When the forcing cone wears, you just have a new barrel put on.

Seen a few 19/66 that had wear or split.

Consider it the cost of having fun. You shoot that much youve sent a good chunk of money down range
Barrel replacement should then be an acceptable cost IMHO.

4" .357 magnums are annoying in blast.

6" considerably more polite IMHO.

Think a 66 looks best as a 4" though, and a 686 looks best as a 6".

If one likes to run 38 spcl.....get a K frame
If mags your normal fodder, get the L frame.

The newer models supposedly stronger frame but they got some changes that hurt resale ( lock and other ).

The old stuff fetches silly prices