Less than impressed with the lightweights

[earlthegoat2]

Is anybody else in agreement with me when I say that these lightweight revolvers that seem to be all the rage right now are pretty well overrated?

I just picked up a mint Smith Model 60-7 all stainless steel heavyweight. I got it for a song at 325. The reason, because the owner had just gotten a Smith 637. He said this [model 60] was too heavy.

I like the steel guns. I will call mine the all new Smith "Lead Heavy" It is what I would call a new philosophy on an old revolver. Make mine steel. I like the forgiving nature of the 38 Special as it fires from a gun that is roughly 50% heavier than the lightweights. I have carried the lighter ones and near as I can tell they carry the same. AirWeights are IMO, too light to shoot accurately the first time and one shot after the other. I am always on the prowl, not for a 642 but for a 640. I get excited when I see the older 6 shot snubbies like the Colt Lawman and Smith Model 10.

I can buy into the idea of using the lightweight to shoot a little and carry a lot but I like to shoot my carry guns a lot.

Rant done.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The steel versions of these snubbies, while heavier, are much easier to actually shoot.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Buy one of each. Carry the LW version, and shoot the heavy. It supports the economy.........

 

[Ruodo]

I feel the same way. When I pick them up they always feel like toys to me. Would hate to actually have to feel the recoil.

 

[kle]

from the draw, I shoot my S&W 10 and S&W 642 about the same at 15 feet (well, maybe off to the right a little with my 642, but that's an issue of trigger-finger placement). The recoil of the .38 doesn't bother me in the little Airweight.

If we're talking .357 Magnum, though, give me an all-steel K-frame over an alloy J-frame anyday.

 

[sidheshooter]

I sort of agree when we are discussing the J-frame. Mine is steel.

The K-frame, on the other hand, is enough bigger that I like the feel of an airweight; I recently bought up a model 12 that is just right.

Not that my 64 or 65 are iron pigs; I like shooting those a lot. But the difference is not night and day like the 5-shooters, and the carry is easier with the K that weighs almost exactly what my steel J does.

FWIW.

 

[MMCSRET]

I like steel, Hell, I just came around to stainless steel a couple of years ago and I'm still no convinced I'm going to be OK with that. I don't own any new shotguns or 22s because the receivers are alloy.

 

[Glockman17366]

For carry, the light weight snubbies are great...much preferable to steel models (IMHO).
Both of the Taurus revolvers (an 85 Multi-Alloy and an 851 Ti model) shoot quite well and recoil with +P .38 Spl isn't bad at all.
But these aren't range guns or every day shooters. I have other firearms for plinking and such.
Part of the equation is how you carry. If you carry IWB or OWB, you may as well go for steel. But pocket carry (my most frequent method) does require a very light weight firearm.

However, I could never see much point in the larger light weight guns (.357's, .44 Mags)

 

[Guillermo]

In my never-so-humble opinion one should carry a gun they shoot well.

I do not shoot a lightweight snubby well. Perhaps I could if were to be masochistic enough to put the practice in. Instead I opt for a "heavy" Colt Detective Special. It is light enough to comfortably carry and I shoot it very well.

All of this is to say that since every gun is a compromise, I lean towards shootablitiy.

Your mileage may vary

 

[danbrew]

Recently bought a new gun (ok, a few) and was out shooting the 325NG and 329NG today. While true that the bite on the 329NG was a handful, it was nothing that you can't control. My plan with the 329 is to practice with .44 special and to carry magnum loads. I would carry the 329NG as a CCW, yet don't see that as its primary role. It's more of a fun gun that goes boom. The 325NG, though, was GREAT. No substantial kick at all. My new all time fun gun. I will carry this one as a CCW. Brought along an all steel 640-3 snubbie in .357 and that had a bigger bite with magnum loads. Matter of fact, it took a little bite out of the web of my hand - but that was a grip thing.

Those Night Guards? Man, I love 'em. Very accurate and was getting great groups at 25'. Can't wait to go shoot it again. Loading more moonclips now. BTW, http://www.mooncliptool.com/ is awesome. Got it in 2-3 days and it works like a charm.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the major advantage of my 642 over a 640 is when i have to carry it during a 12-hour shift on my ankle.

i practiced alot with 148gr wadcutters to get the trigger stroke down, after confirming POI with my 135gr carry load.

trigger control is more impotant than sight picture in a handgun

 

[jad0110]

Steel for IWB carry. Aluminum airweight for pocket carry. Works for me.

With a good gun belt and holster, the weight of a steel gun melts away. But for pocket carry, anything much over 20 oz tends to flail about excessively, IMO (having tied a 640 in a gun store).

 

[BK]

I wouldn't think the 642 was designed to be fun to shoot. It will do what you need it to do, when you need it to do it.

 

[armoredman]

I should get my Taurus 850 CIA ultralight back soon, will see how it does with light, medium, and Plus P loads at combat distance.

 

[Gordon]

Colt Agent was 15oz of the best .38 CCW evermade IMHO. They shoot just fine.

 

[Eightball]

I have carried the lighter ones and near as I can tell they carry the same.

This is your opinion. Other people's opinions are obviously far different from yours, my own opinion included. For when I carry, the options available, and the clothes I wear during the season that necessitate carrying something smaller than my 5" 1911, the Airweight was a winner for me. Shot some airweights next to all-steel snubbies at the range, and only after about 2 or three cylinders did my hand REALLY notice a difference in recoil or accuracy. Since the odds support that I'm not going to go through three cylinders worth of ammo in an engagement, I'll take the Airweight--which to me is significantly easier to carry in my particular set of circumstances, and allows me to carry in different fashions while wearing a much broader clothing set--which is a real plus to me.

