Had enough? S&W Airweights

[Dgfrtsgt]

I also had an issue with the .38 caliber airweight recoil. Bought a new 432 UC. Shot 350 rounds in a class and scored the best on the skills test. Going to take it to the Revolver fest in October. I really like this little guy.

 

[haywood]

I shoot my airweights, but I have to have rubber grips to cushion the blow. Much rather practice with my 3 inch 36. It’s heavier. I still have rubber grips on it and it’s much more enjoyable to shoot.

 

[Wildman101010]

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.

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…maybe it’s time for a trade in…maybe an all steel classic S&W Model 36 38 Spl +P rated…maybe not. My first snub was a Model 36 purchased in the late 70’s…another one which got away in time. Even had a 32 S&W Long Model 31 snub…fun shooting the shorter 32 S&W out of it also.

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.

Well let's remember why we bought one to begin with. It's a very concealable and lightweight gun you won't even be aware is in your pocket. Kinda...

What that means is you're going to be more apt to carry it with you, making it a EDC gun vs a sometimes carry gun. I know I carry a gun way more often since I purchased it.

In my opinion it is probably the best everyday carry weapon I've ever owned with the added peace of mind of knowing it's rocksolid reliable.

The only thing better and more unnoticeable was the Colt .380. I still miss that gun and it was as slim as a credit card! But it wasn't as easily used in an emergency or as reliable either.

My point is, and I'm surmising here, I don't think many people bought it nor was it ever intended to be a range gun. It was not a plinking toy.

So in my humble opinion, this gun is to slide in your front pocket and forget about it, until you need to remember about it. I put 250 rounds through it just to make sure I knew how to aim, after that i've never shot it again. I've got other guns for that purpose

 

[pasound]

I have four J-frames. All have rubbers - two Hogues, my 60 and 36, one CT laser on my 637, and an Uncle Mikes on my 38. Have the original grips for all, stored away, and several "fancy" Altamonts for all for show, but to go shoot them, the rubber rules. Need the full hand grip, and the backstrap covered.

 

[47knuckle]

I have K frame ( m14, m15) and N frame (Outdoorsman) 38’s for range use.
Most days my carry gun is an 11 oz m337.
S&W makes lots of models so we can use an appropriate revolver for different situations.

 

[Baxter6551]

I have several no dash 36s, a 60-7, 442 and a couple of Charter Undercovers. Also a model 10-5 snub. I practice with them and carry them. I understand the prior comment that carrying a 5 shot snub has no place in the world of high capacity small 9mm, but I’m comfortable with revolvers (started law enforcement in 1974) and shoot them well. I don’t feel outgunned.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Had Boots Grips on my 642 forever.
Finally gave in and went up to Fatter and Larger Compacs,

 

[GaryinOKC]

I went to 32 H&R for the same reasons.

 

[kelljor]

Stock S&W Airweights are not pleasurable to shoot at the range. In their default configuration, the gun is very snappy and the trigger pull is excessively heavy. However, none of those things matter in a close quarters gunfight. You will be able to dump an entire cylinder of .38 Special +P into the violent attacker no problem.

To make the S&W Airweights fun, you need to get better grips that will reduce that recoil. VZ makes "High Horn" grips that are 10x better than the stock grips. It makes shooting several boxes of .38 Special actually enjoyable. Next, get a Wolf Spring kit for $20 and the trigger experience will be significantly improved.

I would suggest not changing the main spring. I did that and started getting light strikes in my 442. I did, however, change the rebound spring to a 13# (I believe stock i 18#) and it helped. Went from about 12+ pounds to 9.5-10#. Big difference.
By way of comparison, I recently picked up, stole more like, a Ruger LCRx NIB for less than 450.00 and the grips on it work great; trigger pull is 9.5 to 10 out of the box; I have heard they improve with usage. Hardly feel wadcutters in it; and I can use more of my practice ammo of 130gr FMJ "gentler" in a range session. (Sorry, S&W).

 

[Marshal Tom]

Years ago, I owned a Ti model in .38sp. It was not much fun to shoot. It went back to the factory because the cylinder got where it was bypassing the stop when the cylinder was opened. They could not fix it and offered me an M&P 340 in it's place. I had it for many years but it too was not fun to shoot. It was traded away and I now have a 649-2 and one of the new 432UC Lipsey's 32 H&R Magnums. Both of them are much more pleasant to shoot. I'm carrying the 432UC AIWB as I write this.

 

[Bill In Texas]

I have several j frames, but only one airweight, a 642, that wears the old Uncle Mike's rubber grips. It's my backup piece when needed to my normal summer carry 640, which wears custom magna grips that I got for Christmas.

The 642 doesn't get shot at the range much, as I feel that the manual of arms of the 640 is basically the same, and as one of my two regular carry guns, (The other being a 1st generation Shield in .40 caliber), gets shot at the range alot and it's more fun!

 

[familyman357oh]

The Airweight Js aren't meant to be fun or comfortable to shoot. They're meant to be easily carried. A larger grip will make shooting more pleasant, but it detracts from why the little J exists in the first place.

If the trigger is too heavy, a 14 pound trigger rebound spring works well (OEM is 18 pounds).

If recoil is too heavy, go to a 148 grain target wadcutter. Arguably, it's the most effective load out of a 2" .38 anyway.

If the 148 gr. target wadcutter recoil is too heavy, get a 432UC/632UC. It already has a lighter pull and .32 Long is a total creampuff (even .32 H&R Mag isn't bad)... and you get a sixth shot.