S & W 637 or 360

[shadow1]

I'm going to order a summer carry lite weight revolver tomorrow.
I want a hammer so these are the 2 I'm considering.
I'd like to hear some feed back on the 360.
The 637 has been around a long time so plenty of info there. I know it's a good piece.
The 360 is a tad lighter but is chambered for .357 Mag.
Now I know .357 is not what I would shoot on a regular basis. The recoil is probably awful. But I do like to have the option.

Are they both dimensionally the same size?

Any pro's and con's from owners would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

I'm going to order a summer carry lite weight revolver tomorrow.
I want a hammer so these are the 2 I'm considering.
I'd like to hear some feed back on the 360.
The 637 has been around a long time so plenty of info there. I know it's a good piece.
The 360 is a tad lighter but is chambered for .357 Mag.
Now I know .357 is not what I would shoot on a regular basis. The recoil is probably awful. But I do like to have the option.

Are they both dimensionally the same size?

Any pro's and con's from owners would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave

Not sure of the dimensions, but you can probably find them on Smith & Wesson's own website or on Bud's or Davidson's.

A .357 snubbie would definitely not be my cup of tea. In fact, I don't even shoot +P in my .38 (a 642).

 

[Helderberg]

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I had this 637 with the 2+" barrel. It was easier to shoot as the little extra weight up front did make a difference. I had a snub 638 at the same time so it was east to compare. I wanted a concealed hammer so I now have a 642 that fill the bill for me. I can not compare the Airweight to he 360 but I can tell you that the little snub's are not a lot of fun after about 60 rounds or so. I would go with the added weight of the 637 over the 360 but that is just my own take on things. Good luck, Frank.

 

[shadow1]

Thanks for the responses.
I guess my thoughts are the 360 should be able to handle a steady diet of +P .38. And I like options.
I'm not recoil sensitive but hearing from someone who owns the 360 about recoil would be great.
It's listed as 13.3 oz.
The 637 is 15oz.
One added extra is the 360 has a tritium front sight that looks to be pinned. So it could be changed if wanted.
I can get the 437 for $329 shipped and the 360 for $617 shipped.
Big price difference. But I don't want to regret my purchase just because of the price difference.
Dave

 

[Pitdog02]

If the money doesnt bother you I vote 360. If you like a challenge and are willing to put some time in with 357 the 360 is a riot. Im sure there will come a day when I lose interest in shooting the lightweight with 357, but not yet. I started with the Crimson 305s on it that help alot covering the backstrap. I later found I was more accurate with the wood grips shown. After you learn to handle the recoil you will be able to shoot 158 grn full loads with one hand. I have fun letting other people shoot it just for the reactions. Get the 360 youll have a blast. (figuratively and literally!!!)

 

[shadow1]

How does the scsndium frame hold up?
I've also heard that there are ammo restrictions on the 360. Does that just affect the titanium cylinder?

 

[Pitdog02]

I have a 340PD that I shot over 4000 rds before I ruined the cylinder face. I replaced it with a stainless and my father in law confiscated it and kept it. The round count on that one is nearing 5000 no problems. I estimate only 3 boxes of 38's were shot in that count. You will have to test 357 sd ammo, shoot 4 and look at the 5th round to see if its jumping crimp due to recoil. I have no problems with Speer or Hornady. I think the no less than 120 grn warning is only on the Ti cyl due to flame cutting the face. No warning on my 340SS or 360SS and I shoot 125's and 158's no trouble.

 

[shadow1]

Thanks. Is it the same size dimensionally as a 637?

 

[Old cop]

They are about the same size and I've owned/shot both. For me the 360 shot better b/c of the big front sight. I now have the M&P 340 and can handle short barrel .357 (Corbon DPX 125 gr), but usually keep it stocked with +P.

IMHO you get more for your money w/the 360/340.

 

[gotuonpaper]

Thats like asking should you get a Ford ranger or a F250 Diesel LOL

I have shot both and my 340 M&P (SS cylinder) feels like a firecrcker going off in my hand, in .357. But with all of that I wouldnt have any other snubbie. Go for the 360.

 

[suckersrus]

Both are J-frames and fit the same holsters.

I carried a 637 for years in various pockets and holsters. It carried fairly well in an ankle holster where it got beat up pretty good but I still have.

I bought a 360PD a couple years after they came out and loved it.
I loved it so much I bought a second one to insure I have a spare.
The 360's are a dream to carry. In an ankle holster there is no flopping around. In a belt holster it does not pull my pants askew. In a jacket pocket it does not hang low on one side.

