Got my 43C. It's Here!

[Dragon88]

I've been checking Buds Police for 43Cs for weeks now. Just ten minutes ago, to my shock, the page listed it as In Stock! I ordered as fast as I could and it confirmed my order. The page now shows Out of Stock, so I hope I got it in time.

If so, my 43C will be about $530 "out the door" after Bud's CC fee and transfer fee. I am stoked to finally snag one of these. First S&W of the new year!



43C is here! Scroll down for report

 

[blackdeuce]

Congrats. Sounds like you got the last one.

 

[jdh]

Two weeks ago Tuesday I went to the gun shop and said I want one. On Thursday that week (yes two days later) they called and said it was in. Don't know where they found it and I cannot complain about the wait.

 

[BobR1]

Congradulations
The price of $530 sounds much better than the GB one for $640 + Shipping + Transfer Fee I saw listed a while back.

I went with an LCR 22 about 3 weeks ago. I hope you like the 43C as well as I do the LCR 22.

I shot my LCR 22 in a BUG Match last Saturday. I borrowed a couple Tuff Products Model 1022 Quickstrips for my on the clock reloads. This is a 10 round 22 LR Speed Strip. I discovered that it was hard fully loaded with 10 rounds to load 2 at a time. No cylinder clearance. I ran a second run with it, and this time I staged my ammo in pairs OOXOOXOOXX. I could only load 6 rounds in this Division, so this worked out fine. With a space between pairs it loaded very well. Infact better than my LCR 357 which I was also loading with Quickstrips.
I have contacted Tuff Products about either extending the Model 1022 into an 1122 which would let us load all 8 rounds while skipping a round between pairs: OOXOOXOOXOO. OR making a dedicated 8 shot Quickstrip with blank spaces between pairs. I explained to Tuff Products that we now had several 8 shot J Frame size 22 LR handguns that could use this redesigned Quickstrip: 43C, 63, 317, LCR 22 and SP101 22.

The new 22 magnum J Frames should be in fine shape using the Model 1017 which is also a 10 round carrier. It will hold 7 shells loaded in pairs plus a single at the end as it is now made.

The 43C and LCR 22 both have the same mission as far as I am concerned. Economical to shoot J Frame size airweight concealed carry Practice & Training gun. They will also end up being carried by some who do not like recoil. Having a useable Speed Strip to load one with would be a great training tool, as most who carry spare ammo for a J Frame 38 Special, carry it in a Speed Strip.

Bob

 

[allglock]

Its a nice little gun! You will love it!

 

[allglock]

Congradulations
The price of $530 sounds much better than the GB one for $640 + Shipping + Transfer Fee I saw listed a while back.

I went with an LCR 22 about 3 weeks ago. I hope you like the 43C as well as I do the LCR 22.

I shot my LCR 22 in a BUG Match last Saturday. I borrowed a couple Tuff Products Model 1022 Quickstrips for my on the clock reloads. This is a 10 round 22 LR Speed Strip. I discovered that it was hard fully loaded with 10 rounds to load 2 at a time. No cylinder clearance. I ran a second run with it, and this time I staged my ammo in pairs OOXOOXOOXX. I could only load 6 rounds in this Division, so this worked out fine. With a space between pairs it loaded very well. Infact better than my LCR 357 which I was also loading with Quickstrips.
I have contacted Tuff Products about either extending the Model 1022 into an 1122 which would let us load all 8 rounds while skipping a round between pairs: OOXOOXOOXOO. OR making a dedicated 8 shot Quickstrip with blank spaces between pairs. I explained to Tuff Products that we now had several 8 shot J Frame size 22 LR handguns that could use this redesigned Quickstrip: 43C, 63, 317, LCR 22 and SP101 22.

The new 22 magnum J Frames should be in fine shape using the Model 1017 which is also a 10 round carrier. It will hold 7 shells loaded in pairs plus a single at the end as it is now made.

The 43C and LCR 22 both have the same mission as far as I am concerned. Economical to shoot J Frame size airweight concealed carry Practice & Training gun. They will also end up being carried by some who do not like recoil. Having a useable Speed Strip to load one with would be a great training tool, as most who carry spare ammo for a J Frame 38 Special, carry it in a Speed Strip.

Bob

I just ordered one of these: Ultimate Speedloader 317 8 Shot 22LR Speed Loader : 317 8 Shot Speedloader
They a cheaper on e-bay.

