Came across a Mod. 36 flatlatch, fair condition metal, mechanics seem fine. Serial in low 43,000 area - anyone know the year made?

Is this guy approved for +P ammo?

Also has a very tall "O" stamped under the serial inside the crane, and a little "3" well off to the side. These mean anything special?

Thanks.

Any Model marked S&W should be fine for +P. FYI, I have S/N 40744X, which was shipped Nov. 1965, also a flat latch. Would guess yours to be from around 67.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Something doesn't compute here. Is the gun actually marked "Mod. 36" or not? If it is, either there's a a "J" prefix or an extra digit missing in that reported serial number.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Definitely marked as a Model 36 and barrel marked Smith and Wesson, with the almost sideways curly "and" symbol. There is no J on the serial noted on the crane but may be one on the butt - I'll have to check. Square butt. Gun looks like all other 36's to me. Serial 43300 area if I recall.

If you're reporting the five digit serial number inside the crane, that is almost certainly not the serial number, but rather an assembly number. It is irrelevant to identifying or dating your revolver.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

goony has nailed it. that is just a soft assembly number. you need the serial number off the butt.

I'll have a look and reply when I get home... thanks for the help...

It right at 402500, no letters...

Probably shipped in 1965.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Thanks... should it be okay for +P?

Because BB +P 158 grain soft lead semi-wc hp with gas check at 1000fps from a two inch barrel makes the j-frame a very viable self defense gun. I fired 5 rounds from 4 yards to make sure they printed to poa. I carry 5 rounds in the revolver, firing them and changing to fresh every six months or so. That adds up to 10-15 rounds of the hot BB +p per year. That isn't going to break my wrist, my gun, or my pocketbook. They are actually not that unpleasant to shoot.

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Georgia On My Mind

I think Ayoob was happy with +P rounds in the .38 if I recall. I wouldn't be plinking with them, but if the chips are down, I prefer +P.

Any technical reason this gun shouldn't use them?

I have fired a small amount of Winchester +P 158 grain ammo in my low 4-digit Chief's Special from March of 1952 with no obvious ill effects. The revolver won't be shot with large piles of the ammo but a dab for sight verification is no big deal.

Except for Buffalo Bore, therun-of-the-mill +P158 grain lead SWC load (which is the best .38 Special +P choice in my view) isn't such a fearsome cartridge.

That was what I meant, the 10 rounds a year of +P plus them for carry only. Just wanted to be sure there was no disaster warning for a 36 from 1965.

That said, no hollow point on the SWC? I was thinking Ayoob liked the 125 SWCHP +P, but maybe I remember wrong?

I suppose the 125 is a little easier on the frame than the 158?

A while back, before S&W rated their J-frames for +P, LAPD's duty load was a +P for .38s. All J-frames got shot (some extensively) with +P ammo. S&W was aware of this (the LAPD Armory was usually in weekly contact over various issues with Springfield), but never commented negatively. There was interest by S&W over wear issues, though, which is accelerated by frequent +P use. Go ahead and use +P in your gun; I wouldn't practice daily with it, though. Small guns are made to be carried much and shot less. It's also easier on your hand.
Bob

This was a reply by OIF2 on my thread asking the same question of a 36 made in 1976. A call to Smith and Wesson informed me to probably not shoot +P ammo, but as this and all the other replies state, a few are probably not going to hurt anything. I carry +P Rangers in mine, but practice with non +P loads.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

I think that is the right approach.

Good info. Always like to know what PD experience was. I wonder if Fastbolt is still on the forum - he had a lot of armorer experience. Like to know what he thinks but I bet it is the same.

Not sure if I will go with the 125 or 158 grainers. Kinda think the 110 are too light.

This old guy shoots well and is tight. A little beaten, with character. The +P might be more felt in the 37, but hardly different for the heavier 36.

Curiously, I fired a factory 158 lead semi-spitzer into a hardwood (very hard dried red-oak) stump and the penetration was that the bullet base was even with the wood surface. I fired the +P JHP next to it and the penetration was identical.

I have no qualms about the occasional +P use anymore, not from the stump but from the strength of the frame.

Like a lot of people here when it comes to J Frames I tend to carry +P but practice with target loads. As long as POI is the same I don't think it matters.