Whats Your Favorite S&W Airweight .38 Special?

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

T'was wondering what S&W Airweight .38 Special is your favorite?

IMHO, I prefer revolvers with hammers, so with that said I'm going
to have to vote for a Smith model 37 "Chiefs Special".

 

[HarryB]

642

Why? Cuz that's what I have.

Pull, squeeze, repeat. Repeat as necessary...




I know, itsa 5 shooter!

 

[V-fib]

642

Ditto

 

[rbernie]

I prefer the Special K (aka the Model 12 Airweight) - six is better than five....

 

[BigG]

Any of the hammerless Centennial models, 342/442/642, etc.

 

[JohnBT]

442-1

 

[ACP230]

My pick is the M38. I have one that was part of a special run that Smith made for the Michigan State Police in the 1970s. It has the alloy frame and a stainless cylinder. It doesn't shoot as well as my M649, but it's easier to carry.

 

[foghornl]

Hmmmmm

Yeah, my vote goes to the 'Chief's Special'. I have shot a couple of the new "Ultra-Light-Taniums", not really a fan of popping off .38Spl in a 12-Oz revolver.

One a shooting buddy had many years back was {IIRC} an S&W "BodyGuard" [???] model. He had bought it new sometime in the early 70's

 

[Onmilo]

642

 

[dakotasin]

i only have 1... the model 637. i felt it was the best at the time i made the purchase...

 

[Jim PHL]

When I got mine money was real tight. Got an older (1993-ish) M37 with a bobbed hammer for about $100 less than a new 442/642/637. I like the darker finish for a pocket gun, especially for occasional jacket pocket carry where the pocket may "hang open" a little potentially making the gun visible from certain sight lines. I don't think any of them are a bad choice. I carry +P's in it. If I had a choice I'd probably get the same thing a few years newer when they were specifically rated for +P use, or a 442 from the same time frame (+P rated without the nipple.)

 

[Brian Williams]

942, when I get the cylinder's ejector star fitted, but for now 642

 

[dawei]

Like Ala Dan - The Gun Man; mine is a Mdl 37. I've tuned it to 5lb DA & 2lb SA. I've put over 10K rounds through it; at least half being +P, locks up as tight as the day I bought it.

 

[Greek]

S & W 442

My wife really likes her 442.
Not too light, but light enough to carry comfortably and to shoot. Aluminum frame and steel cylinder and concealed hammer.

 

[Jim PHL]

dawei,

I'm interested in how old your M37 is. I read a lot of repsonses from people saying I can shoot this many/that many +P rounds from my gun. Mine (appx Dec.1993) was made before S+W "officially" rated them for "occasional" +P use. I'm curious as to whether you have 5000 or so +P rounds through one of the newer or older models? Do you (does anyone?) know what changes, if any,S+W made before they OK'd +P's in their airweights? (I've had at least two different people tell me they made no changes before the greenlight.)

 

[Viking6]

I've had a 637 for a little over a year, maybe more, and I like it. You hardly know it's there.

 

[Swamprabbit]

I really like my 642.

 

[Krag]

The original one - the Model 12. I have ten of them!

 

[enfield]

the 638.

 

[rbernie]

The original one - the Model 12. I have ten of them!

Now there's a soul with discriminating tastes.

 

[MR.G]

638

 

[azrael]

when I aquire one, it will be a 638..

 

[tension]

also 642

 

[orionengnr]

very timely post

considering I just completed my CHL course yesterday and sent off my check for a 94-vintage Model 37 (non-+p rated) on Saturday.
I have the same questions about +p ammo in the 37, and additionally...which +p ammo would you use or recommend?

I have read up on the Speer Gold Dot 135gr+p and the CorBon Pow'rBall 100gr, and (esp) with the short barrel I would think that velocity = expansion...but fail to see the need for the polymer "ball" in a revolver, unless it serves to keep the hollowpoint from plugging with clothing material? Perhaps more effective to drill out the ball and take advantage of a light, fast, well-designed hollowpoint?

 

[bjbarron]

Chiefs Special Model 36 (early '70s) snubbie. I swapped the blued barrel and cylinder out for bright stainless, added a flatter cylinder latch (for speedloading) and a clipdraw on the side. Perfect and Beautiful. I've got big ol' rubber rubber grips for practice, and wood, ivory or stag for other.