Lightweight snubbies

[ZVP]

I think S&W shot itself in the foot by pushing these lightweight, alloy revolvers. Yea they carry easy but don't hold up toa constant diet ofMagnum or high pressure cartriges. An old steel frme will last forever just shooting the lower pressure ammo it was designed for!
I like to pratice a lot andthese lightweights just can;t take use like that. They were made to shoot enough to qualify, do some light pratice and finally shoot for real when needed to do so!
I shoot a Model 10 amd a Model 36 all steel revolvers and using factory ammo orhandloads equalling safe pressure levels,per the handloading manuals. using ammo of this sort, I expect long lifetimes for both my revolvers!!!
If you want .357 mag preformance, then get a steel ,357 mag and eenjoy shooting it! Like a ,357 Model 27. That'll last lifetime(s) Rather than hammer a lightweight with a stedy diet of Magnums.
A Snubby is hard enough to master, why punish your hand (and gun) shooting the "hot" stuff.
For the "heavy Stuff" I shoot a Ruger Vaquero .357 to fire +P's or full house Magnums. I have found the +P's to shoot really well out of the Vaquero. Super accurate, low recoil due th the Stainless revolvers weight. I don't do things that hurt me and call it "fun"!
Yes there is a place for the lightweights and if you adhere to my simple shooting plan, you'll enjoy your shooting much more!
JMHO
ZVP

 

[Twiki357]

I’m not too sure why you’re ragging on light weight 357 magnums if you only have a model 10 and a model 36, both are steel 38 specials and a steel Ruger for 357.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Have you actually shot a S&W Airlite J frame in .357 Magnum or are you guessing it's not strong. Scandium is a super dense and very light metal and when you use Scandium in an alloy it transfers it's properties to the rest of the alloy. Scandium is as strong or stronger than Steel. The .357 Magnum S&W Airlite is a much stronger revolver than the .38 Special +P S&W Airweight revolver. The Airlite can take as much magnum ammo as you can feed it although I doubt the shooter can say the same!!!

Again, have you even shot one of the Airlite revolvers or are you guessing?

 

[rbernie]

They were made to shoot enough to qualify, do some light pratice and finally shoot for real when needed to do so!

While I may disagree with the sentiment that they won't hold up, I'm actually more compelled to point out that this discription is actually how most guns across much of human history have been used.

Just like a meat cleaver in your kitchen knife drawer, the defensive handgun is a tool that has a specific and specialized purpose and unless you need (or see the need) to practice and use that tool regularly, it's probably not going to see the light of day very often.

 

[oneounceload]

Yea they carry easy but don't hold up toa constant diet ofMagnum or high pressure cartriges

They were not meant for this type of use, just as your Toyota Corolla was not meant to run flat out at Daytona

 

[Riomouse911]

I am more worried about the nerves in my shooting hand giving out looooong before I am worried about my 642 falling apart from a steady diet of +P .38's.

"Carry a lot, shoot a little" is the phrase that best defines a super-light .357 revolver and .357 magnum loads. If they are your cup of tea, more power to you. Personally I try to enjoy my range time to the fullest, and getting my hands beat to death with those little flamethrowers is just not that much fun IMHO. (Which is why I load/shoot mostly wadcutters in my SP101, M49, 2" M-10 and M-642's, and mostly .38's of other power levels in my 2.5" M-19 and the 2" barrel of the Dan Wesson, they are more enjoyable)

 

[Fiv3r]

My problem with them is that I just don't shoot them well. I much prefer a heavy snubbie over a light one.

Even IF the lighter ones didn't hold up, it's a catch 22. If I can afford to burn through 10,000 rounds hot enough to stretch the frame, I can afford to buy a replacement. If I can't afford 10,000 rounds, then I probably won't ever wear out the gun.

I prefer steel, but it's just because I require a revolver with more heft to shoot accurately.

 

[perpster]

Ummm, lifetime warranty from S&W should eliminate most of your concerns.

 

[RealGun]

Not sure what inspired the sermon, but my .38 Special +p little Smithie is a Performance Center lightweight, 637 Wyatt Deep Cover. Shooting it is no problem, but I wouldn't stand in line to shoot a .357 Magnum snubbie with full up loads.

 

[mavracer]

I am more worried about the nerves in my shooting hand giving out looooong before I am worried about my 642 falling apart from a steady diet of +P .38's.

That was my concern with my M&P 340. Well not just nerve damage but a realization that I just couldn't shoot much more than 38+p with control, 145gr Silvertips required me to readjust the gun down in my hand between shots. I sold it and bought a LCR and a 442 with the proceeds.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

I have to agree. I have a Rossi stainless steel revolver 2.5 barrel with rubber grips, .38/.357. A wonderful revolver. Been steady and reliable ever since I got it in 1986. If I was to get one of those lightweight revolvers it would be pretty much .38 shooting.
The weight of the Rossi alone gives it great stability especially with .357.

