[mec]

http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/airweight1.jpg

The serial number and the features put it squarely in 1968. There was a line on the breach showing that it had been opened and shut a few times but no signs that it had ever been fired. I suspect somebody bought it, took it home, threw away the box and pitched the screwdriver and cleaning rod in a
tool box. Then no doubt, loaded the revolver,tossed it in a drawer and semi-forgot about it.

I didn't strictly "need" it but, nice Smiths from the period of history when I decided what handguns should look and feel like are getting harder to find. Also, I had something in the safe that I needed less-trading material.

It turns out a gentle shooter with my version of a standard pressure load. The 158 gran SWC over 3.5 bullseye clocked in the mid to high 600s from my earlier 2" J-frames. This is a load that just about duplicates the actual performance of several current 158 RNL factory loads. (about 750 from a 4" barrel. and mid to high 600s from a 2") While I prefer a moderately loaded .44 for daily carry, I have a lot more confidence in the .38 special than anything smaller. I have a huge amount more confidence in its reliability than any of the pocket sized semi-auto pistols. Not being a gun expert, I am able to keep on mistrusting self loaders as much as I like.

My first 50 rounds through this one showed some definate personal limitations that I need to work out. Until I do this, I need to confine any serious use to mid-torso hits out to 15 yards or so and grab the thing in two hands at anything past 10 yards. Ok for head shots at ten yards but only if I have both hands on it. It hits significantly low at these ranges and I have a tendency to pull my shots to the right with straight through double action. I staged the trigger (da) at 25 yards and the shots hit directly in line with POA.

[Sistema1927]

Except for the fact that mine is a square butt, I have the same revolver. Interesting that the J-frames from that era are thinner than the current offering, since my 37 is much more "dainty" than my 642.

[mec]

These airweights were factory rated for standard pressure only. The factory never backed away from that and rated the steel ones for "occasional use."

The gun writers were promoting some fairly heavy handloads for "occasional use" in the airweights. It could be the factory beefed them up in self defense or it could be that they got wider because of changing production methods.

I just got out my Speer #8 Manual- The one waggishly called "The Blow-up manual. This was publised in 1970- before the SAAMI started talking about standard and +P. There is a section about loads in 2" snubs mentioning Colt, Smith and Wesson and Charter Arms snubs but with no mention of Steel VS Alloy frames. They are stuffing in 11.5/ 2400/550 magnum primer under a 146 grain SWC 3/4 Jacketed Hollow point for 992 fps. With the158 Speer Jacketed Soft point, they go 10.5 2400/ magnum primer for 919 fps. They have one load for the lead Swc rated at 1023 fps.

They mention that the loads have a lot of muzzle flash and constant use would loosen the guns. Sounds about right.

[Majic]

Interesting that the J-frames from that era are thinner than the current offering, since my 37 is much more "dainty" than my 642.
If your 642 is one of the newer models then it's built on the slightly larger J-Magnum frame. The frame was beefed up to handle the .357 mag cartridge.

[Ala Dan]

Very nice weapon and pic. Snubbies are among my favorites. :D I have an
Airweight S&W RB model 37, but its much later (92) than yours. Enjoy :)

[BigG]

Beautiful weapon, Mec. Enjoy it!

[mec]

Dan, have you shot your's very much? People tell me that they tend to stay tight. I plan to stick with standard pressure and am hoping they won't stretch things.

[fiVe]

Nice pics. Thanks for posting.

[Lone Star]

Mike-

Can you find any of the Federal Chief's Special Nyclad std. pressure loads?

Ayoob said they were pretty good for that power level, and some testers reported expansion to .60 in gelatin. Velocity of the 125 grain bullet was some 800-825 FPS.

Lone Star

[mec]

Several years ago, I shot some through a couple of 2" guns. In straight wetpack they would expand to 50 cal or more but put through a synthetic lined vest they were just like everything else- the high loft defeated expansion. I went out with it today and altered my trigger finger placement. this centered my hits and brought them closer together. I am now shooting this Airweight like I remember shooting other 2" Js. This means double action confidence out to 50 feet or more and head shots either one or two handed out to ten or 12 yards.
http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/38loads2.jpg

I was disappointed in the pmc wadcutter as I got two misfires out of fifty with good firing pin strikes. One was even hit by a Uberti SAA and failed to go off.
S&B is loading very close to the old avertised velocities of 870 fps- something the domestic people slacked off on a long time ago. All of the pictured data are based on 10 round strings except for the federal rnl - I was down to my last cylinder full of those.

[HSMITH]

That looks just like my 37 when I got it, and they are pretty close in date too. Mine is accumulating miles but it still looks pretty good.

My 37 is a real shooter, very accurate and easy to shoot. By far my favorite pocket gun, and one I couldn't give up. I would like to have a Model 38 of similar vintage to keep it company but I haven't found one yet.

[mec]

first time out with this one, I had forgotten some of my j frame techinique. This time, I moved my trigger finger outward a little and began slamming them in dead center.
Confidence back.