s&w fit and finish

[munk]

You should start a thread and ask that.


The Ana does not have the lock work of the Python. It is much stronger, and cheaper to make. So for many Colt fans, it was a disapointment. It is reputed to be a reliable and fine double action big bore. The only one I have any experience with had the barrel come unscrewed. For some reason, the owner had a problem getting Colt to fix it.

They didn't sell enough of them.

I've been disapointed by the owners of Colt. They allowed their revolver line to die. They've restricted sales of some items to law enforcement only. They've misled the public with misleading statements about their lines and availbility. I do not know all the details, i'm sure many here do.






munk

 

[intimidator]

Munk

Thanks for your input. I took your advice and started a NEW thread. Thanks

 

[Robert inOregon]

where did you see that report?

Pressure test was done ages ago by one of the gun magazines in a Ruger vs. Smith article. It was a very long time ago so don't remember who or when. But, John Linebaugh makes reference to a pressure test in his articles (posted at his web site) and came up with similar results.

The advantage products like the Blackhawk have are the larger parts that drive the action. Smith & Wesson uses smaller parts that can wear prematurely. They can take the pressure, but not the pounding for an extended period of time.

Reports from the prestigious H.P White laboratory prove to us that most American Made revolvers offer approximately 100% safety factor with current Industry standard pressure level ammunition. Example: The .44 magnum is loaded to 40,000 CUP (Copper Units of Pressure). H.P Whites lab reports states that the Ruger Super Blackhawk was destroyed in a controlled test at approximately double that Pressure. (80,000 CUP) The Smith and Wesson Model 29, also in .44 magnum caliber showed comparable results. Today we have stronger guns chambered for the .44 magnum (Redhawk prime example) but the Model 29 S&W and the Ruger Blackhawk gave life to the .44 magnum cartridge.

http://www.sixgunner.com/linebaugh/Default.htm

 

[VictorLouis]

R in O, you KNOW I prefer Smiths, but...

OK, so they both blew-up with an overload at roughly the same point. The fact remains, however, that the Ruger's can withstand a steadier diet of the higher-end loadings be they factory, or handloads. Apparently, they can also take some of what would be considered overloads in any other gun, hence the caveat Ruger-only.

 

[munk]

Your quote only refers to the 44, with no mention of the 45 Colt.

I respectfully reserve judgement on the smith n frame 45 Colt.

There is less meat there than on a single action Ruger.

A friend once specialized in hot .44 loads. You know the story. His did not blow up, but many other people's did. A S&W gunsmith told him to stop it; one day the cylinder would just blow, and there would be no sign or warning beforehand. He might even be firing normal loads when it happened.

I tend to agree with the poster who said for a one time deal the Smith might blow the same as a ruger 45 Colt. But not a steady diet. If you are correct, every reloading manul is wrong. (but as I said- that has happened before)

munk

 

[P95Carry]

You make a salient point Munk .... ''steady diet'' will make a great difference. I think overall the Rugers will last longer if pushed regularly to higher limits .. less likely maybe to ''shake loose''.

I know when I had my 686 I reckoned that the L frame was about as ''skinny'' as I wanted to go with a 357 and heavy loads ..... (prefering an N even) .... and so left K's alone if thinking of heavier loads.

The GP100 is in many ways a sorta ''Ruger 686'' .. in scale anyways ... and i think over time it would take longer to loosen off than a Smith. A sorta overall ''toughness'' factor perhaps.

Maybe a case of Smith for ''finesse'' and ''sweetness'' ...... but Ruger for ''rugged'' and ''tough''. I still love em all.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

I dont think the cylinder notchs are the reason for the Ruger only rating. I would think that it is more along the lines of cylinder diameter along with thickness of topstrap. I talked to the guys at corbon a few years ago and they werent to worried about catastrophic failure if the 45 loads went thru a N frame, they seemed more concerned with the gun hammering itself to death.

 

[munk]

Can't be the top strap thickness, can it? Smith addressed decades of .44's rattling loose with changes about 10 years ago. The 44 seems to do better now.

I wouldnt' think the top strap a problem. (Could it stretch?) Never heard it was a limiting factor.



munk

 

[Robert inOregon]

Hey guys, I'm not talking about the realignment of the stars and planets here. And we're not talking about a lot of guns either, because Smith does not offer 45 LC in their standard product line. They are few and far between. All I'm saying is for the person that wants something warm from say Corbon for woods defense in their Mountain Gun. Or the guy that wants to build that custom handload for next deer season, that's groovy. Just don't make a habit out of shooting those loads all the time. But then again, that rule should be followed with any firearm regardless of manufacture.

Here's some interesting reading.

http://www.gunblast.com/MaxLoads.htm

This is one of my 45 LCs and yes it does shoot "hot loads" from time to time.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

Munk, probably enough older Smiths ( should add Colt single actions also) floating around to warrant care in loading. I cant imagine what would happen to a black powder era Colt with a heavy Corbon load.

 

[munk]

I don't know much about Corbon, or many of the other small specilized outfits, other than the blurbs I read. I thought Corbon stuck to SAMMI. Higher velocities were achieved using cast bullets and sophisticated manufacuture. Last few years it seems to me many warmer loads have been introduced- for strong 45/70's only, for instance.

I'm not talking about realigning the planets either. The top strap has little or nothing to do with Smth's weakness, and I do not believe they are as strong as Ruger. I would not shoot the hottest 45Colt loads in them. If I wanted to carry something for Bear I wouldn't worry about it, I'd put the hot stuff in. I've quoted Dean Grennel in this forum on Smith 44's made before the design changes of 1990 or so, that he's worn several out in the twenty years since owning his first 41. That is with 44 pressures. It depends what you call older, but that aint old to me, and does not bode well for a far thinner cylinder in 45 Colt. I don't know anyone who hot loads their SMith 25. I'd rather not stand too close.


I tried for several years to aquire a model 25 at the right price. Never did, but that says something for what I thought of the gun.

Actually, there was an N frame .44 special in SS I passed for well under 300 dollars once. I simply didn't have the money. When else do great deals come by?

I've learned since arriving here I know less than even I thought I did. I sure like talking to fellow gun nuts and learning though.


munk

 

[Gerald McDonald]

Munk, My argument was that the cylinder notches are not that big of a deal. I dont know if corbon is sammi or not but a 300 gr hollow point at 1300fps in 45 Colt or a 240 gr at 1500 in 44mag is a hot load. Corbon said do not use the 45 in older smiths, and that it would be fine in Rugers or the Anaconda Colt. Top strap may very well have little (wont say nothing) to do with the revolver shooting itself loose, but they will stretch over time. The difference is in cylinder diameter. Corbon said the new smiths will not blow up in your face but continued use will make it a trotline weight. Also you will find many more revolvers in 45 other than Smith, when the loading manuals are written I doubt they were just thinking of smith, old is relative, if your 24 years old 12 years is half your life.

 

[munk]

Over in the thread, Is Colt Dead?, they're on almost the same subject now.

The controversial 45 Colt!

I just wish someone besides TC and Freedom Arms cut tight chambers for the Colt. I've heard and read Smith's aren't bad.

Hard lead can be driven faster at less pressure than jacketed rounds. That is where the specialty shops focused, though where they are now I wouldn't know as I load my own.


munk