I bought a S&W Model 36, any advice?

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JoNate

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Hello y'all, I bought a Model 36 yesterday at the pawn shop. ...Funny I knew it would be at that particular one and exactly how it looked...

Here are the details. It's a Model 36, its beat up and it shoots pretty damn good (100 rounds through it last night). I paid 160 OTD for it, did I do alright on that? The sights suck..Crimson Trace? It has surface rust on various spots around the gun, except the exposed grip area, should I re-blue it myself?

Also, do you have any advice on what and how to clean it. It needs it pretty damn bad. (I did give it a quick clean barrel and cylinder before I shot it.)
 
should I re-blue it myself?
Click to expand...
NO!
Cold blue will look worse in six months then what you got now.

If you must have it refinished, send it back to S&W Custom shop and have them do it.
They will give it a factory new finish, and correct any internal problems they find.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...4_750001_750051_775657_-1_757896_757896_image

Otherwise:
Clean the rust off with 0000 Super-Fine steel wool & oil.

Buy a can of WD-40, and use the little red tube to hose out the innerds.

Then, blow it out with compressed air and relube with a drop of Rem-Oil on all the moving parts you can get too.

rc
 
Model363.jpg
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JoNate,

If that gun shoots good and is physically tight I wouldn't do a thing to it. You have a perfect revolver for CC and paid peanuts for it. No worries about scratches or a little rust or loss of bluing from holster carry.

By the time you pay shipping both ways and refinishing your likely to have another $300.00 plus in it. Then if you plan to carry it, you start to ugly it up all over again.
Model 36's are plentiful and yours will never be new again so I guess you have to weigh your options.

The way I see it you got a very good price on that gun and it needs nothing. Ultimately the decision is yours. Personally I'd save my dough for something else if you want a pretty gun.
 
What ever you do, don't get frisky about the trigger pull. Some people feel the J frame trigger is a struggle and begin altering things to try and make it a slick K frame feel. It never will be. DO NOT get lured into cutting the main spring or rebound spring. The geometry of the gun and small parts require a healthy main spring to be reliable. Stock spring weight is best. Leave that as is.

Aside from that...clean it the best you can....lube it well...and enjoy. They are good little guns so long as you don't expect it to be a fire breathing pocket rocket. Stick to quality standard pressure loads in the 110 to 125 grain weight. It will do you fine and last you a long while.
 
Slap some Eagle Secret Service grips on it (if they are still available) and enjoy. Wish I still had mine as it was a great piece.

mike
 
I have quite a few Smiths and their bright blue finish is really beautiful. That said, I don't know how good it will look an a surface that has been rusted. It may be to uneven for a really nice blue job. I'd suggest looking at a nice aftermarket finish that isn't as dependent on the base metal to look good. Robar has some really nice finishes that are virtually indestructable and look very nice over less-than-perfect metal surfaces. Other aftermarket finishes are also available. My brother had an old Smith parkerized. Its a rough looking finish but many people like that look and its relatively cheap. Shop around and find something that you like.
 
You might have a local gunsmith who does a real good job of prepping and hot bluing at a very resonable rate.........look and ask around.

If not, take the side plate off and give the innards a real good liberal spraying of brake cleaner then put the side plate back on. Then give the whole gun a good submersed bath in diesel and work it over good with an old toothbrush and cleaning patches down the barrel. Blow off the excess diesel with an air hose and wipe dry. It will make the bluing that's left look good.
Shoot, carry, throw around and be happy with a great deal and a great sidearm.
 
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I belileve I'd leave it as it is. Remllez already said it's a perfect carry gun and I agree. I think S&W is now up to around $250 to reblue a gun, and at that point, you'd have about $400 in a $300 gun. It's not worth the expense or effort. Scrub the rust off and enjoy that little gem.
 
I agree, carry it, shoot it. The 36 is the perfect carry revolver. If you make it too pretty, you won't want to carry/shoot it.

I use Federal Nyclad as carry ammo in mine. They shoot well and have good reviews for stopping power.
 
light application of 4-0 and Kroil, clean inside, lube, good grips (I have Uncle Mikes Boot grips on one and Pachmayr grippers on another) and you are good to go. Sights should be adequate for across the poker table.
 
