model 19 ?

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Fastlane

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I am thinking about purchasing an S&W Model 19, 2.5" barrel round butt. Anyone have any experance with this model? Good or negative info would be appreicated.

Thanks....
 
In the Old Fuff's opinion ...

These are fine revolvers, but they miss the mark a bit. Given the frame size they are oversized for a snubby. If the barrel is 3 inches or longer that's a whole new ball game. The short extractor rod will lift but not eject the fired cases unless the muzzle is pointed up (as it should be). The adjustable rear sight tends to snag if the gun is carried concealed under clothing.

However, those that like them REALLY like them, I think because of their "cool look." This is not a factor with me when a pick a handgun. Design vs. mission is. So a lot depends on what you intend to use the gun for, and under what circumstances. In place of the model 19/2 1/2" I would pick the model 13/3" and probably convert it to D.A.O. after removing the hammer spur, if concealed carry was what I had in mind. This would have everything the 19/2 1/2" had to offer and not its negatives for the intended purpose.

If this wasn't the mission I would go to the same model 19, but with a 4" barrel (possibly a 3" if I could find one). The 4" version is one of my favorite revolvers - except for concealed carry - the issue being snagging the adjustable rear sight while drawing the gun from deep cover.
 
Old Fuff:

Concealed carry is what I had in mind for the 19. I think I will pass on the 19. I have been looking for a model 13 3" barrel, round butt. Can't seem to find one also looking for a model 65 in the same configuration. I might have to buy a new S&W. :) Thank you for your reply....
 
I understand what you are saying about the model 13/3" - they are hard to find because people who have them tend to not sell them.

As an alternative, look for a model 13 with a 4" heavy barrel - they are much easier (and cheaper) to find. Then have the barrel shortened to 3 inches (or whatever you like) and a dovetail cut in the rib at the front. A new front sight can be driven into the dovetail, which will allow for windage adjustment for the chosen load you want to use, and the height filed down to zero the sights for elevation. S&W's Performance Center turned out some revolvers this way, and it was a neat and practical adaptation. At the same time you could have the butt rounded (if the gun came with a square butt, which would be likely) and the action converted to D.A.O. and the hammer spur removed if your thinking went in that direction. As you will likely refinish the gun you don't have to buy a cherry one in the first place. There are a lot of police trade-in's out there that meet this description, and they are relatively inexpensive.

One point: If you do this, be sure the revolver has a pinned barrel. Those that are not pinned are crush fitted, and removing and reinstalling a barrel should be done at the factory. If you should go in this direction I would have the 4" barrel replaced with a new 3" one.

Edited to add: Because of a combination of quality control and material issues (not to mention the idiot lock - I can live with it but I don't like it on general principals) I would sooner convert an older revolver rather then buy a new one. Your choice of course.
 
Fastlane...

"These are fine revolvers,"

Old Fuff is entirely correct here'

"but they miss the mark a bit."

However, in his (to be charitable)...advanced years...even Old Fuff is in error from time to time. Like the time he decided to leave to his most loyal THR "son" in his will a beat-up old S&W .38/200 with a replacement Spanish barrel of unknown origin. But I digress.

I think most of us concur with his analysis of the M13/65 3" barrel as being one of the best options for concealed carry. But many of us do not choose the 2 1/2" M19/66 for it's "cool factor" but for the fact that, asthetically, this barrel length on a revolver with adjustable sights just looks "right". I enjoy mine, even though they are not the best options for concealed carry.

If you can get it at a good price, it just might be worth the investment. And you can still look for a M13 3" RB for carry.

"Double your pleasure,
Double your fun.
Buy yourself two guns
Instead of just one."

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Are you looking to shoot .357s, because if you're not Smith still makes the model 64 in 38 special with a 3" barrel and round butt. With +P loads like the 158 gr LSWCHP or one of the newer Gold Dot loads it's a great CCW.
 
Fastlane:

For your consideration, go to the following link:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=27510711

The "engraving" is on the sideplate, not the frame. It (the engraving) could be removed and the sideplate (or gun) reblued.

Don't listen to that FPrice ... He's a young guy that just retired and he's still wet behind the ears. In another 40 or 50 years he may have learned something ... :neener: :D (Hint): If he is real smart he will get a copy of Jim Supica's latest hardcopy catalog; "Old Town Station Dispatch #43 & #44" (available at www.armchairgunshow.com) and discover a collection of vintage S&W N and K frame revolvers that will blow his mind. :evil:
 
I would suggest trying to find a way to shoot one before you buy one...maybe a rental at a local range???

I bought a 2.5" Model 19 (not a round butt) over 20 years ago. It's the only handgun I've owned that I immediately decided to get rid of after one box of ammo. Ditto for my wife.

It worked every time, and the accuracy was OK...I just didn't like it. IMO waaay too much muzzle flip/climb for my taste. Yes, I KNOW I could have used less potent ammo, but if you're gonna use .38 spec you can do that in a smaller pistol that's easier to conceal.

Just my .02 cents.

