Smith & Wesson snub 38 special +p (how are they?)

637

Aluminum frame, steel cylinder, accurate as can be. Has Crimson Trace laser grip.

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It resides on my left ankle a LOT of the time.

David
 
Personal opinion here is don't get her an Airweight. Perceived recoil will be much more due to the weigh of the revolver. I carry a 649 and ammo is 38 spl. for me this allows faster follow up shots with better accuracy due to less recoil. Just my opinion
 
I just bought my wife a S&W Model 642 Lady Smith, because I wanted to get my model 637 back she commandeered from me years ago.
She has no problem with J frames or Detective Specials( she's 66 years old )

I now have the 637 on MY hip:)
 
In my pocket I have a 642-2 airweight 38sp made in 2007 I got used for $400 in 2014.

Under my mattress I have a 640-1 357 mag I got used for $300 in 2011.
I have never carried it. It is too heavy.
 
The J-frames are nice, I'm here to tell you. Here is mine:

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While it might not have as much stopping power as a Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft piece, or have the same firepower as a GAU-8 30mm rotary cannon, these little guys are concealable and the reliability is just... it's just great! Stopping power isn't bad with a good .38 special +P JHP load. I carry this gun when I can't bring along my mule and 75mm pack howitzer. :D
 
Once you stated she tried them out, was able to hit the target, and then CHOSE one pretty well blows all of my concerns out of the water. If she can shoot one well, likes it, and wants it, there is no downside.

Will this be a carry weapon? If so, I agree on the no exposed hammer recommendations.
 
There are no negatives for any Smith and Wesson air weight. For what it is and is designed to be there are no equals in my opinion. God Bless
 
Point of reference

All the J frames have hammers. Some are fully shrouded, some are partially shrouded, some not shrouded. No such animal as a hammerless revolver.
 
she can hit the center of the target with everything . from small 380 bodyguard to full power 357 from a sorta small revolver and everything in between.
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With that kind of capability she's good to go with most anything that'll fit her. Here are some of our guns:

Wife carried a Smith M36 (J-frame 38 special) with a 3" bbl. for 20+ years with no issues but never had to use it in a SD situation. Easy to carry and conceal even with the 3" bbl. and adj. sights, it was great with +P 125 gr HP loads and very accurate.

She now carries either a Smith M637 Airweight or a Smith .380 Bodyguard depending on her dress mode for the day. She especially likes the lighter weight of them over the M36 previously mentioned. Either is good, tho the .38 is a better SD choice. In .380 with Hornady's Critical Defense ammunition, I shot a raccoon just under the chin and witnessed the bullet exit just above the tail. Exit wound was 50 cent piece size. A lot of penetration there.

I carry for the most part a Smith M60 with a 3" bbl. loaded with Hornady's 125 gr Critical Defense HP's. A good load, easily controllable with Hogue grips, but a bit heavier gun than her 637 or Bodyguard. Both of the revolvers are hammer models and we carry them in OWB holsters as well as in purses and pockets. With proper drawing technique, we've never had a hammer hang up during presentation...it's just not been an issue for us...

Weight seems to be a big item for the women in our family (two DIL's and my wife). If the weight is down, they'll carry the gun when it should be carried...if not, it stays home...not good. All can handle the lighter weight vs. recoil issues, enjoy informal practice sessions, and can hit what they're looking at out to 15 yds or so. It's the reality of our situation.

Revolver vs. Auto issues have been covered here and elsewhere ad nausea, but I'd opine that the revolver is king for SD, close in encounters for non-gun nut people. Practice on a regular time schedule, is the secret of mastering any Auto's controls and some people are just not into that. A Revolver is simply easier to run and accurate enough with minimal practice.

In stressful scenarios, simplicity, and availability are paramount...in a nutshell, " ya gotta have the gun with you, and the ability to use it without thinking, immediately when necessary".

Best Regards, Rod
 
Do the S&W 442 and 642 models have the flame cutting issue? Is it a concern on those models?
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I don't recall hearing about flame cutting problems with any .38 special. As far as I know, that is only an issue with magnum calibers.
 
I like the 442 a lot. I put Houge's Tamer Grip for J-Frames on my Wife's. I left the Stock Uncle Mike's on mine. Her's is good for exstended shooting sessions and mine is good for about One box. I like the small grip for pocket carry. The HKS Speed Loader works with the Hogue Grips.
 
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