As American forces fought in the Philippines, US troops made an unfortunate discovery about the performance of their standard-issue revolvers chambered in .38 Long Colt. I love their satin finish on their stainless steel frames and barrels. S&W's 686 PC is a competition-class thoroughbred for discerning wheelgun addicts. But there is nothing obligatory about the Lawyer Lock particularly in law. Wood you would probably have to pay extra for nowadays, but was the standard when people cared about more than whatever was $5 cheaper than the gun next to it. Police Armorers recommended the gun only be shot with .38 special loads. Possible causes include the use of ammunition that is incompatible with the revolver. Its an internal lock that is activated via the key slot that is located just above the cylinder release latch on the left side of the revolver. Last night I primed 400 38 special cases with my last win smalls. 1 more deal from guns.com . In 1957 Smith & Wesson gave its handguns a number designation, and the blued-steel medium-frame .357 Magnum model was named the Model 19. But if you want to become really proficient shooting this gun,the .38/.357 combo is the way you want to go. Then again, I dont think we had home economics either, as girls learned to cook from their moms. I still have it and enjoyed many pistol qualifications over the years. I had an old Rossi .38 that did something similar. The Smith & Wesson Model 43 C is an AirWeight variation of our Centennial Model. No Smith with Hillary Hole for me. $969.00 . The first item that all the shooters noticed is how short the rear sight blade is, necessitating a shallow the rear sight notch. The arrival of the 1500 custom relegated it to the Distinguished matches and just plain having fun at the range. $19.99. The deep illustrious bluing found on all of the Classic revolvers from Smith & Wesson is simply one-of-a-kind. A very good finish, but no deep pools of gleaming blue. I tend to replace guns when I find something better. I wish S&W would go back to these earlier designs and improve them. Since the TTAG editors cut my last comment, Ill be nicer this time. My shooter is a 19-3, and my show off is a 19-4 (Detroit Police 1978 Commemorative) which has never been fired. Its part of S&Ws Classics line. If you remove or modify the lock, then you are risking being demonized by an anti-gun DA if you ever find yourself in court after a defensive shooting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Range work always brings out things that are not readily noticeable from a cursory examination. We shot a combination of full magnum loads as well as lighter .38 Special loads during two different range trips. The best thing to be done is make the cylinder gap as tight as possible, so as to limit how much heated gas can escape the gap. $26.00. There are even some exceptions where collectors have paid over $2000 for this revolver. Failure to Fire: Many users of Smith & Wesson 22A have an issue with light primer strikes or failure to fire. Specifications: Smith and Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum, Barrel Length: 6 (others available) The entire revolver frame, cylinder, and barrel is made . . God help the goblin that stops one. They will fix it and pay shipping. My problem would be waiting for S&W to replace it! Every thing you need in a fighting pistol and nothing you dont need. No speed loaders, no trigger pull gage, and no 4 barrel which is the length everyone carried back in the day when the Model 19 (and Model 66) was the preferred duty revolver for many in law enforcement. Even with a six-inch barrel, the gun draws well and points even better. I freely admit that this is where I am weakest, especially when I shoot while walking backwards. 1,025.99 . Still, the Model 19 is just soooooo beautiful. Make no mistake, the recoil is very stout! What I do know is that its difficult to find 9mm +P in any sporting goods store or gun store, period. As time progressed, Smith & Wesson looked for ways to reduce the manufacturing cost of the Model 19 and 66. Its failure due to the lock would not get me killed. He obviously doesnt realize that the cylinder comes to a complete stop when the hammer is falling and stays that way until the noise happens and the bullet is long gone. And it provides a nice increase in muzzle velocity over 2-inch and 3-inch barrels. Soon the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder were dropped while a number of improvements increased the service life. Most officers simply never fired enough rounds through their revolvers during their careers for this to be an issue. For more information, please visit Smith-Wesson.com. They were all out of timing and the forcing cones were showing serious wear. A .357 would do the trick because they shoot those cheap .38s, too. So in 1975, my first Model 19 arrived with all the target goodie options. I own one of the new Colt 3 inch fixed sight revolvers it is a stainless steel copy of the old 3 in California Colt Python revolver and the last one I saw on one of my firearms auction catalogs went for $14,000.00 I paid a great deal less for my new Colt 3 inch fixed sight revolver and I was as happy as a little boy on Christmas morning. The blued Model 19 had been dropped about five years earlier. Contrast all that with a semi-auto pistol. Regrettably, I now have to carry a semi-auto, and although I do well, I truly miss my Smith & Wesson revolvers. But in all fairness, you need to compare that snubby