What to do with this Model 36?
- Thread starter Slimjim9
- Start date
I have these...notice the price? Fits my hand perfectly.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/38Spcl-Cont...285?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fa1f81f5
My 36 No Dash has had hammer work and that's why I bought it, I wanted a DA ONLY.
Yes the trigger is hard A saftey point,
If the trigger isn't smoothm file it or use some JB Weld to top it off smooth.
A Hammer is a viable option. It'll probablly set you back $100 to $130 for a replacement.
S/A on a Chief is usually very nice!
Keep the gun!
ZVP
Yes the trigger is hard A saftey point,
If the trigger isn't smoothm file it or use some JB Weld to top it off smooth.
A Hammer is a viable option. It'll probablly set you back $100 to $130 for a replacement.
S/A on a Chief is usually very nice!
Keep the gun!
ZVP
Bill DeShivs
New member
You have a fine gun-there is no need to buy another. Learn to use it.
There are a couple of things you can do to make it more to your liking:
New Grips- it's a round butt "J" frame. Pay no attention to anyone who tells you otherwise.
Find a competent gunsmith and have the rebound spring (trigger spring) replaced or lightened. Generally, screwing with the hammer spring (mainspring) has little effect on trigger pull.
There are a couple of things you can do to make it more to your liking:
New Grips- it's a round butt "J" frame. Pay no attention to anyone who tells you otherwise.
Find a competent gunsmith and have the rebound spring (trigger spring) replaced or lightened. Generally, screwing with the hammer spring (mainspring) has little effect on trigger pull.
Me thinks that is a ROUND BUTT J frame. Tons of grip options for the little beastie.
As for ammo i have found the 130gn FMJ to be one of the snappier recoiling loads in a J frame. Id rather shoot 158 SWC then the 130fmj.
Whatever you load a different set of grips will change the guns feel enormously.
Slim, you have a Smith and Wesson M-36, with a bobbed hammer which was most likely done after market. These are great last ditch "get off me" guns.
No it's not an antique, and a modified revolver such as you have has lost all it's collectors value anyway.
As for grips lots of companies sell grips for your M-36. Prices range from Very Little $$ to Lots of $$.
Get yourself a set of aftermarket grips and keep it.
No it's not an antique, and a modified revolver such as you have has lost all it's collectors value anyway.
As for grips lots of companies sell grips for your M-36. Prices range from Very Little $$ to Lots of $$.
Get yourself a set of aftermarket grips and keep it.
What a great forum! You guys are awesome! Thanks to your answers and pointers, I've learned more about my gun in the last 12 hours than the past 5 years! (Not that I was really looking before 
)
Looking more closely with a flashlight I noticed that 36-2 is etched into the frame (how did I miss that?) dating it from 1988. No NYPD markings either. And it is a round butt judging from @Laz's link. I'm definitely going to get some better grips and try some different ammo before giving up on this little guy.
Speaking of ammo, if I ever decide to carry this, i'll have to find a good defensive ammo too. Probably lots of other threads on that, but if y'all want to weigh in here, feel free.
)Looking more closely with a flashlight I noticed that 36-2 is etched into the frame (how did I miss that?) dating it from 1988. No NYPD markings either. And it is a round butt judging from @Laz's link. I'm definitely going to get some better grips and try some different ammo before giving up on this little guy.
Speaking of ammo, if I ever decide to carry this, i'll have to find a good defensive ammo too. Probably lots of other threads on that, but if y'all want to weigh in here, feel free.
I doubt use of .38 +P would seriously be a problem. I would think it might increase the wear a bit and give more noticable wear, but otherwise I'd not be concerned. Personally I'd practice with something like Federal 158 grain LSWC, but carry Speer Short Barrel 135 grain +P. You can always check with the manufacture for use of +P in the revolver.
This is what I carry in mine. Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Ammo - 150 gr. Hard Cast Wad Cutter (850fps/M.E. 241 ft. lbs.)
And get some Pachmayr grips, they make a BIG difference over stock grips.
I can't shoot more than 10 out of mine with the stock grips either.
At twenty five feet my model 36 shoots as well as my four or six inch barrels,
so for self defense, they work really well.
I carry mine in a outside the waist band holster.
And get some Pachmayr grips, they make a BIG difference over stock grips.
I can't shoot more than 10 out of mine with the stock grips either.
At twenty five feet my model 36 shoots as well as my four or six inch barrels,
so for self defense, they work really well.
I carry mine in a outside the waist band holster.
Dragline45
New member
The ignorance of people who work in gun shops amazes me. While they don't make 36's anymore, they are far from antiques, and so many were made that they really aren't that valuable, given a few exceptions. Replacing grips also does nothing to lower the value of a gun, you can always slap the original grips back on. On top of that, there are hundreds of grip options for that 36, since most all J frame grips are interchangeable give you don't have a square butt which you don't.
guv said:
Methinks, sir, that you do not own enough "J" frames. Everyone should have at least several examples of each.
