LGS morsels of revolver goodness.

The 2 1/2 inch M19 is a niche gun. It fits a particular use, and people either like them or they don't. Speaking for myself, I consider it one of the best carry guns ever built, but you gotta be dedicated to carrying the thing. It's like a full-sized 1911 - not the easiest gun to carry but absolutely awesome if you are willing to go to the trouble to tote it and conceal it. I know if I had front-row tickets to a gunfight, my short M19 would be one of the handguns I would carry, second to my BHP.

Anyone who doesn't have one, ya oughta try it. Good price.

Three-inch J-frames rock too. Good price on that one. They are scarce around here.

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The three five seven Magnum is one of my favorite revolver calibers however it is worthwhile to realize how dramatically barrel length affects velocity, especially very short barrels.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html

Note that most rounds in the short barrel length do not even break 1000 fps. In perspective, most rounds out of your 9mm HiPower (also one of my favorites) will actually beat out the Magnum for actual power. Muzzle blast from the snub nosed Magnum is no indication of actual power.

Kinda like the .22 WRM. These Magnums lose lots of their magic at barrel length under 4 or 5 inches.

Byron

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Both the Cor Bon 125JHP and the Federal 130 Hydra Shock loads beat those figures by a bit.

My S&W M340PD w/ 1 7/8" barrel; CorBon 125JHP 1192 fps avg. 5 shots. Hydra Shock 1170fps for 5.

Security Six 2 3/4"; CorBon 125JHP 1235fps. Hydra Shock 130 1205fps.

Not great considering what longer barrels get, but they won't bounce off either.

The Security Six 130 Hydra Shock worked great on a large pitbull/mastiff bad dog. One shot, through the lips and off the side of the teeth, re-entering just inside the shoulder about half way up the body.
Put him on his nose and a few wild twitches later, lights out.

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That's why my short M19 is commonly loaded with Winchester 140 grain Silvertips. Apparently those things are loaded with a powder that's suited to short barrels. Recoil and muzzle blast are much subdued compared to most other .357 loads, but performance in water-filled milk jugs is impressive. At least in limited testing - two rounds totally destroyed my jug-holding fixture and I haven't tried any more of them since I built another, stronger one.

I'm working on a handload that will duplicate the .38 Special +P 158 grain "FBI" load in .357 cases, using Bullseye or Unique, for casual use. A 158 grain LHPSWC at 900-950 fps would be quite adequate for that. Factory .38 +P or Silvertips have CCW duty covered.

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The .38 Special FBI load of a 158 gr lead hollow point at 1000 fps has been "proven" thousands of times (for real) over the past 50 years and will handle 90 percent of any shooting that needs be be done with a sidearm.

Byron

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