I am looking for a J frame and have an opportunity to purchase a 438 at a reasonable price. I was trying to find out some information on them but the sources I perused have conflicting information. Some state that the barrel and cylinder is made of carbon steel while others claim stainless steel.
So I am here to ask the experts. What are these aforementioned parts made of: carbon or stainless?
Stainless barrel and cylinder. I bought one a few years ago as a "replacement" () for an M49 that I stupidly sold many moons ago.
They take a bit of break-in and a lot practice, and come awfully dry and stiff from Mama Smith. A little lovin' and lubin' is required. Shoot a mess of target wadcutters before stepping up to defense loads. You will be happy that you did if you are not accustomed to Airweight J-frames. Once you become used to them they become addictive.
Never thought about it since like above it's stated as stainless. Must be ferritic since I just stuck a rare earth magnet to my 438 cylinder and barrel. Ferritic stainless is typically magnetic and austenitic stainless is non magnetic. I still love that little 438 so which flavor stainless the cylinder and barrel are doesn't matter to me