 

[Dragon88]

I handled a 43C in a local shop last weekend. Price was $570 as I recall. I was surprised at how light the gun is, just like picking up a model 37 when you expect the weight of a 36. I probably won't use this new gun for carry, I see no reason to downgrade to 22lr from 38 +P. However, I plan to use it extensively for training and possibly a light pocket gun when I'm in the yard.

I received a second email from Buds saying the order is now "Processing", so I think I got the last one in time.

 

[mag318]

I just walked into my local shop this afternoon and they just got in a 43c priced at $525 OTD. After handling it I'm very impressed with it. It's smaller than the LCR22 and though more expensive, it comes with a Trijicon front sight blade. I'll have to do a side by side comparison in the spring.

 

[Dragon88]

My 43C arrived at the LGS today from Bud's Police. It came in an odd condition. The grips were removed from the gun and sitting next to it in the case. One grip has a small scuff mark on it. Everything else in the box is correct.

Normally this would concern me, however, this gun has the Trijicon front night sight! Test fire date on the envelope is 08-30-2010. It is engraved AirLite on the right side and serial# is CPE76xx. This must have been one of the early guns made. I don't know what it has been up to since, or why the grips were off the gun. Any ideas? It is not dirty as if it has been fired or used.

We'll see how it does at the range tomorrow.

 

[allglock]

Here is mine with the Speed Beez speed loader. I am not really impressed with the speed loader. It is faster than loading by hand, but it is rather awkward. The rounds can be tilted every which way. I wish HKS would come out with one!

 

[mag318]

allglock, I like your Hogue Bantam grips grips, I'm going to put some on my 43c. Did yours come from the factory with these installed?

 

[allglock]

allglock, I like your Hogue Bantam grips grips, I'm going to put some on my 43c. Did yours come from the factory with these installed?

I put them on all my J-frames. They had them on Amazon for $12 with free shipping a while back. They are the lightest grips out there. They weigh 1/3 oz. less than the stock grips.

 

[Dragon88]

Here is mine with the Speed Beez speed loader. I am not really impressed with the speed loader. It is faster than loading by hand, but it is rather awkward. The rounds can be tilted every which way.

That's too bad, I was hoping this speed loader would pan out.

Do those Bantam grips leave both the backstrap and butt exposed? They look pretty slick, I might have to try a pair.

 

[allglock]

That's too bad, I was hoping this speed loader would pan out.

Do those Bantam grips leave both the backstrap and butt exposed? They look pretty slick, I might have to try a pair.

Yes , they do leave the backstrap , and butt exposed.

 

[Roadranger]

Dragon88, My 43C was made 12/01/11 and has the white dot Express sight, not the tridium. Your gun sounds like a special order or pre-production gun, which of course is great. I love mine and have been shooting it for the last 5 weeks or so. Bob!

 

[mag318]

That's strange because like Dragons' mine to came with a Trijicon tritium front sight blade. Mine like his was made in August of 2010 even though my dealer just received it a couple weeks ago.

 

[Dragon88]

I have shot the gun twice now. Fed Bulk pack and CCI Velocitors work great. Good accuracy and easy ejection of fired cases. The trigger is fine. The only ammo it did not like was Mini-mags, the fired cases expanded to the rear and rubbed against the recoil shield. The gun continues to perform even when hot and dirty.

Unfortunately, I think I have to send it back to S&W. It is spitting lead, and there is quite a bit of build up between the forcing cone and top strap after only two range trips. Shining a light down the bore with the cylinder closed shows that the forcing cone sits a hair lower than the chambers. Does anyone know what S&W does to fix spitting on these guns? If the barrel has to be changed, I want to keep the front night sight and will note that in my letter.

Otherwise the gun is great and I will continue to enjoy it once Smith fixes this problem.

 

[Jason68]

How is the trigger pull? Anyone put a scale on it? I have not checked other threads. I got rid of my J-frame 2" 317 because the DA trigger was up near 14 pounds, way more than my model 63. Kept the 63.

 

[Dragon88]

I do not have an exact figure on the trigger pull, but it is very good. It feels lighter than my 642's trigger. I did not mention this earlier, because I don't have a picture for proof, but I fired half a cylinder each at 5 yard increments back to 25 yards. When I pulled the target, the aggregate group could be covered by my palm. About 4" across. My gun is very accurate and very easy to shoot well.

 

[Jason68]

Well then, lighter than or equal to a 642 (I have a 442 mfg. 2009ish) is good, better than the 317 for sure. Thanks.