Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present
o

Notices

S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-29-2010, 02:49 PM
norad45 norad45 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Western U.S.A.
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 2 Posts
Default Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun

It's legal here for permit-holding bowhunters to carry a firearm and I do so, more for human threats than animal. Up until now I've been carrying a Sig P239 in .40, which I love everything about except the weight (29 oz), which is a lot for a compact gun. This is what I'm looking for:

Snubnose Revolver
.357/.38
5 shot ok
Pre lock or no lock
Exposed hammer (SA/DA)
Ultralight (preferably under 15 oz. unloaded, the lighter the better)

I'm thinking that something like this must have been made in the relatively recent past, probably just a couple of years before the introduction of the lock. Can anyone steer me in the direction of the correct model number(s)?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-29-2010, 03:07 PM
valkyriekl's Avatar
valkyriekl valkyriekl is offline
Member
Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 950
Likes: 64
Liked 111 Times in 46 Posts
Default

Sounds like a...
637 (.38 SPL, 5-shot, light-weight 15oz alloy frame, exposed hammer),
638 (.38 SPL, 5-shot, light-weight 15oz alloy frame, shrouded hammer),
60 (.357 Magnum, 5-shot, 23oz stainless steel frame, exposed hammer), or
649 (.357 magnum, 5-shot, 23oz stainless steel frame, shrouded hammer)...
will work for you.

The blued versions:
Model 36 (.38 SPL, 5-shot, steel frame, exposed hammer),
37 (.38 SPL, 5-shot, steel frame, exposed hammer),
38 (.38 SPL, 5-shot, alloy frame, shrouded hammer),
49 (.38 SPL, 5-shot, steel frame, shrouded hammer).

You could also look into the new scandium 3xx/Night Guard series of revolvers, but those will all have locks...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-29-2010, 04:50 PM
RidgwayCO RidgwayCO is offline
Member
Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun  
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times in 12 Posts
Default

My M638-2 (no lock) weighs 14 oz unloaded. It's usually stoked with Remington .38 Special +P 158gr LSWC-HP ammo (or Speer's 158gr LSWC-HP loaded to similar ballistics). It's DA/SA, and with the shrouded hammer you can shoot it from your pocket if necessary. Nice pocket gun, if I don't want to carry the M296...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-29-2010, 06:11 PM
norad45 norad45 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Western U.S.A.
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Looks like the 637 comes the closest because of the fully-exposed hammer. I would still like to get one in .357 though, darn it. Maybe the .38 in +P will get me close enough. Thanks, and if you can think of any others please keep 'em coming.

Last edited by norad45; 01-29-2010 at 06:13 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-29-2010, 06:25 PM
Repellere Repellere is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Default

You're not going to find any pre-lock 357s under 15 oz and none of the pre-lock 38s are going to be less than 15 oz loaded except for a 342.
__________________
vim vi repellere licet
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-29-2010, 07:34 PM
suckersrus suckersrus is offline
Member
Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Wythe County, VA
Posts: 276
Likes: 17
Liked 254 Times in 84 Posts
Default

I recently bought a 360PD. I replaced the lock with the plug.
I found it to be very accurate so I am glad I got the hammer model (340PD is the hammerless model) which allows single-action shooting.

It stings a bit with full 357 loads but I can shoot 2 cylinders full before it really hurts.

I can carry it in sweater pocket without it pulling it down. I wanted something so light I would never leave it at home but still have enough power for anything on the farm or in town.

I'm trying to locate a supply of the Gold Dot SB ammo.

I like this little shooter so much I am thinking of buying a spare.
__________________
A real sucker for the J-frames

Last edited by suckersrus; 01-29-2010 at 08:45 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-29-2010, 08:33 PM
caribouhunter caribouhunter is offline
Member
Suggestions for a new bowhunting gun  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: White Lake, Michigan
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I went looking on a similar quest last year and ended up over-riding the same "no-lock" criteria. I also have a Sig 239 40S&W but wanted something more foot pounds of energy to protect me with. The S&W 357PD (41 mag) was what I ended up with. I found it worth while to look outside the criteria slightly and investigate some of the newer models with the lock but in the light weight frames.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-29-2010, 10:39 PM
norad45 norad45 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Western U.S.A.
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Besides my Sig P239 (29 oz), I have a 29-8 MG (34.5 oz with the lock) or a Colt Combat Elite (39 oz) that I could carry. It sure seems like there are a lot of handguns with a ton more oomph!, as long as you are willing to pack the weight. In fact, it occurred to me that I'd be better off packing the 29-8 Mountain Gun I already own if I didn't mind the lock and didn't mind an extra 5.5 oz. But I want something lighter, and lock-less if I can get it.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-29-2010, 11:01 PM
norad45 norad45 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Western U.S.A.
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by suckersrus View Post
I found it to be very accurate so I am glad I got the hammer model (340PD is the hammerless model) which allows single-action shooting.


That's what I like about the exposed hammer. Maybe I'm crazy, but there's something comforting about SA in the outdoors.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
340pd, 357 magnum, 360pd, 637, colt, hammerless, lock, mountain gun, remington, scandium, sig arms

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Suggestions for M&P 340 44R S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 12 02-05-2015 03:58 PM
P-o-S M&P 22... suggestions on how to fix. mobilecommand Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 15 05-14-2013 09:01 PM
.22 suggestions mod34 Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics 17 01-08-2011 11:28 PM
Firearms while bowhunting setxn The Lounge 17 02-03-2010 09:06 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:47 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)