Bought mine new in 68. Still looks new! Spent a long time working up a load that would shoot to point of aim at 15 yds. and not be a +anything load. came up with 4.3 grs. of unique and 158 LSWCHP. This is a close to max load (4.5) and I never did get unique to drop the same amout each time, so each load was dropped at 4.0 and "trickeled"to 4.3. At times I've carried other guns,but that's another story. Went back to the model 36 and (todate) never looked back!
 
Thank you for all of the input. I think I am going to not blue it for now and put that money into ammo as I may seriously use it for my CCW. It's already kinda banged up. What kind of ammo should I use in it for CC? I currently have Hornady Critical Defense, I have not shot those rounds in it yet.

Also, I am a clean freak (for my guns), how can I get out the burn rings?

Thanks again for all the input guys, I really appreciate it and need it.
 
Congratulations. I think you did well. For that price & condition for a carry gun. Now you don't have to worry about that first scratch or worn finish.

Ammo oh boy I do have a favorite. It's Buffalo Bore 158gr lead SWC HP non +P. It states non +P right on the box. Buffalo Bore claims 850fps. I got 876fps from a 2" DS. They also make a +P version & I'm going to test it as soon as I find some. www.buffalobore.com
You might want to look at it?

I'm also hearing good things about the Speer 135gr Gold Dot HP. It's +P, but I don't think a little +P is going to ruin your gun. I'd practice & play with std pressure loads. I love a good target wadcutter load, they are really fun & accurate. They are also a tremendous small game load.

As for cleaning up your gun, I'd use Hoppe's #9 & a bronze bore brush or toohtbrush bronze cleaning brush. I'd lightly scrub the areas that need it then lightly oil with a good oil. I like Break Free CLP, I stay away from WD40, it turns gummy after awhile.
Have fun & enjoy.
Frank
 
Don't remove side plate S&W need special screwdrivers unless you want to butcher the screrws . Remove grips and hose it out a couple times You will get 99% of the crud out. Then reoil . I have a couple they are good guns I carry the 158gr SWCHP in mine.
 
Burn rings: Get some Mothers Mag and Wheel Polish, put on a rag and lightly clean face of cylinder. If you have an old tooth brush, might try this in some of the tight spots. This stuff has been recommended around this web for practically all cleaning of blued, Nickel, and SS revolver/pistols. I'd not do a whole lot of rubbing on any of the blued body with the Mag cleaner, might remove more bluing than you'd want!
 
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I wouldn't reblue it ... an old J Frame with its well worn finish just oozes character. Plus the refinish isn't going to make it shoot any better and its going to get worn again if you CCW it.

I'd just leave the wood stocks on it (maybe add a Tyler T-Grip).

As for the price, I'd say you done real good.
 
New here, not new to guns.
Chiefs Special, sweet. Bought one new, gave it to my Dad for his birthday, 1984, 1985. Nice little pocket popper.
Dad wasn't a gun guy, got some rust. Had it bead blasted and "parkerized", not much, $30 - $40.
Maturity has a few benefits, you learn things. Unless we are talking about a high speed cartridge, 1300fps pistol, or more, maximum effect is from bullet weight. If I can't achieve 1300fps, I will raise bullet weight until the bullet speed moves down to 850-900fps.
You can't get enough velocity from a model 36 to raise effectiveness through speed alone. Throw a heavier rock.
 
Thanks again guys, I cleaned it up real good after I fired another 100 rounds through it yesterday. The CC instructor next me stopped to comment on what a nice gun it is. The trigger has gotten really sweet on it. Now I know what a revolver is all about :)
Also, I have improved my accuracy with it tremendously.

The grips I will still change.. I am leaning towards Crimson Trace for SD reasons. Stock sights are hard to get a view on when up against something dark, not to mention at night. Night is the time I've found myself in most un-wanted situations so that is important to me.

Also, holster options? I'm thinking Thunderwear b/c of my physical activities. Running, mtn biking, dog park, etc..

Thanks again!
 
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