Posted: 12/8/2007 12:31:15 AM EDT
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I have this gun with the same grips. I think it is a square butt. Model 65-4. Right? 
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I just saw a picture of insides, it is square, thanks for looking. I have another question if anyone can help me out. www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/seven_102105/ That article says there are problems with model 65 and magnum loads. Is that very common or is the author talking out of his ass? |
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I just saw a picture of insides, it is square, thanks for looking. I have another question if anyone can help me out. www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/seven_102105/ That article says there are problems with model 65 and magnum loads. Is that very common or is the author talking out of his ass? |
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The "K" frame was originally designed for the .38 special cartridge. When S&W started chambering them for .357 magnum (started with the Model 19) it was common practice to shoot .38 special for training and qualifications and to carry the more potent .357 round for duty/self defense use. Fast forward to the 1980's and the requirements to actually practice and qualify with your duty/carry ammo. The "K" framed .357's just aren't designed to take that kind of steady pounding, my department had several Model 66 S&W's blow the top straps from continuous use of our duty load, speer .357 mag 125gr JHP. My personal Model 19 developed cylinder binding against the back of the barrel from feeding it a steady diet of the magnum loads. |
SGB , could you estimate how many rounds were through those 66's , and did your Agency have an armorer or regular inspections of issued weapons? 
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Problems after only 300 rounds of magnum ammo? That's unheard of. And, the problems attributed with .357mags and K-frames are usually with the 125gr loadings that you mentioned at 1400fps+, but it's usually cracking forcing cones that are the problem. Blown topstraps? There's no way that a S&W revolver KB'd from .357's, even 125gr loads, in anything less than 2000 rounds, minimum, and even then, I'd be sceptical. My father's 4" M19 had many thousands of rounds of .357mag thorugh it, too, and never had a problem. I'd say there was definately a problem with the Speer loads you were using and were extremely overcharged to KB a revolver like that. When I turned 21, a well known gunsmith and friend of mine, Karl Sokol of Chestnut Mountain Sports built me my first carry gun, a 3" M65. I shot that revolver exclusively for many years, and nothing but magnum reloads out of it. I stopped counting at 9000 rounds of .357's, and nothing ever broke on it. Yes, I did get some flame cutting on the face of the cylinder and the topstrap, and the cylinder started to get some wobble. Nothing that wasn't repairable, but I ended up trading it after becoming an LEO and it not being approved for off-duty use due to it being modified. Oh, BTW, if anyone has a modified 3" M65 serial number BPS1861, I'd like to buy it back from you! Anyway, I just had Karl build me two more K-frames. One 2-1/2" M66 P&R and one 3" M13. I'll shoot mostly .38 Special out of them, but I sight them in with Federal 125gr .357's, and I don't worry about it one bit. |
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The two 66's I observed let go right at the back of the barrel, the forcing cones were split at the top and the top straps were buckled up. One top strap was broken clean through and the other about 75% across. As to round count I can only attest to what was used by dept requirements, lots of the guys shot often as the department provided the ammo and the targets. Both 66's were first run early 70's guns and if memory serves me it was 83 or 84 when the problems occurred. My Model 19 had deep flame cutting of the top strap when it started binding the cylinder against the back of the barrel. The speer 125gr was a hot load, that's why we carried it. |