Matthew Clark
Member
Hello fellow revolver fans. I would very much appreciate some background information on what is actually safe to fire in this gun. I recently found this one sitting in my LGS in pretty rough appearance. Years ago I had one of these when you could still buy one at Walmart of all places. I resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to be a revolver shooter due to being young and impatient and basically bull headed. I am right handed and lost my sight in my right eye at 24 years young. Taught myself how to shoot long guns lefty but just couldn't get the handgun thing to work for me. So much to the regret of my wife I sold the revolver. Since then I grew up alot and learned patience and perseverance and taught myself to shoot a handgun right handed with my left eye. It wasn't easy but I am now quite proficient with a handgun and have built up a respectable arsenal of revolvers both SA and DA as well as a few semi autos. So when I saw a chance to redeem myself with the wife I took it. $250 + tax and I took it home. Went completely through it cleaning and measuring. Much to my delight the revolver was sound mechanically. Perfect timing and hadn't really been shot much. No end shake and no forcing cone damage. Just pitifully cared for over the years. So I cleaned it up and polished it and worked the grips over and refinished them. Loaded up some 158gr SWC plain base cast bullets over 4.0gr W231, WSP primers and had a blast. Very accurate at 4" barrel range with aluminum can hunting. (25yds)
The 851 is slightly smaller than a K frame Smith and likely not +p rated. No pressure signs at all with that load and cases fall out of the cylinder. No chrono numbers yet but feels about right.
Now I have been told to not shoot jacketed bullets out of it, cast bullets only.
And no +p loads, only standard pressure.
The +p thing I get but what is the deal with no jacketed bullets?
Has anyone load tested handloads to find the limit of these in the past? I think I'm in good shape with the load I'm using but if I'm stressing it please let me know. Thanks for any insight you might be able to give.
Happy shooting all!
Matthew