i just acquired a model 36 and had some quick questions, is the firing pin on the hammer supposed to wiggle up and down or should it be stationary? also what is the best ammo to fire/carry with this bad boy? thanks

It should wiggle.

You need to tell us what purpose you're considering - for target use, I like handloaded wadcutters. For carry around town or the home, consider the Speer 135-gr +P Gold Dots, which appear to have been very well designed for defensive use against human assailants. For carry on hikes, 158-gr semi-wadcutter handloads can do an easy 900 fps from my 1 7/8" .38s, which ought to offer decent penetration should I need it.

Enjoy your new Chiefs Special!

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Now go make God proud...

They wiggle. Don't worry about it. It's a design feature, not sloppy manufacturing.

Any standard .38 Special ammo is appropriate. S&W doesn't want you to use +P loads unless the gun is marked for them on the barrel. The appropriate load is the one you are most accurate with. A whiz-bang Destructo load is useless if you can't consistently put it where it needs to go, and low-pressure match wadcutter loads are perfect if you can place them where you want them every time.

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David Wilson

Actually, on my 36, the firing pin is very solid, although the rest of the gun wiggles up and down. Yours is OK. I carry Winchester Rangers for self defense.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Wiggle.

Erich has summed up my choices for ammunition very nicely. Nothing to add there. You didn't ask but I will add anyway that your Chief likely is a very accurate little revolver - most examples are - and with a little practice, and maybe a set of stocks that work well in your hand, you will be surprised what that gun will do. I purchased my first Chief's Special in 1976 and I still remember being surprised at what I could do with that gun, once I got used to it. They are great little guns. Hope you enjoy it.

Although you did not ask specifically, +P will not hurt your gun if used in moderation. I have an older 442, not makred for +P and shoot a cylinder full a few times a year. The gun was made in '92 and is as solid as ever.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

What powder & charge weight are you using? I load 4.5 gr W231 behind a soft Speer 158 SWC-HP, and although I haven't chrony'd it I figure it's good for between 800-850 without pushing into +P territory.

Feel free to PM me, but I don't want to post data openly - I pretty much only shoot +P loads from my J-38s, though.

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Now go make God proud...

congrats...your m36 will do excellent...i just put two of them in to my gunsmith for an action job

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Yep it's a wiggler no worries!!
My 36's shoot lights out with lead slugs....Full Wadcutters and Semi Wadcutters Hollow Points.

I only shoot factory loads nowadays but I can shoot as much as I want with Wadcutters and have a pleasant afternoon....No pain just smiles.

Enjoy your new blaster they are fine little revolvers.

I've never thought of my .38 snubs as "bad boys". Most are upstanding citizens.