.357 ammo for S&W 13-3?

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Will_G

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A few weeks ago I came into possession of a S&W 13-3. It dates to 1982 and appears to have been exported outside the U.S. and then brought back by C.A.I.; perhaps it was a police gun but there are no markings that I have noticed.

I have read that these revolvers can have problems with hotter .357 loads so was wondering: would these cartridges be a relatively safe load for a 13-3?

https://www.pbrammo.com/deputy-line-357mag-158gr-lrnfp

The price doesn't look that bad, either.

Thanks, Will
 
The problem arose when shooters started shooting 125gr jacketed bullets at high speeds. Those 158gr lead bullets are what the k frame was designed to shoot. Have at it!

You did break the picture rule though. We need pics!!! lol
 
Those 158gr lead bullets are what the k frame was designed to shoot.
Click to expand...

Not to mention those 158gr bullets are loaded to less than 38 Special ballistics...

FPS: 652.9 / 771.9
 
Yeah just relooked at the link, these are so called cowboy loads. They are not loaded to .357 magnum specs though I suspect they use .357 marked brass. As for these loads , they will not harm your .357 in anyway that I can see, so shoot away although bring a brush and bore solvent cause I foresee alot of scrubbing in your future :D
 
Yea stay away from the hotter loads as a steady diet, shooting,a few here and there or for SD isn't going to hurt. The load you picked is fine. Is it a 3 in or 4? A pic is needed lol.
 
Not just light weight bullet magnum loads will crack a forcing cone in an S&W K frame revolver. A steady diet of 158 grain bullets, magnum loads will do it as well.

My Model 19 is on it's second barrel.
 
cfullgraf said:
Not just light weight bullet magnum loads will crack a forcing cone in an S&W K frame revolver. A steady diet of 158 grain bullets, magnum loads will do it as well.

My Model 19 is on it's second barrel.
Click to expand...
Never heard of that, I shoot mainly 158gr and 180 gr through my model 19-4 and model 65 smith with no issues.
 
Thank you guys for your kind replies. You have indeed noticed the FPS for this brand of ammo is not all that fast, and I was thinking that a steady diet of this stuff might not be too hard on the revolver. Plus if it is .357 and not .38, perhaps it will help avoid the carbon ring buildup. The forcing cone and barrel seem to be in good shape.

Attached you will find two side-view photos. This Model 13-3 actually has decent bluing except around the muzzle - holster wear?

pnha1bivj.jpg

pmDb4bmwj.jpg
 
Thanks, guys! I WAS amazed, really, by the bluing - quite pretty. As for the ammo, well, that is indeed what I was pondering: what diet would be a "last forever" diet. So perhaps I'll just stick to 158-gr. 38 as that is what I am used to dealing with and it is fairly easy to get.

Will
 
I stick to 158gr LSWC's at around 1100FPS estimated in my M19's.
Or plated 125gr bullets at a few hundred FPS less.
But I reload so I have a little more flexibility than some.
 
One of S & W's gunsmiths put a note in with a k frame that they fixed on their dime which basically said "These guns were never designed for a steady diet of .357 magnum rounds. Practice with .38's and carry magnums."
 
When the original Model 19 - same K frame, adjustable sights - came out with support by Bill Jordan, it was said that the gun was meant for 75% Specials, 25% Magnums.

I know of one locally that went 6000 full charge 158 gr SWCs but I realize there are others that did not hold up.


Jeff Cooper said the WORST thing about a .357 was that you could practice with Specials and not be prepared for the blast and recoil of Magnums.
 
I am sometimes surprised at the popularity of the .357 K-frame given its relative fragility.
 
Sergei Mosin said:
I am sometimes surprised at the popularity of the .357 K-frame given its relative fragility.
Click to expand...

There are those (myself among them) who prefer the K-frame Smith over other sidearms, or at least over other revolvers. The gun just feels right, and function is usually 100%. It is natural to wish it shot something a bit more powerful than .38 +P.

Bill Jordan was right to ask them for a .357 version, but Smith and Wesson may have made a mistake in taking him up on it.

S&W introduced a revamped model 66 .357 a couple of years ago. Anyone heard how that has turned out?
 
The new version M66 has a full round barrel shank without the bottom flat that is a weak point. I don't know if anybody has tried to wear one out yet.
 
Hi,
I used to have a model 13-2 4 inch. I used to shoot the Blazer 158gr 357 magnum through this revolver all the time. Its a target type round. You can find this round at most of the online ammo sites. Most the time you can get either aluminum or brass casing boxes. The price will be $22.00 to $24.00 a box. My revolver was very accurate with this round. You should not have to worry about hurting your revolver.
Good luck,
Howard
 
My 4" 19-3 loves the 158gr 357mag Federal load.
But it's seen considerably more lightly loaded 38 specials and is still going strong.
 
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