However, you're entitled to your opinion. Just make sure to back it up by purchasing additional shooting irons, so that the industry might stay strong and continue to thrive.

 

[M&PVolk]

Overrated? No. Not by a longshot. The airweights allow for a very specific form of carry that cannot be achieved with a steel gun, at least not practically. In terms of fit and finish, that can be argued with the 642/442/637 line vs. steel snubbies, but when you move up to the scandium frames, it is a whole different story. IMO, the scandium lines are the coolest revolvers ever made with incredible fit, finish, firepower, and ease of carry. I love steel revolvers and appreciate that some people prefer or shoot one style better than another, but that has nothing to do with being overrated. Now, if you are talking about being overpriced, you might have a better case, but that is true of all S&W products.

 

[Oro]

Is anybody else in agreement with me when I say that these lightweight revolvers that seem to be all the rage right now are pretty well overrated?

I'm with you, and have been for years. I find a 2" old-school model 60 carries as easily as any lightweight, and it shoots almost as well as my 2.5" K snubbie. The trade for the few extra ounces of carry vs. the reliable shooting is just fine with me.

 

[easyg]

Is anybody else in agreement with me when I say that these lightweight revolvers that seem to be all the rage right now are pretty well overrated?

I don't think they are overrated at all.
A light-weight gun is much more likely to actually be carried than a heavier gun.
And a light-weight gun in the pocket is much more useful than a heavier gun in your truck or at home.

I can definitely notice the extra weight when I switch to an all steel snubbie from an airweight snubbie.

 

[DAdams]

The only reason I really have a 1 7/8 inch barrel handgun is for concealed carry. I'm not sure why other than "fun" factor one would bother with the snubs. It is quite a challenge to become profficient with one so I have enjoyed the challenge.

My favorite due to the "carry ability", M&P 340 13 ounces, great for pocket carry, night sights, and .357 capable and I can hit the broad side of a barn at 25 feet, which is about all I care about for COM PD piece while out amongst the general populace.

I have a 642 and a M-60. I really don't care about shooting any of them except to stay profficient.

If I want to enjoy shooting a revolver I'll take my 3 inch 686 out with .38 spl.

 

[Stainz]

I feel that 'carry' and 'shoot a lot' are totally different missions. The former is for a CCW, the latter is basically for fun. In order to carry 24/7, my SD must be lite enough and small enough for pocket carry. Witness my Airweight 642 and Mika's pocket holster below, and the similar but larger AirLite Ti 296 & Mika's pocket holster. The former hides in any of my front pockets, the latter, maybe 60% now. Of course, the 4" N-frame, a 627 Pro, has to be belt holstered. It is a great range revolver... the 642 (or 296), not so much.

I hated carrying a holstered gun on my belt. The 2" 10 took backseat to the 296 - but still, in a pancake holster - with my shirt tail out to cover it. Believe me, the pocket carry is 24/7 - even at church - even cutting the lawn. I got from seldom to hardly ever with the belt carry - not a good thing. A couple of winters back, I got a Mika's pocket holster for my 296 - finally, more carry! I also got a similar holster for a 642 - thin lucked into an as new 642 (Unfired - traded the next day!) for $315 - serious moola to me, but a deal. A true 24/7 pocket carry - at last. By the fall after I bought my 642, it had thwarted a confrontation. 24/7 carry is important. "Wait! I call do-over!! My CCW is in the car/by the bed/in the safe.". You can't have 'do-overs' in many things in life... certainly not this.

Two 'gang' types cornered me in the back of a newly opened discount store - my wife, ~20 ft away, saw it - and was in shock. I reached for the 642 - and looked into the eyes of the closer (~3ft!) and older one - he looked at the other one (~6 ft), whose hand was under his jacket and in his back, and shook his head. They turned and left at high speed - without learning what was in my pocket. Yeah, a 642 with +P 158 LHPSWCs or that 296 with 200gr Gold Dots is stout - but the price is worth it. It could be my life.

Oh yeah, Ive enjoyed the novelty of shooting SPC, etc, with that 642 and some .38 poppers - and the carry rounds to finish. Dirty or not, it leaves the range loaded and in my pocket. That 627 Pro is one of my finest range guns - super fun.



I like the 60 - especially that new '60 Pro' - but I would plink away with it - and not carry it. I have a six-shooter or two - that 2" 10 and 4" 64 - that serve duty as house guns. YMMV.

Stainz

 

[18DAI]

I agree. Do folks that own those unobtanium J-frames, really practice with them??? Feels like, to me, what I imagine it must be like holding a hand grenade when it goes off!! I must just be gettin old. TJ

 

[Dimis]

I practice with carry and love my Ruger LCR
getting used to more recoil wasnt a chore and thats all that held me back from shooting accuratly
i love alot of types of guns so i deffinatly see what your saying about all steel but i also like my lightweights and have carried and shot the heck out of both
my S&W36 was my old carry and i couldnt tell you how many rounds went through that before i got it from a friends father but i know i put alot through it
as for the LCR ive only owned it a month and i have shot it a good 600+ and the only real limitation of me shooting it is ammo availability if i could find/afford more ammo ide probably fire it daily

 

[bedwards1]

The only airweight I carry is a 22 Smith for snake shot while fishing. The lighter weight doesn't matter in 22. That is a sweet little gun.

 

[yeti]

60 in a holster, 442 in the pocket, 649 tucked into the easy chair. A place for every model, and every model in it's place.