ANYONE HAVE INFO ON S&W AIRWEIGHTS

[johnny blaze]

I am considering buying a Smith and Wesson airweight. I normally carry a 45acp, but there are times that I would like something smaller.
I am looking at several different models, and trying to find some information on the pros and cons of these.
I am looking at the airweight and also the body guard models.
The basic difference in the ones that I am looking at is that you can get them in DA only, or SA/DA.
I have several questions
1. On the DA action, it has the internal hammer. How good is the trigger pull on this type of revolver? How safe is this type of action?
2. On the SA/DA, it has a small hammer that you can pull back. How good
is the trigger pull on these in either SA or DA. Also, how safe is this action as far as accidently cocking the hammer?
I have a model 66 that I bought new. It was polished from the factory into one of the best finishes that I have ever seen. I was considering carrying it, but it is just too nice to carry, so I am looking at these models.

 

[up_onus]

duno if this helps, sorry if im wasting your time....
I have a 340pd. Thing drops in my pocket WITH the holster in my JEANS. Small bulge....but doesnt look like a gun, i go everywhere with it....Would I prefer to have a .45? sure? but a 45 is much more difficult to carry.... (although im looking at the kimber pro carry II)
tough gun to shoot though! hard on the hands....the first shoot i had with it, 150 rounds including 15 .357 rounds and it left my hand sore for 2 weeks....
ouch! and its MOA for ME at 20 yards is about 7".....
no hammer, smooth pull.....less than a pound loaded... has everything I want in a concealed.

One last note, I do not have one, but crimson trace does a laser that fits in with the grip and has a recoil pad built in, with slightly larger hogue grips. Ive been thinkin bout it.....i think the part number is LG-405.

GOOD LUCK with your purchase, and I hope this helps...maybe?

 

[johnny blaze]

UP_ONUS - Thanks for the reply.
Sounds like the trigger pull is pretty good. I know the recoil is pretty bad on the snub nose, but I am not planning on shooting it very much. Will still carry the 45 most of the time (Taurus PT-145).

 

[Jim PHL]

With practice you can master the DA shot on these guns. Yes, a little more difficult to shoot well than a bigger, heavier gun with a SA trigger, but an excellent choice for the purpose they are intended; a gun you can always have on you. My preferred carry is also a .45 IWB, (SA Micro-compact) but I carry a 342 much more often. Truth be told, my 342 is probably my least favorite of all my guns and the one I carry the most

 

[Haywood]

Airweight Info

The S&W Mdl.642(Hammerless) or 638(Concealed Hammer). 15oz., +P, and accurate. Not uncomfortable to shoot with +P. Easy to slip in a pocket or the waist. Got a 37 with bobbed hammer in my pocket now( discontinued). Good backup for my SP101 357.

 

[Ichiro]

I have a 642. It's double-action only with a long, heavy trigger pull, although I think the trigger is very good. This is the safest design in revolvers in my opinion. The gun simply cannot be cocked, accidentally or consciously, and I don't see anyone pulling the trigger all the way back except on purpose.

I have Crimson Trace Lasergrips on mine, and they have no give whatsoever. This makes shooting +Ps a bit less than comfortable, although I still practice and load with +Ps.

I bought it new earlier this year and am totally satisfied with my purchase. I also have a Ruger SP-101, but don't shoot it as well. I'd rather have two 642s.

 

[fiVe]

Johnny,

I'm partial to the S&W 642. For more info, please visit the 642 Club

 

[johnny blaze]

OK, all of you convinced me. I NEED A SNUB NOSE HAMMERLESS!!!
Thanks for the information.

 

[Jackal]

Not to be a party pooper, but why not use a P3AT since your used to semi's anyway.

 

[johnny blaze]

JACKAL
I am not fimiliar with that model, but I will look at it.
Pretty well set on the snub nose.

 

[JoeK]

I have a 340PD and love it. As posted by other members, it does conceal nicely and is soooo small and light that I have to make an effort NOT to carry it. If you're not used to shooting a DA, it will take a fair amount of practice to become proficient.

Another option that is cheaper is the 642. This revolver has a cult-like following and with as many followers as it has, it must be pretty dang good.

