S&W Model 19

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Mr_Flintstone

Mr_Flintstone

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I just inherited a mint .357 S&W Model 19. I remembered reading in the past that it wasn't a good idea to shoot 125 grain ammo in them, so I picked up some Federal SP in 158 grain to try it out.

What else can or can't I (or isn't a good idea to) shoot in this gun?
 
The Model 19 will handle any 357 Magnum round. But, a steady diet of full house 357 Magnum rounds will most probably crack the forcing cone.

Current internet lore says that only the hot 125 grain loads will do it, but hot 158 grain loads will do it as well. I damaged my Model 19 in the 1980s with a steady diet of hot 158 grain loads.

Fortunately, S&W replaced my barrel at that time but I understand S&W does not have old S&W barrels any more.

Hope this helps.
 
I have a 19-4 and don't care to shoot full power in a mid-sized gun. Of late I have been shooting 7.3 gr BE-86 with 158 aloxed MO LSWC Br 18. Br 12 works too, since it's not that hot a load. I had the throats and forcing cone done, because the gun was too tight for lead. Works great now.

My issue with the gun is that it is square frame, intended for open carry by some cop. The 686-6 with combat grip is better for concealment.
 
cfullgraf said:
The Model 19 will handle any 357 Magnum round. But, a steady diet of full house 357 Magnum rounds will most probably crack the forcing cone.

Current internet lore says that only the hot 125 grain loads will do it, but hot 158 grain loads will do it as well. I damaged my Model 19 in the 1980s with a steady diet of hot 158 grain loads.

Fortunately, S&W replaced my barrel at that time but I understand S&W does not have old S&W barrels any more.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks. What about .38 special? Anything wrong with shooting any particular type? +P???
 
I've been shocked at the reported values of 19's.
They are fetching north of $650. Which is double what I had been happy to sell ones I'd paid $250 for.
Those days are gone for sure, don't let someone talk you out of it.
If you want to run high velocity long term get an L frame but the 19's that I still have are prized possessions.
 
The model 19 is arguably one of S&Ws best and most popular designs. It packs full .357 power in the medium K-frame package. It is easy to carry and was the go to model for law enforcement until the rise of the auto craze in the 80s. The forcing cone problem has been exaggerated over the years. S&W says that the cracked forcing cones resulted from the heavy use of 125 grain police loads over an extended time. The problem results from the increased "jump" from cylinder to forcing cone when using shorter 110 and 125 grain bullets. Mr. Flintsone would be fine using any .38 spl. (regular or +P) and moderate use of .357 magnum cartridges. My model 19 and 66 have had countless .357 and .38 spl. rounds through them without a problem. I currently feed these guns a diet of mid range loads with 158 LSWC bullets. Easy on the guns and easy on me. :)
 
RealGun

Did the guns vary in grip frame, so that some were "right" for concealed carry?
Click to expand...

The "right" Model 19 Dog Soldier was referring to (along with the Gunbroker link he provided), would have been the round butt, 2.5" barrel version. A friend of mine had one that he had done an action job on and that was one sweet shooting .357 Magnum, even with some rather warm handloads that he had put together for it.
 
Experiences vary.

I have seen Model 19's start to shoot loose after 2,000 rounds of Magnums.

On the other hand they will digest many, many thousands of 38 and 38+P Specials.

I think you will find that shooting magnums in your gun is not a pleasant experience. The L-Frame is made for regular use of magnums.
 
I love the Model 19 but don't own one. Too many other guns appear, that I love, faster! :)

,oops,no Model 19 this week!
 
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I think the model 19 is one of the finest guns you can own. It can't digest a steady diet
of .357 ammo. So shoot .38 Specials in it most of the time and shoot magnums in it
when you need them.

Zeke
 
I thought that there was also a problem with flame cutting of the top strap with the 125gr hot loads. Is that a different model?
 
