Smith and Wesson's metallurgy has improved in the last few years to the point where "shooting loose" isn't even an issue.

That's why I dumped my Rugers and went back to Smith and Wessons.

I feel the Smiths have better balance, are more compact, and are much more versatile being double action.

$bob$

I shot my 1st Ruger SBH a bunch w/ max. loads in Met. Sil. It still shoots but the throat is so wahsed out it's unsafe w/ jacketed loads (spits jacketed pieces bad). I load my S&Ws w/ med. loads for all practice & reserve heavy loads for hunting or other social purposes. If you want hell for stout, get a FA.

Shot the 6" Freedom Arms and 6" 657 last Thursday and again today with several different top end loads. 22 grains of H110 with both 255 and 265 grain Cast Performance Bullet Company bullets were shot into gallon jugs of water. First shot was with the 255 (1350 fps with 5.5" barrel). Went through 4 gallon jugs of water, one piece of 3/4" plywood, a 4x4" post and the about 5" into the bank of sand beyond. The bullet was recovered and looked like if it was put back through the lube sizer and had the gas check put back on you could fire it again.... The 265 (has not been chronographed) was then shot into 6 gallon jugs of water, 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood and the 4x4" post backing them up. The 265 went through the jugs, both pieces of plywood and hit the 4x4 post. It made an indentation about 1/2 the nose deep and then bounced out...it was not recovered.



A 200 grain Speer JSWCHP went through 4 jugs and burried itself into the first sheet of plywood. The nose sluffed off down to the jacketed area and then it just kept going. This was with 13 grains of SR4756 (1350 from a 4" gun). Top load in a S&W but not the FA or Ruger guns.



The 210 Speer Gold dot HP with 13 gr. of SR4756 (about 1325 fps from a 4" barrel) expanded perfectly and was found in the second gallon jug. Doesn't appear to have lost any weight at all.



The two cast bullet loads were fired in the 657. When the cylinder was opened and the gun inverted three of the six cases just fell out. No pressure at all required to push the other three out. The 255 grain load has been fired in all my S&W guns with no problem. Velocity ranges from 1200 fps from the above mentioned 4" 57 to into the mid 1400s with a 7.5" Bisley. Also shot this load from a Marlin Carbine. At 50 yards 5 shots went into 1" from the sitting position.... This bullet doesn't work in TC barrels. The bullet design is such that the nose of the bullet runs into the rifling before the case fully seats. The 265 has more taper to the nose and works fine however...





Work these loads up slowly....



Bob