Had enough? S&W Airweights

[Sgt. Buzzard]

I can't say I've ever found a J frame trigger pull excessively heavy or hard to group with. But that's where training comes in. Practice or training is an ongoing event. Practicing reloading should be every cylinder full. Do it in the dark too, close your eyes. Do a partial reloads with proper indexing, eyes closed there too.

Spring kits are fine for a range toy but modifications can jam you up in both criminal and civil courts. I've testified in Grand Juries and Superior Courts on weapons training. Bottom line, keep your carry gun stock.

Buy and use lots of ammo, take advanced weapons training. That is much more valuable than soft springs, red dots or diamond encrusted pearl grips. I'm not a fan of multiple guns carried on a rotation basis either. Keep it simple, that goes for holsters as well.

I know I've just offended a number of folks here. That's OK, go ahead flame away. It won't change my thinking. I carried for a living for, decades. I'm comfortable with my thought process.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I’m getting to the point that shooting my S&W Airweight 38 Spl +P at the range has become too painful in my later years ...

A S&W Airweight is never a range gun I suppose at least for me…unless I want to use target velocity 148 gr wadcutters…

I agree. When I was a cop the two inch was just a second handgun and we only shot it annually. Now a four or six inch was the primary so it was shot monthly or more often if you were on the Pistol Team.

With my two inch I only shoot 24 rounds (its a six shooter) and all my other shooting is done with a four inch 686 and a .22 LR pistol. That is my typical range day.

 

[Autonomous]

I’m getting to the point that shooting my S&W Airweight 38 Spl +P at the range has become too painful in my later years. I took my Ruger SP101 to my shooting location today and it reminded me how nice it is to do range work with a heavier revolver...
The SP101 is also the right size for my big mitts…but the double action smoothness pales in comparison with a Smith…oh well, I learned long ago that life is full of compromises.

M*CARBO offers a spring and shim kit for the SP101 that is supposed to help. The part that really catches my attention is the instruction-installation video that goes with it.
The video shows how to reduce parasitic friction and tune the action even with stock parts.
At least on off the shelf 1911s a tune up that retains stock springs and hammer/sear interface is a big improvement. Don't see why the SP101 would be any different.

M*CARBO link: https://www.mcarbo.com/ruger-sp101-/-gp100-trigger-spring-kit.aspx
Video link: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txbCmzM4v6A[/ame]

 

[slabside2]

I had the bright idea of getting a Ruger LCR in 9mm….it wasn’t one of my better ideas. No matter what grip I put on unless it was a giant one which defeated the purpose of a nice small pocket size gun. Sold it after 3 range visits.

 

[Xfuzz]

Lightweight J frames.
Never considered one as a range gun.
Just a light, EZ to carry snub to get some
mope off my butt.

 

[pasound]

I have four J's. A 36 blue and 60 stainless in steel, a 38 and a 637, both alloy and Airweights, basically the same weight as a Ladysmith. Years ago, I bought a couple of cases of Winchester 110gr Silvertip (not +P) because it was primo SD in my previous 60 and a Charter Undercover that I owned then (early 80's). Used to shoot +P FBI Remington in both, with factory grips, and the Silvertip was for every day carry. Recoil was not a problem, just expected.

40+ years later, all four wear some kind of soft grip, and +P is a no go. The Silvertips are still good shooters, but they are still thumpers compared to 148g wadcutters.

 

[kaaskop49]

Snubby recoil is like barrel leading: something for other people to worry about. I still want a snub chambered for 12ga slug rounds, and with the mini shells, that's coming closer!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[STCM(SW)]

M 638 is my CC gun in the summer...
What can be better , I don't know....

 

[JFrame_Bandido]

I pocket carry a no lock 442 with crimson trace grips that have had the batteries removed. The laser jumped around too much and for close quarters I just didn’t think it was necessary. The grip does, however, absorb tons of recoil and allows me to focus when at the range. It also added about a half inch of size over the stock boot grips. Even still, I limit myself to only shooting 4 to 5 cylinders about 3 times a year. It keeps me proficient without beating up my hand too much. My shooting hand feels sore for a couple days afterwards. But I wouldn’t trade any of that for the reliability, ease of carry and decades of proven results!

