New S&W 637 Airweight

[PJSprog]

After the recent realization that I really don't have a decent firearm for EDC (all my handguns are 4-6" bbl), I started looking around at all the myriad options. I've always been a revolver guy, so most of my efforts were concentrated in that direction. I settled pretty quickly on the S&W 637 Airweight 5-shot .38 Special revolver. Did a fair amount of price shopping, and never found a better price than that offered by my LGS, Precision Outfitters in Highland, IL. Went last weekend on Saturday and bought it. I had some time ago promised my wife that she could get the next handgun, so she went first and bought a S&W M&P9c, then I went later for the revolver (silly, I know, but some promises you just have to keep). They were having their Grand (re)Opening this Saturday, so we stopped in the morning to pick them both up.

I took it out yesterday, threw a box on the ground next to the lake, and shot it for function. Seems to shoot a little high. Wife took it out later and had the same result. I'll get it to the range for some proper paper later this week.

Anyway, here's the requisite picture (poor cell phone quality and all). It's not a stunner, but it looks like it'll make a fine tool.

S&W 637-2 "Airweight"
5-shot
.38 Special +p
Uncle Mike's boot grips
DeSantis SOF-TUC IWB holster


Edit: No idea why the image won't imbed here, so it's attached instead.
Never mind, figured it out.
Added dash to model.

 

[bannockburn]

PJSprog

The Model 637 makes for a great choice in an Airweight S&W snubbie! I have often preferred it's concealed hammer cousin, the Model 638. Also nice selection with the DeSantis SOF-TUCK holster; one of my favorites too!

 

[PJSprog]

Nice. Yeah, it was actually your suggestion last week that swayed me to the SOF-TUC. So far, I like it already, and it's not even broke in yet.

 

[weblance]

If you plan on using a speedloader, you will need to change the grips, or seriously relieve the factory ones. They will jam a speedloader, and tie up the gun.

 

[PJSprog]

If you plan on using a speedloader, you will need to change the grips, or seriously relieve the factory ones. They will jam a speedloader, and tie up the gun.

Nope. I dislike round speedloaders on small frame guns. The crane never swings out far enough to use them without some manner of trouble. I bought some of the Tuff Quickstrips instead.

 

[Haywood]

Depending the weight of the Bullet may be why it shot high. I practice with 130gr. And that seems good for my J-Frames, SP101 and my LCR357. I load. Speer Gold Dot 135gr. 38+P for carry. This load has been tested on the street by NYPD and gets good results.

 

[PJSprog]

I just shot a few cylinders full of 158gr FMJ Armscor I had sitting around. I have some 125gr JHP +P loads I'll try, as that's likely what it'll carry.

It's snappy, to say the least, even with standard loads. It's a light gun with a small grip. I'm guessing it's as much or more my shooting as it is the ammo. I'll know more after putting it through some proper paces.

 

[L-2]

I'm thinking Uncle Mike's is no longer the supplier of S&W's grips, as mentioned in the original post. There's no indication of the manufacturer on the inside of the grips.

 

[surjimmy]

Love those little J-Frames. My Wife confiscated my Nickle airweight model 38, so I bought this 649 and put T-Grips on it. When not carrying my 1911, I drop this in my front pocket and go.

 

[PJSprog]

I'm thinking Uncle Mike's is no longer the supplier of S&W's grips, as mentioned in the original post. There's no indication of the manufacturer on the inside of the grips.

You may be right, L-2. It's listed everywhere as the UM boot grip, but the S&W website no longer says that, just "synthetic grip."

 

[PJSprog]

Nice pair, surjimmy.

My wife really liked it, too. She went to a local indoor range Saturday evening to shoot her new M&P9c. I was at a gig with my acoustic band. She told me she checked and thought, "Darn, he took the revolver." She was going to take it with her and shoot it before I did!

Women.

 

[fastbolt]

Congrats. Nice M637.

FWIW, as a longtime firearms instructor, and the owner/user of more than half a dozen J-frames, I've seen a significant number of J-frame snub shooters tend to "shoot high".

It usually has to do with a lot of folks trying to really "see" the front ramp ... and they don't realize they're elevating the front sight above the rear notch at the moment of trigger press. This is often aggravated by either low, or really bright, light conditions ... as well as aging eyes. You want to get a better view of it, but may not realize you're lifting it "up" to "see" the whole ramp.

