I already have my LTC permit here in good ol' PA. I have a S&W Model 27 .357. I like revolvers...always have, and S&W are my thing. I think I need to do my part to stimulate the economy with a new (to me) small CCW. I thought a .38 might do the trick, and I can use the .38s in my .357 for cheaper plinking. Anyone used either of these two?

http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/123127000/123127620/pix123709031.jpg
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/122917000/122917227/pix9003234.jpg

S&W Airweight 38 loaded with +Ps

I have that second gun. Goes BOOM everytime. I've never carried it, so no input there. Basically this post is useless to you. Good luck with your sirch!

:flipoff2:

My carry gun is a Smith and Wesson Scandium frame .357.

It is absolutely no fun at all to shoot. :laughing: :laughing:

But it is reliable, accurate, and light enough that it is comfortable to carry damn near anywhere.

S&w .500 ftw!

I have the 2nd one, damned uncomfortable to shoot. It is way to small for my hands, I'm average sized

My carry gun is a Smith and Wesson Scandium frame .357.

It is absolutely no fun at all to shoot. :laughing: :laughing:

But it is reliable, accurate, and light enough that it is comfortable to carry damn near anywhere.


Pussy.

On a serious note, does yours make a light rattling noise if you shake it? Hammer down, hammer up, holding on to cylinder, cylinder open, etc.

I too have the second one as well as an airweight hammerless for the Mrs.. I hate mine and she really hates hers. Goes bang every time which is good. I suppose it would be fine if you never used it for anything other than personal defence - which means never shooting it at the range either.

Just my opinion.

This one would be for CCW only, and just enough range time to be proficient with it at 20 steps or less. I have my .357 if I want to shoot more frequently. I like the small, light frame for easy of carry and concealment.

i carry a glock 29 10mm but i used to carry a ruger sp101 with an 1.5 barrel. it was not light at all but it didn't hurt to shoot .357 out of it like my s&w scandium

Seecamp 380

I have a Taurus 605 that is a nice gun for the money. It is hell on armadillos and coons, I haven't gotten to kill much else with it.

I carry a .38 S&W bodyguard and can shoot pop cans all day long out to 30 feet which is more than enough for it's intended use. I usually only practice from arms length to 30 feet or so with it. It's not real comfortable to shoot but I'm very proficient with it. I used to carry a 1911 sub-compact but it was like carrying a brick. This .38 you don't even know it's there.

http://198.237.72.28/guns/357_3.jpg

My dad carry's a Taurus Judge, thats a bad ass gun. It's also big and heavy but there's no missing your perp with those .410 shells.

I'd go for the airweight with speer 135 gr gold dots. Great gun/cartridge combo.

Dan, I have both of those, the 642 and the 36. When I get out your way to do the beer/ammo swap you can try them. I <3 S&W revolvers.

Dan, I have both of those, the 642 and the 36. When I get out your way to do the beer/ammo swap you can try them. I <3 S&W revolvers.

Sounds good. :smokin:

Two deals I'm looking at.
$325 for a 638 Airlight - not far off from new
$350 for a model 36 - 15+ years old, but only had a box through it since ownership.

I've got a Smith 60 with bobbed hammer. Nice gun, shoots well, but is a bit heavy for non holster carry.

I'd opt for an airweight.

Those I know with Scandium models say they do indeed suck to shoot at first, but over time they become more tolerable. Price is silly on them though.

On weight and carry, I wore a mediocre belt today, had an N frame on, for 8 hrs and it was very comfortable. The holster was angled a bit, on the belt, and also behind my side belt loop. Not a super high ride, and certainly not a concealment type of holster..........but it was a heavy gun.

My Galco Concealable holster for my 1911 does a nice job of securing it, and keeping it hidden, but a lesser concealment paddle by Fobus was way more comfortable for me.

I would think such a holster (Fobus paddle) for a J frame to offer a ton of comfort (airweight maybe not needed).

FWIW I have $250 in my Model 60 and my fave shop didn't have any non lawyer lock 442's when the other came along.

If starting from scratch, I'd get a 442 J frame.....for pocket or Fobus paddle carry.

J frames are cool indeed.

I don't like gangster movies and am not a mousegun fan, but there's just something neat about them.

With that, the 36 from the custom shop with case hardened frame is IMHO a great looking little rig.

Two deals I'm looking at.
$325 for a 638 Airlight - not far off from new
$350 for a model 36 - 15+ years old, but only had a box through it since ownership.


There is a reason the 36 only has a box through it.


Those little motherfawkers HURT. Effective but nowhere near comfortable.

Buddy of mine has a airweight.

I'd rather shoot a 500. :laughing:

36 is a steel frame, same weight at a 60.
Pachmayr compacts on mine, +P loads.........no big deal (lot of flash though).

This one would be for CCW only, and just enough range time to be proficient with it at 20 steps or less. I have my .357 if I want to shoot more frequently. I like the small, light frame for easy of carry and concealment.

whats the need for the gun? are you afraid gonecheenin from BLWA might come at you wielding a dana 44 housing?:flipoff2:

whats the need for the gun? are you afraid gonecheenin from BLWA might come at you wielding a dana 44 housing?:flipoff2:

Shit. More like broken stub shafts. :laughing: 44s bring the suck...always have, always will. I'm going to laugh my ass off at him when he breaks those shafts to shit. Then again, he already knows that. :grinpimp:

Shit. More like broken stub shafts. :laughing: 44s bring the suck...always have, always will. I'm going to laugh my ass off at him when he breaks those shafts to shit. Then again, he already knows that. :grinpimp:

I knew that would get you going:laughing:

back on topic: I saw the Charter Arms Bull Dog, in the March issue of Combat Handguns looks alright for a sub $400 gun in .44spl brandy new

I'm still hoping to get the 638. That will be a nice one to have for CC. I'm glad VA and PA are reciprocal too. I can take it down to Gore to the gun range for some post wheeling plinking.

I knew that would get you going:laughing:

back on topic: I saw the Charter Arms Bull Dog, in the March issue of Combat Handguns looks alright for a sub $400 gun in .44spl brandy new

Have a new one in the shop. Kinda neat but man they need a lot of smoothing up (internal/external).

I hate their cylinder latch.

The top one is my wife's gun. S&W Model 60 Ladysmith .357, the bottom one is my pocket gun, S&W 642-1 .38sp.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/bnkrtstk/100_5869.jpg

Anyone carry a Taurus 85? They seem to be a good bit cheaper that S&W.