 

[smoothshooter]

I like my Ruger LCR revolvers. Hate the short ejector rods, though.
My Taurus Model 85 Ultra-Lite .38 Special with 2” barrel is probably my favorite. The barrel is just long enough to allow the use of a longer ejector rod.
Out of the box DA trigger is better than any Smith small framed gun I have ever owned or tried. Single-action trigger is perfect as well.

 

[slabside2]

As much as I love my J Frames my Ruger LCR has the best trigger then all of my Smith’s

 

[.38SuperMan]

I recently traded a friend my nickel 37 for his unfired 1953 Colt Cobra in 32 cal. Now I’m hooked on 32 S&W Long and a couple weeks ago added a Smith 30-1 2”. Both are superb guns and have no more recoil than a 22 mini mag. I load my own and can load up or down and either way I can shoot a hundred rounds with no discomfort.

I’m now looking for a 4.2” SP101 in 327 as a range toy. The SP looks like a good all around gun for enjoyment and home defense. I can shoot Longs at the range and put 32 H&R’s in it at home and if I’m facing a bear I can put in 327 mags ( not likely).

At present I’m carrying an original Ruger LCP 380 in a pouch on my belt or a 640 no dash or new model Colt Cobra both with soft rubber grips and home loads. All 3 are easy enough to shoot but the day is coming I’ll have to go to a nice 32 cal.

 

[bananaman]

I had a 2" 36, and a 3" square butt. I know there are not "airweights" Couldn't hit much of anything. Went to a 10-5 2" snub, and was happy I did! Bob

 

[Al Mac]

Just traded my last 38 airweight. I did recently purchase an432UC which I love (I am aware it is an alloy frame). It shoots so much better (and easier on the recoil) than the 38

 

[rwsmith]

Do you have......

I wholeheartedly agree, airweights ain't good range guns. Do you have a nice 'K' frame for a range gun? If not, you certainly should!

 

[BrBa]

As much as I love my J Frames my Ruger LCR has the best trigger then all of my Smith’s

I agree, and the LCR trigger is also very easy to improve. A drop or two of light gun oil in the oil port every so often keeps it very happy. I swapped out the 10 lb hammer spring for an 8 lb spring from Wolff and it has never failed to pop a primer.

The trigger does take a bit of practice to avoid short stoking the reset, but that's the only fault I have found.

 

[SmithSwede]

I’ve arrived at the same conclusion. I sold a beautiful Colt Cobra. Very unpleasant to shoot with serious .38 Specials. (An all steel DS is manageable, which I’ve carried for years)

But then it finally dawned on my pea brain that I could deploy an all-steel S&W 6 shot revolver that was fun to shoot. About the same weight. Far less bulky.

What is that? A S&W .32 Hand Ejector !

I’m thinking with a small revolver the main factors are shot placement and sufficient penetration. The .32 SWL is sufficient, running decent power wadcutters. Might as well have a revolver that is fun and cheap to shoot a lot.

 

[grip frame]

Small, lightweight revolvers have been totally outclassed by small, lightweight 9mm striker pistols in 9mm that hold 12rounds and provide ballistically superior loads. There is a place for nostalgia, self defense is not that place.

 

[sigp220.45]

You guys are just shooting the wrong sized Airweights! My Model 12 has great sights, a smooth trigger, and is a breeze at the range.

In my handy Bianchi upside-down shoulder holster I almost forgot it was there for my latest six-hour-down, six-hour-back jaunt to the wonderful city of Albuquerque. And while I didn’t have any occasion to shoot it out with highwaymen or local gangsters I’m sure it was up to the task.

 

[glenncal1]

The SP101 is also the right size for my big mitts…but the double action smoothness pales in comparison with a Smith…oh well, I learned long ago that life is full of compromises.

Any competent revolver smith can make that Ruger much better very easily. .32H&R is a nice load for the SP101.