Model 36

[jake75]

Dad gave it to me, thought it would be a sweet carry gun. Did some asking and it's not +P rated.

Dad's cool with a trade if I want, what would I expect to get for it? 400.00 tops I'm guessing. Looking at a LCR

Long story short still looking for small carry gun.

thanks

 

[HAWKEYE10]

It is OK to shoot some +P ammo in your model 36. I would think long and hard about trading a gun my dad gave me. I think as time goes on you will be sorry. The S&W model 36 is a better gun than a LCR and a whole lot better looking. IMO Don

 

[flagman1776]

I believe your information is incorrect. Steel framed Model Marked (in the yoke cut out) are rated for +P. I fire +P in my M36-1.
Current issue +P ammo is loaded to the same velocity as older +P but in fact advances in powder technology have lowered the pressures so they are not much above standard velocity ammo.
I would decide based on how well you shoot the gun & it's intended use.
Russ

 

[wd5exl]

Shoot low pressure rds. for plinkin' and target shootin'. Plus Ps for carry. Don't sell or trade a family gun. Without question, you will regret it at a later date. Just my $.02 worth.

 

[redsfan2]

If no one else has said it yet ... welcome to the forum.
If you do a search on here for model 36's .... / +P's etc. you're going to find a lot of different opinions. People who know a lot more than me shoot +P's in their 36's on a regular basis.
A ton of people here have 36's that they love. Only a very few have ones that were given to them by their father tho.
Nothing wrong ( that I know of ) with LCRs .... but ... in my opinion only no obvious advantage over a 36 either.
In warm weather my 36 is my constant companion. Loaded with +P hollow points ( again in my opinion ) it doesn't give up anything in terms of protection or ease of carry.
Its you gun and your business, but I wouldn't give up a gun given to me by my Dad.

 

[Hunt200]

You will hard pressed to find a sweeter small carry gun than that, plus the fact your Dad gave it to you. As other said, plink with standard and use +p for SD, they won't harm it.

 

[Lomax Anderson]

keep it and pick up a used 642...wouldn't trade it for anything plastic.....unless You want to ...then carry on...someone would love it

 

[AKsRule]

Dad gave it to me, thought it would be a sweet carry gun. Did some asking and it's not +P rated.
Dad's cool with a trade if I want, what would I expect to get for it? 400.00 tops I'm guessing. Looking at a LCR
Long story short still looking for small carry gun.
thanks

Street price on a nib LCR is about $400.
(check the auctions )

You should have no problem selling a good condition 36
for $325 outright.

 

[fyimo]

Great gun and really nice of dad to give it to you. I have my Dad's Model 10 and for a while it didn't mean to much but now that he's gone is the one gun I won't sell.

 

[tom turner]

Dad gave it to me, thought it would be a sweet carry gun. Did some asking and it's not +P rated.

Dad's cool with a trade if I want, what would I expect to get for it? 400.00 tops I'm guessing. Looking at a LCR

Long story short still looking for small carry gun.

thanks

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

That being said, I encourage you to "stick around for awhile," and only then decide what to do with it.

IMHO, you've already got the perfect small carry gun and there are tens of thousands in graveyards today who came against the mightly M36 and lost!

Yes, the trend today is to go with what we derisively call "bottom feeders, "jam-o-matics" and "Blocks," as well as the new "Tupperware" revolvers such as the LCR by Ruger, but none are as reliable . . . as beautiful and as concealable as a smooth-triggered/accurate J-frame like your dad's old M36.

I've been where you are, and have shot, carried, and competed with all sorts of handguns. Strange as it may seem now, the little J-frames were never on my "radar" until just a few years ago.

Today? I can't imagine a better "always" carry gun as a vintage Smith J-frame like your dad's. I liked my "new" (to me) 1964 Model 36 so much . . . that I found a 3" lightweight version (the aluminum-framed M37 "Airweight") for my wife, then liked the lighter weight so much that I searched, and found a like new Model 37 snubbie for my "always" pocket revolver.

