Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: lokidog on June 03, 2012, 11:28:40 PM

Title: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: lokidog on June 03, 2012, 11:28:40 PM: Anyone have any experience with one of these? Good, bad, ugly??

A buddy just got one and it looks like a good carry gun for my wife. I see there are at least three variations, exposed hammer, internal hammer rounded top, and internal hammer "contoured" (for lack of a better term) top.

Thanks.
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: KFhunter on June 03, 2012, 11:44:31 PM: yup

I shot that little turd FAR beyond what anyone could ever say a snubby like that should be shot. I had guys gawking as I handed them their asses shooting steel christmas trees. I liked the little button hammer, could cock it but wouldn't hang up on anything. You wife probably doesn't need that but it'd be nice if wanted. I wouldn't get the exposed traditional hammer though, hang up on clothing.

nice little gun
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: FC on June 04, 2012, 12:23:54 AM: I have the 638 Ed, (exposed button hammer) and I too have found it to be a surprisingly accurate little gun as well as easy to carry. If you are really interested and can't find one close by to shoot I'll let you (and your wife of course) try mine if you have a spot to shoot.

One thing though, recoil is pretty sharp with a lot of loads in such a light little gun, softest recoil I've shot through it was 158gr HSM ammo, pretty accurate too.
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: ICEMAN on June 04, 2012, 05:48:10 AM: Loki, this is my wifes carry.... She originally had the lady smith, exposed hammer but has recently transitioned to eh enclosed hammer.

Very reliable weapon. The gun is light and bites the hand a bit during practice so she only keeps the hp rounds in it for carry...
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: 300rum on June 04, 2012, 06:42:49 AM: Great pistols for what they do. They have a bit of recoil as already mentioned. The triggers are terrible, trigger work is needed on the newer ones. I am a Smith and Wesson fan number 1 but I do think that their quality control has gone down in the last few years on their revolvers. They aren't bad, just not what you picked up 10 years or so ago.

I too would lean to a hammerless model. Less of a chance to get hung up on something and zero chance of getting into a habit of cocking it in practice which can then show up when it is put in service for the "real" job.
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: lokidog on June 04, 2012, 07:31:57 AM: Thanks everyone.

FC, may take you up on that later this summer, maybe when crab opens so you have an excuse to come out. :)
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: 724wd on June 04, 2012, 11:44:28 AM: i've got a 637-2 - hammer gun. call me crazy, but i LIKE the hammer and in my drills havent had it hang up (knock on wood). would like to get laser grips for it, but it points nice and shoots where i aim it, so havent dropped the money yet.
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: KFhunter on June 04, 2012, 02:58:22 PM: Quote from: 300rum on June 04, 2012, 06:42:49 AM
Great pistols for what they do. They have a bit of recoil as already mentioned. The triggers are terrible, trigger work is needed on the newer ones. I am a Smith and Wesson fan number 1 but I do think that their quality control has gone down in the last few years on their revolvers. They aren't bad, just not what you picked up 10 years or so ago.

I too would lean to a hammerless model. Less of a chance to get hung up on something and zero chance of getting into a habit of cocking it in practice which can then show up when it is put in service for the "real" job.

that may well be true, the one I was shooting was an older one - perhaps 20 years old? Not sure the vintage.

sucks if they declined in quality - wouldn't doubt it.
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 04, 2012, 03:08:48 PM: I set out to buy one a couple of years ago. After shooting both, I liked the trigger so much better on the Ruger LCR I went with that instead. I am a big fan of hammerless 5-shot .38 snubbies, especially the +p models. It was nice to have one in the small of my back last Wed., when the family and I were locked down at the UW Roosevelt Clinic after the Racer Cafe shooting. The confidence I could protect my family, in the remote chance that shooter came our way, was priceless. Otherwise, we'd have been cornered rats, locked down at the end of a 2nd floor hallway with no exits.
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: Bean Counter on June 04, 2012, 03:20:28 PM: We have both the 642 & the 640. I first bought the wife the 642. She loved the size and weight but hated the recoil. I now carry it in my non dominant pocket as a BUG. She has the slightly larger and much heavier 640. she loves shooting that and has gotten used to the weight.

Speed loaders are a bit tricky.with.these guns. We have.better luck with Bianchi Speed Strips. Be sure to practice emergency reloads, whatever ammo.source you carry.
Title: Re: S&W Airweight 38 Special +p 1 3/4" barrel
Post by: WonkyWapiti on June 04, 2012, 07:50:30 PM: I've got one with the internal hammer that I use for a backup, night light little gun.