Everything old is new again

[DanGunner]

While trying out my new (to me) S&W Model 69 .44 Mag Combat Magnum, it occurred to me that the extra locking mechanism on the cylinder crane, designed to give extra support while shooting magnum loads, is really a throwback. More than a century ago, when S&W brought out its "New Century" revolver for the then-new .44 Special cartridge, a longer version of the .44 Russian, it included a third lock for the cylinder crane because of the extra power of the .44 Special cartridge. It became known as the "triple lock" and is much prized by collectors and Elmer Keith famously used it for extra-hot .44 Special loads that were the foreruuner of the .44 Magnum, which then led to the development of a third lock on the Model 69. As this passage from Wikipedia points out, the .44 triple lock was abandoned by S&W after about 15,000 were manufactured. Subsequent .44 Special and .44 Magnum models got by with two locking lugs - until now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Triple_Lock

['ol shooter]

Right you are, some things should never change. I have to get by with an add-on ball lock for my 29 and 625 in .45 Colt.

[elSquid]

(cough) Ruger SP101 & GP100 (cough)



-- Michael

[Cowboy T]

(cough) Ruger SP101 & GP100 (cough)



-- Michael

(cough) and Ruger Redhawk (cough)

Yeah, that should've remained a standard feature on S&W's guns, especially anything in a Magnum-type handgun chambering. That's why Ruger did it in 1978 with the original Redhawk.

[splithoof]

While trying out my new (to me) S&W Model 69 .44 Mag Combat Magnum, it occurred to me that the extra locking mechanism on the cylinder crane, designed to give extra support while shooting magnum loads, is really a throwback. More than a century ago, when S&W brought out its "New Century" revolver for the then-new .44 Special cartridge, a longer version of the .44 Russian, it included a third lock for the cylinder crane because of the extra power of the .44 Special cartridge. It became known as the "triple lock" and is much prized by collectors and Elmer Keith famously used it for extra-hot .44 Special loads that were the foreruuner of the .44 Magnum, which then led to the development of a third lock on the Model 69. As this passage from Wikipedia points out, the .44 triple lock was abandoned by S&W after about 15,000 were manufactured. Subsequent .44 Special and .44 Magnum models got by with two locking lugs - until now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_...on_Triple_Lock

[IVC]

(cough) Ruger SP101 & GP100 (cough)



-- Michael

Haha, my exact thoughts when I read "tripple lock."

[DanGunner]

[splithoof]

I have a 90 year old S&W third model .44 known as Wolf & Klar model which is much rarer than triple lock.

[DanGunner]

I've done quite a bit of research and it appears that relatively light 185-grain Hornaday XTPs at about 900 fps give good expansion and penetration as a .44 Special defense load. For the range I shoot FMJ rounds, usually from Redline Ballistics in Sacramento when they have them, which is very uncertain these days. But I still have a couple of hundred rounds. I've bought a box of .44 Mag Blazer JHP to give the full power ammo a try one of these days.

[Che762x39]

I've done quite a bit of research and it appears that relatively light 185-grain Hornaday XTPs at about 900 fps give good expansion and penetration as a .44 Special defense load. For the range I shoot FMJ rounds, usually from Redline Ballistics in Sacramento when they have them, which is very uncertain these days. But I still have a couple of hundred rounds. I've bought a box of .44 Mag Blazer JHP to give the full power ammo a try one of these days.

Are you a reloader? Rolling your own not only saves money you can create the perfect load.

In 44 Special I like a 240 grain LSWC over 6 grains of Unique.

[DanGunner]

Are you a reloader? Rolling your own not only saves money you can create the perfect load.

In 44 Special I like a 240 grain LSWC over 6 grains of Unique.