These guns relegated my former CCW handgun, a $1,100 custom lightweight Kimber .45ACP to the safe, and it is one sweet shooting, hard hitting gun indeed!

+P vs. Regular Velocity Ammunition . . .

I look at the two as the difference between the bite of a six foot vs. a five foot Diamondback Rattlesnake. Both can kill ya, or make you wish you'd never been hit by one! However . . .

If the six footer hits you with a "dry strike" or a "light strke" (so save some of his precious venom to bring down a meal he can eat) and the five footer gives you a full shot of venom, the five footer is the one that will kill you! A Georgia hunter found that out this year when a little four footer gave all his venom to the guy who stepped on it. He DIED!

Same with a standard velocity .38 Special bullet! Shot placement AND accurate followup shots is everything in surviving a gunfight, and a super hot +P projectile that misses the vital spot . . . followed by trying to control a harder kicking gun that slows your followup rounds and accuracy can get you killed.

Plus . . . the .38 Special has been a known and effective man-stopper for many decades now with "normal" ammo.

Yes, you absolutely CAN fire 38 P+ in your dad's old Model 36 if it is in good condition. No problem AT ALL! I've done it in mine. S&W won't tell you this, for they don't know the condition of your used gun and lawyers thus won't let 'em, but you can.

That being said, my most accurate round in my M36 is not a +P round, so I carry standard velocity stuff in mine . . . and feel quite well armed. With the right stuff . . . I can shoot all five rounds into a 1" black square at ten yards . . . standing with no support. THAT'S what I carry in mine.

YEP . . . THE MODEL 36 IS A GREAT GUN INDEED!

 

[jake75]

thanks

Lots of great responses, thanks much.

I'm going to read, read-then read some more. This site is a fantastic find. I remember looking for a s&w forum, must have been dozing that day, never noticed this one.

Thanks all, going to hang on to the 36, and go from there.

Jake--

 

[tom turner]

You are a wise man, Jake75 . . . a wise man indeed.

No gun can ever replace the one that belonged to your dad. My dad died of a massive heart attack in 2002 . . . at age 81. He died as he got up to go home from a normal day at work at his auto junkyard, with my brothers right next to him. No warning . . . and a GREAT way to go out! Anyhow, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him fondly.

My brothers thought I'd like his "always" gun, his well-worn lightweight snubby Colt "Agent." As "always," it was in his right rear pocket when he hit the floor. A tiny nick was added to the grip. I like my many S&W revolvers better, but I'll never get rid of his Colt. His gun DOES have a story though . . .

He never had to shoot someone . . . although danger sometimes came to his junkyard. However, he DID use it once to save the life of a Florida Highway Patrolman that dad came upon on a lonely Florida back road.


A huge thug had gotten the best of the trooper and was ABOUT to get the trooper's gun. Dad, of course, stopped and got out. "Need some help with that __________," dad asked. "Sir, if you don't mind," replied the whipped trooper.

Again using the derogatory word that naturally should enrage thugs of that specific race, dad said "N________, that trooper won't shoot your sorry azzz but I damn sure will." Dad always had a "magical" way with words and the thug immediately surrendered. Most predators know when to bluff and when to back off!!! He was part of "America's Greatest Generation" and was both a man's man AND the most compassionate man towards those in need that I've ever seen.

Here's his 1961 Colt Agent, next to my '64 S&W Model 36.

Stories and memories . . . nawww . . . his snubbie isn't going anywhere!

Again, I'm glad you are keeping your dad's!

Tom

 

[BobK]

Good story, Tom. My Dad didn't leave me any guns.....he never owned one.....'cept in the Army. I miss him.....but I wish he had some nice old guns!!!! An old 1911 would sure be nice! Bob

 

[Beauetienne]

I would much prefer the 36 as compared to the LCR.

Try shooting it before you make up your mind. It is an inherintly accurate pistol and I really like the way mine handles.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[yooperpat]

Keep your dad's M36. Shoot it with +Ps once in a while. Great gun for CCW.