Smith wesson model 12 frame cracking issues

There has been a trend to everlighter handgun frame construction, in an. Smith and wesson introduced the most successful revolver of all time in 1899. Great revolver but i had a problem with it the steel frame was cracked. This has been probably been discussed so mush its like beaten a dead horse but i always thought the rugers where stronger, the smiths are more refined better triggers better finish etc. Dec 06, 2018 smith and wesson model 69 combat magnum. Have a dan wesson model 15 with barrel length of 2, 4 and 6 from gunbroker. Aug 11, 2012 smith and wesson model 12 airweight alloy frame version of the model 10. I did crack a model 19 back in the 70s before that became common knowledge. I have to agree on the older model smiths having much bbetter triggers in general, but i agree with others that it can be a very casebycase gun by gun situation. In 1966 the french police purchased model 12s with 3inch barrels, round butts, and safety catches.

This model 12 is in excellent condition with only a faint turn line. The smith and wesson triple lock was the choice was many professional shooters. Like the lcr, the model 640 is a doubleactiononly dao wheelgun with an internal hammer. Dont be scared of all the hype that k frames cant handle magnums i know no one who wastes time powder and recoil abuse shooting magnum all the time. I intend to load nothing but 158gr for of any 38357 simply because i can stock up on one bullet, and i am a firm believer in heavy bullets vs. Frame cracking on aluminum framed pistols is the most common failure in the. The frame is silver anodized alloy, finished in a manner similar to that of the stainless slide. Produced with a solid frame and a swingout type of cylinder. The model 10 and the model 11 and their predecessors in the days before the numbering system was initiated are almost. Partly because of their out of the box accuracy, but also their. In fact, you can even fit it inside of your pockets. Oct 31, 2016 i usually head right to the range with a pistol.

The forcing cone crack was in the model 19 and not the model 66. Later made guns have the model number and dash number stamped on. No doubt a new model 12 with better modern alloys and no lock would sell like hot cakes, but smith seems to hell bent on neglecting their revolver fans. May 25, 20 this was supposed to be a surprise unboxing but this turned into a big fail. Company rationale was thatlike the k frame problems. The companys jframe airweight series dates back to the 1950s when these. The 686 was a good move, but i should of still hung on to the model 19. This was supposed to be a surprise unboxing but this turned into a big fail.

Because of the model 19s history and my love of wheel guns, i spent a few nights practicing my draw, dry fire and reload drills. Cylinder cracking problems led to the adoption of the lowpressure. I just bought a bran new smith and wesson model 586 lcomp. I have seen many times where dw is the sweetheart of the silhouette crowds. I thought this was a decent price and was tempted to get it.

Smith ultimately solved the problem by bringing out the l frame for 357 magnum and stopped production of 357 mag in the k frame for decades no one was cracking the j frame. It was built on the largerl frame with a full underlug barrel. The new guns front locking plunger is now on the frame. The thinking back then was you practise with 38s and used 357 mags. Fine checkering decorates the top of the frame and barrel. Over time, problems with excessive endshake will develop on a steady diet of full house. What makes stainless steel stainless is chromium, 12 % or better.

Brand new 686 performance center competitor cracked frame. Discussion in general firearms forum started by tn. What happens to all of the model 19s with cracked forcing. Jun 06, 2019 i, am not sure why the lframe was even brought up when i, was in high school there was the jframe, kframe and nframe when cracking started appearing on the kframe due to so much highpower. J frame revolvers since at least 1952 centennial revolver.

The model 19 was meant to be carried with magnums, but it needs. This gun was made until 1988, when it was replaced by the model 6906, which is essentially the same gun, with a single piece grip, a cosmetic change in the safety, and three dot sights. There may be a kernel of truth to what the smith says but im convinced that the internet has blown any cracked forcing cone issues way out of proportion in recent years. The model 36 im looking at is a 36 no dash in excellent condition. They also produce revolvers and semiautomatic pistols, rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns. Happily they promptly and swiftly replaced the frame and it has withstood the 44 mag test rounds i have put through it so far. Shooting a model 12 for testfiring purposes, i chose a wellused, 4inch, squarebutt model 12 3 from my personal collection. The safety catch consisted of what appeared to be a second cylinder release latch on the righthand sideplate that, when pushed forward, locked the hammer and trigger. Five business days later i got a call from smith and wesson customer service. Smith and wesson later concurred with this opinion.

The cracks were immediately beneath the guns barrels and both had been fired. Much to my most pleasant surprise, they posted me, gratis, a brand new model 41 magazine. Before the 12 4, these revolvers had a frame that was 0. I know you and wgs have explained the k frame thing to me before, i just forgot about the flat spot being the issue. Becoming the model ten in 1957, the k frame revolver is the ideal size for daily carry and a wellbalanced handgun. My 329pd frame warped enough to prevent the cylinder from even entering the frame window in 18 rounds of 44 special.

So when you hear small, you know youre getting small. Back in 1993 smith and wesson reintroduced the centennial j frame revolver as the model 442. There should not be a noticeable crack appear between the yoke and frame when pressure. I went up to a 686 just to be certain to avoid any problems. The serial number dates this model 12 to circa 197475. Availability subject to applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances. Jun 16, 2008 ive been looking for a 9 mm pistol thats within my budget for a while now. That was really a great gun and it was a mistake to get rid of it.

Problems with cracking led to a change to steel cylinders. Produced continuously from 1957 to 1999, tens of thousands of police officers carried a model 19 on their hip, including us immigration and naturalization service. I have researched this on the web and found it to be a problem with the aluminum frame 669s. I received this a few days ago, but wished to take it to range and ascertain its functionality before making this post. I was wondering if anybody has one, or has shot one, and has some feedback about this particular pistol. Dont forget to rate, comment, and subscribe shooting this revolver at the range a couple of weeks ago resulted in an overtightening of the barrel. The problems seem to be with shooters using bullets in the 125110 grain area. N frames are made in 357 magnum, 44 special, 44 magnum, 45 acp and 45 colt. Most of problems i have seen with k frames are timjng.

A cracked forcing cone means the demise of a fine gun. The companys j frame airweight series dates back to the 1950s when these gunschambered first to. Dec, 2019 my g20 went down the road, and i went on through life without a 10mm. The model 66 is the stainless version of the model 19. Design, quality and quality control problems have been endemic to smith and wesson firearms for decades. Grand rapids, mi usa i have often found myself in conversation, be it at the range or gun store, debating why more people. It works perfectly no jams, failures to eject, or any other problems which may be the firearms fault. I personally dont know of a case where an airweight was shoot a. Just off the top of my head i can think that some of these problems might be due to using hot factory or hot handloaded ammo. One of the companys most popular designs is the model 640. Guns numbered in the teens were all made on the firms durable k frame. I was very upset and expressed my unhappiness to smith and wesson.

Are you confusing the 19 with the model 12 which is an alloy frame with a history of problems of the frame cracking. Smith and wesson revolver model 586 lcomp 357 magnum. Lframe magnum in 1981 came about to address the issues inherent to the kframe magnums. Sep 06, 2010 the model 12 airweight was also being produced although it had a carbon steel cylinder they were deemed safe for repeated firing, but not issued to the armed air forces. Anyone having any problems with scandium frame revolvers. My ffl dealer says to be very careful because they have a problem cracking the frames. Such pre1958 medium kframe revolvers can be identified by the absence of a model number stamped inside the yoke cut of the frame i. In doubleaction, the model 19s stock trigger supposedly comes closer to 12lbs, but. And that when alloyed with steel makes the steel much tougher.