J Frame Durability...?

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Loofa

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Hello,

I'm new here, and new to my 438 Bodyguard. I'm in LEO training right now and plan carry the 438 while off duty. I'm very familiar with firearms, but for obvious reasons want to shoot my new gun in order to know it inside and out. Should I worry about running too many rounds through such a lightweight gun? Should I avoid shooting too much +P through it? If it isn't meant to be shot a lot, what is an acceptable amount to shoot?

Sorry if I sound like too much of noob, I just don't want to hurt my new baby... I love it already!
 
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Welcome, from an old, grizzled and retired LEO of 32 years carrying a S&W BUG. I have carried an air-weight or air-lite for the past two dozen or so years. I have hundreds of rounds through them and they held up. I do not fire the .357-magnum rounds through them much, but do fire the .38-spl +P rounds. I especially like the GoldDot HP 135-gr for short-barrels. I stoke that into my daily-carry. I range-fired many hundred of rounds of .38-spl regulars with no problems. I have not cracked any cones, frames or barrels. I currently carry either a 340PD or an M&P340. Good luck out there and be careful.......
 
"I'm new here, and new to my 438 Bodyguard."
Is your 438 also new? If not, but if it was made in the last twenty years or so, you should be fine. What is engraved on its barrel?

In any event, your hand will wear out before your snubby -- when I shoot mine (a 637) it is a duty, not a pleasure. I recommend most practice to be with range loads, finishing with a cylinder or two of the good stuff. My HD load is the Remington +p 158gr LSWCHP, in my opinion the best of the FBI loads for snubbies. luangtom recommended Speer's +p 135gr Gold Dots. I have heard much praise for this round also.

Cordially, Jack
 
I just use regular .38 Special loads for 90% of the shooting I do in my Airweights. I used to shoot ~many~ +P loads in them but my hand gave out.
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Originally posted by Loofa:
Hello,

I'm new here, and new to my 438 Bodyguard. I'm in LEO training right now and plan carry the 438 while off duty. I'm very familiar with firearms, but for obvious reasons want to shoot my new gun in order to know it inside and out. Should I worry about running too many rounds through such a lightweight gun? Should I avoid shooting too much +P through it? If it isn't meant to be shot a lot, what is an acceptable amount to shoot?

Sorry if I sound like too much of noob, I just don't want to hurt my new baby... I love it already!
Click to expand...

I would not shoot more than, oh, say, one hundred rounds of +P per day for the next couple of decades. Any more than that and you might need a tune up or a fix for some end shake or because it does not carry up, but those are easy fixes. Seriously, barring some batch of steel or aluminum that is "not right," the gun will last longer than you. I have a friend with almost 20,000 rounds documented through a late sixties airweight bodyguard.
 
Originally posted by JayDubya:
"I'm new here, and new to my 438 Bodyguard."
Is your 438 also new? If not, but if it was made in the last twenty years or so, you should be fine. What is engraved on its barrel?
Click to expand...

March 2009 build, from what I can tell. I'm obviously no expert but that was the date on the envelope with the fired casing in it. Barrel says 38 +P

Originally posted by shawn mccarver:
I would not shoot more than, oh, say, one hundred rounds of +P per day for the next couple of decades.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input, like I said... I just wanted to make sure the gun would last as long as I do. With the reputation S&W has I expected no less, but wanted to be absolutely sure so I didn't abuse something I will want to rely upon should the situation arise.
 
I would like to hear more about your 438. I saw it on the S&W website earlier this year, but I haven't seen one for sale anywhere.
FWIW, we avoided the +P in the original 38, which was more or less your revolver without a lock and a one-piece barrel. You can stretch the frame with too much of that stuff (turn the hole where the cylinder goes in into an egg shape instead of a rectangle).
But I see a people here who have had a lot of experience with the aluminum frame and say they haven't had any problems. Since they have the experience, they're probably right.
 
I carried a m37 airweight in an ankle holster on as well as off duty for 41 years. Fortunately did not have to use it. It was very reassuring knowing my airweight was there. After several thousand rounds through I've had no problem. Good luck with your LEO training.
There are many of us that remember being where you are, albeit, many war stories ago.
 
if your gun is "rated" by S&W as +p safe, then using factory loaded ammo will not harm it unless youre willing to use a shooting glove every range trip....i shoot about 50 +p rounds per month (in one range trip) with a light weight J frame and thats about all i care for. ive shot a qual course twice in one day with cor-bon +p loads and found out that it is quite expensive to do so and with minimal grips for concealment isnt very freindly on my hands.
 
Bought my 642-1 aluminum frame new in 1997. I've put about 3000 rounds of handloaded standard pressure through it and about 150 various weight factory loaded +Ps.
My observation is that a steady supply of factory ammo is more expensive than the gun. If you can afford to wear it out with +Ps, you can probably afford a new gun. Also a steady diet of +Ps may wear your hand out. Which you probably can not afford to replace...
 
