Why a Model 67 (or any other 38 Special)?

[Shrinkmd]

I see that Summitgunbroker has some old S&W model 67 trade ins. I have a silly question:

Besides for collectors who need one of every size, shape, and color, why would you want a plain, 38 cal K frame? Can you even shoot 38+p in it? Seems like you wouldn't want to use it for anything besides the range. Wouldn't people want a 357 mag capable revolver, or at least 38+p?

Just wondering. Not like people need an excuse or a reason to buy another revolver...

 

[Walkalong]

Because they are fun to shoot, cheap to shoot if you reload, and most folks shoot them well, which makes it fun.

The most fun my buddy had shooting the other day was the AK, and a Taurus 4" .38 revolver. Grins all over. He was popping bowling pins at around 30 yards and was all excited. He had a lot of trouble hitting them with his Firestar .40 or my 1911 .45, but hit them regularly with the .38.

 

[Elvishead]

I have .357s, .38 +Ps, and 9mm/9mm+Ps guns, and a model 37 .38spl. I don't feel under powered with the old 37. A .357 158g bullet at 800 FPS should do the job! I think.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Hmm...good enough for the police but not for SD?

K-frames are better .38s than they are .357s. And yes, you can shoot +Ps in them. Shooting a .38 out of a .38 will be more accurate than shooting a .38 out of a .357 (albeit, the difference is small).

 

[Evyl Robot]

Last time my brother came to the range with me, after shooting all the other revolvers, he snarled at the old Pre-10 M&P and asked if it was even worth shooting. I told him he had to. Once he tried it, he couldn't put it down.

One of my friends came to the range with us and also got hooked on the old M&P. She loved that gun so much that she went and bought herself a M10. That gun converted her from anti- to pro-. She now has her M10 and a 9mm Sig, and makes regular trips to the range.

I personally think that no gun collection is complete without at least one .38 K-Frame.

--Michael

 

[doc2rn]

Preference, when you find one that shoots as if it where welded to your hand you just gain a preference. Especially one of the older ones made when gunsmiths put together each weapon.

 

[Shade00]

It's an adjustable sight, stainless steel Smith & Wesson K-frame. I'm sure they are fantastic shooters. I happen to love the .38 Special round; most of my revolvers are smaller revolvers, but .38 is a blast to shoot in a larger frame. Much more control. Plus, did I mention that it's an adjustable sight, stainless steel Smith & Wesson?

 

[8830]

A 67 will shoot +P ammo all day everday without a problem. Just ask my model 10 about it. They're great guns, accurate, reliable, six for sure. If you don't think .38 is enough power shoot yourself in the leg with one and tell me if it hurt or not.

 

[Mike Franklin]

While most folks now days think, from watching movies and TV, that they MUST HAVE a 20 shot Auto with laser sights and range finder, a good .38 is all that 99% of'm will ever need. You can put a .38 revolver in the nightstand for a year and when you take it out it will work first time, everytime.

 

[jjohnson]

Oh, Come Now.

Hey, just because there have been "more modern inventions" doesn't detract from the original design. You're talking about a well built, accurate and sturdy revolver in a popular caliber that's easy to shoot well and ergonomically well suited to most shooters.

I support what the others are saying here. Unless the trade-in had some pretty heavy duty use, it should be fine. I've bought trade-in police revolvers before and had to check for abuse, but they're hard to wear out unless you're an exceptionally busy shooter.

And - aside from poking holes in paper with wadcutters or small game with semiwadcutters (like Keiths) the +p self defense modern stuff, of which there are many to choose from, are potent enough, approaching .357 mag power if you want to carry it.

Lots of those police/security trade in revolvers go for attractive prices

 

[ravencon]

There aren't too many situations where a .357 will do the job but a .38 +P won't. More focus on shot placement and less on maximum stopping power will serve most people well.

 

[SeanSw]

The S&W 67 was my first handgun. It was chosen because the caliber suited the platform, handled well, slick action, accurate, and .38 special is an adequate round for many uses.

I did not think I was buying a ".357 lite". I was buying a dedicated .38 special for years of practice, home protection, and the variety of factory loads available. I now have a .357 to be used for magnums and as a platform to practice reloading. Most of the magnum ammunition that can be found on the shelves around here seems to be merely more than glorified .38+p, and all of it's 110/125gr. It's a waste of the magnum terminology and a bigger waste of money when .38 special is what you're probably going to shoot anyways. The .38 is a round in and of itself.

