Originally Posted by
BruceB
Rocky, pard;
Your concern is much appreciated....and UNDERSTOOD.
I'll be another interested reader of Larry's results when they become available.
Back when we were loading those "intrepid" .38 Specials, we certainly knew that we were treading hard on ground held by the .357. It was done by intent, both as an interesting foray into "steroid-izing" the .38, and as an answer to a perceived need for more performance from the .38.
As you noted, we did use decent guns.... Smiths and Colts (including a New Service...what a beast that was!). This was going-on in the mid-1960s, when both money and guns were limited. Today we have legions of .357 revolvers of every conceivable configuration....including some that I have NO desire to fire, thanks. The K-38 shares the same frame as the M19 .357, as you well know, and it was just as comfortable to shoot. My current 19 actually sees mostly loads that approximate the old .38 "intrepid" loads of forty years ago. Full circle, there.