I would love to carry a J frame for my concealed carry weapon. As a matter of fact, I had one and sold it. After carrying a Ruger SP101, my Model 60 Ladysmith was a dream. However, I was prompted to sell it after a very knowledable forum member here opined privately that J frames shoot loose after only a couple hundred rounds. Durability is at the top of my list when considering any weapon. Any one care to weigh in on J frames shooting loose? I would love to hear somemore opinions on this.
 
Otis24 - Too bad you sold your J frame on bad advice. I have shot several J's thousands of times over the past 20 years or so, most with my first, a M60. It's still as tight as when I bought it.
 
otis24....yup, too bad y'all sold yer J-frame. It is not apt to shoot loose with factory-loads made for it in reasonable use. I have carried a J-frame for dozens of years (32 years in LE and a J-frame as BUG or primary when in the office) with not one shooting loose or needing adjustment. Current carry is either M&P340 or 340PD stoked with Speer GDHP .38-Spl +P with the 135-gr bullet built for short-barrels. Sufficient load and does not pound the gun apart.
 
Looks like I'll just have to find another J frame. It would be mostly a CCW revolver stoked with 158gr LSWHP or 135gr Speer Gold Dots. Shot occasionaly at the range with mild lead round nose or FMJ ammo.
 
For you old folks out there remember Skeeter who did a 20,000 round test in a SW M37 with standard 38 spec. ammo in the 1970,s. It held up. Steady shooting of high priced hp defence ammo is foolish and cost $$$. The 38 spec. and the 158swc are made for each other like fish and water or salt -pepper. A j-frame with standard 158swc is a potent ,accurate,general purpose round. Which will be easy on your wheelgun and wallet. This load will and has worked for many ,many decades and is a proven stopper that reachs the vitals. It has sent many bad guys where they belong. All you need and nothing you don,t. The general purpose service round.
 
Retired cop here. My Model 37 S&W Airweight Chief Special has never been far from my hand over the past 30 years or so. I estimate it has been fired about 5000 rounds with no problems at all. Here are my suggestions:

1. Stick with standard loads, avoid +P. Out of a 2-inch barrel there is very, very little difference in actual performance, and the reduction in recoil and blast will make it far easier to shoot well.

2. Get into the habit of checking all screws every time you shoot and clean your revolver. Steel screws in an alloy frame have a nasty habit of working themselves loose. Don't over-do the tightening, use a screwdriver that fits the screw slots, and a drop of Locktite on the screw threads can help. Don't forget the screw holding the cylinder release button.

My favorite loading? .38 special case, standard primer, 148-gr. hollowbase wadcutter seated backwards (hollowbase forward) over 3 grains of Bullseye. About 700 FPS in the 2-inch, hits like a sledgehammer, typical expansion of about 0.70", will not overpenetrate. (Now that I'm retired I can do this without worrying about department rules on ammo).
 
I'm still a working cop, and will tell you that unless you wind up at the range full time, you probably won't get to shoot anywhere near as often as you want to, or you should. That 438 will likely be shooting fine twenty years from now as long as you're shooting anything the factory authorizes thru it. As has already been stated, if you're gun is rated for +P, you'll get tired of shooting hot rounds thru it before the gun does.
 
Originally posted by walkin' trails:
I'm still a working cop, and will tell you that unless you wind up at the range full time, you probably won't get to shoot anywhere near as often as you want to, or you should. That 438 will likely be shooting fine twenty years from now as long as you're shooting anything the factory authorizes thru it. As has already been stated, if you're gun is rated for +P, you'll get tired of shooting hot rounds thru it before the gun does.
Click to expand...

When I bought it my Dad made the comment about "not shooting it too much... it was meant to go along for the ride until needed. Shoot it just enought to be familiar and put her away bla bla bla." He is a retired Chief so I really wanted to go by his word because he is a valuable wealth of LEO knowledge, but is apt to develop an opinion such as this based upon what HE thinks. I guarantee you he formed an opinion that these guns shouldn't be shot a lot back in the mid 70's and stuck with it. I just wanted to find out for myself, and am more willing to ask around than he is/was.

Thanks again everyone
 
My dad is also retired LE (two departments and counting) and has his opinions on guns that he's not shy to share. He stayed with a revolver until he absoultely had to switch to a semi, and then complained about how heavy it was. He bought one of the first Kel-tecs and bragged how light it was in comparison to my baby Glock. He carried a pair of Model 36s, three-inch barrel and square butt for years working undercover and investigations and never had much good to say about the airweights. Then he got a terribly good deal on an old Colt Agent, complains about how he can't hit the broad side of a barn with it, but still drops it in his boot for back up. Finally he broke down recently and bought a Glock 27 as he apparently didn't think the Kel-tec was quite up to service in retirement.

Just before I started my law enforcement career, he bought me a Model 19-5 so that I had a good gun to carry instead of the Glock 17 I had, which was just a fad anyway.
 
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