Model 36

[Rufus]

I am considering getting a Model 36 (2" barrel) for carry purposes. I have a Model 66 (4") and I love shooting the 38 sp. through it. Can anyone give me a comparison between the Model 36 and the Model 66 as far a shooting characteristics, accuracy and comfort shooting the 38 sp. ammo?

 

[ralph7]

The larger K framed 66 will be easier to shoot accurately by a long margin.
The 36 is a better carry gun.
Bet you already knew that.

 

[M3Stuart]

They're totally different guns. The 66 is a really easy-.38-shooting gun. The 36 is not a range gun - but you'll have fun shooting .38 out of it, you just won't want to shoot a ton of hotter loads as it'll be harder on your hand.

Don't get me wrong; you'll LOVE a 36 if you like the 66. I went with the 60-9 magnum J frame. The stainless will get scratched a lot less than my 36s (sold them) would. Both the 36 and 60 will carry fine in most people's front pocket. If you're new to pocket carry, be SURE to use a holster (I'm sure you knew that).

36 vs. 60-9.

 

[snubbyfan]

My wife carries a 4" 66-3 and I carry a 442 J frame snubbie. The snubby jumps a little more with .38 Special but it's really no big deal. The K frame is more forgiving of sloppy technique than the J frame but with lotsa practice both live fire and dry fire it's possible to get rather accurate with the snubby.
My wife can outshoot me with her 66-3 but when she tries to shoot my 442 snubby the broadsides of barns are completely safe.

 

[Rufus]

The deal is that I am thinking about getting this for my daughter. She has a Taurus 380 right now that is VERY light weight, and kicks like an ole mule. Because it's so light, it is hard to control, like most mouse guns are. She really needs something that can go in her purse or car console, but is reliable and fairly accurate at the 7 to 10 yard range. It just seems to me that the Model 36 or 60 would fit this bill very well. What I don't want to get into is trading one problem for another. Frankly, I worry about that Taurus because it frequently has FTEs and FTFs, which are not good. I'm not sure whether it is really a function of the gun or her limp-wristing the shots. I have watched her shoot and she doesn't appear to be limp-wristing her shots. I know that those kind of problems would be eliminated with a revolver. She enjoys shooting revolver much more than she likes shooting the semi-auto.

I think I have found a decent deal on a Model 36, but wanted to get some advise from my forum buddies.

 

[shouldazagged]

The 36 and 60 are great; but for carrying in her purse, I wonder if a concealed-hammer 640, 642 or 442 might be preferable. In a self-defense situation she'd very likely be shooting double action anyway, and the Centennials have no external hammer to catch on anything and are more resistant to lint and crud getting into the works. Women's purses tend to be full of quite a variety of stuff.

The all-steel 640, like the 36 and 60, is much more comfortable to shoot than the Airweights, especially with +P ammo.

One side note: a woman friend of mine was asked by a CCW instructor, "Will you have your purse on your shoulder or in your hand all the time?" Something to think about.

 

[Dot_mdb]

Purse Carry

I don't know anything about carrying in a purse but these people do:

Cornered Cat | If you have to fight, fight like a cornered cat.

In more general terms I like the idea of a revolver for the specific application. I have carried a Model 640 in a number of different ways and it is very versatile. The Model 36 is a little less versatile because of the exposed hammer. However these little guns take more practice and someone who likes shooting is going to do better with them than someone who does not.

My suggestion is that if you go with the J frame be ready to experiment with different grips. A change in grips can make a big difference in how the gun handles. I never really felt confident in my 640 until I added a T-grip. Everyone's hand is different.

Bill

 

[hotrod150]

I had a 442-2 for a while, but sold it as I prefer my bobbed-hammer 36's & 60's. Bobbing the hammer is a very simple DIY or local gunsmith mod which really improves the carry-ability of the gun while preserving the deliberate SA capability.
If that Taurus has failures of any kind, whether it's due to defects or to the way your daughter shoots it, IMHO she can't bet her life on it and it should not be carried for self-defense. Buy her that model 36! It's perfect for the intended use you describe.

 

[canvsbk]

Ditch the malfunctioning piece. The 36 or equivalent makes a dandy carry piece. Grips really matter. Good luck.

 

[European]

I have a 4" model 19 and a 2" model 36. In my opinion the 19 is the perfect platform for shooting large amounts of 38+P. The 36 kicks considerably more but it's still manageable. My advice would be to buy the 36 for your daughter (go for a 3" barrel if you can find one), find the right grips for her hand and make her train with WC until she gets confidence on the gun (then she can try standard pressure 38s and even +P). 

 

[Rufus]

I bought the Model 36. I should have it by the end of the week. Pics to follow.

 

[canvsbk]

Attaboy, keep up the good work.

 

[Hendel]

Good move on the 36. Mine puts 4 out of 5 in a playing card at 60 feet. Its with me every single day in one of two carry modes.........

Sent from my TT Capsule Type 40, Mk I TARDIS

 

[CSG]

I love the 36 but if I bought one, I'd have to think about a grip changeout. The j frame magna stocks don't fit my hand well. I often carry a 442 with the factory boot grips and they fit my hand great. It's just that they'd look wrong on the 36 so I'd be looking at something like Eagle's Secret Service grips.

If I could find a clean used 36 for a fair price, I'd snap one up in a heartbeat.

 

[hotrod150]

I own three RB Chiefs (a 36 & two 60's) with synthetic boot grips and I think they look just fine. My RB 36 has an LG105 laser grip, one RB 60 has uncle mike boots (my favorite), and another RB 60 has Hogue Bantams. I don't have a set of the latest-model factory rubber boots but I think they'd look good on an old Chief as well.

 

[Rufus]

I picked up the Model 36 from my FFL today, and I was very pleased with it's condition. The serial number puts it at the 1985 mark. I promised pics, so here they are: