RevolutionBlues
Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2008
- Messages
- 4
Lately the new S&W model 36's have caught my eye. Still debating if I want the 1 7/8ths inch model or the 3". Thoughts?
S&W Model 36?
- Thread starter RevolutionBlues
- Start date
- Status
RevolutionBlues
Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2008
- Messages
- 4
It's not so much for concealment as it is for nostalgia. My dads got an old 36 that he was given when he was a firefighter. He's yet to let me shoot it despite the fact that I doubt he's touched it in 30 years except to show it to me when I was younger. As far as buying a used one goes I haven't found one locally in good shape
otherwise i'd definitely buy it.
otherwise i'd definitely buy it.The 1 7/8" can be pocket carried where the 3" may be harder to do that with. Other than that, the 3" offers a better sight radius, a small amount more velocity and an ejector that will be long enough to push spent cases all the way out should the chambers be a bit sticky.
rgs1975
Member
Sign up on the S&W forums and post a wanted add in the BST section. You'll get one in no time. Agreed that with this particular model your money will be more expeditiously spent on an older gun.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
RevolutionBlues,
Welcome to the forum...
The new M36 revolvers are very expensive and not made as well as the older ones. If you want the Classic look the new revolvers have all you need to do is buy an older revolver and put a set of newly re-released Diamond Grips on your purchase. IMO you will have the best of both worlds, a well made revolver with Forged parts and beautiful grips that won't cost you a lot of cash.
Welcome to the forum...
The new M36 revolvers are very expensive and not made as well as the older ones. If you want the Classic look the new revolvers have all you need to do is buy an older revolver and put a set of newly re-released Diamond Grips on your purchase. IMO you will have the best of both worlds, a well made revolver with Forged parts and beautiful grips that won't cost you a lot of cash.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
I have an older one and carry it daily. It's a good little shooter.
wnycollector
Member
Since I picked up a 1964 vintage M36 a few weeks ago...my 638 has stayed in the safe. That few added ounces of weight has tightened up my groups considerably. I dont really notice a huge difference in pocket carry either.
As for the difference between 1 7/8" and 3" barrel...I prefer the shorter tube since you can pocket carry it. If I need to carry something IWB, the J frame stays home and my snubbie SS Ruger security six gets the nod.
As for the difference between 1 7/8" and 3" barrel...I prefer the shorter tube since you can pocket carry it. If I need to carry something IWB, the J frame stays home and my snubbie SS Ruger security six gets the nod.
Hi,
Definitely hold out for a pristine vintage one! There are TONS of these wonderful little revolvers out there, and they are coming out of the woodwork steadily . . . as the little old ladies sell their deceased husband's guns.
1. Most of 'em were never shot much, and many never left the nightstand drawer after shooting them a little at first.
2. The old ones do not have the lousy internal locks on them like the new junk, nor do they use MIM "Metal Injection Moulded" parts . . . just forged! You are getting better quality! Buying new Smiths ended for me with the internal locks.
3. They are currently much cheaper too! $350-$400 will get you a pristine one that's been shot very little. $300 will get you a decent looking "shooter" that has some finish wear. $200-$250 will get you a poorer looking example that's still solid.
4. Value is going up on the vintage ones, but the internal lock guns of today will fetch much less in future years vs. the ones made in the vintage years.
EYE CANDY . . .
Here's a 1964 Model 36 in bright nickel plate that I picked up last September, on a vintage LP album of about the same year. I paid $350 for it and it is gorgeous! It barely had a turn line on the cylinder when I got it.
It is a "no dash" version, meaning that when you open the cylinder and see the model number, there's no other prefixes after the words "Mod 36," so it is a first variation type.
Additionally, it is a pre-67 gun because it has the original "diamond" grips, which are serial numbered to the gun. It also has the rectangular cylinder latch that came on the earliest Model 36 revolvers such as this '64.
I waited until I found what I wanted, and I'm glad I did!!!
HOW DOES THAT OLD WHEELGUN SHOOT?
Well, here's the very first target I shot with it, STANDING and UNSUPPORTED . . . at TEN YARDS. All five bullets went into a tiny 1" square black target. At twenty five yards it is shooting five rounds into 2 1/2 inches!!! It is a keeper!
It has become my favorite CCW firearm, replacing a high dollar Kimber Ultra CDP lightweight compact .45ACP.
UNFORTUNATELY, these vintage J-frames can get addictive!
1, Since buying the Model 36 last September, I added a lightweight Model 37 with a 3" barrel last month, as a birthday present for my wife. It is so light . . . but has a longer barrel that she likes that makes it easier to shoot accurately.
2. Then, TWO DAYS AGO . . . I bought a "new" 1971 blued Model 37 Lightweight in similar condition to my M36 pictured above! After seeing how light my wife's was, I'd started looking for a lightweight snubbie for concealed carry myself. As you can see, I didn't have to wait long!
A little old lady actually sold it. It was her late 2nd husband's nightstand gun and she couldn't remember the last time he'd even shot it. Probably a couple of decades or more. Another pristine J-frame . . . Yep, they are around!
SO . . .
Be patient and you'll be rewarded with guns you'll be proud of!
Good luck!
T.
Definitely hold out for a pristine vintage one! There are TONS of these wonderful little revolvers out there, and they are coming out of the woodwork steadily . . . as the little old ladies sell their deceased husband's guns.
