If I may, I'd like to interrupt this love fest with a couple of questions, relevant to the original post of this thread.
First, one of the Linebaugh articles cited on the first page states that the frames of the S&W revolvers chambered in .45 Colt aren't heat treated like the magnums are and that makes them more likely to suffer long-term wear damage from a steady diet of heavy loads. Does anyone know for certain if that situation has changed?
Secondly, some time ago, S&W developed an Endurance package for magnum caliber N frames that strengthened internal parts subject to wear from recoil. That wear, which I have experienced first-hand on an early 629, allows the cylinder bolt to release enough under recoil that the cylinder can rotate out of position, causing a chamber to be skipped. Similar lockwork improvements along with a crane detent, made the L frame .44s possible. Does anyone know if the Endurance package has been added to the S&W .45s?
