .38 Special K-frames continue to be produced? It would mark the end of an era if the K-frame is no longer in production.

I wonder if there truly will be a three-inch M65 replacement.
 
The 619 and 620, which I thought were going to be called the 666 and the 656 respectively, are L-frames. Thus we lay to rest the question about the K frame's durability.
Click to expand...


There was never a question about the k frame magnums durability. Thats why they remained in production 25 years after the introduction of the L frame. The demise of the K frame magnum had to do with lack of sales. This reminds me of when Colt stopped making 38 specials and only made 357 magnums.

I really like both the K and the L frame. I hate to see the k frame go because the 66 handles alot faster than the 686 although hopefully a 4 inch 620 will handle in a similar manner to the 66.

Its in the 2 1/2 inch guns that the difference is really noticable. The 2 1/2 inch 7 shot 686 is one of my favorite revolvers, but as good as it is, it will never be a 3 inch 65 or a 2 1/2 inch 66.
 
Surfin', it seems that every week there is at least one thread questioning the ability of the Combat Magnum line to withstand a steady diet of social 357 loads. So while the guns maybe up to it (mine is), the popular notion is that they're not.

I think the new Ls will feel almost the same. The only real difference in handling is the girth of the cylinder. A 4in 619 will probably still approximate the feel of a 65. The thing I dislike the most about the 586/686 line the forward biased heft. It's like driving a car that's too stable.
 
When is the M66 supposed to be discontinued? It is still on the S&W web site.

If it IS to be discontinued, I am glad I traded the 686+ 6" I won from the prize table (already have one) for the M66 4" another shooter won. I think both of us got a heck of a deal in the trade.

By the way, if you feel an L-frame is overly stable you should try shoving an N-frame 5" around an action pistol course of fire. Like a battleship, but I didn't know that until I got the K-frame.
 
Why the two-piece barrels?

The official line is this: The one-piece barrels were expensive to make, especially in some configurations. The most common reason for replacing a barrel is because of damage to the bore. In the future replacing a barrel will be less expensive if only the tube has to be changed and the outer sleeve can still be used. Take that as you will, but in a way it makes sense.

Being a solid fan of the K-frame guns I was ready to dislike the new L-frame replacements, but after handling them my objections were more muted. The combination of a 7-round cylinder and K-frame barrel configurations (no heavy, full underlugs) make a better feeling revolver then I'd thought they'd be.
 
***?

So they wussed out on calling it the 666? Bummer, I was looking forward to the the news stories. Oh, well. I guess we'll have to have the more politically-correct model number. We wouldn't want anyone burning in hell for eternity and having all the fire and brimstone and screaming and everything just because of 3 little arabic numerals, would we? :rolleyes:
 
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