Deaf Smith
Member
Does anybody know if the M12 Airweight will take +p ammo (sparingly, or lots, or none?)
I have an excellent 2 inch version, round butt, -2 model.
thanks!
I have an excellent 2 inch version, round butt, -2 model.
thanks!
M12 Military & Police Airweight
- Thread starter Deaf Smith
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BluesBear
member
Hell's Bells a K-frame can take anything a J-Frame can.
A modest ammount of +P won't hurt a K-frame Model 12 at all.
A modest ammount of +P won't hurt a K-frame Model 12 at all.
revolvergeek
Member
I have one now (4 inch square butt), and about to pick up a second sometime this coming week (4 inch round butt) and I personally don't plan on shooting any +P in them. I would expect it to take a limited diet just fine, but I don't want to push it.
steveno
Member
I believe a M-12 had a aluminum frame and cylinder. I wouldn't shoot anything in it other than standard pressure 38 special loads if that. I think the cylinder was changed to steel because of cracking. I would find a collector that needed one , make him a deal and get something that is +P capable.
revolvergeek
Member
I think that all the civillian market 12s had steel cylinders. The original Aircrewman military models had aluminum cylinders, but they didn't hold up very well and from what I have read most were destroyed. The two 12s that I have owned and the one that I am buying have steel cylinders.
I believe that there were some Aircrewman Colts made up also with aluminum cylinders.
I believe that there were some Aircrewman Colts made up also with aluminum cylinders.
Cocked & Locked
Member
Here's a pic of my "lovely" model 12 snubby. How you guys like the original version of Rubber Grips! Anyone know why that big rubber band is on there?
The model 12's can probably handle a few rounds of +P but I don't do it...the S&W Factory guys say "don't do it". The frame on the bottom side of where the barrel screws (at the top of the yoke cut-out) is thin and easily cracks...same for the aluminum framed J-frames.
Frame stretching/cracking from high pressure loads in a Airweight K-frame, and in a pre-magnum framed J-frame, is much more likely to occur than blowing the cylinder.
The model 12's can probably handle a few rounds of +P but I don't do it...the S&W Factory guys say "don't do it". The frame on the bottom side of where the barrel screws (at the top of the yoke cut-out) is thin and easily cracks...same for the aluminum framed J-frames.
Frame stretching/cracking from high pressure loads in a Airweight K-frame, and in a pre-magnum framed J-frame, is much more likely to occur than blowing the cylinder.
rbernie
Contributing Member
I seem to recall a corrolation between frame cracking on the Model 12's and the use of high velocity jacketed 125gr +P rounds. The supposition was that it wasn't the +P cylinder pressures that was a problem, it was the shock to the forcing cone from the impact of the relatively hard high-vel bullets.
I load 158gr soft lead HP-SWC to +P levels and to date I have experienced no issues with my 12-2's despite each of them having shot literally thousands of my handloads.
I load 158gr soft lead HP-SWC to +P levels and to date I have experienced no issues with my 12-2's despite each of them having shot literally thousands of my handloads.
Gordon
Member
I was issued that gun while working for an 'alphabet ' organization out of Arlington Hall, Va. in the beginning of the 70's! I replaced the Model 10 I had issued in the Army.We shot the military ball load of 130 grains in both.
OP
OP
Deaf Smith
Member
I'll check the crane and forcing cone to see if there is any cracking. I have it on lay-away and will check that Monday. If there is not signs of problems maybe the 158gr SWC is the way to go. Might even a few Cor-Bon 158 LSWHPs. Never thought of checking were the barrel screws in. The one I'm sitting on has a pinned in barrel.
revolvergeek
Member
PLEASE do check there. I had my heart broken one time by an otherwise mint looking 2 inch 37 square butt that had a hairline crack completely through the threaded part of the frame underneath the forcing cone. It is uncommon but can happen.
FYI I have also seen it happen on a S&W 19, so it can happen to steel framed guns also if the handloads get far too hot.
FYI I have also seen it happen on a S&W 19, so it can happen to steel framed guns also if the handloads get far too hot.
OP
OP
Deaf Smith
Member
No cracks found. And it looks from the marking on the recoil plate that very few rounds were fired at all in the gun (there would be rings were the rounds hit the recoil plate and thus you can get and idea how much the gun had been shot over time.)
Looked REAL close to!
She will be a keeper.
In all probabilty I'll use low wattage handloads with lead 158gr RNL (molly coated ones at that, I've got tons of 'em.)
Looked REAL close to!
She will be a keeper.
In all probabilty I'll use low wattage handloads with lead 158gr RNL (molly coated ones at that, I've got tons of 'em.)
Cocked & Locked
Member
Conwic...
You're right...just think, you're the only one that knew!
You're right...just think, you're the only one that knew!
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