I recently purchased a new smith 637 and all I have heard and read about is they wont hold up. I only plan to put about a hundred rounds a year thru it so one anyone care to give me a rough idea of how long this gun will last me.
Airweight revolvers are they really junk.
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Wildalaska
member
For as long as you could ever think of using it...
WildgunsdowearoutAlaska
WildgunsdowearoutAlaska
Sistema1927
Member
Hmmm, you must know something that I don't.
1980 vintage 37, as tight as the day it left the factory.
1999 vintage 642, carried quite a bit, shot quite a bit (almost all +P), just as tight as the day it left the factory.
Airweight J-frames are great. I believe that your post is the first time that I have ever seen the word "junk" in the same sentence as "Airweight".
1980 vintage 37, as tight as the day it left the factory.
1999 vintage 642, carried quite a bit, shot quite a bit (almost all +P), just as tight as the day it left the factory.
Airweight J-frames are great. I believe that your post is the first time that I have ever seen the word "junk" in the same sentence as "Airweight".
ColtShooter
Member
I have had a 637 for about 2 years and it has digested 1,000+ rounds so far. Don't worry about it.
JNewell
Member
I've seen plenty of used Airweights and Airlights over the years and have never seen one that was loose. Some of the joints in the former owners' hands, maybe 
but not the guns.
Seriously, you have nothing to worry about. Just keep away from spray miracle cleaners, which may dissolve the clearcoat finish.
but not the guns.Seriously, you have nothing to worry about. Just keep away from spray miracle cleaners, which may dissolve the clearcoat finish.
SnWnMe
Member
Who said they are junk?
If they are, there must be countless gun savvy folks out there who are suckers. Alloy guns that have been on the market since the 50s probably have some virtue going for them.
If they are, there must be countless gun savvy folks out there who are suckers. Alloy guns that have been on the market since the 50s probably have some virtue going for them.
mattz357
Member
S&W&me, what kind of ammo is that? Thanks!
James Bondrock
Member
I would not shoot the Buffalo Bore loads excessively, but any Airweight (aluminum frame, steel cylinder) Smith made in the last 25 or 30 years will hold up to an immense amount of shooting, and ones made in the past five or so years are rated for unlimited use of +P ammunition ... if your hand can take it! These guns IMO are at the lower limit of practicality for a pocket gun firing full power ammunition from a controllability standpoint, and I have no desire to acquire a titanium/scandium model.
These guns IMO are at the lower limit of practicality for a pocket gun firing full power ammunition from a controllability standpoint, and I have no desire to acquire a titanium/scandium model.mattz357 . . .
I am not trying to derail a response to your question from SnWnMe, but I believe the rounds in his very nice image are Federal Nyclad .38 Special +Ps (at least they look just like the Nyclads I sometime carry in my Ruger SP-101).
I am not trying to derail a response to your question from SnWnMe, but I believe the rounds in his very nice image are Federal Nyclad .38 Special +Ps (at least they look just like the Nyclads I sometime carry in my Ruger SP-101).
AirWeight guns are most certainly not "junk". It is possible to wear one out or damage it with improper ammo - but the same can be said of a Super Redhawk. You'll have to work harder to "kill" the SRH, but that does not make the AirWeights bad guns. This AirWeight pre-Model 12 was made in the mid 1950's and still shoots great, locks up tight, etc. after who knows how many rounds!
At the rate you plan on shooting your new 637 it will last many lifetimes
Bill
At the rate you plan on shooting your new 637 it will last many lifetimes
Bill
mattz357
Member
Sabre, I had no idea model numbers that low denoted snubbies! I thought that the lowest model number for snubbies was the 37. What other models am I missing out on? I am not a blue gun fan by any means, I'm too paranoid about finish wear, but that finish is beautiful!
SnWnMe
Member
Matt and RWK: They are Federal Nyclad 125gr +Ps.
Matt: It's not only the model# that determines if a given Smith will be a snubnose but also the variations within a model. There are probably hundreds of thousands of 2" Model 10s, Model 12s and 19s out there combined. You'll also find snubnosed N frames like the 27 and the 29 and of course, the OG of em all, the Model 36 aka Chief's Special.
Matt: It's not only the model# that determines if a given Smith will be a snubnose but also the variations within a model. There are probably hundreds of thousands of 2" Model 10s, Model 12s and 19s out there combined. You'll also find snubnosed N frames like the 27 and the 29 and of course, the OG of em all, the Model 36 aka Chief's Special.
It's been my experience that those who constantly bash S&W hate the company. For whatever reason they have strong personal feelings against Smith and Wesson. I own five Smiths (all used)and haven't had any trouble. Take care of them and they'll outlast you and your greatgrandkids.