When I went on the road from the communications department at the PD in 1980, my first duty handgun was a blued model 19 4-inch. We were issued 125 grain Federal JHP. We mostly trained and qualified with .38s though. But, we did have to shoot some qualification with the .357 rounds. I would really love to have one again for old time's sake, but the cost has gotten so high, I don't see it in my future. I think at that time they were around $175-225.00 apiece. But then again starting patrolman pay was $6.50 an hour.
 
Round butt model 66
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You can shoot 125 grainers in it - just don't feed it a steady diet of that stuff. Gas cutting of the forcing cone WILL start to develop if you shoot a lot of the hot stuff. Just use moderate loads - 140 to 158 gr. If you shoot any load that produces a huge fireball you're into gas cutting territory.
 
Mr_Flintstone said:
Thanks. What about .38 special? Anything wrong with shooting any particular type? +P???
Click to expand...

No problems shooting 38 Special or 38 Special +P in a Model 19. You can shoot some magnum loads if you like with no issues, just be aware of the gun's limitations.

FYI, I was shooting handgun metallic silhouette competition with my Model 19 when I cracked the forcing cone. Lots of heavy 158 grain loads through the gun. It was the only suitable revolver I had at the time. While the Model 19 was off at S&W getting repaired, I bought a 10" 357 Magnum Contender to shoot silhouettes with. A bit more suitable for the task at hand using ammunition that I was already loading.:)

Side note, if you shoot alot of 38 Specials in a Model 19, or any 357 Magnum gun for that matter, a ring of carbon may build up in the chamber in front of the shorter 38 Special case that may prevent chambering a 357 Magnum round. A thorough cleaning will correct the problem.

If you reload, you can tailor loads in 357 Magnum cases to duplicate 38 Special level loads and prevent the build up of carbon. This is what I do. I enjoy shooting my K-frame S&Ws.

I never found the recoil in my 6" Model 19 objectionable. I suspect a 2-1/2" barrel version would be brutal though but I do not like shooting a 2" J-frame with 38 Special +P ammunition.

Enjoy your Model 19.
 
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20 Years ago I paid a retired park ranger 200$ for a pristine 4" Model 19. When I noticed my father was having a problem racking the slide on his WW II era 1911 I "loaned" it to him. He lived in Galveston when Hurricane Ike blew through. He lost everything nothing left but a slab. Still tear up a little bit when I think of it. The Model 19 that is. My dad left the island the day before the hurricane hit with a truck load of his possessions. Pistol was left in a nightstand drawer. :(
 
I've owned a dozen or more Model 19's over the years. I still have two of them.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't shoot them a lot, so I've never had to worry about wearing one out. But at the same time, I've never seen much sense in shooting high powered magnum ammo just to punch a hole in a piece of paper or to bounce a can around. The ammo costs more (even if I reload it), it kicks harder, and causes more wear and tear on the gun and my arm.

So I do most of my shooting with 38 Specials. And not even P+ 38, just plain old 38's (P+ will not hurt the gun however...they are WAY below the 357 threshold). They're not my carry guns. I don't hunt with them, and the paper I shoot doesn't take a lot of killing. I suppose if I was a cop and the Model 19 was my duty gun, I'd do it differently, but I'm not so I don't. I'd probably use an "L-frame."

I clean my guns at least fairly regularly so I've never had the problem with build-up in the cylinder. Nothing out of the ordinary cleaning, just cleaning. One thing that really helped was I stopped shooting plain lead bullets. Plated ones are a lot cleaner.
 
BSA1 said:
Experiences vary.

I have seen Model 19's start to shoot loose after 2,000 rounds of Magnums.

On the other hand they will digest many, many thousands of 38 and 38+P Specials.

I think you will find that shooting magnums in your gun is not a pleasant experience. The L-Frame is made for regular use of magnums.
Click to expand...
Or that you like shooting it better when you load your own moderate ammo, still magnum level power.
 
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