S&W, M36

W

Wharfrat197601

Moderator
Just bought this for personal carry.

Serial number starts with BAA----

Any clue as to the year the weapon was manufactured?

Thank you.
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There are endless options for grips, for your model 36. You'll have to determine what works best for you. You need to determine certain things, before choosing a set of grips. Hand size ? Recoil sensitive, such that you need the maximum amount of cushioning ? Two-finger boot grip style, or a full grip ? Etc., etc., etc.

Nobody can tell you exactly which grip to get. Google is your friend.
 
If you want to keep size to a minimum, the "boot grips" work well and are a huge improvement over the original ones.

If you dont mind going a little bigger then the options are endless. I like the feel of Houge and Pachmayer.
 
My Model 36 is a square butt, and I put black pearl grips on it to match my nickel Model 37 with white pearl grips, then put Pachmary rubber grips on it, and now have put the stock magnas back on it because they just seem to work the best for me for conceal carry.
I have a grip drawer to go along with my holster drawer for all my pistols!:D
 
My Dad has a Model 37 in like new condition, made in the 60s

First centerfire I ever shot. Love that little piece. Just love it.
 
If that 36 is second hand? I would venture a guess, it has never been fired.
Beautiful!

Once you find your best grip, swap the cylinder release with a modern one, bottom missing, helps with speed loader use. Or get it modified.

Have a Smith gunsmith round off the front of the trigger, big difference.
Leave the hammer on, if you might want to use the single action?
If you feel not? Chop it off.

Holster on belt, Kydex, close to body fit.
 
I know no one will take my advice, but I say leave those grips alone. Hold the gun with your middle finger all the way up into the grip the way it was made to be held, and learn to shoot double action. That will give you better control (and less recoil problem) than any of the rubber grips or any of the filler grips.

Jim
 
Second the motion to leave as is. Putting large grips on small pistols just ruins your concealability and are a crutch for poor handling.
 
I almost bought a 60's 36 a couple weeks ago for $450 at Gander Mountain. It was in very good condition, only fired a couple times and had a couple minor marks on it. The bluing was beautiful.
 
James K said:
I know no one will take my advice, but I say leave those grips alone. Hold the gun with your middle finger all the way up into the grip the way it was made to be held, and learn to shoot double action. That will give you better control (and less recoil problem) than any of the rubber grips or any of the filler grips.

Jim
Click to expand...
James, so with my middle finger all the way up into the grip, the middle portion of my index finger naturally falls onto the trigger. Are you advocating double action from that position or would you suggest trying to cheat back my index finger to get the first portion of my index finger onto the trigger for firing? It seems the gun is less stable when I cheat back.
 
I have a m36-7 circa 1991. Nice little carry piece and I left the original grips on it for ease of concealment. All of my other Smiths have either Altamonts or in the case of my 29-2, S&W combat grips. So I usually end up putting grips on that fit my hand better and that I like the looks of as well...but not the lil' 36 ;)

I find that my grip on it tends to naturally leave my pinky under the bottom of the grip. I have somewhat large hands but not like a gorilla. I don't find it unpleasant to shoot at all, it's a cupcake.

Another tip: If your 36 is anything like mine and my brother's, you may find that it shoots more accurately with lighter bullets. Never tried 158's in mine, but started at 140gr XTPs which were so-so. The went to 125gr Noslers which shot considerably tighter. I then made up a batch of 38's using 110gr XTP's and haven't yet gotten around to seeing how it does with those. So I have a few of those 125 grainers left that I use for carry.

Nice grab on a classic little snubby! :)
 
RIDE-RED 350r said:
I have a m36-7 circa 1991. Nice little carry piece and I left the original grips on it for ease of concealment. All of my other Smiths have either Altamonts or in the case of my 29-2, S&W combat grips. So I usually end up putting grips on that fit my hand better and that I like the looks of as well...but not the lil' 36 ;)

I find that my grip on it tends to naturally leave my pinky under the bottom of the grip. I have somewhat large hands but not like a gorilla. I don't find it unpleasant to shoot at all, it's a cupcake.

Another tip: If your 36 is anything like mine and my brother's, you may find that it shoots more accurately with lighter bullets. Never tried 158's in mine, but started at 140gr XTPs which were so-so. The went to 125gr Noslers which shot considerably tighter. I then made up a batch of 38's using 110gr XTP's and haven't yet gotten around to seeing how it does with those. So I have a few of those 125 grainers left that I use for carry.

Nice grab on a classic little snubby! :)
Click to expand...

What do you think of 130 grain +Ps through it? Like a PDX1 Defender load?
 
I have a 36-2 I got used a number of years ago. I can't stand the skinny stock grips. I put Pachmayr Compacs on it and it was soooo much nicer to shoot. Ruined it for pocket carry but it was too heavy for that anyway. I got an LCR357 for that and now keep the 36 as my bedroom gun. I have it loaded with Hornady Critical Defense Lite (yes the pink bullet load) on the chance that female family members might need to use it.

It's been said that a few +P rounds won't kill it, but personally, I'd stick to standard pressure rounds like the Hornday 90 or 110gr or Winchester Defend 130gr.
 
I haven't loaded or bought any +P stuff for my m36. If I want more HP I carry a 357 or bigger. Std 38spl only is what my little J-frame is fed.
 
If going to be a carry pistol put the Taylor T grip on it ain't all pretty But make the stock grips work better and keeps the pistol small and easy to conceal Been choice for many many years.
 
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