I'm not advocating anyone do as I have done, but back in the mid-80's I purchased a wreck of a 1903 vintage L.C. Smith 5E from Herschel Chaddick. The gun was less than honestly described, but had knock-out engraving; so I kept the piece and eventually had Buck Hamlin restore and re-stock the gun. It also had 32" tubes and was, at eight pounds, a little on the heavy side; so I had the chambers stretched to 3" (had more than adequate wall thickness) thinking the longer chambers might lessen chamber pressures a tad. At any rate I eventually shot a fair number of modern 3" mags thru those tubes and this old Smith gun digested those heavy loads without the slightest hint of heartburn (Buck has glassed the stock head). Again, I'm a lot older and "wiser" now, so would never do again, or recommend someone do some of the things I've done; but a solid "R" framed Smith gun is capable of much, much more than some might believe.
