Airweight 38s tough to handle? No.
Air*lite* 357s? YES.
All IMHO, of course.
Air*lite* 357s? YES.
All IMHO, of course.
are airweights really that hard to handle ??
- Thread starter rschlos
- Start date
I've had to switch out the little boot-grips, for the rubber Pac's, been using them on snubbies since the 70's, had a set on everything from a Charter Undercover to a SP101, slightly harder to conseal, I wear pants with big pockets, and they really take out the sting of even the hottest +p's for me, being able to hold on to the little fellers makes a world of difference for me. ContinentalOp, that's good shoot'n with a snubbie, sorry about the BB's, I shoot five once a month to remind me to hold on, (haha), there tough, but yeah, with good hits I think they'll do the job. Now, I shoot a lot of wadcutters, but it's very comforting knowing, how stout my carry load is.
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glock_556
Member
I thought it was Clint Smith that said that?
mc5aw
Member
S&W Airweights continue to be the gold standard for concealable carry guns. All bark, some bite, but as mentioned by others, it's contingent upon what you feed them.
Maximumbob54
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I prefer shooting my 640 to my 637 but I prefer dropping my 637 in my pocket than my 640...
BarbC
Member
You just need firm grip. I shoot .38+P in my 637.
I've got a 442 pinto, a 360, a 637 power port, and a 37. I've shot a lot of +P through the 360 (13oz) and with Ahrends boot grips it's not too bad. Wouldn't want to shoot all day. Makes my hand sting a little. I have not been stupid enough to load 357 mags in the 360 though..........
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My wife is 4' 11", 105lbs, has no problem shooting the 442. I will mention we put a CT 405 laser on the gun, the grip is a bit thinner than stock, didn't like it, started to 'bite', switched to the 305 which is a bit bigger and allows the pinky room, much better. She never complained about the stock grips. We've done a couple of classes, including a full weekend, so she has shot it quite a bit.
Are airweights hard to handle?
In my 50 + years of shooting I have owned many guns of many weights. What I have found is that the lighter the gun the easier it is to carry. The other side is the HEAVIER the gun the easier it is to shoot [accurately].
In my 50 + years of shooting I have owned many guns of many weights. What I have found is that the lighter the gun the easier it is to carry. The other side is the HEAVIER the gun the easier it is to shoot [accurately].
dcxplant
Member
Rent/borrow a steel J frame and an airweight J frame.
I rented an Airweight yesterday with the stock rubber grips, and put 50 rounds of 135gr standard 38's through it.
I would say the recoil is no worse than moderate. Nothing compared to the Kahr PM40 I used to carry-that thing was brutal-and quite a bit more than 38's through my 4" 686. Granted, this was standard 38, not +P. The next time I rent I'll buy +P's to make my final decision as to a steel frame or Airweight.
It was very controllable, after firing it came onto target quickly. I shot it two hand hold, strong hand, and off hand. I got comfortable with it quickly, and shot several rapid fire cylinders with great success. I found the recoil easier firing it strong hand only vs two hand....hmmm...
My target wasn't as good as the previous fella's, so I'll pass on that
but it shot very well, point of aim at 10 yards.
I rented an Airweight yesterday with the stock rubber grips, and put 50 rounds of 135gr standard 38's through it.
I would say the recoil is no worse than moderate. Nothing compared to the Kahr PM40 I used to carry-that thing was brutal-and quite a bit more than 38's through my 4" 686. Granted, this was standard 38, not +P. The next time I rent I'll buy +P's to make my final decision as to a steel frame or Airweight.
It was very controllable, after firing it came onto target quickly. I shot it two hand hold, strong hand, and off hand. I got comfortable with it quickly, and shot several rapid fire cylinders with great success. I found the recoil easier firing it strong hand only vs two hand....hmmm...
My target wasn't as good as the previous fella's, so I'll pass on that
but it shot very well, point of aim at 10 yards.Snowbandit
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These little, ultra light weight, guns, especially the .357 magnums, may be popular among the novice crowd but I don't believe them to be a good choice. They can be painful to shoot, not much fun, and that doesn't lead to a desire for practice. In the hands of an expert, one who is dedicated enough to shoot fairly often, these guns are useful. Others would be better served by something a bit heavier.
When I bought my 642 the little grips just didn't work, flopped around in my hand no matter what I shot, +P or not. I ordered the S&W 3 finger grips and that made all the difference. With my big hands it is easy to control now and doesn't bother me to put 50 rounds thru it at the range.
I carry it every day.
J frame 3 finger grip
I carry it every day.
J frame 3 finger grip
As a range gun, 442/642 probably aren't the best choice but that's not the intention. I carry a 442 every day. At the range, I'll put 25 through it about once a month, occaisionally 50 but then my hand says enough. My wife carries the 642 but will rarely put more than 10 through it before her hands have had enough. In real life use with the adrenaline pumping, we'll probably only have to fire 5.
bmcgilvray
Member
I've owned a Model 642 since about 1998 and I'm glad to have made the acquaintance. After the years of shooting it though, the steel J-Frames get the nod from me. The lightweights are way overrated for easy carry and don't behave as well when actually shot. I'm weary of the whole class of shrunken, flea-weight guns that are so popular on the market. It appears that they cannot ever be made light enough or small enough to suit some.
