How strong is an older S&W 37 Airweight

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Elkslayer

New member
Yesterday I bought an "older", NIB 2" S&W 37 Airweight with a round butt. It came in the old blue cardboard box but not the one which had the metal reinforced corners. The barrel is pinned, the firing pin is in the hammer, but the chambers are not recessed. It seems to have an aluminum frame.

How strong is this revolver? Can it digest +P or must it be kept to pretty much standard velocity loads? I know I won't be using any +P+ in it. Any guess as to how old it might be by judging from the type of box it is in?
 
Elkslayer...

If you give us the serial number, there are several who can look it up for you. But do not post the entire number, just give us the letter prefix, if any, and the numbers with the last three replaced by x's. For example, D123456 would be D123xxx.

Does the box have a sticker on one end with specific information about the gun, i.e., model number, serial number, etc.?
 
I won't blow up if you use +P ammo in it, but it won't last as long as it would if you used regular ammo in it.

If you want to use a limited, as in really limited, diet of +P, you should be OK.
 
I had a little scare at the range the other day I would like to relay. I was shooting some Georgia Arms 110GR +P stuff in my SW M38-3 rated for +P. Upon extraction it was difficult, and upon inspection I found a split case!!! Got a little nervous, tossed the rest of the box out. On close inspection, I noticed a conglomeration of mixed brass in this new packet. So, it may take it, but you need a small margin there for safety. I am going to curtail my use of this stuff from now on, although it has been very accurate in the past with no other problems. Enjoy.
 
My wife has a M37 that we bought circa 1976. For a while around 1980 I 'borrowed' it for a while as a work backup gun and routinely carried and shot plus P plus 110 grain Treasury loads through it. After quite a bit of this it went out of time and needed a factory overhaul to work properly again. since that time I have restricted it to wadcutter level loads for practice and plus P 158 gr SWCs for carry. So the short answer is that it will take it--for a while.

My always gun is now a M442 and I use the same regimen with it.
 
I am not suprised the Treasury Loads were rough. A call to S&W some time back recommened against those loads saying the J frames even steel were only spec'd to about 21CUP. Those Treasury loads are about 23,500!!
 
Split cases aren't all that uncommon with reloaded ammo and hot loads.

They aren't normally a problem, either, unless the case head splits (VERY uncommon).
 
Elkslayer...

"The SN is 5992XX"

Supica and Nahas place it between 1962 (ser # 295000) and 1969 (ser # 786544). So mid-60's is the best estimate. Does it have the Diamond insert grips?
 
No diamond inset grips on this one, it has hard rubber, open back (backstrap exposed) boot grips. They are unlike any I have from Uncle Mikes. These grips are not of the material which cause them to be "grippy" like the current type of boot grips are.

Are you familiar with this type of grip where they are not so "grippy"?
 
Elkslayer...

"Are you familiar with this type of grip where they are not so "grippy"?"

Can't say that I am. Although I have a set of hard rubber (?) grips, maker unknown, which sound like them. But, if they work, they will do.
 
I would not shoot +p's in it. I bought a older model used 37 about a month ago. I noticed the barrel just didn't look right. The frame was cracked where the barrel meets the frame. I was lucky I didn't shoot it. The person I got it from took it back with no questions and was glad nobody got hurt. As of right now he sent the gun back to S&W for an evaluation. I'll post results.
 
I own a Smith Airweight 642 that is rated for +P, but I shoot regular loads for target practice. I carry +P loads, and function tested about 100 rounds of +P, but that's about it. I figure that even though it's "rated" for +P, I'll prolong its life by laying off the full power loads unless the BGs come attacking.

Is there any reason I should feed it some +P's at the range in the meantime???
 
ddelange...

"Is there any reason I should feed it some +P's at the range in the meantime???"

It is always smart to practise at least some of the time with the load(s) you intend to carry. You don't need to practise with them all of the time. If you can find a regular .38Spl load which duplicates where your carry loads shoot, then I suggest you do most of your practise with that load, and use your carry loads maybe once a month.
 
You can shoot a few +Ps in your alloy framed J frame but if you want the gun to last, use them sparingly. I have the same gun and I use the Nyclad 125 HP standard pressure load.

7th
 
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