BTW, I shoot .41 Mag & .44 Mag, among several other pistol calibers, so my dislike for the 19 wasn't because of wimpiness.
 
Thanks for all of the info and for the link. Going to bid on the revolver.

thanks again... :)
 
I've had this one for about 17 years (jeez, where does the time go?) and it was 18 years old when I bought it from a retired federal officer. I like it. I don't really use it much as I don't like adjustable sights on a carry gun. Always tearing and snagging clothing. But the 19 is a nice revolver. Powerful but compact and lightweight. Great for holster wear when hiking, etc.

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I bought a short 19-5 in the fall.
It handles well and came with a smooth trigger and rubber Pach grips, things I want on a revolver anyway.
I haven't shot it as much as I would have liked to, but it's been accurate with my .38 reloads and Black Hills 125 grain .357 Magnum ammo.
I will be interested to see how it does with my light .357 loads.

Once I get a good holster for it, I think I'll use it as a carry gun sometimes.
 
My personal preference for CCW is fixed sights. It's one less thing to snag on clothing, dig into flesh and break. The idea of obtaining a four inch model 13 or 67 and having a gunsmith cut off one inch of barrel length and dovetailing or pinning a new front sight sounds like a good idea to me, even if it is heresy to butcher a barrel. The three inch versions of these guns are hard to find and are oh so practical. One of S&W's better ideas.
 
model 13 vs model 19

I finally found a nice model 19 snubby, and it shoots very well. In fact I am more accurate with my 19-5 shooting it double action than I was with the Performance Center model 13, double-action only revolver that I sold last year. My model 19 is the go-to gun in the lock box easily accessible; and I like the size for home; don't want or need a four inch barrel for close quarters.
Whereas for ccw, I often carry a J frame S&W, 640-1, that has a Rohrguard finish, red ramp sight, Pachmyr grips, and a trigger action job. It is always in the truck, and hides well in a small fanny pack.
 
My 1st choice...

My very 1st firearm was a S&W M19 in blue with a 6" barrel...all set up for target. My 2nd purchase was a S&W M13 in nickel with a 3" bull barrel...which I picked up used at the range. Both K frames have thousands of 38 & 357 through em...I even carried the M13 for a while. :evil:
 
I had one. In a fit of stupidity, I traded it for a Colt 1991A1. It was a very good revolver. I used to like to shoot Federal 110 gr. through it and the fireball was very impressive. I eventually replaced it with a 66, but always wished I'd hung on to the 19. I look out for them at gunshows, but 2.5 RB are always a bit up there. I probably fired a couple thousand rounds through it in the time I had it.

BTW, I still have a like new 4 inch 19-3 and that ain't going nowhere!
 
I am CCW a Mod 19 2 1/2 in a Bianchi IWB MOD.3, sometime. Most of the time it is a FEG P9M on an IWB SS Milt Sparks.
The Mod 19 is faster to bring into action but slower in follow-up shots and to reload than the FEG.
The advantage of a Mod 19 2 1/2 is that it is a full size gun, more user friendly in terms of handling the .357 Mag then the smaller J-Frame or other lighter guns. It also shoots 38 Special, so you can shoot whatever ammo you may find regardless the bullet weight, +P or not +P.
You can easily CCW a full size autos or rev. but it takes some commitment because you have to schlep around a heavy piece of metal, and some flexibility when you consider what to wear.
I would suggest that in order to find the most suitable handgun for you, decide what your specific needs are, devise what handguns may provide a solution to those needs, go rent and try those handguns and decide what WORKS BEST FOR YOU. Practice often, using the same gear and if possible ammo, you deploy. Do not disregard the full-size gun and their BENEFITS just because somebody else said so.
 
E.C. welcome to THR. Your hands on advice is very much appreciated. I have shot several model 19 and love them. But they have all had a 4" barrel. I am looking for a ccw in the 3" barrel in 357 like the model 13/65. I was wondering how close the model 19 with a 2.5' would be to the 13/65.
 
Fastlane
Thank you for the greetings.
As far as I am aware of, Mod.13/65 are based on the same K frame as Mod.19/66. The only diff. beside the tube length are the sights. Fixed for 13/65, adjustable on 19/66.
I DO prefer the adjustable sights.
In theory, the 3" barrel is better then the 2 1/2 tube. More velocity, sight radius and the ejector works better.
I personally have no problem trading all this for the benefit of been able to adjust the POA to the POI. Older guns with fix sights are sometime calibrated to 158gr. round.
One may choose other loads and with fixed sights there is not much to do to compensate for the POI change. I have found that the differences are sometime substantial. If you practice the Failure to stop or Hostage drills you will appreciate hitting were you are aiming at.
In terms of caring a rev. with fixed sights vs. adjustable sights my experience (I have carried a mod.581, 4†IWB) is that there is no difference.
Practice removing the empty shells from the cylinder by turning the barrel straight up and slamming (not too hard) the ejector with the right hand.The empties will go down with no problem. Using this technique, reloading the 4" 581 or the 2 1/2 19 takes me, more or less, the same time (never used a stop watch).
Again, rent and try each candidate and then decide.
It would be interesting to see what decision you have made and why.
BTW. Mod. 66 has been manufactured with a 3" tube too, if I am not wrong.
 