1. Most of 'em were never shot much, and many never left the nightstand drawer after shooting them a little at first.
2. The old ones do not have the lousy internal locks on them like the new junk, nor do they use MIM "Metal Injection Moulded" parts . . . just forged! You are getting better quality! Buying new Smiths ended for me with the internal locks.
3. They are currently much cheaper too! $350-$400 will get you a pristine one that's been shot very little. $300 will get you a decent looking "shooter" that has some finish wear. $200-$250 will get you a poorer looking example that's still solid.
4. Value is going up on the vintage ones, but the internal lock guns of today will fetch much less in future years vs. the ones made in the vintage years.
EYE CANDY . . .
Here's a 1964 Model 36 in bright nickel plate that I picked up last September, on a vintage LP album of about the same year. I paid $350 for it and it is gorgeous! It barely had a turn line on the cylinder when I got it.
It is a "no dash" version, meaning that when you open the cylinder and see the model number, there's no other prefixes after the words "Mod 36," so it is a first variation type.
Additionally, it is a pre-67 gun because it has the original "diamond" grips, which are serial numbered to the gun. It also has the rectangular cylinder latch that came on the earliest Model 36 revolvers such as this '64.
I waited until I found what I wanted, and I'm glad I did!!!
HOW DOES THAT OLD WHEELGUN SHOOT?
Well, here's the very first target I shot with it, STANDING and UNSUPPORTED . . . at TEN YARDS. All five bullets went into a tiny 1" square black target. At twenty five yards it is shooting five rounds into 2 1/2 inches!!! It is a keeper!
It has become my favorite CCW firearm, replacing a high dollar Kimber Ultra CDP lightweight compact .45ACP.
UNFORTUNATELY, these vintage J-frames can get addictive!
1, Since buying the Model 36 last September, I added a lightweight Model 37 with a 3" barrel last month, as a birthday present for my wife. It is so light . . . but has a longer barrel that she likes that makes it easier to shoot accurately.
2. Then, TWO DAYS AGO . . . I bought a "new" 1971 blued Model 37 Lightweight in similar condition to my M36 pictured above! After seeing how light my wife's was, I'd started looking for a lightweight snubbie for concealed carry myself. As you can see, I didn't have to wait long!
A little old lady actually sold it. It was her late 2nd husband's nightstand gun and she couldn't remember the last time he'd even shot it. Probably a couple of decades or more. Another pristine J-frame . . . Yep, they are around!
SO . . .
Be patient and you'll be rewarded with guns you'll be proud of!
Good luck!
T.
RevolutionBlues
Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2008
- Messages
- 4
Alright! Alright! I give up! You people have me convinced, i'll be patient.
Dismantler
Member
Try to get both! I carry a 2" barrel, though I FOOLISHLY sold a 3" barrel many years ago. I would also advise waiting for a good used snubby.
There is a thread at the top of the revolver section on buying used revolvers, and you can Google the subject and get more advice.
Some folks have trouble shooting snubies. I don't if I use standard loads. Be cautioned that the Federal HYDRA-SHOK ammo that says "Low Recoil" is loaded to +p ballistics, and is not really low recoil at all. I ran some through an Airweight and I thought that I had blown my hand off! If you find that you have a problem with snubby recoil, use 147 gr. wadcutter target loads. They are a bit less powereful than standard .38's.
There is a thread at the top of the revolver section on buying used revolvers, and you can Google the subject and get more advice.
Some folks have trouble shooting snubies. I don't if I use standard loads. Be cautioned that the Federal HYDRA-SHOK ammo that says "Low Recoil" is loaded to +p ballistics, and is not really low recoil at all. I ran some through an Airweight and I thought that I had blown my hand off! If you find that you have a problem with snubby recoil, use 147 gr. wadcutter target loads. They are a bit less powereful than standard .38's.
doc540
Member
Oh, they'll catch your eye alright.
Or, though not looking like a beauty queen, they'll SHOOT somebody's eye out.
Or, though not looking like a beauty queen, they'll SHOOT somebody's eye out.
rdrancher
Member
Keep your eyes open, there's some nice specimens out there. The prices are going up though. I just sold a 36 no-dash and a 36-7 (both 2") to a dealer for what would have been considered retail prices a few months ago.
With all the options available today in lightweight j-frames, the 36 could be considered a little heavy for pocket carry. Myself, I'd get a 3" and carry IWB. JMHO.
rd
With all the options available today in lightweight j-frames, the 36 could be considered a little heavy for pocket carry. Myself, I'd get a 3" and carry IWB. JMHO.
rd
colt1903
Member
Just picked up the 3 inch Pro-60 today. Have not had any range time yet, but I am planning on attaching a Clip Draw device and utilizing for full .357 Mag carry.
gcrookston
member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2007
- Messages
- 391
RevolutionBlues
Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2008
- Messages
- 4
You'll shoot yer eye out kid?
Dismantler
Member
I must say, though...if you live in an area that does not have good gun shops with lots of traffic, do not hesitate to order one new.
I thought back to where I grew up, and a nice used gun was sometimes very hard to find. There was no gun store, but gun counters in hardware or general merchandise stores. The people in this area were hunters and there was not a lot of handgun traffic.
I thought back to where I grew up, and a nice used gun was sometimes very hard to find. There was no gun store, but gun counters in hardware or general merchandise stores. The people in this area were hunters and there was not a lot of handgun traffic.
rdrancher
Member
Nice square butt there DC!
rd
rd
- Status
