1961 model 10

[Overalls87]

I've just recently purchased this gun. Anu issues with shooting it with 158 grain speer lswc/hp. I plan to load 3 grains of bullseye and cci or winchester spp???

[onelight]

That should give you around 700fps from a 4" barrel , should be a nice light load.

[tazman]

That combination is listed almost word for word on the Alliant data site. http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=158&shellid=26&bulletid=30&bdid=52

It should be quite safe as the load you want to use is actually under the listed maximum by half a grain.

[EMC45]

158gr with 3gr Bullseye? That is my everyday range loading for the Model 10 and any .38 special for that matter.

[Jniedbalski]

I have shot 3 to 3.5 gr of bullseye found no difference. I went to 3 gr wanted to be easy on my model 10. It’s the first S&w I could afford so I bought two police trade ins

[skeettx]

Great load, you should really enjoy it and it will not damage the sweet Model 10 :)

[Petrol & Powder]

As listed above, perfectly safe load and actually a little on the conservative side.

The S&W Model 10 (or any of the K-frames in 38 Special) is an OUTSTANDING revolver.

Congratulations on acquiring an iconic American gun. For my entire adult life I have owned at least one example of a DA revolver chambered in 38 Special, usually some version of a 4" S&W K-frame. You will not find a more universally useful or FUN, revolver.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

20 years ago I bought a used SP 101 in 38 special. It has SPNY stamped on the side so I figure it was a NY State Police gun. In August I scored a 4 " K 38 made in 1957. Minty and accurate as can be. I shoot that Lee 105 swc over 4 grains of BE.

[Petrol & Powder]

273799

Cosmic Charlie, the SPNY was a special run of SP101 revolvers made for the NYPD (New York CITY Police Department)
They were DAO with a frosted grey finish. NYPD never authorized .357 mag so authorized revolvers were always chambered for 38 Special and the SPNY was no exception.
By the way, the SPNY models were all made on the early "short frame" SP101 frames.

Those guns are a bit rare these days. If you still have it, hang onto it.

[onelight]

Learn something new here every time I look !
I didn't know they made a short cylinder sp101

[Petrol & Powder]

The early SP101 was made for 38 Special. The frame and cylinder was strong enough to handle 357 mag but the cylinder was not long enough to take some 357 mag cartridges. Ruger made some early 357 Mag models of the SP101 and marked the barrels "357 Magnum 125 grain ammo only". That lasted a short time before they redesigned the gun by lengthening the cylinder and the opening in the frame so that it could accept all factory 357 mag ammunition. They used up the existing short frames & cylinders to make 38 Special, .22 LR and other guns until they ran out of the short frames. After that, all of the SP101 guns were made with the longer frame.