S&W Airweights...

[chorlton]

I'm looking for a snubby for my wife so we can shoot and get our CHLs together. I have an SP101 in .357 and 3". She thinks she'd like a snubby in 2". I want to be sure she will not get tired of carrying it, so we're thinking light. I dont mind if we have to go down to .38 +P because of that.
A friend had got me looking at Taurus, and they look pretty good, but a quick google reveals the love/hate relationship people have. I have limited resources but I want her to have a new "first" gun and I have to be sure it will not let her down. Anyway, I started looking at the airweights and now that .357 is not a requirement, I wanted to get some opinions. I've seen a lot of negative comments on revolvers which were not fun for the user. A lot of the airweights seem reasonably priced so maybe we should take a look...

 

[brufener]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=138658

950 posts on the S&W 642, probably the most popular AirWeight. Lots of good info there.

 

[chorlton]

Great, thanks

 

[Glockman17366]

Taurus Ultralights (the aluminum framed with titanium cylinder and barrel shroud guns) are pretty nice. I have carried one as my CCW for close to 6 years. To me, reliability and light weight are of paramount importance.
When originally purchased, the .38 had a problem with light striking the primers. A quick trip back to Taurus solved that.
If you go for a Taurus revolver, I'd put 200-300 rounds through it before I'd use it as a carry pistol.
I do like their revolvers. I've owned at least 6 or 7 over the years. I currently own two. The one described above and a .357 Magnum Tracker in stainless steel.

 

[Old Dog]

I love the Airweights. Both the 637 and the 642 are favorite snubbies of mine, although I don't like the weird clearcoat finish on the newer versions; it has a tendency to flake off. They're somewhat brutal in terms of recoil, especially with +Ps; the rubber grips work much better than prettier, smoother wood or synthetic grips. I've found the DA triggers to be acceptable, and with regular (albeit sometimes painful) practice, one can easily master these snubbies to the point of demonstrating quite nice accuracy ...

As far as Taurus snubbies go, I have experience with the stainless and blued Model 85s -- I think that not only are they an exceptional value, they're normally quite accurate and reliable. I don't if the same can be said of their lightweight (aluminum or titanium) framed models, but if they're anywhere near as good as the steel 85s, they're probably an acceptable alternative to the more expensive Smiths.

 

[ETXhiker]

Give your wife a 15 oz. S&W airweight with .38 +p's and I guarantee she will HATE it. Sorry, but even that relatively mild cartridge will really hammer the web of her hand in such a light gun. My wife tried my S&W Bodyguard (pre model 38) on our last range trip. After the second shot, she handed it back and said it hurt her hand - and this was with 130 gr, FMJ practice ammo, not +P. In spite of recoil, my .357's and .41's never actually physically hurt to shoot. This little revolver does after a few rounds.

A steel frame chief's special would be a completely different story. A little extra weight helps a lot to tame recoil. If you're going to buy one, let her try it first.

 

[aguyindallas]

WooHoo for the 642!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[magsnubby]

I can't think of a worse gun for a new shooter than a small snubby loaded with .357's. Has she shot your SP101? Even with the lighter .357's it can be a handfull for a new shooter. An Airlite .38 loaded with +p's isn't much better. Your best bet would be to get a couple boxes of .38 target loads and let her play with the SP101 a bit. Then let her try a few boxes of .38 +p's. When she becomes proficient with that combo, then let her try a cylinder or two of the lighter .357 loads.

Same with an Airlite .38. Start her with the light target loads and let her work her way up to the +p stuff.

If there's a range in your area that rents guns, that would be the way to go.

As fas as S&W vrs Taurus...take your pick. I own several of each. If i had to grab a gun real quick, i wouldn't hesitate to grab my 85, 605 or 606.

 

[Vonderek]

I have a couple 442 Airweights. I carry one on a daily basis. That said, it is not much fun to shoot even with non +P loads. Your wife should try before you buy. An all-steel gun like the SP101 is much easier to shoot but also heavier which negates the weight issue you mentioned about your wife carrying. The age-old conundrum.

 

[tuckerdog1]

How bad the recoil is going to feel, is going to depend on the shooter. I have zero issue with an airweight shooting +P. Now 357, that's another animal. However, I have read posts where people claim to have no issue shooting 357 from a 340PD. I've fired exactly 2 rounds of 357 from a 340PD, and that will do me for a lifetime. But 38+P, all day long.

Tuckerdog1

 

[mnrivrat]

Nothing the matter with air-lite guns and both S&W and Taurus make a number of candidates to look at. The lighter the weight ,the easier to carry, and the more recoil .

I would also suggest some test firing before purchase - She will be the one to decide what she likes and can tolerate for recoil. In air-lites I rather like sticking with non +P .38 Spl , or in my case a .32 H&R Mag. I'm not recoil sensitive and can handle about anything out there - but that doesn't mean I want to .

Edit: PS - A little searching and you will find that everyone is not in love with the quality of current production S&W guns either. I wouldn't turn myself away from Taurus if they have a gun that fits your needs.

 

[chorlton]

Thanks for the advice guys. I fully intend to have her decide for herself based on experience. I just wanted to get the research done I think she'd be happier with at least a 20oz gun (at least while shooting), but we'll see....
I'm taking a liking to Taurus' 605SS2 but theres a couple of S&Ws and of course the SP in a 2" to consider too. "Comforting, not comfortable", as I read somewhere.