The spare 360, I keep on a length of parachute cord for when I need to run out of the house to attend to something on the property and do not want to suit up. I just hang it around my neck.

I can tolerate 2 cylinders of full-power 357 magnum loads. After that I may as well be throwing the cartridges at the target. So I limit myself to one cylinder of full loads. 38 Specials are cream puffs.

When I want to burn ammo, I have other full-size steel revolvers.

These powerful little revolvers are made to carry not for range work.

 

[Old Fashioned Six Shooter]

May be in the minority on this one, but 637 all the way. The .38 Special is WAY underrated in terms of effectiveness. If you put the rounds in the right spot, a good .38 Special hollow-point will do it's job. And you have a much higher likelihood of hitting the target with the first shot and subsequent shots with the lower recoiling round. .357 in a J-frame is brutal (on the gun and the shooter) and completely unneccessary. Paying extra for the Scandium .357 over the Airweight .38 is a complete waste in my opinion. I love .357 in K frames and larger, but not in J frames. And I do love my J frames...I have about seven of them last time I checked.

 

[Maximumbob54]

"image snipped"

I had this 637 with the 2+" barrel. It was easier to shoot as the little extra weight up front did make a difference. I had a snub 638 at the same time so it was east to compare. I wanted a concealed hammer so I now have a 642 that fill the bill for me. I can not compare the Airweight to he 360 but I can tell you that the little snub's are not a lot of fun after about 60 rounds or so. I would go with the added weight of the 637 over the 360 but that is just my own take on things. Good luck, Frank.

I really missed out on these while they were available and wish I had bought one. I think I had just bought my 637-2 though. I was furious when I found the frame had cracked under the barrel. S&W made it better again with a minimal two week turn around time, but that's a heck of a trust issue to get over in a gun once it happens to you. I bought some Ahrends finger groove boot grips in cocobolo for it and restoked it with my favorite Federal Premium Hydrashok 110gr, but I feel so burned by it that it just sets in the safe now. I only bring this up because with the 360's two part barrel, I have yet to read of a barrel failing on one. But there are several reported barrel failures on the Airweight guns. And whatever the clear finish on the Airweights is, it's garbage. It chips off easier than a hooker's nail polish. I know these guns are made to carry and not for show but what a crummy finish they put on them. And my original gun was the first S&W I ever had an issue with the lock. While at the range, the flag lifted just enough to just barely lock the hammer. I had to go home and find where I had tossed the key to my 640-3. I had left it in the little manilla envelope and it was so rusty I was scared it wouldn't work. From the amount of corrosion you would have thought I had buried it in the back yard and then had to dig it up from the swamp mud. It had just been tossed in the top drawer of the dresser. Top all that off with I had tuned my old gun with a little polish and moly grease and it was super smooth. Now she came back home with what feels like a twenty pound trigger pull in double action but I guess at least it's still mostly smooth. And I thought my 640-3 had a heavy as all get out trigger when it was new. Yikes. Anyways, this is my 637-2 with the new frame and barrel and the rest is old parts from the original gun:

I had gutted the lock from the original and when she came home they put the key hole part back but not the flag. I thought that was interesting. I had worried about voiding the warranty maybe but they didn't even send a nasty'gram back about it. I put the Plug in the 640-3 but have yet to buy one for this gun now that I have all but lost interest in it. Glutton for punishment that I am, I'm thinking about that new 340 NL they are tempting me with...

 

[shadow1]

I ordered the M & P 360. I like the ability to shoot a .357 mag if I need to or want to. More than that, I can shoot any .38, .38 + P without wondering if the lite weight revolver will hold up.
Another plus that I could not get on the 637 is a tritium front sight.
I will most likely still get a 637 down the road.
Can't have too many Smiths!
Thanks for the replies.
Dave N

 

[shadow1]

I shot the MP 360 today.
I started with some American Eagle .38's
Accuracy with this little revolver is great at 21 feet. First time out that's all I shot at.
Hit where it is aimed.
I really like the tritium from dot.

Second up was Winchester Personal Protection 135 gr. +P
I had no problems with it. It is stouter recoil.

Next I just had to see.
158 gr. .357 Remington,
Recoil is stiff. But it can be done.
The flash is unbelievable!
Not something I would want to shoot a lot of but I wouldn't hesitate to use it if I had to.
Great, accurate, compact summer carry revolver.
Dave N

 

[shadow1]

I ordered a set of Hogue Bantam grips today and some Speer 135 Gold Dot SB
The stock grips would not let an HKS speed loader clear.
Dave N