S&W 637 w/Crimson Trace - Range Report

[Regen]

I recently purchased a S&W 637 w/Crimson Trace, and had a opportunity to take it to the range for the first time yesterday.

I really like the gun. It handles very well and seems to point itself. I had it in a Safariland Model 25 Inside-the-Pocket Holster. I would draw, almost immediately have the laser on the bull and fire. Very quick, decent accuracy out to about 10 yards (I didn't shoot farther than 10 yds, but was still within an 8 inch circle during rapid draw and fire)

I was shooting UMC 130gr 38Spl rounds, and the recoil was hard but not brutal. After 60 rounds, I was pretty fatigued from the recoil. I plan to carry Speer Gold Dot 125gr Short Barrel 38Spl +P, but they didn't have any at the range yesterday and my online order has yet to come in. I'll report back on the recoil after I've had a chance to shoot those rounds.

Afterwards, I shot my full size USP 9m with 124gr Hydrashocks +P, and the recoil was unnoticeable compared to the 637.

After I got home, I gave the gun a through cleaning. That UMC is really dirty and I had carbon fouling all over the gun. But between some Slip-2000 carbon killer, some Powder Blast and elbow grease, I have the gun looking good as new again.

Anyone have any recommendation on a low recoil 38Spl Practice Round? Especially, one that isn't so dirty?

 

[welldoya]

I've got a 642 and I use the Winchester White Box FMJ I get from WalMart. I think 100 round box is about $30 now. (It was $22 just a couple of months ago)

 

[jaydubya]

I shoot Mastercast's 148gr DEWC reloads in my 637, which I bought five years ago and had the dealer install the Crimson Trace grips available then, 305s as I recall. This is a moderate load which cuts excellent, round holes in the target. Mastercast is inexpensive, prompt and reliable, unlike some other reloading services I have used. www.mastercast.net. I have fired about five thousand of their rounds. Highly recommended.

As for dirty, EVERYTHING I have fired in my 637 goops it up. Seems to be inherent with Airweights, or perhaps I'm too generous with oil. The goop comes off easily with Hoppe's #9 and a toothbrush. I use a brass brush, soaked with Hoppe's, through the barrel and each chamber a couple times, followed by patches until clean, then a light application of oil. I also drop a drop on the shaft of the cartridge ejector (forget the correct name), another where the yoke marries the frame, and another down the hammer slot. I finish off with a wipedown with a silicon cloth. In five years, I have never unscrewed THAT screw in order to remove the cylinder and yoke. I've fired around two thousand rounds through my 637, a maximum of fifty rounds at a time, and during the last twenty I'm gritting my teeth in pain.

I practice weekly at an indoor range with my 9mm Browning Hi Power and one of the two revolvers I have, all with Crimson Trace sights. So I fire my 637 every other week. At ten yards I fire double action twenty-five rounds with the iron sights, which are -- despite what many say -- excellent. I'm a geezer, so I'm happy with most of the rounds within the nine ring of a #24 silhouette target at ten yards. At five yards I use the CT laser sights, firing from the waist. When I keep my rate of fire at about a round a second, I can sometimes tear the ten ring up. Any faster and the hits tend to wander up and down the spinal area -- which would be almost as effective.

I never practice single action because I am in this strictly for HD/SD. Five years ago, when I bought my 637, if I had known what I know now, I would have bought the 642 instead. But what the h***, I've got a gem anyway.
Cordially, Jack

 

[M2 Carbine]

Regen, if you haven't got it yet, call Crimson Trace and ask for their (free) DVD "Shots in the Dark". It's must viewing for laser users.

I practice several evenings a week with Crimson Trace laser equipped guns.
With a little practice you may get faster and more accurate with the laser at night than with iron sights during daylight.
Personally, I've gotten just a little more accurate and faster with the laser than with iron sights.





My 38 practice load is 160 gr lead SWC bullets loaded just slightly under full loads.
Very accurate 38 round.
I like to practice laser shooting from the hip (it's faster than raising the gun to chest level) left and right hand.

 

[bigjohnson]

I also have a 637 with Crimson Trace grips. The grips I have are the 305s. I tried the 405s, but really didn't like them at all, and exchanged them for the 305s, which are much more comfortable even if they are a bit longer.
At 7 yards, double action, I usually get a 5 or 6 inch group using Remington 148-grain wadcutters. Lately I've been carrying the Federal Low-Recoil Hydra-Shoks, which give me the same accuracy, but also a bit more recoil. I'm sure that there are a lot of you guys who think that at the least I should be using +Ps (or upgrading to a .45 or something). But if you think the Low-Recoil Hydra-Shoks are too wimpy, how about letting me pop you in the chest with one and we'll see how well it works? Don't forget: a hit by a .38 special is better than a miss by a .44 magnum.