I've started applying a judicious amount of either a bright sight/hobby paint (or a brightly colored nail polish), to make it easier & faster to align the fixed sights.

Now, the M&P 340/360 snubs have that XS front night sight, which is nestled within a generous U-shaped notch that snugly fits the plastic-ringed front night sight, and that round dot seems easier (for me, and some others I've observed) to keep low in the U-notch than a standard ramp/post in the square notch (just visible so it doesn't become blocked by the bottom of the rear notch). Pricey, though.

Maybe some more trigger time, and special attention to the front/rear sight, will acclimate you to the neat M637. The trigger reach/geometry of the J's can sometimes require a bit of adjustment if you're used to shooting larger framed revolvers, too. It may be affecting your alignment, unknowingly, at the moment of completion of the press.

Just a couple thoughts.

 

[Wishoot]

I also have a 637-2. Bobbed the hammer, removed the ISL and it's good to go.

 

[Haywood]

Houge makes The Tamer Grip for J-Frames. It makes shooting 38s fun.

 

[PJSprog]

Good points, fastbolt. I hadn't considered that. I am used to shooting a M686 mostly. I have a M64, but haven't shot it much. That may be the issue. Appreciate the input.

I like the exposed hammer, Wishoot. It's why I chose it over the 638. I would certainly prefer that it not have that infernal lock, but I don't know that I want to remove it and have an even bigger hole for muck to potentially get inside.

 

[ABTOMAT]

I bought a 638 so I could avoid snagging problems but keep the SA hammer. Only thing I've changed about the gun is I added a set of wood grips, since the rubber boot grips tended to eat my shirt.

 

[shootniron]

Nice little gun.

I like the j-frames also...I just prefer the 642 as I really have no need for the SA capability.

 

[Twiki357]

I’ve been carrying the 637-2 in both pocket and OWB for about 4 years now. I don’t care for the “Hump back” configuration and have never had the slightest hint of the hammer snagging.

 

[bannockburn]

surjimmy

I did it the other way around; I had the Model 649 first then added the Model 638 for something a bit a lighter in weight for the warm weather months. Both are great little J frames.

 

[mikey98e]

I use a 638 also. Like the hammer shroud.

 

[fastbolt]

Good points, fastbolt. I hadn't considered that. I am used to shooting a M686 mostly. I have a M64, but haven't shot it much. That may be the issue. Appreciate the input.

I like the exposed hammer, Wishoot. It's why I chose it over the 638. I would certainly prefer that it not have that infernal lock, but I don't know that I want to remove it and have an even bigger hole for muck to potentially get inside.

If that's what's happening, it's quick and easy to address. Especially for someone who's already a revolver shooter.

I've watched a lot of folks elevate their front ramps up out of that shallow rear notch, not realizing what they were doing, getting high hits. Once I pointed what I suspected they were doing with the front sight, they quickly realized it and were able to put the top of the ramp/post back down level with the top of the rear notch, and their hits were where they desired.

It can be even harder to that front ramp/post with the older J's, with their dime-thin front sight, and that itty bitty rear notch.

Going from a full-size revolver to a 5-shot J can be distracting enough (smaller grip and different trigger "feel"), so it might be easy to miss seeing the front sight being a bit elevated.

 

[druryj]

Love those little J-Frames. My Wife confiscated my Nickle airweight model 38, so I bought this 649 and put T-Grips on it. When not carrying my 1911, I drop this in my front pocket and go.

I'm also a J-Frame fan. My 642 wears a Tyler T as well, courtesy of the one and only famous surjimmy himself. He's my brother from another mother and one of the purtiest men you'll ever see. He don't have much hair on his head but dang it sure is wrinkled! But back to Jaybirds: the darn little things are slick and are the reliability benchmark IMO for CCW weapons. I find mine shoots well with ... Well, pretty much anything I run I it. It's just a darn nice little Roscoe that I would never part with.

 

[Cleveland48]

My little sister bought a 637 last Friday and I shot it Sunday. Fine shooting gun ! I told her you can't go wrong with a j frame. I carry a 442 and my wife a 642. Congrats on the new gun you made a fine choice.