Nice Surprise at the LGS - 331 TI

ScottN · #1 06-07-2020, 11:35 PM

I sold a firearm recently and went to my LGS yesterday to see if I could pick up a Ruger PC Carbine. No luck on the Ruger so I made my way to the used revolvers. And, much to my surprise, I see a 331 Airlite TI in 32 H & R Magnum. A little negotiating and it went home with me along with a few boxes of ammo. I’ve always been interested in one and never thought I’d see one in a person. It’s in very good working condition and the titanium cylinder is in excellent shape. Trigger pull is smooth.

It came with the original box, which is like a little suitcase, and the lock, but no manual. I think the grips are Uncle Mike’s but I have no idea if they are original...but I really like how they feel in my hand. I hope to get to the range this week.

AJ · #2 06-08-2020, 12:07 AM

The Uncle Mike's are the proper grips. I have a 342Ti and that is what came on it.

BLUEDOT37 · #3 06-08-2020, 12:45 AM

Nice find!

I was just re-reading an old S&W Handguns (2000) catalog & buyers guide, I still had stilling on my desk, & they had several articles on the new AirLite Ti's & featured the M331 & M332 in one of them.

The Uncle Mike's Boot grips were standard on them.

They had a comparison between some 32 H&R Magnum (21K CUP max) ammo & a 38 Special +P (20K CUP max), both shot out of these snubbies listing MV/ME & recoil force.

Let us know how it shoots.

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. S&W Handguns 2000 Catalog & Buyers Guide .

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murphydog · #4 06-08-2020, 05:50 AM

Nice find! The standard manual at the time was the generic "Revolvers" version. If you ask nicely the factory may even send you a paper copy, if you tell them you don't know how to download it.

Enjoy!

ColbyBruce · #5 06-08-2020, 06:21 AM

Those are nice guns. I bought my daughter one years ago, she couldn’t hit squat with it. I put the pink stocks on it, she started doing much better. Go figure.

seldon14 · #6 06-08-2020, 08:13 AM

I'm super jelly, been looking for good 32 Smith.

steelslaver · #7 06-08-2020, 09:10 AM

One of those would be a great small carry gun. Less recoil than a 38 special in same weight gun, another round, and about the same power as a 38 special.

I think S&W needs to get on the 32 caliber boat.

J and K frames. Alloy and steel. Fixed and adjustable sights, various barrel lengths. I would love to have an alloy, J frame 327 myself.

I am a big bore guy, but the 32s also attract me. I have 38s and 357s but seldom shoot them anymore. I have some I and J frame 32s. A 16-4 that I made a 327 cylinder for, plus a 32-20 that has a spare cylinder in 32 long. Way more fun, easy and cheap to reload, accurate, low recoil.

ScottN · #8 06-08-2020, 11:40 AM

I added a couple of pictures of the case. I am very excited about this acquisition as I’d been watching auction sites for a model 431. Never thought I’d stumble across a 331.

This is likely the rarest/most collectible firearm I now own, which isn’t saying much considering my collection, but I picked it up to shoot and carry. I’d give a very nice “shooter’s grade” on the condition. It will see time in ankle carry and pocket carry where the boot grip will work well. I like the grips but may go to a wood boot grip if I find these too “grabby” on clothing.

Bill In Texas · #9 06-08-2020, 04:43 PM

Congratulations!

cremaley · #10 06-08-2020, 05:43 PM

Very nice find. Congrats.

Cal44 · #11 06-08-2020, 06:31 PM

Very nice. I have a 431pd which is pretty similar but with a steel cylinder and black color. I carry it often.

I'd like to find 331 or a 332.

glenncal1 · #12 06-08-2020, 08:22 PM

Congrats on a good carry gun. My 331Ti is my carry gun 90% of the time. The 331 came with a lot of paperwork as well as the lock. I scanned the paper that came with mine so you see what you would need if you wanted to complete the package.

CH4 · #13 06-08-2020, 08:41 PM

Nice find. I am jealous!
I just found my first .32, it weighs a bit more than the 331, but it’s a sweet shooter. I am now on the hunt for a 331, a nice fit between my 16-4 and 342PD.

ScottN · #14 06-08-2020, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenncal1

Congrats on a good carry gun. My 331Ti is my carry gun 90% of the time. The 331 came with a lot of paperwork as well as the lock. I scanned the paper that came with mine so you see what you would need if you wanted to complete the package.

Very cool. Thanks!

mod34 · #15 06-11-2020, 06:43 AM

A hearty GREEN (with envy) congrats from a serious J-lover!

ScottN · #16 06-16-2020, 09:19 PM

First Range Report:

I put 56 rounds through the 331 Ti last weekend, 50 rounds of Fiocchi 32 S&W Long wadcutters and 6 rounds of Federal H&R Magnum HP’s. Recoil was nothing on the wadcutters and not much more on the magnums. Very pleasant to shoot. The firearm functioned great but I did experience one “Oh no!” moment I’ll explain later.

The first target represents the first 5 rounds fired at 7 yards...yep, I forgot it was a six shooter and only fired five.

I was popping the barrel up and right a bit, my fault of course but I do think the lightweight made it worse. The first shot was the furthest out and the shots tightened up from there.

The second target shows more of the same but at least I remembered to shoot all 6 rounds this time!

The third target...now we’re getting somewhere. A nice five shot group for a guy of my skills, too bad that sixth one was a flyer. But seriously, I’ll take that any day.

The fourth target was 12 rounds at 10 yards, not rapid fire, but shot at a pretty good pace with a reload thrown in for good measure. Again, I’ll take that any day.

The fifth picture shows the difference in paper holes between the wadcutter and a magnum hollow point. I thought it was interesting. I have come to respect wadcutters as a nice round for target practice and carry, especially out of a snub nose.

Now, for the “Oh no!” moment. You probably noticed I only shot 6 magnums. They were an old box of Federal HiShok 85 grain hollow points that came with the firearm. The rounds looked fine to me so I loaded up the cylinder and fired all six no problem but ended up with three split cases out of six that were stuck like a son of a gun! I used a dowel to get them out and on the last one it moved the cylinder into the bottom/tail of the recoil shield and left some beauty marks on the cylinder and on the bottom of the recoil shield...Ughhhhh! That was disappointing but then I loaded up a few more cylinders of wadcutters and rang some steel at 15 yards and then called it a great day at the range with the 331.

Bastogne71 · #17 06-17-2020, 05:49 AM

The problem with your splitting brass is the old Federal ammunition not the revolver. When the M631 in 32 mag came out in 1989, I bought one and had the same problem the first time I shot it. It was sent back to S&W for evaluation but it continued to split cases when I got it back. So I sent some of the split cases to Federal with the lot number. They sent me back three boxes of ammunition and a nice letter of apology explaining that they had a bad lot of ammunition that had been improperly annealed in early production.

This problem still shows up time to time when someone finds some of the old ammo. I have been using Federal cases for reloading since then without any further issues.

A word of warning though: the 32’s are very addictive! The 631 was my first 32 but now there are 6 more that have joined it in the safe. They’re just too much fun to shoot! Now if only S&W will make me a stainless K frame in 327.