Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Shot My 1980 Production "Combat Magnum" S&W Model 19-4

.357 Magnum

Dash 4 is pre-82, so it has the pinned barrel and recessed chambers, not to mention the superior polish and blue that was standard prior to 1982.

I'm not sure I've ever before shot this particular gun, although I've owned it for many years, mainly as a collection piece, as it appears to be brand new.



They didn't start making the snubbies for several years after they first came out with the Model 19 Combat Magnum. Snubbies were first offered in 1966, but they were an immediate hit, coming quickly to be thought of as the premier police snubby revolver and, of course, the cool factor is off the chart.

I was expecting lots of pain with the full house Magnums, but was surprised that, while stout, the recoil was more of a hard push than a punch to the palm, even with the diminutive factory wood grips.

Here's an off hand, double action, group from 10 yards.



After this group, I raised the rear sight about a half turn to put the subsequent groups dead center.

That is a very nice revolver. I had a Model 15 Snub at one time. No idea now why I traded it off. Looks like you are shooting it just fine.
I have thinned the herd of my revolvers the last Five years or so. They have pretty much gotten too high to buy back today.

Enjoy, it's a nice one.

Bob R

That’s a beauty for sure. 👍👍 You’re tougher than I am, and probably younger, full house magnum loads are a handful for me. Good shooting by the way.
My combat magnum is a little older, 1970, and has been shot some. Makes it to the range a few times a year. Great revolvers from a different era.

Nice

Nice

You have some nice handguns!

I used to carry the M66 version. But firing it inside a bldg in a close confines room is why my ears are ringing as I type this...

Made a promise to myself that I'd never own another .357magnum, and especially a short barreled one again. That was nearly 30 years ago, and I can honestly say I have had no trouble keeping that promise.

Well, they were 158 grainers. I've always noticed that 158 grainers were a good bit less unpleasant to shoot out of a K-Frame snubby than lighter stuff, like 125 grainers.

Back some 30 or 40 years ago, I always carried my S&W Model 65 snubby (3"), loaded with magnums, and at that time it was my doctrine to always practice with the same power level ammo as I carried, so I always brought .357 Magnum to the range with me to shoot, and that alone. That's when I discovered, to my astonishment, that while the lighter stuff was downright painful from a short barreled K-Frame, the 158 grainers weren't nearly so unpleasant, so I quickly adopted the policy of only taking 158 grainers to the range to shoot.

I'd likely have found it more unpleasant, yesterday, had I brought 125 grainers to shoot.

That's a common complaint. I've yet to do that. Only with hearing protection on (and usually outdoors), so far.

Hawk nice write up and nice smith, as per usual👍🏼

So, I take it that you never shot a Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casul. My 7 & 1/2" SRH in .454 is short enough for me.