638 Airweight

[steeltoejoe]

I joined this forum to post my experience with my new shrouded hammer 638 Airweight.

Shooting single action with some of my handmade 158gr LSWC 38 special rounds, I managed to hit clay pigeons at 60 yards with a 40% hit rate. Point shooting at a silhouette at 7 yards rapid fire was impressively easy as well, averaging a 4 shot group about the size of a softball and one between the eyes without using the sights.

DA trigger is heavy enough that I feel comfortable pocket carrying around my property. I usually keep the next chamber in the cylinder empty just in case though.

SA trigger is the best I've ever seen. I've owned a 4" Ruger GP100 for 4 years and this little snub actually has a better trigger.

Recoil is hardly noticeable. With 38 sp rounds I could shoot all day. I'd highly recommend this gun to someone looking for a snubbie. Good job S&W.



Note: this post is just to point out the accuracy of the gun and how nice it is to shoot. I'm not suggesting a method of carry or the best way to use a gun for self defense.

 

[Mike-4]

Welcome to the forum. You'll find a lot of J frame fans here, and there are a few of us that absolutely love the humpbacks. The 638 is my carry piece and my favorite . Thanks for the review.

 

[kaaskop49]

attn OP

Emphasis on Mike 4's post. I consider myself a 'J-hound' and am always interested in new J threads. There is another current thread on the 638 that you might want to check out. It seems that most folks carrying Js prefer the 642 (and 442 non-stainless) model. For every Jack, there's a Jill.

I appreciate your caution, but I would be reluctant to carry an empty chamber 'next up' in the cylinder. The Js are short on firepower, only 5, and S&W dealt effectively with the accidental- discharge-via-dropping about 70 years ago with the intro of the hammer block. But, your call...

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire

 

[Old cop]

Thanks for the review and welcome to the Forum. I agree w/Kaaskop49 that keeping an empty cylinder is not necessary for safety and may compromise your safety if the weapon is needed in an emergency, but that is your call. FWIW I've been carrying a J for well over 40 yrs. w/o a problem, and it was always carried fully loaded.

 

[Kiteman72]

Great, just what I needed, another thread encouraging me to spend $ I don't have on a revolver I really want.

I've got my eye on a couple, I better make some calls. Thanks for the range report tho seriously. I needed to hear that the accuracy was good on these, good trigger, etc. Now I just gotta get the prices haggled down to where I can live with em.

 

[surferdaddy]

I do love my little Quasimodo. I was actually shocked at its accuracy the first time I took it out. I have guns that I love, but this one will NEVER leave the stable, heirloom piece for sure.

 

[Boogsawaste]

I love these humpbacks too! As the others have mentioned, we keep all the chambers full. I've been carrying for a while (not nearly as long as these other guys have), and I don't see how the gun would fire unless you meant to. If you're really worried, use a pocket holster. I have a cheap uncle mikes #4 and it covers the trigger guard nicely. BUT, it's your gun so of course do what you're comfortable with. 4 shots of .38 are better than throwing rocks! Nice purchase.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[bamabiker]

This thread needs a picture. The gun I carry the most.

 

[S&WForty]

My 638 kicks like a mule with std .38 Specials. It wears my hand out quicker than my M-29 shooting Magnums. Other than that difference in observation, the assessment is spot on with me! Its SA feel is so sweet, I don't know why more folks don't choose a 638 over the 642. I love having that option *at the range*.

 

[wrangler5]

There's no mechanical safety reason not to fill up all the holes in the cylinder of any modern S&W revolver. All have had a designed-in hammer block since the original Hand Ejector, which is more than strong enough to keep the hammer/firing pin from moving forward and hitting a primer should the gun be dropped and land muzzle down. A second block has been included in all exposed hammer models, including the humpbacks, since the 1940s, to prevent firing should the gun fall in such a way that the hammer is struck.

I for one do not feel over-prepared with 5 rounds in my 638, and would certainly feel less prepared with only 4. But of course, to each his own.

 

[Old cop]

More on the issue of keeping an empty chamber . . . during my 40 yrs. on the street I saw many service revolvers hit the pavement during a wrestling match w/a bad guy and not once did one go off.

