Recommend a snub .38?

November 4, 2012, 10:25 AM

September 23, 2012 05:54 AM
Thespis For anything other than deep-pocket carry, I like my J frame airweight S&W 637.
September 21, 2012 08:24 PM
 
I'd go with a 357 lcr. And no I wouldn't buy it to shoot 357s out of. It's a bit heavier (17.1 oz) to help with recoil. It will also have better resale.
 
A few years ago Smith and Wesson released a run of Model 37-2 revolvers that were variously reputed to be a contract over-run or "parts guns" or whatever. Regardless they were pre "plus P" frames, mostly with bobbed hammers, with no lock and no MIM parts. They were very sweet little revolver and at a good price. I picked up a couple and haven't looked for anything else since.
 
I have a double action only/bobbed hammer 38 spl. and it's okay but I think I would have preferred a single action/double action with a rowel type hammer that wouldn't snag. The idea of cocking and shooting single action would be nice for shooting at the range.
 
Get the LCR and consider getting the .357 model. Those guns handle recoil amazingly and I've even used it shooting steel targets with great success. It's so light it doesn't seem like a real gun yet performs beyond expectations. Getting the .357 you can have 3 options for ammunition, +P, .38 or .357. When I carry it I use .357.
 
I have two .38 snubs left as I downsize in my golden years. A S&W 638 J frame and a Colt Detective Special. Neither are carried often as the Kahr PM9 or my Glock G26, both in 9mm are better choices for my circumstances.

I could be happy with a LCR if I was in the market but 40 years of history with a S&W j frame of one flavor or another would tend to bias my choice towards another "J". :)

Never owned a Taurus that I liked. They all had some issue or another. Others I know think highly of them. Something to consider.

I will say however that a Charter Arms Undercover has on several occasions comforted me and I still think highly of them. Not my first choice but I would choose them over a Taurus. My opinion and worth every penny you paid for it. :)
 
I have a S&W 360, the 38 special version. It weighs 13 or so ounces, but it's not bad at all to shoot. Mine came with 2 grips, I keep the rubber boot grips on it for easier carry. I like the pinned on front sight, it's a little easier for 55 yr. old eyes to pick up.......
 
I have 7 Smith and Wesson snubb's, the only one I paid more than $400.00 for was my model 60.
On occasion I will carry my model 36,or 37 in my pocket,but ususally I carry them in a OWB holster.
I have models 36,37,637,and 60 J frames,and models 12,64,and 66 in K frames and they all have outside hammers.
So just find one that feels good and go for it.
 
I bought a 637, then a 642 (ignoring the SP-101 that I owned and carried for a bit), realized not only did I stink with a snub, but with a DA revolver in general. Bought an LCR .22. Now wish I had an LCR in .38. Did help me shoot the 642 better, though. Still love it. Wifey took over the 637. Coming back to the SP-101, NEVER carried .357 in it. Lack the forearms of a lumberjack (and that's OK), so stuck with .38 +p. Rambling aside, the standard, and correct, answer is, shoot some, find out what you like best. Not too helpful, I know, but what in life is. :)
 
Here's something I picked up off of the used market. It's a S&W Model 64 round butt with factory bobbed hammer. These appear from time to time on the J&G website and come from armored car companies and corrections departments. I paid $319 for this one.

It's heavier than the airweight Smiths and the Ruger LCR, but it has a great trigger and is a 6-shooter.

I put on the S&W "magna" grips and added a Tyler T-grip. Worn OWB with a simple cover garment, this gun carries like a champ and is a superb shooter. When looking for a snubbie, K-frame Smiths on the used market are definitely worth a look.

64holster.jpg
 
A S&W J frame or Ruger LCR is what you want. The LCR has a great factory grip that really reduces the recoil and very smooth factory trigger. The grip and mods I'd suggest for the J-Frame that does the same is a Crimson Trace 405 and Apex J-Frame spring/firing pin kit.
 
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