Chief's Special

Z

ZVP

New member
Always wanted one, finally got one!the sesMpdel
Has to be about the best carry/pocket revolver ever!
Just does everything well!
Yes, plus P's have more power than the.38 Special but if you are a decent shot the .38 special will do it's job!
Light powerful small, the Chief is the quintessential "carry gun!"
ZVP
 
Gotta love those Chief's Specials. Great little guns.

I'm very partial to the 1962 square-butt flat latch model I have.

mod36flatlatch.jpg
 
Hello ZVP,,,

I am also a fan of the Chief's Special,,,
It's one of my guns I will never part with.

But please tell me what a "the sesMpdel" is? :confused:

Aarond

.
 
Far as I was able to research, mine is a 1985 nickeled version. Former owner bobbed the hammer. I sorta like the D/A only. Makes me work exclusivelly in an area that I'm weak at! Has a heavy trigger tho.
I sure am happy with the little sweetheart!
I shoot either 158 or 130 g factory ammo only.
ZVP
 
So,,,

Where is the pic of your little beauty?

Here's mine,,,
I named her Velma,,,
Along with my Model 34 named Velda.

VelmaVeldaWood.jpg


I didn't know mine was a flat-latch,,,
Until I saw the picture of lowercase's gun.

Aarond

.
 
I picked up this 36 a while back for around $200 because most of the bluing was worn off and it had some rust. The frame lug was also loose, so I replaced it. The action was still tight.

38snubnose.jpg


I stripped off the remaining bluing and sanded it down to about a 400 grit. As you can see in the picture it's down to bare metal. I'm now in the process of "rust bluing" it. It's turning out pretty nicely.
 
I carried a 3" square butt for years, and I guarantee the loads I used were a lot hotter than the wimpy +P rounds for sale today. The gun is still in top shape except for minor holster wear.

Jim
 
I just got this one two weeks ago. I was actually on here looking for info about it to see how good a deal a got on it. I'm glad to see it is a popular choice for cc.
 

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Mine's the 37 Airweight. Built 68 or 69. Looked virtually unfired when I bought it early this Summer. Great gun for pocket carry. I'm afraid it won't look new much longer.
 
How well do the air weights hold up ? Are you leary of shooting full loads in them ? I have a model 37 air weight on lay away but am a little leary of it loosening up, should I be ?
 
By "full loads" do you mean +P rounds? If so, and it's an earlier model not rated for same, you might should be leery of firing very many of them in it in terms of it "loosening up". Most revolvers rated for +P loads will say so somewhere on the barrel. It should be noted, however, that any handgun firing +P loads continually, whether rated for them or not, will loosen up over time faster than they would if using only "standard" loads.
 
I have two the model 36 and a model 60 love them both. Bought the 36 in 1970 and the 60 was a retirement gift from my LEO agency.
 
I meant standard full loads, not +P loads.
You guys that have the older chief specials that are not rated for +P, do you feel you are missing anything ?
What loads do you guys use in pre +P 38's for self defense ?
 
I meant standard full loads, not +P loads.
You guys that have the older chief specials that are not rated for +P, do you feel you are missing anything ?
What loads do you guys use in pre +P 38's for self defense
Click to expand...
As far as I know, a model 36 all steel revolver is ok with +P loads. S&W states in their online manual, model number S&W 38 special revolvers made from 1957 or later are okay to use +P ammo. I have a model 36 no dash and yes I use 38 +P ammo in the revolver. Either Remingtons LSWCHP 158 gr +P or standard pressure Buffalo Bore LSWCHP 158 gr would work fine. And another load that would work is Buffalo Bores cast wadcutters in 150 gr. Actually the all steel model 36 is a sturdy revolver.
Regards,
Howard
 
For what it's worth. I have a pristine Model 36. Bought it new in 1984. Only thing through it were regular wadcutters, semiwadcutters, and snake shot. A year ago I accidently loaded some Winchester factory new 158 grain semiwadcutter +p's into it. This load bulged one of the cylinder charge holes just enough that spent cartridges would not extract. Shouldn't have happened but it did. It's taken a year to find a satisfactory replacement cylinder.

No reason to use +p's. That's why "god" invented the .357 mag.
 
That's why "god" invented the .357 mag
Click to expand...

John Moses Browning did not invent the .357 Magnum.;)

My M-36 is a pristine nickle 1989 model; almost a shame to carry it around it's so good looking. I load it with .38 135 gr Gold Dot +P for short barrels.
 
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