I recently purchased a Model 19-4, Serial #33K2273...My last use of a revolver was 40 yrs ago...for training/practice what amunition should I use?...I am thinking a light load .38 to get the feel of gun, and then a few rounds of the magnums...your thoughts please...Thanks, Stid
S&W Model 19-4
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Thumbs down for a Model 19?
Anyway, many people shoot .38's in their .357's a lot due to recoil. I load lots of light stuff in .357 brass to shoot for fun. Even my hottest loads are 125's at around 1300 FPS. Those are fun for a while in a heavier gun like a 28, or a Trooper Mk III, but 125's at 1500 to 1600 FPS are no fun at all, especially in a light gun.
I shoot .38 Spl level loads in .357 brass in my Model 19. Great little shooter.
Welcome to THR
Anyway, many people shoot .38's in their .357's a lot due to recoil. I load lots of light stuff in .357 brass to shoot for fun. Even my hottest loads are 125's at around 1300 FPS. Those are fun for a while in a heavier gun like a 28, or a Trooper Mk III, but 125's at 1500 to 1600 FPS are no fun at all, especially in a light gun.
I shoot .38 Spl level loads in .357 brass in my Model 19. Great little shooter.
Welcome to THR
Guillermo
member
I have owned two and like them very much.
In fact I gave one to my daughter for her 15th birthday because a 4 inch 357 is one of the most versatile guns that one can own.
Why the thumbs down?
In fact I gave one to my daughter for her 15th birthday because a 4 inch 357 is one of the most versatile guns that one can own.
Why the thumbs down?
I think the thumbs down was probably a mistake. I've hit one of those icons accidentally before.
I shoot a lot of .38 specials through my M66 for practice, but I carry 158 grain gold dot .357 magnum. I shoot enough of the gold dots to be comfortable with them.
I shoot a lot of .38 specials through my M66 for practice, but I carry 158 grain gold dot .357 magnum. I shoot enough of the gold dots to be comfortable with them.
snapper298
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- Aug 21, 2010
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m-19.....perfect revolver, the older smiths have the action of what would be called a custom gun nowadays, can't say enough about a carbon steel blued smith.
Sunray
Member
Shot a 4" 19 in league bullseye shooting using .357 cases(eliminates the lube gunk build up in the cylinders) loaded with 148 grain WC's and Bullseye .38 Special velocity ammo for eons.
Quit using it when I bought my GP 100. The 19 never did fit my hand quite right. No matter how many changes of grips. Regular 4" 'K' frames are just a bit too big for my hand. Two inch 19/66's with their 'J' frame grip, fit perfectly. I need a trigger finger that's a half inch longer. Can't find one anywhere. snicker.
19's don't like a lot of heavy .357 ammo, but they sing with a trigger job and .38 Special ammo they like.
If you're thinking of it for CCW, I'd go with Plus P .38 Special and practice with that ammo. If you're not reloading, you'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can, of course.
"...older smiths have the action..." Depends on how old. Mine, late 70's purchase, needed a trigger job just like any other revolver. Except for needing the rebound slide assembly tool, they are easy to work on though. Good solid internal parts that polish nicely.
Quit using it when I bought my GP 100. The 19 never did fit my hand quite right. No matter how many changes of grips. Regular 4" 'K' frames are just a bit too big for my hand. Two inch 19/66's with their 'J' frame grip, fit perfectly. I need a trigger finger that's a half inch longer. Can't find one anywhere. snicker.
19's don't like a lot of heavy .357 ammo, but they sing with a trigger job and .38 Special ammo they like.
If you're thinking of it for CCW, I'd go with Plus P .38 Special and practice with that ammo. If you're not reloading, you'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can, of course.
"...older smiths have the action..." Depends on how old. Mine, late 70's purchase, needed a trigger job just like any other revolver. Except for needing the rebound slide assembly tool, they are easy to work on though. Good solid internal parts that polish nicely.
longhair75
Member
I love my model 19.
bwsmith2850
Member
I carry 158gr Federal .357 in mine when it goes out. For plinking I generally use .38 spl mostly due to the reduced cost. The 125 gr and lighter .357 loads have a reputation for damaging the forcing cone in the K frames. (Some shoot thousands with no trouble, some have tons of trouble. I choose not to gamble.)
Old 112
Member
If you do not reload,
I will suggest(for practice and familiarization) Win. 38 spl. 50 count white box, or
Rem. 50 count.
I believe these will have 130 to 140 grain bullets.
There are Blazer 357 158gr. JHP with the aluminum case that
are a midrange velocity(around 1150 fps).
These may or may not give optimal accuracy, but
will work for practice. There are many factory receipes.
I shoot 99+% reloads,,, but, when my weapons are traveling with me
I load them with the Blazer I mentioned above.
And lastly, nice choice of revolver.
Have a couple of 19s that I VERY much enjoy.
Regards,
Old 112
I will suggest(for practice and familiarization) Win. 38 spl. 50 count white box, or
Rem. 50 count.
I believe these will have 130 to 140 grain bullets.
There are Blazer 357 158gr. JHP with the aluminum case that
are a midrange velocity(around 1150 fps).
These may or may not give optimal accuracy, but
will work for practice. There are many factory receipes.
I shoot 99+% reloads,,, but, when my weapons are traveling with me
I load them with the Blazer I mentioned above.
And lastly, nice choice of revolver.
Have a couple of 19s that I VERY much enjoy.