to a 3 or shorter 9 mm. If you tried to drill & tap the top strap so you could use a screw to hold a piece of material in that area, youd weaken the top straps tensile strength. The Smith & Wesson Model 19 "Combat Magnum" was one of the most beloved handguns ever made. . This revolver features rubber grips and is offered with a 2.75-inch barrel, as well as the standard 4.25-inch barrel. The 2.5-inch-barreled guns were offered with only the round butt, whereas the 4.0-inch-barreled guns and the 6.0-inch-barreled guns were offered with square butts. The only handguns guns with regular accuracy that can reach sub 1.5 @25 yd that are budget friendly CZ P-09 but it really needs trigger work. The Glock is the perfect example of this principle in semi-auto. Of course they are built like a tank and stand up to thousands of rounds of full power loads. The flat part of your forcing cone is normal for this revolver and is one of the reasons the guns fail when one puts a steady diet of .357s through their guns. Ill just be content with the half dozen pre-locks I have. The ranges are shorter and all that matters is hitting the target somewhere. My best draw and fire of six shots into the same circle at 15 yards was 4.17 seconds. And as far as the forcing cones are concerned, Ive never found out why S&W forcing cones on K-frames erode so much with magnum loads, and yet the cones of similar size in Ruger Security-Sixes dont. The reduction in metalexactsa price in the thickness and strength of the frames top strap. . I hope there are some gunleather fans on here! There are countless instances where .38 Special simply cannot get the job done and one needs a round with far more penetration. The 6.0- and 2.5-inch blued models were discontinued in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Over the years I used 4,6,2 1/2 19 and various others as assignments needs required. So you get some advantage, but not much. The K-frame is, IMO, the less desirable frame than the L frame in .357s when hurling the 158s downrange with a stout load of powder behind them. I retired as aFederal Det/Lt carrying a Sig P228. THE MODEL-19 IS A GREAT GUN. I did clean it, but it happed after 50 rounds of some very dirty Ammo. Smith & Wesson 586 Classic Problems. Bill Jordan was very fast with the K. A little practice, perhaps. Of course you should adjust for your round accordingly. An experienced smith fixed it for a few bucks. Notice how heavy the trigger pull was compared to the originals that often were set at only 3 lbs. I t will be liked by many but most new owners will not know what is to shoot the original for comparison. I can say for certain that with that round count and that bad of a malfunction I would most definitely be sending that one back! I have shot a model 66 with the new shrouded barrel and the lock. For several decades now S&W has had the attitude that they will build whatever they want and if the consumer doesnt like it, TOUGH SHIT, Im no longer willing to live with that attitude, too many good, older guns out there to settle for less. I carried it until I bought a 686 when it came out. Back then we were required to qualify at 50 yards and this weapon never failed me. In 1955, Smith & Wesson introduced the .357 Combat Magnum which would become the Model 19 two years later when the company went to a model-numbering system. It's an internal lock that is activated via the key slot that is located just above the cylinder release latch on the left side of the revolver. The L frame 586s make great guns for duty and walking around the woods and I use my 4 586 for just that. I CURRENTLY OWN A 6 AND A 4 MODELS, BOTH BLUE IN PERFECT CONDITION ,ALMOST NIB. Estimated New and Used Values for a Smith & Wesson 586 Classic Values are based on a basic model with no options or colors. I qualify with my 2 model 19 at 50 yards and have much tighter groups than that 66 at 25 yards. Joseph Von Benedikt is with Rafe Nielsen of Browning to take a look at a new X-Bolt series rifle. The Smith & Wesson R8 is everything the iconic Model 19 was and even more. A thorough reading of the entire article will provide a clear . The Classic also looks bigger in overall size so why would it be more delicate?, if so, it is a waste of money. Smith and Wesson Model 19-3 Genuine Factory Original Box with Tools Papers 1955. Then a couple of years later, I wised up and got an S&W 19 four inch and carried that until my wife bought me a Model 66 with a six inch barrel, the stainless version of the Model 19. I dont believe you need all that heavy frame on your .357 you got now. [Jordan was referring to S&Ws large N-Frame.] Further, Ive noticed that on S&Ws webpage, they always depict the revolvers showing the right (non-hole) side of the weapon. Im sure a lot of industry analysis, marketing discussions, etc went on before they decided to persist with that feature. Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic Features . It is significantly shorter than the rear sight on my 1975 vintage Model 19. Yes sir. I dunno. I put the gun away for the day. In single action, the trigger supposedly breaks at 4lbs. This is one place where this revolver absolutely shines. Side Refine Panel. Mr. Farago is always looking for quality gun-related content. Has that stupid lawyer lock which means these are hot garbage. PERFORMANCE CENTER Model 19 Carry Comp . I put 270 rounds of commercial .357 Magnum through the gun over four days of shooting. As I get older, their looks grow on me with each passing year. And it's an L-Frame as opposed to the blued K-Frame M19. SMITH & WESSON The Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic is a classic revolver that is perfect for self-defense. True, and Im not much of a fan of the 1-7/8 rev olver. There are no problems related to Smith . 