Tamara
Senior Member
The only Smith Airweights I own are a Model 12, a Model 37, a Model 38, and a Model 442. Made in (respectively) 1966, 1976, 1982, and 1994, they are all holding up nicely. Limit your use of +P ammo in any Airweight made before 1994, and you should be golden.
Checkman,
There are good Smiths and there are bad Smiths. There are some that are tanks, and some that have decent durability if certain caveats are followed. I have some that are absolute gems, some that are merely adequate, and a couple that are total dogs. I don't own five (all used) Smiths, but I do own (currently) some thirty-four or thirty-five. Like a fancier of a certain breed of animal, I feel it my obligation to point out flawed bloodlines or bad examples of breeding as part of my overall dedication to the breed.
Checkman,
There are good Smiths and there are bad Smiths. There are some that are tanks, and some that have decent durability if certain caveats are followed. I have some that are absolute gems, some that are merely adequate, and a couple that are total dogs. I don't own five (all used) Smiths, but I do own (currently) some thirty-four or thirty-five. Like a fancier of a certain breed of animal, I feel it my obligation to point out flawed bloodlines or bad examples of breeding as part of my overall dedication to the breed.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Airweights
As a Police and Civilian rangemaster I would not own an airweight pistol as I have witness two of them disintergrate on my ranges.
The worst thing that can happen in a rapid fire course is to hit a case without powder that with primer power will put a bullet in the bore, with a live round coming behind it I have twice seenthe top three cylinders and top strap shatter off. I have seen the same thing happen to a steel Smith and happened to me personally with a Ruger. Both withstood it without damage to the pistols.
I seriously dislike using range provided ammo unless it was from my own reloading business.
As a Police and Civilian rangemaster I would not own an airweight pistol as I have witness two of them disintergrate on my ranges.
The worst thing that can happen in a rapid fire course is to hit a case without powder that with primer power will put a bullet in the bore, with a live round coming behind it I have twice seenthe top three cylinders and top strap shatter off. I have seen the same thing happen to a steel Smith and happened to me personally with a Ruger. Both withstood it without damage to the pistols.
I seriously dislike using range provided ammo unless it was from my own reloading business.
klover
Member
They're such awful garbage that
I really doubt I can restrain myself from buying many more
How can I forget that I passed up a blued, mint condition 60's, NIB for only $300 :banghead:
I really doubt I can restrain myself from buying many more
How can I forget that I passed up a blued, mint condition 60's, NIB for only $300
:banghead:I don't believe an alloy frame gun will stand up as long as a comparable size steel frame will, but it will certainly last a lot longer than some folks seem to think.
If one is going to shoot bad handloads, one can blow up any gun. The Ruger Redhawk is considered a strong pistol, but I have seen one blown up with a heavy load of Bullseye, and a Ruger .44 Blackhawk blown with a full case load of three (yes, 3) different powders the owner read about in some magazine.
BTW, I never shoot any handloads except my own. That way, if something does happen, I know the name of the SOB who goofed.
Jim
If one is going to shoot bad handloads, one can blow up any gun. The Ruger Redhawk is considered a strong pistol, but I have seen one blown up with a heavy load of Bullseye, and a Ruger .44 Blackhawk blown with a full case load of three (yes, 3) different powders the owner read about in some magazine.
BTW, I never shoot any handloads except my own. That way, if something does happen, I know the name of the SOB who goofed.
Jim
Tamara
Senior Member
Since the cylinder on an Airweight is steel just like the cylinder on an all-steel Smith, I'm wondering how you can attribute that to the gun's being an Airweight?
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Airweights
They were the first airweights I had seen in the 70's and how many were sold and still in use?
Luckily no one was hurt just shocked with pieces of the revolver in the wall and ceiling of the shooting booth and in the second instance no one was on either side of the officer on my my police range.
Both were 148 gr .38 target loads.
Fitz
Rangemaster
They were the first airweights I had seen in the 70's and how many were sold and still in use?
Luckily no one was hurt just shocked with pieces of the revolver in the wall and ceiling of the shooting booth and in the second instance no one was on either side of the officer on my my police range.
Both were 148 gr .38 target loads.
Fitz
Rangemaster
RON in PA
Member
Were those "disintegrating" Airweights model 12s with aluminum cylinders? Back in the Seventies lots of folks were blowing-up revolvers with double charged wadcutter loads. Might still be doing it today for all I know, but you heard about it more often then. Probably because revolvers were more popular then.
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
Airweights
Ron, That was what I was referring to and how many still exist and are being carried?
I still carry a Smith 60 which I feel is a great weapon especially since I got the first leg of my Marshal DX badge with it.
Fitz
Ron, That was what I was referring to and how many still exist and are being carried?
I still carry a Smith 60 which I feel is a great weapon especially since I got the first leg of my Marshal DX badge with it.
Fitz
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