The gun in the pic in the original post is a round butt. See pics below. Left gun is a square butt "J" frame, right gun is a round butt "J" frame like the pic in the original post.
Attachments
Bill DeShivs
New member
The only thing that is "modified" is the hammer. They are easily replaced.
Stargater53
New member
Ah, yes...the Ruger SP-101 is an excellent choice. You might also consider finding a *MINT* Ruger Security- or Speed-Six, foolishly discontinued. I have both the SP-101 and the Security-Six and believe the latter is worth the extra beef for one more shot.
Many early police revolvers had the skimpy grips that made the gun look snazzy, but was a pain to shoot. Since Bill Ruger said he never made a dime off the "Six" series, his first magnum had to be no frills proposition. With its skinny grips, it was great at shooting .38s, but with magnum ammo...not so much. When I was able to save up for my first box of .357, the dealer looked at my Ruger and said, "I also think you can use some of these," and slapped a pair of Pachmayr grips on his counter. I should have listened. Instead, I made my way to the quarry, loaded my pistol and touched off a round.
My first thought was that my gun had exploded, then the sensation of pain around my knuckles. Surely I must be holding it wrong. Ruger wouldn't make a gun that couldn't be fired with factory grips. So I assumed the position, cocked the damn thing and touched off. Again the gun belched its guts out, jumping violently in my hand. This time I gave up. So back I went the three miles to the gunstore and there I purchased those big rubber grips. Anyway, the standing joke was that Bill Ruger only had one tree and that he was still making grips out of it.
This Security-Six had some steel removed in its grips to make it a
round-butt design. The action on these guns takes care of itself. Just
get a lighter mainspring and dry firing will do the rest.
Many early police revolvers had the skimpy grips that made the gun look snazzy, but was a pain to shoot. Since Bill Ruger said he never made a dime off the "Six" series, his first magnum had to be no frills proposition. With its skinny grips, it was great at shooting .38s, but with magnum ammo...not so much. When I was able to save up for my first box of .357, the dealer looked at my Ruger and said, "I also think you can use some of these," and slapped a pair of Pachmayr grips on his counter. I should have listened. Instead, I made my way to the quarry, loaded my pistol and touched off a round.
My first thought was that my gun had exploded, then the sensation of pain around my knuckles. Surely I must be holding it wrong. Ruger wouldn't make a gun that couldn't be fired with factory grips. So I assumed the position, cocked the damn thing and touched off. Again the gun belched its guts out, jumping violently in my hand. This time I gave up. So back I went the three miles to the gunstore and there I purchased those big rubber grips. Anyway, the standing joke was that Bill Ruger only had one tree and that he was still making grips out of it.
This Security-Six had some steel removed in its grips to make it a
round-butt design. The action on these guns takes care of itself. Just
get a lighter mainspring and dry firing will do the rest.
bedbugbilly
New member
My CCW is a Model 36 snub like you show. When I got it,the factory grips chewed my hands up something awful the first couple of range sessions. The checkering on my factory grips felt like a rasp. I switched them out for a set of Pachmyer Compact grips and it made a word of different. I can shoot it all day long without any discomfort.
I have a Model 36 with a three inch barrel that I picked up this last summer - it also wears Pachmyer grips. It's a good carry as well.
The 36 you have is a round butt and there are many different grips out there that'll work on it. As far as "damaging the value" of it . . how is that going to happen when you just hang on to 'em and change 'em back? As far as the bobbed hammer - you should be able to find a replacement if you want to change iit.
I have a Model 36 with a three inch barrel that I picked up this last summer - it also wears Pachmyer grips. It's a good carry as well.
The 36 you have is a round butt and there are many different grips out there that'll work on it. As far as "damaging the value" of it . . how is that going to happen when you just hang on to 'em and change 'em back? As far as the bobbed hammer - you should be able to find a replacement if you want to change iit.
With all the praise for the Pachmayrs, I'd be a fool not to get them. Man, those things are rarer than hen's teeth though. Out of stock everywhere I looked online. I ordered one from the link aarond gave which seems to be a "factory direct" site, but it won't even say if they're in stock. We'll see.
deerslayer303
New member
I got mine from Amazon.
Right, but that's smaller "pro" one. I want the larger one:
http://www.amazon.com/Pachmayr-Comp...id=1423309648&sr=8-1&keywords=pachmayr+compac
Usually ships within 1 to 3 months.
http://www.amazon.com/Pachmayr-Comp...id=1423309648&sr=8-1&keywords=pachmayr+compac
Usually ships within 1 to 3 months.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Speaking of ammo, if I ever decide to carry this, i'll have to find a good defensive ammo too. Probably lots of other threads on that, but if y'all want to weigh in here, feel free."
Speer Gold Dot, 135-gr. +P. Excellent penetration AND expansion out of my 2" Model 042.
That load is also in the Model 36 3" that is in my nightstand.
Speer Gold Dot, 135-gr. +P. Excellent penetration AND expansion out of my 2" Model 042.
That load is also in the Model 36 3" that is in my nightstand.