Regards,
Old 112
Hagen442
Member
S&W Model 19 4 Inch Combat Magnum
Carried by the Texas Rangers
That alone tells the Story of One of the Finest Models Mfg by S&W
Carried by the Texas Rangers
That alone tells the Story of One of the Finest Models Mfg by S&W
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dogrunner
Member
Combat "MAGNUM" was the moniker..............Masterpiece was the M/15 designation.
amd6547
Member
I find the Blazer 158gn to be pretty accurate and fun to shoot in my 2.5" Model 19.
I've had more model 19's than I can count and finally sold them off in favor of the 66 a stainless version.
The K frame will shoot any .38 Spl and never complain. I've shot thousands of 125 gr .38's through mine.
When it comes to .357 ammo stay away from the 125 gr rounds. The 19 was designed for LE use. It was designed as a .38 Spl that can shoot .357 rounds. For range work I shoot only .38 Spl rounds.
The problem with the model 19 is the 125 gr mag ammo hits the forcing cone with so much force that it has caused cracking at the 6 o'clock positon of the barrel. There are no longer any replacement barrels available. For this reason stay with 140 gr or greater bullets in magnum rounds. Follow this advice and your gun will outlast you.
The K frame will shoot any .38 Spl and never complain. I've shot thousands of 125 gr .38's through mine.
When it comes to .357 ammo stay away from the 125 gr rounds. The 19 was designed for LE use. It was designed as a .38 Spl that can shoot .357 rounds. For range work I shoot only .38 Spl rounds.
The problem with the model 19 is the 125 gr mag ammo hits the forcing cone with so much force that it has caused cracking at the 6 o'clock positon of the barrel. There are no longer any replacement barrels available. For this reason stay with 140 gr or greater bullets in magnum rounds. Follow this advice and your gun will outlast you.
Grey Morel
Member
I have a good deal of experience with the Model 19
Growing up I used to shoot my dads 19-5 frequently. It's the gun that inspired my love of Smith Revolvers - it's why I have a 629 today, and why I'm drooling over the 310 Night Guard and model 48 Classic.
Growing up I used to shoot my dads 19-5 frequently. It's the gun that inspired my love of Smith Revolvers - it's why I have a 629 today, and why I'm drooling over the 310 Night Guard and model 48 Classic.
Hagen442
Member
amd6547
Member
I've fired a couple cylinders full of 125gn DoubleTap BondedCore ammo in my 2.5" Model 19 to confirm zero. I carry that load for SD.
roaddog28
Member
Hi,
The M13,M19,M65 and M66 family are to me the best handling and one of the most accurate 357 revolvers I have ever had the pleasure to shoot. They will take any 38 special round and in a 158gr round they are very accurate. I have three. A M13, M19 and M66. I also have two Rugers a Police Service Six and a GP100. The Smiths shoot a little more accurate but I would limit my 357 rounds to the 158gr. Blazer is a good round and Federal makes a good round also. For self defense I have the Buffalo Bore 158 gr 38+P LSWCHP. Tests have been done on this round and a person will see between 1200 to 1250 FPS in a 4 inch barrel revolver. Its a accurate round and the K frame magnum works very well with this round. You don't need a 357 round when you have the Buffalo Bore "FBI" round. You will not wear out your M19 out with this round.
You have in my opinion the best all around 357 revolver. Keep your 357 rounds in the 140 to 158 gr and keep the forcing cone clean and the top strap clean. The revolver will out live you.
Have fun and good luck,
roaddog28
The M13,M19,M65 and M66 family are to me the best handling and one of the most accurate 357 revolvers I have ever had the pleasure to shoot. They will take any 38 special round and in a 158gr round they are very accurate. I have three. A M13, M19 and M66. I also have two Rugers a Police Service Six and a GP100. The Smiths shoot a little more accurate but I would limit my 357 rounds to the 158gr. Blazer is a good round and Federal makes a good round also. For self defense I have the Buffalo Bore 158 gr 38+P LSWCHP. Tests have been done on this round and a person will see between 1200 to 1250 FPS in a 4 inch barrel revolver. Its a accurate round and the K frame magnum works very well with this round. You don't need a 357 round when you have the Buffalo Bore "FBI" round. You will not wear out your M19 out with this round.
You have in my opinion the best all around 357 revolver. Keep your 357 rounds in the 140 to 158 gr and keep the forcing cone clean and the top strap clean. The revolver will out live you.
Have fun and good luck,
roaddog28
For practice, you can use whatever .38 SPL (including +P) ammo you want. I like a 158gr LSWC with 3.4gr of Bullseye. If you don't like to clean the rings left behind by .38 SPL ammo in your chambers, there's not a lot of "practice" ammo out there in .357 Magnum, and a cheap Lee reloading kit will pay for itself in just a few boxes of ammo. In .357 cases a load of 6.5gr of Unique (or a similar load of Universal) behind a 158gr LSWC is a really nice easy shooting "step up" from .38 SPL. But in any case, don't take my data for granted - check your data manual.
I don't shoot "hot" loads through my M19.
For personal defense, the Remington .38 SPL 158gr LSWCHP+P or the Speer .357 Magnum 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel would be my choice.
I don't shoot "hot" loads through my M19.
For personal defense, the Remington .38 SPL 158gr LSWCHP+P or the Speer .357 Magnum 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel would be my choice.
BCRider
Member
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that widely different loads will hit the target at differnt points on a vertical line. Slower and heavier bullets take longer to exit the barrel because the recoil starts at the same time as the bullet starts to move. A 158gn .357 Mag bullet may spend less time in the barrel than a 110gn .38 Spl round. So it's important to sight the gun to the load you'll be using for defense for whatever range you select. Depending on the load you may or may not be able to match this barrel timing and trajectory of the magnum with a .38Spl load. With some testing you should be able to get darn close though.
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