Picked up my new K frame magnums today!

[ontarget]

So a couple of weeks ago I asked you folks about adding a model 19 to my collection.
The guy at the counter of my LGS, was also wanting the one they had in the case, and not wanting to scoop it out from under him, I bid on one on GB.
It was a pretty low bid on a nice 19-3.
Thinking someone would outbid me on that one, I put in a lowish bid on a 65-1 from the same seller.
Well, I ended up winning BOTH of them.
Now, by the time I paid shipping and transfer fees, it came up to about full market value for both, so not screaming deals, but not over paying either so I'm pretty happy about my purchases.
While waiting for them I loaded up a couple hundred 158gn LSWC loads over 6.5 gn of Bullseye.
Hoping to get out back to my range tomorrow!
Obligatory pics.


The 19-3 shows a little wear at the muzzle and front of the cylinder edge but is very clean and smooth.
The 65-1 needs a bit of oil but they are both overall very nice.
Now I can check 2 more off the list.

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice looking revolvers.

Not to be a "Debby Downer", but limit the number of full power 357 Magnum loads you shoot in the Model 19.

You run the risk of cracking the forcing cone with a steady diet of full power 357 Magnum loads regardless of bullet weight. Do not believe the clowns that say it only occurs with 110-125 grain bulllet loads.

S&W will not repair them any more.

I load 38 Special +P loads in 357 Magnum cases for my Model 19's these days.

If I want to full power loads, I'll get out the L-frames or N-frames revolvers.

 

[Riomouse911]

Very nice two-fer there @ontarget, those K frames look to be in great shape.

As @cfullgraf posted. S&W seems to be done working on older guns. Plenty of gunsmiths still do so the future isnt all bad, but major fixes are not being handled in Springfield anymore. (I found this out with a Model 624 this past summer.)

My favorite K frsme .357 mag loads are in the 6.0 gr Unique/158 gr SWC range. They have a bit of oomph without beating up your hands, punishing your ears (plugged, of course) or stressing your guns.

Stay safe.

 

[chaim]

Not to be a "Debby Downer", but limit the number of full power 357 Magnum loads you shoot in the Model 19.

You run the risk of cracking the forcing cone with a steady diet of full power 357 Magnum loads regardless of bullet weight. Do not believe the clowns that say it only occurs with 110-125 grain bulllet loads.

S&W will not repair them any more.

Not just the 19, but this is true of the 65 as well. The new production K-frame .357mags have a new forcing cone design that is (or should be) more robust, but the original K-frame magnums all had this potential issue. My 65LS only sees .38spl anymore, and very occasional light factory magnums (I don't reload often, I don't enjoy it, but I'll also sometimes load a light load in a magnum case).


That said, very nice revolvers. I love K-frame magnums, they just feel right.

 

[CajunBass]

That said, very nice revolvers. I love K-frame magnums, they just feel right.

First let me say to the OP. Nice pickups. Beautiful revolvers. Enjoy them for may years to come.

Now, I agree 100%. I've been playing around with an L-frame the last few weeks, but the K's are still my favorite. A Model 19 was my first handgun, and I've probably owned a dozen or more over the years. These day's I only have one, but it's enough for me now that I've given up on the idea of owning them all.



This particular one is a -5 I got a few months ago. I almost passed on it because it's not pinned and recessed, but I'm glad I didn't. It has one of the best DA triggers I've ever used and is just a delight to shoot, especially with 38 wadcutters, the same ammo I used with that first Model 19 all those years ago. I have to load my own now, I don't know when I last saw 38 wadcutters for sale across the counter. Same old load I used with my first Lee Loader, a .3 dipper of Bullseyes, with a 148 grain DEWC on top. Just a joy to shoot.

I don't shoot actual magnums in K-frames anymore. Never did really, but since they're all at least 25? years old, and the Lord Himself only knows how many 357 rounds might have already gone down the pipe, or how many it will take to ruin a gun, I figure the next one, may be THE one. Why risk it? I have other guns to use if I want to shoot magnums.

The Model 19 is my Obi Wan gun. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Great score on a couple great revolvers!
The diamond Magna grips on the 19 would point to it being one of the earliest Dash-3s, circa 1967-68. Those grips alone bump the value of the gun at least $50. You're lucky an unscrupulous seller didn't swap them for cheap rubber and sell them off seperatly.

Enjoy your new K-Mags.

 

[cfullgraf]

As @cfullgraf posted. S&W seems to be done working on older guns. Plenty of gunsmiths still do so the future isnt all bad, but major fixes are not being handled in Springfield anymore. (I found this out with a Model 624 this past summer.)

My favorite K frsme .357 mag loads are in the 6.0 gr Unique/158 gr SWC range. They have a bit of oomph without beating up your hands, punishing your ears (plugged, of course) or stressing your guns.

True, there are many good gunsmiths out there that can replace the barrel on a S&W K-frame. But, barrels themselves are getting scarce since S&W does not make them any more.

I really like my Model 19's, I have a 2-1/2", 4": and 6". And I've cracked the forcing cone on the 6" version. S&W replaced the barrel on their dime. I just want to keep folks informed that cracking the forcing cone is a real issue with any Model 19 except for the current production redesigned models. (I got to get one of these.)

It is not like you shoot one round of full power 357 Magnum ammunition and you crack the fording cone. But, the history is there and it would be a shame to wreck the revolver needlessly.