10 Ring out of San Antonio did the complete action job on my 29 a few years ago. The weight makes up for the 4.0-inch length. I've noticed that at times the cylinder is hard to open. The K-frame S&W carries surprisingly well in a quality, high ride holster. They are obviously target stocks on both guns. The .357 still has an edge but not by much. 1. Regardless what I shoot, the best I can do is to stay inside the 5 bullseye of a B-16 target at 25 yards. Apparently, Gallery of Guns sells 5 GP100 with a satin finish. It is a widespread issue with this revolver. Then I add one or two more targets at various distances but none more than seven yards and practice fast transitions from target to target. As for the .357 Magnum itself, the Model 19 is, in my mind, outclassed by the Model 66, its stainless steel twin. Whilelarger departments could afford to issue Model 19s as duty weapons, many smaller PDsgave their officers guidelines asking them to buy their own weapons. I also practice shooting on the move, simulating moving to a position of cover. The old 19 is still more elegant, the new model must be taken for what it is, an unfaithful copy and a different revolver. (Pistols which have hammers sometimes feel a little better.) Still they were/are wonderful feeling guns. As support to these claims do a quick search on Google DR 158 LRN revolver site:www.bullseyeforum.net , But if you want the best ammo try Atlanta Arms .38 SPL 158gr LRN load or 110 or 125 gr jhp match ammo this will shoot sub 1.5 @ 25yd in any in spec 4+ barreled S&W revolver. But I felt like the Smith & Wesson Model 19 could do better. Part of that is due to the barrel length, but that grip plays a big part in double action fast (fastish?) I began handgunning with revolvers. Subscriber Services. The Model 19 Classic features a handsome set of walnut grips, a 4.25" barrel, a black adjustable rear and red ramp front sights. The Smith and Wesson Combat Magnum is alive and well. It is narrower with beveled edges and a polished smooth trigger face, and. I tested this multiple times using all three kinds of ammunition with the same results. Ended up giving it to a rookie in the early 80s who couldnt afford to buy his own while at the academy. Theyre a true shooters shooter. The 9K numbers were used over a period of three years, 1976-78, as follows: 1976: 9K1 to 9K13999 1977: 9K14000 to 9K83999 1978: 9K84000 to 9K99999 Hence, 9K887xx would have been serialized in 1978. It is hard to describe the appeal of revolvers. The trigger itself, however, is clearly superior on the older Model 19. Threats that might approach while hunting should give me time to discharge a formidable scoped 30-06 or AR. In the meantime, give the Model 19 Classic a look. 9.Problems with my S&W Model 19-7 in 357 Mag - Shooters Forum Author: www.shootersforum.com Publish: 17 days ago Rating: 2 (1136 Rating) Highest rating: 5 Lowest rating: 1 Descriptions: More : Source : https://www.shootersforum.com/threads/problems-with-my-s-w-model-19-7-in-357-mag.23345/ How the trigger pulls through the entire cycle and that pulls effect on the sights is ultimately what matters, not what a scale says. Because the .38 Specials we have been using have turned out a little puny a few times. There may be a gunsmith out there who doesnt care about the liability, but I havent found him, yet. The Model 19 was also offered in nickel finish. It features a 4-inch barrel, adjustable sights, and a smooth trigger pull for maximum accuracy. Note: The 19-3 revolver with 357 magnum self defense loads is always on my hip while hunting, just in case I run into an overly aggressive (or hungry) bear that wants to mess with me. But when I started shooting PPC in 1974, it was instantly obvious that, trying to do it on the cheap, a Model 10 simply wasnt going to work. I can appreciate this comment, however, Ive always considered my sidearm (pistol) as a close quarters (probably within 10 yards) defensive weapon. If you ever get into Grizzly territory youll want the .45. Check Price . Just didnt fit my hand. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Fortunately, in 2018, Smith & Wesson reintroduced the Model 19 in their Classic line. If the Hillary hole shows, my wallet stays closed. The most obvious difference is the arched profile of the frame, at the hammer. In good condition, it can sell for anywhere from $650 to $950 online. Smith has expanded their Classic line of revolvers to include thirteen models. These loads are not for the faint of heart. Every group from all variety of ammo loads are smaller than 2 @25 yards and you were disappointed? Finally, it isnt so long that it becomes overly difficult to carry or draw. They were available in both a deep blue and a polished nickel finish. Model 19 Classic Smith & Wesson Chapter 2 follow-up - YouTube New Model 19 Classic from Smith & Wesson. If you are so good, write your own article for us to enjoy. And it certainly outclasses any of the common modern service pistols in fit and finish. One thing that struck me was that you were disappointed with all sub 2 groups from 25yds from just a bag even. Is with Rafe Nielsen of Browning to take a look im sure a of. 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