S&W K frame revolvers - ammo type

shootist57

shootist57

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I have a Model 65 (NIB) and am wondering about ammo. I've read alot that suggests that the modern 125 grain .357 magnum ammo is hard on the forcing cone because the ammo that was available when these were prevalent was 158 grain stuff ..... the bullet being a little longer (?) thus giving it a good head start as it were.

If the above is true, I was wondering if the .38 special ammo would also be a problem because the case and bullet is considerably shorter. Most claim you can shoot the .38spl ammo endlessly.

Maybe I'm looking at this wrong .... any comments would be appreciated.

Andrew
 
S&W K frames

shootist57 said:
Most claim you can shoot the .38spl ammo endlessly.
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I've had numerous & still have a couple S&W wheelguns on the "K" frame. In the early 80's and into the early 90's I literally shot thousands of 158 grain SWC .38 Special reloads thru a pair of S&W Model 10's. One had a 4" heavy barrel and the other was a round butt 2" snubbie. Both started out NIB. No ill effects after thousands of rounds thru each. The actions just got very smooth, that's all... ;)
 
Endless .38spcl through a k-frame? True,true,true. Ask any PPC shooter with a K or L frame, Ruger or Colt. Tens of thousands of rounds through the guns w/158 SWC & 148WC.

Steady diet of full-bore .357 loads through a k-frame may shake the poor thing apart, better to get a heavier framed gun.

My $.02
 
I'd doubt that you'd want to shoot lots of 357 in a K frame, you would end up with very sore, and possibly nerve damaged hands. As far as shooting 38's in a 357 I put 5,000 through an L frame. I also put 30,000 through a K frame, with NO appreciable wear (it was pretty smooth by the time I sold it, but still in time and still highly accurate)
 
thanks

I guess the .38spl is not an issue. Would there be an advantage to shooting 158 grain .357 loads compared to the 125 grain? would it be easier on the forcing cone?
 
ian_in_vic said:
I'd doubt that you'd want to shoot lots of 357 in a K frame, you would end up with very sore, and possibly nerve damaged hands. As far as shooting 38's in a 357 I put 5,000 through an L frame. I also put 30,000 through a K frame, with NO appreciable wear (it was pretty smooth by the time I sold it, but still in time and still highly accurate)
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The k-frame and l-frame share the same size grip.
 
Nice.

Nice. A new in the box model 65. See my envy?
You can shoot thousands of light and mid range 38special loads through that fine 65. Even some occasional 38spl +P rounds wouldn't hurt.
A steady diet of magnum loads will ruin the gun. Why ruin a fine piece of revolver design. Plus your indoor buddies will detest you for shooting magnum loads indoors.
Treat your 65 right and it will last a lifetime. Really....
 
M65

hatman1793 said:
Nice. A new in the box model 65. See my envy?
You can shoot thousands of light and mid range 38special loads through that fine 65. Even some occasional 38spl +P rounds wouldn't hurt.
A steady diet of magnum loads will ruin the gun. Why ruin a fine piece of revolver design. Plus your indoor buddies will detest you for shooting magnum loads indoors.
Treat your 65 right and it will last a lifetime. Really....
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Not only new in box, but "Shootist" has the more scarce 3" HB, round butt model. A beautiful revolver
 
Concerning .357MAG in MDL 13 or 65 or 19 and 66. As we were going to a change at my work place for 9MM semi, and having the chance to purchase good .357 GS 125 Grains, we started doing the last requalification with these loads. We usully shoot between 100 to 150 rounds at each session (4 hours long) and the K frame began to broke after 10 to 15 sessions, even the last batch of MDL 65 in the serial range of BHE###X(1992 manufactured). The forcing cone is the problem, if you look, they are squarely finish, and there is a gap at this place(bottom of the barrel). The 125 gr .357 are load with extremely hot powder. These two fact( sorry for my english) mix together made the forcing cone to split and render the gun useless. If you continue to shoot the revolver after that, the steel will brittle and the forcing cone will trow shrapnel of that brittle steel with all the side effect attach to this condition. As Hatman is writing, keep it load with .38 or some .38+P, and no ill effect will happen to your 65. BTW, we used to loaded and practiced with Federal 125 Gr JHP .38 + P before the switch to the 9, and these revolver were all in excellent mechanical condition, even if some of them, old MDL 10, were 40 years old.

Yves
 
I`ve been shooting the same K-frame for 40 years of PPC, with practise and competitions I figure I`ve put over 500,000 through it maybe more with no problems at all. 148 grain wc and 158 grain swc. I`m still using the same revolver and it is still very accurate.
 
jaydeee said:
I`ve been shooting the same K-frame for 40 years of PPC, with practise and competitions I figure I`ve put over 500,000 through it maybe more with no problems at all. 148 grain wc and 158 grain swc. I`m still using the same revolver and it is still very accurate.
Click to expand...

And that, Kids, is how you develope skill with a handgun :D
 
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