Old Fuff -- good advice. Seems like a lot of work just to re-create a Model 65 LadySmith. :p

BTW, I find my 4" Model 19 just fine for CCW. Not all do though. :)
 
I have a couple of three inch model 10's police trade ins. I seee cdnn has some back instock.

one of the model 10s must have beeen a safe queen when i got it as it look nearly unfired, the other had a lot of carry wear but locked up tight and was pinned and recessed. I have shot this gun a lot and most of what I shoot are middling reloads with 140 gr lead SWC. I do shoot and carry it in the woods when back packing with two rounds of shotshell followed by four rounds of STOUT 140gr handloads. While not a +P+ rated gun, shooting ten or so a year has not effected the gun in any way. I would Love to find a 13-3 but so far have not found one so I stick to the Mod 10.

PS I carry it as defense from snakes and piggies and dogs, any chance of meeting bears and it gets replaced with either a Ruger blackhawk in .45 colt or a 629 4 inch mountian gun,
 
scottauld:

The Fuff is a stubborn ol’ coot with (probably) too strong opinions about what a good concealed handgun should be. Being of the old school, he deplores stainless steel (which he finds to be too soft) and prefers blued high-carbon steel (which is less likely to reflect light). While the 65 LadySmith is a fine revolver in many ways, the bulk of the production dates from the time when S&W had made unfortunate decisions regarding materials and manufacturing methods that were driven by a desire to cut costs rather then make the best possible product. :fire:

So this ill-tempered reprobate insists on getting what he wants, and strikes out on his own without a moment’s delay if the factory doesn’t make what he wants. If it isn’t in the catalog he simply picks something close and remodels it to his own desires and specifications. This unbridled independence has on occasion raised a few eyebrows, but the Old Fuff cares not. Those with other ideas are free to go their own way, and he actually admires those who have the intestinal fortitude to do their own thinking even when it doesn’t agree with his, which is frequently the case. :eek:

So for these reasons, questionable as they might be, he prefers to remodel an older model 13 (or 19 for that matter) rather then buy an out-of-the-box model 65 or 66.

Ain’t insanity wonderful … ?? :evil: :D :D
 
Good advice here... I love all the Smiths discussed. And I really enjoy my 2.5" 66, even though fixed sights and a 3" tube are better design features for concealed carry.

But for those who yearn for a fixed sight .357 with 3" tube and ample size/weight... you don't have to wait for an elusive 3" 13 or 65 to come along. You can buy one of these brand new and they're mighty fine indeed!

Ruger GP-100 3" Barrel, Blue Steel, Fixed sights, .357 magnum (GPF-331)
GPF331RtLrg.jpg


Ruger GP-100 3" Barrel, Stainless, Fixed sights, .357 magnum (KGPF-331)
KGPF331Lsm.jpg


These guns are a tad heavier and bulkier than the K-frame 13's/65's. They compare almost identically in size and weight to a 3" 581/681 (L-frame), except the L-frame cylinders are just a touch beefier than the GP cylinders are (surprise?).

But these GP's are much more comfortable to shoot with heavier loads than a K-frame is and they will withstand a heck of a lot more heavy loads than a K-frame will put up with too. So if you're going to shoot a lot of heavy loads this might be a better option than the K's. (Of course, 3" K-s are a favorite of mine as well.)

But don't wait too long on these 3" GP's as they are disappearing and before long (if you can get them at all) Ruger will be including built-in locks with keys, whether you like it or not! Yuck!

I replaced the hammer and trigger return springs on my GP's with slightly reduced weight springs and now the actions are really very, very nice indeed!

Anyway, you can pick up one of these and shoot the heck out of it while you conduct your search for the perfect 13 or 65. Then you'll have the best of both worlds! (S&W and Ruger)
 
Ha, just put a down payment on my kgpf-131. I had my heart kinda set on a kgpf-330 (half shroud) but no deals this gun is discontinued, the GP100 is a common site in 4 and 6 inch tubes on dealer shelves. both stores I went to considered 3 Inch a special order item. but anyways Im awaiting mine. probably arrive thursday. :rolleyes: edited post , I meant kgpf-331.
 
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pezo... congrats! You are going to be thrilled with that gun. The feel in the hand and shootability of the 3" GP's is fantastic. I love mine. (BTW, did you mean KGPF-331, rather than KGPF-131?)

Yes, GP's with 4" and 6" tubes are very common, and the 3"ers are really special. Don't know why, though. I honestly believe most revolver lovers would own one in a heartbeat if they just had the opportunity to see and hold one! Gunshop owners are weird... they tend to just stock what they think everyone will want and overlook some awesome guns in the process. Look how sought after the S&W 3" models are today! I think these 3" GP's will be equally sought after (and scarce) in a few years to come. In the eyes of the typical gun buying public, 3"ers don't seem to get "no respect". :rolleyes:
 
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