 

[snubbiefan]

I (being a grumpy old-man) prefer the 649 as opposed to the lightweights, but you have the same gun in the 638. GREAT little carry piece, which is why I have two. The 649 (being all stainless) is a bit heavier, but not quite as punishing. As far as safety goes.....load it with 5 and forget it. It's not going to fire unless you pull the trigger.

 

[Coastie762]

Welcome to the forum! To echo everyone else's advice, as you get more familiar with the revolver and carry, you will find that it is unnecessary to keep an empty chamber while carrying.

You did not mention this in your initial post, but I would recommend that you use a pocket holster. It will help keep the pistol properly oriented in the pocket and provide an extra margin of protection to the trigger. Also be sure not to carry anything else other than the gun in that pocket.

The holster doesn't have to be anything fancy or uber expensive. As I type this I have a 642 in my front pocket. It sits inside an old Uncle Mikes nylon pocket holster. You can find similar Blackhawk! holsters at Wal-Mart.

 

[kaaskop49]

to the OP

Follow Coastie's advice, he's a savvy hombre and not just about .45ACP revolvers! If I'm not mistaken, Blackhawk picked up the Uncle Mike's design on the pocket rig. Size 3 is the one you want, but some posters say they prefer size 4 to cover the trigger guard. A must-have, it goes for $10 at WalMart.

 

[Aemsl69]

I'm also a J Frame fan. I have pretty much carried this one as my EDC for year now. I have never shot it S/A. It's accurate as hell. I added the Pau Ferro's for more control for rapid follow up shots. I carry this IWB.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Follow Coastie's advice, he's a savvy hombre and not just about .45ACP revolvers! If I'm not mistaken, Blackhawk picked up the Uncle Mike's design on the pocket rig. Size 3 is the one you want, but some posters say they prefer size 4 to cover the trigger guard. A must-have, it goes for $10 at WalMart.

Yeah I saw those black hawks at Walmart yesterday and they looked suspiciously like my uncle mikes! The reason I went with a 4 is because some said their 3's fit, and some said they were too small. I believe it was a qc issue so when I ordered I got the bigger just in case. My 4 just about covers the guard 100% so I'm guessing I got one of the "small" #4's. might have to go pick up a Blackhawk one next time I'm at Walmart just to have a spare. Great price!

 

[steeltoejoe]

Wow good good responses here. I'll swing by wally world and see if they have that pocket holster.

Attached is a picture of the first 10 shots I fired from this gun. This was at 15 yards single action. I was aiming for the center of the target, and the group was fairly consistent about 3" to the right.

Since the sights are fixed, I now actually put the front sight post on the left side of the rear sight gap, and put the target in the space to the right of the front sight post. Sounds goofy, but it's dead on and I get a good sight picture with this method. That's how I was aiming when shooting clay pigeons at 60 yards.

3 inches at 15 yards means the angle is arctan(3/540) = .3 degrees.

I doubt the gun was intentionally made to shoot 0.3 degrees to the right (in my hands at least), but it is very consistent! No complaints here.

I'd say it's my trigger finger placement that pulls the gun to the right, but with big hands and a small gun, usually I push the bullet to the left.

 

[Coastie762]

Kaaskop49 is making me blush...

The below observations are valid for a 1 7/8" J-frame.

The #3 is a bit narrower in overall width and will leave just the back of the trigger guard exposed. The trigger and entire guard opening is covered.

The #4 will cover the entire guard (including the back side) is a bit wider and has a flat bottom. This may work better to keep the holster from moving in a larger square pocket. If you have a narrower rounded pocket the #3 may work better.

The nice thing is they are inexpensive so it's easy to afford both.

Steeltoejoe, that's some fine shooting there!

 

[steeltoejoe]

Thanks Coastie. Looks like the #3 is the way to go for me.

They had some good instructors at Cape May. I still use their method for shooting all handguns.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Here's my #4 with a 642. Doesn't quite cover the entire guard. Might fit the non magnum j's better, but I can't try as both of mine are back at the mother ship right now. And probably for a while too.