 

[DougDubya]

It's the shiny, SILVER-colored version of the COMBAT MASTERPIECE.

As for shooting +p's, it can do that handily.

Plus, it's a K-38, it's the epitome of balance and elegance.

 

[Shrinkmd]

Wow, I didn't realize

Thanks for all the great replies. Sounds like I might "need" one. Hey, the price is right.

So even if these are police trade ins of uncertain age, they should be able to handle +P for more serious use, if ever called on? I know the newer S&W revolvers say 38+P, but is there a certain model or age when that is not a good idea?

Again, I am specifically looking at these guns:

http://www.summitgunbroker.com/S_W_67.html

Would you get with wood grip or the pachymars?

 

[Sistema1927]

Once you buy one of those you need to start looking for a "pencil barrel" S&W 64.

I can think of few pistols that "just feel right" in the hand and "just look right" like that stainless steel version of the venerable Model 10.

And, to answer your question on the 67, get the original wood magna grips and add a Tyler T-grip. You won't be disappointed.

 

[novaDAK]

Whatever a .38 will do, a .357 will do better (with exception to saving your hearing, and recoil). That said, I trust my mod. 64 Smith (which is a .38 +P only) every day to protect my life. I'm confident in the caliber's (and my) abilities.

 

[jaholder1971]

My friend,

Some of the most fun shooting can be had with a K-frame Smith and Wesson and a couple boxes of 158 grain lead semiwadcutters.

Old school, accurate and dependable.

 

[ironvic]

The only thing more fun than shooting .38 Special is reloading wadcutters and semi-wadcutters for the range in .38.

I sorely miss my old Model-15, same gun, just blued and beautiful.

Slap some S&W cocobolo wood target grips on her and you'll have a sweet and good-looking shooter.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I added a 67 to my Smith collection a couple of months ago, the gun was cheap and shoots like a million $ with my reloads.

 

[RON in PA]

You seem to be concerned about a model 67's ability to handle +P ammo. Any .38 special Smith & Wesson steel K-frame revolver made after 1957 and marked with a model number can shoot +P ammo all day long. All stainless steel K-frame Smiths fall into this category.

 

[Majic]

Believe it or not the power of the .357 magnum is seldom needed. You can even get by comfortably without the +P .38 spl. Choose the right bullet configuration (and no the HP is not the universal savior), work on shot placement and the standard pressure .38 spl will handle most jobs.

 

[nalioth]

C'mon folks,

You can have the latest and greatest, but it ain't worth a darn if you don't have good aim.

A .38 bullet that hits the target beats a 5.7 that misses 20 times.

 

[sparkyguy]

Sistema1927 wrote:
Once you buy one of those you need to start looking for a "pencil barrel" S&W 64.

I don't know bout the "pencil barrel" recommendation, but I know my 64-3 heavy barrel feels perfect in my hand, and shoots +p's all the live-long day. A police trade-in from Pittsburgh, it rarely was shot and is as new as you could want, just a few handling marks from the officer who carried it. For $255, it is the best valued gun I ever bought.

 

[novaDAK]

Hey sparkguy I feel the same way about my 64-5 heavy barrel as well. Paid 250 for it! I also have two other sets of grips for it...the original VERY worn wood grips, and the same Hogues you have on yours. The Hogues are great at the range but the tackiness of the rubber grabs my shirt too much when carrying...so now I have the Pachmayr Presentation grips which I'm more than happy with...they're still 'grippy' but they don't grab clothing as easily
My 64 was also a LE trade-in, though I don't know from where.



It's a great gun. I really don't even notice a difference in recoil between 158gr SWC's and the 158gr LSWCHP +P's that I carry in it. This gun just soaks up the recoil so easily! Lately though I've switched to carrying 125gr Gold Dot +P's though just for a change

 

[Shrinkmd]

Compared to a 4" 686 shooting the same loads, what kind of subjective difference do people notice?

I do like the idea that there is no internal lock, and that the craftsmanship is likely superior to recent production. And for HD nightstand use, lots of people use 38+P instead of .357 anyway.

So maybe the question is, for those souls lucky enough to already enjoy their 686, would you want (and would you end up shooting) a 67? And for those lucky enough to have a 617 4", would the 67 approximate the feel closer than the 686 as far as practice with a similar gun.