Experience with light weight revolvers

[Pawnee Drifter]

I am seriously thinking of getting a Smith and Wesson model 386 PD revolver in .357 magnum. These are the airweight type with Scandium and Titanium. They would be great to carry around weight wise but I am wondering about the recoil. I have never shot anything like this and would like the opnions of those that have shot these types of guns as to whether the recoil is as bad as I think it might be. My other revolver is a Smith 686 with a 6" barrel and recoil isn't bad at all except with the hottest .357 magnum loads. I would probably only shoot .38 specials in the 386. So if you have experience with these types of guns I would really appreciate your input. Thanks.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I have a 642 and shoot it often. I don't have any problems with the +p .38spl loads, but I also lift weights religiously and shoot regularly. Most of my friends think +p is vicious out of the 642 and for most it is not an easy gun to hit with. 357 mag loads out of one of the little S&W airweight/airlite models is a truly unpleasant experience for the shooter. Immense flash, report, and ridiculous recoil should be expected. Most .357 loads will not give you much more energy due to the slower burning powder and the short barrel length of the revolver in question. If you really want a .357, then get an all steel gun, otherwise, stick to the .38.

 

[RNB65]

Read this thread carefully --

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=227021

 

[barnett]

i have a S&W 637. i love to CARRY it. i hate to SHOOT it.

 

[JMusic]

When I purchased my Airweight last year I initially went for a .357. The dealer talked me out of the purchase and guided me toward the 38's. I now own a 638 and and don't regret the decision. A few weeks after the purchase I had a chance to shoot a Airlite in 357. Painful is the only way I can describe it. I once had a chance to buy a 454 C in a 6'' Raging Bull. The recoil from the 357 was worse that that. If you can handle a true heavy recoiling gun then you may be alright, I can't.

Jim

 

[MCgunner]

I've fired an airlight .357 at the range, belonged to one of the members, with a heavy load. I think you'll end up carrying .38 in it, personally, unless you are unusually masochistic.

Save some money and get a 642 is my opinion.

 

[Pawnee Drifter]

Thanks everyone for your honest input. I don't like lots of recoil and it sounds like I would be buying a bunch of it. Keep the input and suggestions coming.

 

[Old Fuff]

While the ultra-light revolvers are nice to carry, they have some disadvantages if you have to shoot one - particularly in a serious situation. The revolver you have in mind comes with a Titanium cylinder, that requires extra care when it comes to cleaning the chambers. If you shoot .38 special cartridges in a .357 Magnum chamber frequent cleaning is necessary because you can collect fouling in the front of the longer chamber. With either .38 Special Plus-P or .357 Magnum loads the recoil slows second and additional accurate shots in situations where bullet placement is critical. Here, the weight of an all-steel gun works in your favor. Next, an aluminum framed/steel cylinder & barrel (in .38 Special) is better then a Titanium/Aluminum .357. I seldom worry about the .38 not doing the job, but if that's a consideration I go to a .44 Special snubby, not a .357 Magnum.

 

[jad0110]

I find the recoil of my 642 airweight firing .38 specials to be not bad at all. .38 +ps are tolerable as well. I can't imagine what a .357 in a lighter gun would feel like, and I REALLY don't want to find out. Besides, the .38 special is a very good SD round with a respectable record, in standard or +p form. I think a lot of people underestimate the .38 because it is old, but so is the 9mm and 45ACP! I do not at all feel undergunned when packing my 642 snubby loaded with Speer Gold Dot 135 grn +p. Besides, I imagine the muzzle flash from a .357 snubby at night would absolutely trash your night vision (and that of your attacker, naturally).

The airweight J Frame and the .38 special are made for each other. Best pocket combo, IMHO. The .357 makes more sense in an all steel gun. If you wish to carry a .357 and don't mind carrying IWB/OWB, I'd suggest something a bit beefier. Something along the lines of a S&W Model 60, Ruger SP101 or better yet, a sweet S&W Model 19 or 66 with a 2.5" barrel. Gettin' all hot and bothered just thinking about it .

Good luck with your decision. Try some out and let us know what you think .

 

[jad0110]

BTW...

For the price of a new S&W Airlite titanium .357 (whatever the model designation is) +/- a small amount of green, you can probably get two like-new used guns: a S&W airweight 442 or 642 in .38 special AND a used S&W model 19 in .357.

Food for thought!

 

[Standing Wolf]

I recently fired an alloy-framed Smith & Wesson N frame .44 magnum revolver with a four-inch barrel. Recoil was snappy, but by no means painful. The trigger was mediocre, as is to be expected of current production revolvers from that company; even so, the accuracy was very good.

Run 100 rounds through it for the heck of it at the range every week? Nope. Put a couple rounds through it to save my life? Nope again, but that's because a.) I wouldn't even consider buying a gun with an internal lock, and b.) Smith & Wesson hasn't rescinded the dirty deal it signed with the Snopes Clinton-Liar Gore régime. In a life or death situation, no one's going to notice recoil, muzzle blast, muzzle flash, or trigger pull weight, for that matter.

Carry weight counts for a lot.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would just get the 642 or 442 Smith in 38 and not worry about it. You'll only shoot 38's, so just get the 38.

 

[Southern Raider]

I had a 340PD that I enjoyed, but needed to sell for financial reasons. I found the recoil under 357 to be stiff, but manageable and not unpleasant. It had two bad things going for it:

• The cylinder gap must have been big, because I would get sprayed with debris from each shot, sometimes in the face and certainly in the hands.
• Unfired ammunition would actually partially disassemble itself in the cylinder.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

At one time I had a M36 J-Frame and a Rossi M677 357 snubby. Hated carrying them, hated shooting them.

They were replaced by a LW Commander and a Bersa Thunder 380.
Both of these guns are far easier to carry and a lot of fun to shoot. I like to have a carry gun that is fun to shoot. Keeps the skills sharp.

If any gun in my collection is difficult to shoot, revolver or auto, It gets sold.

A lot of folks like the lightweight snubbies. That's OK. I'm not one of them.

If the flamethrowers show up so be it.

This is my opinion. Your opinion may vary.

ZM