My new pocket rocket... S&W 638 Airweight

After a lot of heartache, the 638 has been my carry gun for almost seven full years.

I am posting to tell you something important. Shooting the 638 in SA will cause the trigger guard to slap your index finger into a numb nub (figuratively). Seriously, it hurts. You can get away with it with standard pressure 125 gr loads, but the FBI load will make you wish you hadn't tried it.

Good choice in revolvers. I have carried a M638 for over 3 years now and just love a Bodyguard J frame.

I fire the M638 SA a lot when testing new loads at the range and have never experienced what FEG described in his post. Like I said, when testing reloads I shoot SA and have fired over 500 rounds that way without a problem.

I take it those aren't pre-lock models.

Here's the other side (many years down the road):

I have a 638. One of my favorites for carry. It had the infernal lock but I removed it. Works fine and carry it a lot. I always thought the old "hunchback" looked rather retro and cool because it is ugly. Looks like what it is...a "business gun".

I, too, own one of these fine guns. I carry it in a Mika pocket holster. I've never had horrid trigger guard issue you described. Mine was replacing a keltec p32 that had to be sent back to the factory. Right now I'm carrying low recoil federals, but once I run across some of those gold dot short barrel +Ps, I'll go for those.

Nice piece

I picked up a 638 also a few months back and Ilike the fact that it fits nicely in the front pocket of my jeans.
I don't do too bad at 7 yds. DA but i could do better so I shoot a box or two of reloads each week.
I haven't expirenced the trigger guard problem.
Could small hands be an advantage in this respect?
Zeke

I take it those aren't pre-lock models.

Click to expand...

outerlimit,
As a matter of fact mine is a M638-2. I would take some better pictures on the M638 but I recently gave it to my son. If you really want to see more pictures I'm sure I can get him to bring it over this weekend so I can take a few more photos. I also just picked up one of the the newly manufactured M642-1's S&W just released. Oh, I don't want to forget my M640-1 either. Below are the photos...

Here is a picture of the same revolver but with different grips:



Here is the M642-1 I just picked up today:



Here is the M640-1 sporting some really nice Badger Rosewood Grips:

I hope nobody minds me dredging up an old thread.

I got one. I really like it better than the 642.