My general 357 Magnum lad these days is 158 gr SWC over about 6.0 grains of Unique. Great load for plinking at the range but not hard on the firearm.

If I want wrist snapping recoil these days, I'll drag out the 460 XVR.

 

[Speedo66]

Both pinned barrels, very nice!

If the stainless gun has any cosmetic issues, a gray Scotch Brite pad matches the factory finish.

Good luck with your new guns!

 

[ontarget]

These guns won't see a ton of full power magnum loads. I much prefer 38 Spl. I was on the fence about even buying a model 19 because I'm not a fan of the .357 mag cartridge. How I ended up with 2 of them I'm really not sure, but I'm glad I did.
I have lots of 38s already for shooting 38s. I will load a bit under full power for these.
Unique is actually my go to powder for all of my revolver loads currently.

 

[blackd24]

Very nice revolvers! I have the itch to get a new “old” revolver… i must fight the temptation

 

[Mark_Mark]

So a couple of weeks ago I asked you folks about adding a model 19 to my collection.
The guy at the counter of my LGS, was also wanting the one they had in the case, and not wanting to scoop it out from under him, I bid on one on GB.
It was a pretty low bid on a nice 19-3.
Thinking someone would outbid me on that one, I put in a lowish bid on a 65-1 from the same seller.
Well, I ended up winning BOTH of them.
Now, by the time I paid shipping and transfer fees, it came up to about full market value for both, so not screaming deals, but not over paying either so I'm pretty happy about my purchases.
While waiting for them I loaded up a couple hundred 158gn LSWC loads over 6.5 gn of Bullseye.
Hoping to get out back to my range tomorrow!
Obligatory pics.
View attachment 1184888
View attachment 1184889
The 19-3 shows a little wear at the muzzle and front of the cylinder edge but is very clean and smooth.
The 65-1 needs a bit of oil but they are both overall very nice.
Now I can check 2 more off the list.

you caught the Smith Bug too! these old timers won’t be selling them cheap. They just keep going up in value

 

[ontarget]

you caught the Smith Bug too! these old timers won’t be selling them cheap. They just keep going up in value

I've had this bug for about 5 years now.
I've accepted that there is no cure.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I've had this bug for about 5 years now.
I've accepted that there is no cure.

1 year here… looking for the crown jew! Registered Magnum

anybody here got one? love to see some photos

 

[Armored farmer]

I caught kframe fever a few years ago.
@Riomouse911 's 6gr unique under 158swc is magical.

 

[CajunBass]

I caught kframe fever a few years ago.
@Riomouse911 's 6gr unique under 158swc is magical.

I shot that very load yesterday in my 686. I was impressed. First time, but won't be the last. Assuming I live long enough to ever see Unique again.

 

[ontarget]

I shot that very load yesterday in my 686. I was impressed. First time, but won't be the last. Assuming I live long enough to ever see Unique again.

I bought 6 pounds of Unique a couple years back. I'm still on the lookout for more, but that has kept me shooting.

 

[AzShooter1]

Those are some pretty Smiths. I only have one Model 10 that I picked up from J&G many years ago. It's the only centerfire I was able to keep when I had to sell them all because of going into assisted living. Ended up not moving so I'm slowly adding centerfires to my .22 collection.

Ammo for .38s has gotten way out of hand. I saw it for $30 a box of 50. No way. Today I saw some American Eagle 130 grain fmjs for $20 a box of 50 so I ordered 1000 rounds. I don't need it because I'm not competing anymore but it's nice to know I have that much just in case.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I've had this bug for about 5 years now.
I've accepted that there is no cure.

No cure, but there is a treatment!

 

[ontarget]

No cure, but there is a treatment!

Yes, I've found that 3-4 acquisitions of S&W revolvers per year is the minimum treatment. More is better. Higher quality acquisitions helps ease the affliction too.
The hunt for certain models can keep the symptoms at bay temporarily as well.

 

[Armored farmer]

I just made a holster for my 3" k frame this afternoon!
What started out as a prototype is probably good enough for the final product. (For me at least)
2 hours and a hot cocoa with butterscotch Shnapps later....



I think I'm good to go!

Definitely not up to par for some of our more advanced THR leathersmiths.....but not bad for a farmer!

 

[film495]

those seem excellent. very nice shooters. does the timing and cylinder alignment and all seem good? just looking at them the lockup I bet is almost like new.

 

[ECVMatt]

I like the 19, but the 65 is awesome!

Congratulation on a couple of great pickups!

 

[dickydalton]

A little story/info for everyone. My cousin went to a range in MN last month and brought one of his many Model 19s with. They were shooting "normal" and some factory loads that day but he had brought a box of 357s that we usually loaded in the 70s and 80s with. When he fired the first cylinder he ended up with a crowd around. A 1970 38 Special is today's 357 Magnum.

 

[AzShooter1]

I just made a holster for my 3" k frame this afternoon!
What started out as a prototype is probably good enough for the final product. (For me at least)
2 hours and a hot cocoa with butterscotch Shnapps later....

View attachment 1185006

I think I'm good to go!
View attachment 1185004View attachment 1185005
Definitely not up to par for some of our more advanced THR leathersmiths.....but not bad for a farmer!

Nice looking leather.

 

[Riomouse911]

Stay safe

No cure, but there is a treatment!

For the fever, my prescription is more cowbe…err, more K-frames!



Stay safe.