 

[Tacoma]

I've got an 11 oz S&W 360PD that has held up to years of routine practice with 38 +P. Can't say I can attest as to how it would hold up with regular 357 use as I have never found the need to punish myself in that way.

FWIW, grips play a hue role in felt recoil on these guns. I run Crimson Trace 405's for a larger grip and feel the cut felt recoil by at least 30% over factory boot grips.

 

[orionengnr]

They were not meant for this type of use, just as your Toyota Corolla was not meant to run flat out at Daytona

I have owned a number of S&W j-frames, including a 637, a 360 and two 340s. I bought the first one almost ten years ago, and have been reading threads about the Airweight and AirLight j-frames since before then.

I have never read of a single instance of someone wearing out one of these revolvers.

There was someone a good while back on the S&W forum who put 26,000 full Magnum rounds through a 340. I have no idea how he did that, and I can only conclude that he has not updated the status recently because he is unable to type these days, due to his wrists being utterly destroyed.

 

[BYJO4]

In my opinion, the lightweight 38/357 snub filled a need for those who wanted to carry a self defense firearm with minimal weight. They were not designed to be a regular range gun. I only know a few shooters who enjoy the additional recoil from a snub.

 

[XTrooper]

This is like complaining your duck boat won't hang with the cigarette boats plying the bay.

If you use these revolvers for their intended/anticipated purpose (carried a lot, shot little), they will serve you well for many years.

As far as Smith & Wesson somehow harming themselves by "pushing" these lightweight snubbies, that is plain absurd. The fact is, these revolvers are very popular and they sell them by the truckload.

 

[R.W.Dale]

It took me awhile to come around to this notion as a snubby fan but in this day and age there's absolutely 0 reason to pay more to get less gun that is the alloy framed S&W snubby.

Do yourself a favor and buy an LCR

 

[Riomouse911]

"The fact is, these revolvers are very popular and they sell them by the truckload."

I read the 642 was S&W's #1 seller a couple of years back. I know my LGS can't keep them in stock at around $350 apiece.

 

[Penoe Hunter]

I qualified for seven years with a PD360. Firing 120 rounds each session. The gun held up fine unlike the bottom of trigger finger.

 

[ZVP]

Thanks for all the great comebacks!

Seriously guys I was just looking for some hardcore, hands-on reports. Frankilly the only lightweights I've shot was a Tarus I think? Itfelt like a toy!
I figgured there was no bwrrer way to gwt the TRUTH us from aarisfied owhers. So, I just made a wide open npost full of armchair Quarterback statements.
You guys made me want to gp and shoot a lightweight and form my own conclusions.
I enjoy experienced, matter of fact answers and opnions. You get honest experiences with a gun toform a benchmark as I reserch a model.
Mn you guys sure defend your sidearms and add a lot of fcts too!
Thanks again,
BPDave

 

[NMPOPS]

I own a 638 and a 642. The642 is 12 years old and I have qualified with it yearly. I actually enjoy shooting J frames and I have never had any issues with it.

 

[guyfromohio]

I've shot the crap out of my 642 and it still rides my hip more than any other.

 

[RealGun]

spell checked this bad boy posted by ZVP. Grammar left alone:

Seriously guys I was just looking for some hardcore, hands-on reports. Frankly the only lightweights I've shot was a Taurus I think? It felt like a toy!

I figured there was no better way to get the TRUTH as from satisfied owners. So, I just made a wide open post full of armchair Quarterback statements.
You guys made me want to go and shoot a lightweight and form my own conclusions.

I enjoy experienced, matter of fact answers and opinions. You get honest experiences with a gun to form a benchmark as I research a model.
Man you guys sure defend your side arms and add a lot of facts too!

Thanks again,
BPDave

 

[chuckpro]

I have put a lot of +p ammo thru my 642 i have even put about 200 old "Treasury loads" threw it and is still as tight as a drum.

 

[BigG]

While I may disagree with the sentiment that they won't hold up, I'm actually more compelled to point out that this discription is actually how most guns across much of human history have been used.

Just like a meat cleaver in your kitchen knife drawer, the defensive handgun is a tool that has a specific and specialized purpose and unless you need (or see the need) to practice and use that tool regularly, it's probably not going to see the light of day very often.

That's just what I thought after reading the OP.

 

[Gottahaveone]

Do yourself a favor and buy an LCR

My thoughts exactly. Bought the KLCR, carry it daily and shoot it monthly. Keep it loaded with the 158gr LSWC +P FBI load, but it's nice to know it'll take magnums if that happens to be all I can find at the time. Just can't see me wearing it out.......