S&W Classic Series Models 40 & 36?

[Dollar An Hour]

Anybody tried one of these new S&W steel J-Frames?

Looks like the Centennial doesn't have an internal lock. Grip safety?

I'm thinking of adding one to my Airweight, seems it would be more pleasant to practice with, and a bit heavier to carry of course.

 

[perpster]

The Centennial does have a grip safety. Mine doesn't, so I can't comment on it pro or con.

 

[DPris]

Shot both yesterday. The nickeled 40 is uncomfortable & best for inside 15 yards, the case colored 36 can be viable out to 35.
Both have very heavy DA trigger pulls.
Denis

 

[Ed from Maine]

trigger pull...

I have one of the new m40's, as well as older m36 and m49. The trigger on my Centennial is getting better all the time, don't mind it a bit. Very pretty piece, those Altamont walnut grips are a cut above. I wrapped a heavy rubber band around my grip safety, had trouble getting used to it, where it hinges from the bottom, unlike a 1911 grip safety. Have a Tyler Tee on order for it, that may change the grip safety issue for me, I have long hands. All in all, I like it. I was shooting plates with it at 20 yards, with fair success.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

The nickeled 40 is uncomfortable & best for inside 15 yards

Is the trigger on the 40 as bad as a new SP101? The newer SP101's I've sampled are not only very heavy of pull but gritty to boot. Pretty bad combination!

Does the grip safety make it less comfortable than the regular Centennial grip? Does it require a conscious effort to depress the grip safety, or is it a natural byproduct of gripping the revolver? Are you standing there firing the gun, and thinking "keep the grip safety depressed"?

 

[Ed from Maine]

in praise of the model 40...

I haven't tried a new SP101, but at this point (200 rounds, lots of snapcaps) my M40 trigger pull is better than my friends older SP101, no grit to it. I havent tried this yet on any piece, but an old salt range buddy suggested a back woods trigger job on a 642, dryfire a good bit, spray it full of WD40, blast it out with 25-30 lbs of air from a compressor, spray it full of BreakFree, blast it with the compressed air again, and you are good to go.
As I said,my hands and fingers are long, (XXL, but not beefy) , so to fit my trigger finger in a J frame, I kind of back away with the top web of my hand, unless I jam the trigger finger in to the second segment, then my web puts the grip safety down reliably. Otherwise, at first, I wasn't always getting it depressed. This is probably going to change for the better when I receive and install the Tyler Tee I ordered for it. Right now I use a rubber band to depress the grip safety, which also adds some padding and grippability
I really like it, I think it is beautiful, I like the small compact heft of it, the trigger keeps getting smoother, the pointability and sight alignment are fine, no regrets at all, it is a keeper for me. As always, YMMMV.

 

[Erik]

You should be able to pin that in place, iirc.

 

[Ed from Maine]

No pins on new reissues....

no pin on new ones....

 

[DPris]

Doll,
The DAO pull on this 40 is shorter than the .32 SP101's DA pull I worked with a couple weeks back, and I think it's a little stiffer. Neither was what I'd call easy to work with in DA slowfire.
The grip safety seemed to add up a little more in discomfort than when shooting the otherwise identically-gripped 36 right after the 40.
It doesn't require a conscious effort to depress the lever, as long as you hold the gun low in the hand & get a good grasp. I actually didn't think about the lever at all while I was shooting the thing.
Denis

 

[Old Fuff]

The grip safety goes back to the original top-break Safety Hammerless models that were made from around 1887 to 1940. But these were chambered in .32 S&W or .38 S&W, both of which were low-powered, soft recoiling cartridges.

The .38 Special can be another matter, depending on what load is used. The classic series guns were more pointed toward collectors. Most shooters would be better served by buying the current models without the safety. Considering the doule-action trigger pull it is hardly necessary.

 

[alsymmers]

Classic 40 is just an incredible looking and shooting self defense weapon for CC. Like all new weapons and old weapons alike practice, practice, practice will make perfect. This is a weapon with a rich history, awesome looks and feel, and shoots as good or better than any of the other J frames out there.

I own one and TRUST it with my life everyday... Buy one you'll love it. Not sure I agree with the "It's pointed toward collectors statement" I actually have it on authority that this Classic line is S&W's attempt at by passing the STUPID FRAME LOCK baloney and doing it in a very politically correct format.