Model 30-1
- Thread starter mrfeeney
- Start date
Bastogne71
US Veteran
According to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, the model 30-1 (J frame) production started in 1961 at approximately serial number 712954. I’d take a guess that yours is 1962 or 1963.
Perhaps someone else can narrow that down for you.
Perhaps someone else can narrow that down for you.
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Congrats, OP!
I have a 3” 30-1 and it’s a joy to shoot.
I have a 3” 30-1 and it’s a joy to shoot.
Maybe this weekend weather permitting, looking forward to seeing how she shoots....trigger is smooooth and no creep.
skeezix
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
wrangler5
Member
Those 32s can be sneaky little devils, jumping into a pocket when you're not looking and going home with you. I have a 30-1 (2") and 31-1 (3") that both did that.
Glad they did, though, because they're great, fun shooters. Especially the 31 for which I worked up a load with a 115g coated bullet that shoots exactly to the sights at 15 yards (Pachmayr Compac grips and my hand/wrist/arm strength) and has enough punch to knock down steel plates as long as you don't hit 'em too low. I've been known to run out of its special ammo when I take it to the range.
Glad they did, though, because they're great, fun shooters. Especially the 31 for which I worked up a load with a 115g coated bullet that shoots exactly to the sights at 15 yards (Pachmayr Compac grips and my hand/wrist/arm strength) and has enough punch to knock down steel plates as long as you don't hit 'em too low. I've been known to run out of its special ammo when I take it to the range.
bdGreen
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Love the 2" barrel, but, I "loaned it" to my sister.
She was having trouble holding her Model 64 3". So I took it home.
Missed that Model 30 so I picked up another one with the 3" barrel, because it was there.
Enjoy,
bdGreen
Tap on image to enlarge.
She was having trouble holding her Model 64 3". So I took it home.
Missed that Model 30 so I picked up another one with the 3" barrel, because it was there.
Enjoy,
bdGreen
Tap on image to enlarge.
krsmith58
Member
congrats, sounds like a great catch. krsmith
NICE, both my .32's have a lot of "Character"Love the 2" barrel, but, I "loaned it" to my sister.
She was having trouble holding her Model 64 3". So I took it home.
Missed that Model 30 so I picked up another one with the 3" barrel, because it was there.
Enjoy,
bdGreen
Tap on image to enlarge.
I had a near-mint 30-1 with box/papers hat I sold because I have a "use all my guns" policy, which does lead to some finish wear. I applaud those who can keep a gun free of finish wear though. That said, good little guns although I tend to prefer the earlier, even smaller guns, but some of that is they are usually in worse condition. 
Green Frog
Member
I’m also a fan of old style I frame revolvers (with leaf mainsprings!) OTOH, when I wanted my diminutive (adult) niece to have something to count on it was a 30-1 that got the nod. Like teletech, guns at my place don’t stay around my place long enough if I don’t get to shoot them.
Froggie
Froggie
Froggie
Froggie
LostintheOzone
US Veteran
I have this 31-1.
I replaced the square butt grips with Pachmayr's because I shoot it much better with larger grips. I have the originals number to the gun along with a box and everything that came in it. I also reload for it. It now looks like this.
Congratulations on a S&W model that will never be made again. Money in the bank.
I replaced the square butt grips with Pachmayr's because I shoot it much better with larger grips. I have the originals number to the gun along with a box and everything that came in it. I also reload for it. It now looks like this.
Congratulations on a S&W model that will never be made again. Money in the bank.
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WOW....had some friends over yesterday and got this little gem out to burn some powder, fantastic little shooter, great groups by all that tried her (mine was not the best but all in the black) almost no recoil, back on target instantly. Maybe a little under-powered but I think this might be my new carry.
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Mrfeeney,
Buffalo Bore makes a 100gr hard cast wadcutter load in 32 S&W Long for self defense.
And also a 115gr flat nose hard cast load. I’d pick the wadcutter (and did, I have a couple of boxes of them.)
32 S&W LONG (32 COLT NEW POLICE)
Buffalo Bore makes a 100gr hard cast wadcutter load in 32 S&W Long for self defense.
And also a 115gr flat nose hard cast load. I’d pick the wadcutter (and did, I have a couple of boxes of them.)
32 S&W LONG (32 COLT NEW POLICE)
Cal44
Member
I have a 31-1 I carry sometimes.
It's that same as the 30-1 except it has a square butt.
Here is a pic I've shown before plus the Buffalo Bore ammo John P suggested.
I load the gun with the wadcutters when I'm going to carry it, and take the speed stip loaded with the 115 gr BB round nose for a reload because full wadcutters are slow to load.
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Love the 2" barrel, but, I "loaned it" to my sister.
She was having trouble holding her Model 64 3". So I took it home.
Missed that Model 30 so I picked up another one with the 3" barrel, because it was there.
Enjoy,
bdGreen
Sounds like your sister is now the new owner of the "loaner". Here is a 30 and 30-1.
Attachments
wrangler5
Member
Both my 30 and 31 have had their chambers reamed to take 32 H&R Magnum. I still have all my 32 Long options for light loads, but if I want to carry one for personal defense I get Buffalo Bore's potent 100g and 115g loads as additional choices.
In 32 Long, Buffalo Bore's 100g wadcutter goes 872fps from a 3" Model 30, while their 32 H&R Mag 100g jhp (looks like a Hornady XTP) goes 1187fps from a 3" SP101 (a 36% increase in velocity.)
In 32 Long, Buffalo Bore's 115g flat nose goes 781fps while in 32 H&R Mag the same bullet goes 1133fps, both from a 3" SP101 (a 45% increase in velocity.)
Buffalo Bore advised me that their H&R Mag ammo was safe for "unlimited use" in the reamed cylinders of my little guns.
I shot the Buffalo Bore 100g 32 Mag round and Remington's 38 Special +P 158g LSWCHP round across the same chrono on the same day out of 2" J frames. The 32 Mag actually came out with a bit more muzzle energy. So you can have a VERY potent little 6 shooter if you want one. But a reminder - nothing's free. That 32 round and the 38+P both kick just as hard.
In 32 Long, Buffalo Bore's 100g wadcutter goes 872fps from a 3" Model 30, while their 32 H&R Mag 100g jhp (looks like a Hornady XTP) goes 1187fps from a 3" SP101 (a 36% increase in velocity.)
In 32 Long, Buffalo Bore's 115g flat nose goes 781fps while in 32 H&R Mag the same bullet goes 1133fps, both from a 3" SP101 (a 45% increase in velocity.)
Buffalo Bore advised me that their H&R Mag ammo was safe for "unlimited use" in the reamed cylinders of my little guns.
I shot the Buffalo Bore 100g 32 Mag round and Remington's 38 Special +P 158g LSWCHP round across the same chrono on the same day out of 2" J frames. The 32 Mag actually came out with a bit more muzzle energy. So you can have a VERY potent little 6 shooter if you want one. But a reminder - nothing's free. That 32 round and the 38+P both kick just as hard.
Hondo44
Member
mrfeeney,
If your 30-1 has a flat latch like this one, it's definitely pre 1967:
If your 30-1 has a flat latch like this one, it's definitely pre 1967:
Tap on image to enlarge.
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