S&W .357 models question

[mpthole]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the model 19 and a 586? At least I think it was a 586... It was blue'd, had a 4 inch barrel, and looked virtually identical to my 4" blue'd model 19.

Is the 586 maybe an L frame versus the 19 K frame?

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. The 586 is indeed an L-frame revolver having adjustable sights and the same grip frame size (despite the beefed up frame) as the K-frame Model 19. The 4" Model 586's I've seen all had full length ejector rod shrouds where the Model 19 4" guns did not.

Best.

 

[thatguy]

Mr. Camp is correct. I would add that the 586 is a post 1981 design so it never had the pinned barrel and recessed chambers like the pre-1981 M19s had. I also feel the 19 is a bit more deluxe and the 586 wasw intended to be more of a service revolver where the 19 was considered a sport-target-service pistol. There's nothing wrong with the 586 but most oldtimers would likely see the early 19s as having more panache.

 

[pete f]

the 586 and 686 were created to fulfill a niche that was created by new training programs that sprung up in the 80's. Prior to then, most depts. trained with 38's and then maybe shot a cylinder full of 357 mags, but some lawsuits came up and depts decided to train with what they carried.

When a model 19 is shot all the time with full house 357 mags, the gun gets loose, the forcing cone gets shot out and there can be some stretching in the top strap. The x86 L frame models were developed to live on a steady diet of 357 mag loads. The 86 models all came with fully lugged barrels at first too, as it was considered that the weight of the lug forward not only helped make recoil more managable, but helped keep the recoil impulse from shaking the gun out of time.

 

[Jim March]

S&W is now phasing out all the K-frame 357Mags. They may do small runs as specials or Performance Center items but other than that, they're gone.

The good news is, they've come out with a pair of L-Frames that have been lightened to the point where they fill the K-frame niche:

http://gunblast.com/SW619-620.htm

Both are stainless, one fixed sight and one adjustable.

 

[mpthole]

Thank you all! I had picked up the model 19 this past spring and my brother-in-law just got the 586 for Christmas. I was suprised at how similar they looked.

Thanks again.