Recoil with the lightweight snubbies is a matter of perception. Some can tolerate +P loadings in extended range sessions, and some can't. I can just barely tolerate a cylinderful in my 442 and 642. BUT these are my carry guns for the simple reason that they are easier to pack around than the all-steel models. Both the aluminum-frames and the steel-frames will give the same result on a human target, and in a pucker situation, I doubt that I would ever even notice the heavier recoil with the lightweights.
My wife would quit shooting forever if she had to shoot even one +P load in her 442. She doesn't practice as much as I do, so when she does, I load her up with wadcutter target loads. It gives her confidence to get hits on the target, so that's also the self-defense load she carries daily. There's a lot to be said for wadcutters in spite of their lower velocity. The sharp corners cut well-defined holes in both paper and flesh, and as often been said here, placement is everything. She can place her shots with these loads, and that's more than half the battle. I'm fully confident she can do the job if necessary.
Lightweight guns are a compromise. The big advantage is carryability. The gun you carry beats the powerhouse heavyweight you left behind every time. The disadvantage is recoil and to some, lessened control. I can live with that; I might not live without it. The choice of .38 special loads is almost infinite. Choose the one you prefer for your carry gun and be happy that you live where you can defend yourself adequately (not valid in some states).
John
My wife would quit shooting forever if she had to shoot even one +P load in her 442. She doesn't practice as much as I do, so when she does, I load her up with wadcutter target loads. It gives her confidence to get hits on the target, so that's also the self-defense load she carries daily. There's a lot to be said for wadcutters in spite of their lower velocity. The sharp corners cut well-defined holes in both paper and flesh, and as often been said here, placement is everything. She can place her shots with these loads, and that's more than half the battle. I'm fully confident she can do the job if necessary.
Lightweight guns are a compromise. The big advantage is carryability. The gun you carry beats the powerhouse heavyweight you left behind every time. The disadvantage is recoil and to some, lessened control. I can live with that; I might not live without it. The choice of .38 special loads is almost infinite. Choose the one you prefer for your carry gun and be happy that you live where you can defend yourself adequately (not valid in some states).
John
Broker50
Member
Haven't read through the whole thread, someone may have already mentioned this. I don't mind the recoil from the Airweight Centennials at all, in fact they're easier to keep on target than the steel frame exposed hammer J-frames, IMO. You can get a much higher grip on a 642 than a Model 60, so the recoil is more inline with the forearm. The outside hammer guns have more leverage & more muzzle climb making additional shots slower. My opinion only, of course. If recoil bothers you a small 9MM, such as a Kahr, is about the same size & weight (thinner too), is easier to shoot well, more capacity, & similar in effectiveness.
photoman
Member
I believe you are correct.
photoman
Member
The 642 is as light as I will go. With +P ammo, they are a challenge with the smaller grips but I find them easy to handle with the three finger rubber grips and standard pressure ammo.
I don't understand the theory behind the 10-15oz .357 Magnum guns. Ouch!
airweights
hi folks,
just picked up the a 642-1, and shot it with standard 158's swc. recoil was no problem, not bad at all. i do not plan to shoot +p's out of it, because the standard 158 will do the job. that 642-1, just sits in your pocket, or where ever you put it, and it carries well.
good shooting......sw dan
hi folks,
just picked up the a 642-1, and shot it with standard 158's swc. recoil was no problem, not bad at all. i do not plan to shoot +p's out of it, because the standard 158 will do the job. that 642-1, just sits in your pocket, or where ever you put it, and it carries well.
good shooting......sw dan
bronco45
Member
I have a 642 and a 442. I shoot one or the other each time I go to the range. The key for me is the grip. I have an Uncle Mikes Boot grip on one and a Hogue Bantam on the other.
It requires focus to shoot them well, and purposeful practice. Their accuracy surprises me, it is always good and sometimes outstanding. I carry +Ps as a PD load and usually run a cylinder full through after practicing with a standard 158gr swc load.
At this point in time, in my life, odds are this is the type of weapon that I will have access to if an armed confrontation is sprung upon me or my family. So I practice religiously with my Js and shoot my Ns, Ks or Ls for fun.
I've retired my Colt DS as the J frames are plentiful and economical+ they handle +Ps without straining.
It requires focus to shoot them well, and purposeful practice. Their accuracy surprises me, it is always good and sometimes outstanding. I carry +Ps as a PD load and usually run a cylinder full through after practicing with a standard 158gr swc load.
At this point in time, in my life, odds are this is the type of weapon that I will have access to if an armed confrontation is sprung upon me or my family. So I practice religiously with my Js and shoot my Ns, Ks or Ls for fun.
I've retired my Colt DS as the J frames are plentiful and economical+ they handle +Ps without straining.
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