S & W 637 or 360

Old cop · #1 05-07-2012, 09:51 PM

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.

suckersrus · #2 05-07-2012, 10:21 PM

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 · #3 05-08-2012, 03:25 PM

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.