Caveat: The 340PD with full house .357 Mag rounds is unleashed not shot. I own(ed) or have shot many big bore pistols and this little rascal's recoil is far more severe. Someone mentioned a while back that the recoil resembles catching a fast ball bare-handed. I think this is an accurate comparison.

 

[roscoe]

I have a model 38 - the shrouded hammer version. I like it a lot, and think that the shrouded hammer gives you the best of the hammer/no hammer virtues.

 

[springmom]

I have a m37 airweight (.38 spl). I can't speak to the shrouded hammer models specifically, since I chose the one with the hammer. I did that in large part as a result of a wise person on TFL telling me it was the best choice with my arthritis. He was right.

The DA trigger is okay, but it's a skill to be learned to squeeze it rather than pull it (or it was for me anyway). It's resistant, certainly. But it's doable. If I ever need it in a hurry and am 7 yards away or less (the distance of my practice) I can use it in SD.

That said, it's a lot more fun to shoot when I pull back the hammer. In SA, it is a very lightweight trigger; so much so, in fact, that I have occasionally had it shoot a split second before I thought it would as I squeezed the trigger. But it is very smooth, certainly, and it thumbs back easily.

They're great little revolvers. Happy shopping, and happy shooting.

Springmom

 

[ravencon]

I would opt for a hammerless snubby.

Yes, a shrouded hammer will give you the option of single action fire. But, for a short range, self-defense, concealed carry application single action fire isn't all that important. And you would be amazed at how much debris migrates into the shroud. Ask me how I know!

I long ago sold my "Bodyguard" and now my snubbies are hammerless.

 

[JMusic]

I purchased a Kel tek 380 over a year ago and could not get it to run. Took it back and purchased a 638. There is a lot of contraversy between the shrouded hammer and hammerless. I like the option of single action. I believe it makes the gun more versital. My 638 will hit a pop can at better than 20 yards shooting single action, so it could serve as a woods gun also. I think the lint issue is overrated. These weapons are almost too big to carry in the pocket anyway at least as a full time carry. An IWB carry is more practical. I normally am not happy with trigger pulls on any new firearm. The 638 I have is very good on single action breaking at 3 lbs. This is something you need to decide on yourself, but if you do plan on making precision shots at distance you will be doing yourself a disservice if you do not check on the 638. Point of aim is aligned with the heavyier weight bullets. 158 SWC's shoot dead on and so do the 148's. Recoil isn't bad with the +P's in 125-130 range. Mine is a shooter I don't regret the purchase.

Jim

 

[Sir Aardvark]

S&W snub-nosed revolvers......

Reliable, Powerful, and Lightweight.

I carry a 340PD and like it lots!

 

[hurrakane212]

642 triggers

642 triggers only get better with time and dry-firing.
I had a trigger job done on mine and it made it lighter and smoother (but not too much lighter) One thing I like about the revolvers as opposed to autos is that I can fire 5 shots from my jeans pocket or coat pocket even with my hand in an awkward position and I don't have to worry about something obstructing the slide. I would never want to shoot from my pocket, but it's nice to know that I can. ~Nathan

 

[springmom]

I would opt for a hammerless snubby.

Yes, a shrouded hammer will give you the option of single action fire. But, for a short range, self-defense, concealed carry application single action fire isn't all that important. And you would be amazed at how much debris migrates into the shroud. Ask me how I know!

I long ago sold my "Bodyguard" and now my snubbies are hammerless.

I agree totally with the issues regarding the shroud, but the other option is a plain old hammer. You can thumb that hammer back if need be pretty quickly. Not world-record-setting speed, but quick enough. And if there comes a situation in which your hand is impaired (gunshot? carpal tunnel? you get old like me and get arthritis? ) and you can't manage the DA, then that SA capability can count for a lot.

Flexibility is good. Options are good. The regular hammer gives you both. And I have NEVER had it snag on anything, pocket, IWB holster, anything.

Happy shopping, and post pics of whatever you choose!!!!!

Springmom

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I have a S&W 342 AirLite Ti. It's 11.2 oz unloaded, is easy to access from a DeSantis pocket holster. Comfortable to carry and corrosion proof in the local humid weather. It's not a fun gun to shoot at the range but occasional practice is obligatory. I sure feel safer carrying it my pocket than a semi-auto. The DA trigger pull is fine.