Mod 33-1 Didn't Have One Till Today

[Journey]

Funny how things just jump up and excite you. While on an errand, I stopped by a LGD that I hadn't visited in a while. The store was busy with hunters getting ready for new seasons The used wheelgun case was full, but mostly newer single actions. Then, there it was. It was so small and cute that I just had yo hold it. I waited for a sales person and tried the little thing out. Since I was not familiar with a Mod 33*1, I had to think about it. After a very close inspection, I was sold. The price was very right and they were having a 20% off sale When I got home and got the data on it I was happy with my little unexpected find. 2+2=4 Please excuse the photos. I;m not used to this posting format and don't know how to erase pics. The gun looks a lot better that the pics, but the lighting reflections make it look like a dog.

 

[Outpost75]

The 33-1 is a sturdy gun which can be loaded somewhat above factory levels. I load 2.7 grains of Bullseye with 148 grain soft swaged HBWC seated long to 1.2" OAL to match payload and velocity of .38 Special wadcutter.

 

[Journey]

The 33-1 is a sturdy gun which can be loaded somewhat above factory levels. I load 2.7 grains of Bullseye with 148 grain soft swaged HBWC seated long to 1.2" OAL to match payload and velocity of .38 Special wadcutter.
View attachment 791935

Kool. I don't know if I'll ever shoot mine, but it's nice to know tha ammo is still available at an affordable price. I don't think I'll be reloading for it though.

 

[Outpost75]

Buffalo Bore loads a .38 S&W 125-grain hard cast SWC which gets 900 fps from a 4-inch revolver. Much more effective than common factory146 LRN at 685 fps.

 

[Journey]

The 33-1 is a sturdy gun which can be loaded somewhat above factory levels. I load 2.7 grains of Bullseye with 148 grain soft swaged HBWC seated long to 1.2" OAL to match payload and velocity of .38 Special wadcutter.
View attachment 791935

I started looking for load data for a 38 S&W in my load manualsand couldn't find any in current manuals. Finally found it in Speer #9, 1967. It shows 2.7 gn of Bullseye for bevel base wadcutter. I guess some things just don't change.

 

[Outpost75]

I started looking for load data for a 38 S&W in my load manualsand couldn't find any in current manuals. Finally found it in Speer #9, 1967. It shows 2.7 gn of Bullseye for bevel base wadcutter. I guess some things just don't change.

The HBWC works well also and is more accurate in those revolvers having larger barrel groove diameter.

 

[bobsguns]

I;m not used to this posting format and don't know how to erase pics. The gun looks a lot better that the pics, but the lighting reflections make it look like a dog.

I have learned the hard way on pics in here, especially after the software change a while back.

If you use the "pic" tab in the header bar of the posting, bring up the pic from your computer & then post it, there's a small thumbnail at the bottom of the post which has an "X" on each pic. This enables one to delete whichever pic they want. You can also go back to your post, hit the "edit" button & do the same thing.

One can also do a "copy & paste" as well. To delete those, place the cursor just before or just after the pic & then use the delete or backspace buttons to delete it.

As for the pics themselves, I also learned that if one backs off the gun by 2-3 feet & then uses the zoom to get closer, the flash glare is less on the gun. This is true on both cell phones & cameras.

After being on gun boards for over 25 years now, if there's a mistake to be made in pics, I promise I've done them all.

Hope this helps!

 

[Green Frog]

My two revolvers in 38 S&W are both I frame Terriers, one from 1939 and one from 1950. I don't push them hard due to age and size, but factory RN lead loads still "speak with sufficient authority" that I consider them acceptable for EDC or home defense. JMHO, YMMV.

 

[S-W4EVER]

That's pretty cool, I've never even seen a M33.

 

[Journey]

That's pretty cool, I've never even seen a M33.

I hadn't eityer.

 

[Green Frog]

I'm not surprised even people in the S&W community aren't familiar with the Model 33-1. The greatest advantage my aforementioned Terriers and the later, "improved" I frame 38 S&W revolvers had was that they were the smallest modern 38 caliber revolvers Smith made. When. All 38 S&W production was moved to the J frame, that cachet disappeared and they just became underpowered copies of the Model 36 in 38 Special. They were the same size with slightly less power… no advantage. They became less popular and didn't stay around very long. But ahhh, those little I frames sure were handy! Not to throw shade on the OP's 31-1, but just to explain why they didn't sell very many or very long. Now they are interesting collectibles that history seems to pretty much ignore.

 

[Journey]

I'm not surprised even people in the S&W community aren't familiar with the Model 33-1. The greatest advantage my aforementioned Terriers and the later, "improved" I frame 38 S&W revolvers had was that they were the smallest modern 38 caliber revolvers Smith made. When. All 38 S&W production was moved to the J frame, that cachet disappeared and they just became underpowered copies of the Model 36 in 38 Special. They were the same size with slightly less power… no advantage. They became less popular and didn't stay around very long. But ahhh, those little I frames sure were handy! Not to throw shade on the OP's 31-1, but just to explain why they didn't sell very many or very long. Now they are interesting collectibles that history seems to pretty much ignore.

Astute insight. I'm constantly finding Smiths that I am unfamiliar with, I usually just go home and read about it and if I think I want it, hope it is still there when I return.