S&W Airweight 38+P recoil vs 357 Mag Snub

[LTR shooter]

I now find myself close to buying a Smith 642 Airweight in 38 Special after handling a few at a recent gun show. The light 15oz weight and compact size would make for a great carry gun and is also +P rated. Although I have never fired anything this light before!

Having owned a Smith Model 66 and 686 both with the 2 1/2" barrel I never found the recoil with Magnum ammo to be too harsh with Hogue rubber grips.

Curious as to how the little 15oz J-Frame compares when firing 38 +P. Anyone that owns or have fired both Magnum snubs and Airweights care to eloborate? If I decide on the 642 it will be here in the next week.

 

[Guillermo]

1st off, "+P" is not especially hot.
It was about the same as regular ammo before 1970.

If course a light gun can pop your hand. The most important thing in my never-so-humble-opinion is grip. If you can get your hand on it, you can control it.

My Cobra, which weighs 15.2 is easily controlled. Of course I can get all three fingers on the grips.

Compared to a .357, the (My wife has a 2.5 inch 686) I would say the .357 recoil is more obvious. In addition to more recoil, it seems "faster", even from the heavier gun. The snub does try to rotate in your hand more.

The bottom line is that you do not seem recoil sensitive so it should not be a problem.

There is one way to tell. Go to a range that rents guns and shoot an Airweight.

 

[ccbricker]

I had a 340PD for awhile and there is a considerable difference. On a recoil scale of 1 to 10, the +P ammo was a 4 and the .357 was a 10. I had my wife shoot a single round of .357 and she vowed to never shoot that revolver again.

 

[Nasty Ned]

I have both and must say the light weight gun can be uncomfortable with heavy loads, however, if you put a decent grip on the little gun it is the right choice. You will carry this gun lots more than you will shoot it. If you do have an occasion to shoot it while in a tight spot, you won't notice the recoil.

 

[Waywatcher]

I only did one cylinder of 158 grain magnums in my friends .357 snubby. (I forget the model, but it has the scandium frame with black stainless cylinder.) It was not especially punishing. It's on par with a "normal" .44 magnum, I'd say.

I, myself, would much prefer to have the option to go .357 and not use it, rather than not having the option at all. I went with a DAO SP101 and shoot mostly +Ps through it.

 

[AFDavis11]

I think the Airweight with .38 Specials is a great balance between recoil and carry comfort.

You will most likely love it.