My first 43c Airweight

[bakron1]

Just picked up my first S&W 43c Airwieght at a local estate sale for $400 which I couldn’t pass up, she didn’t have the original box, but it was in a sticky holster, so I was assuming her late husband used it as his EDC.

The pistol is like new and I don’t think he ever shot it and I already have a 351PD I use as my EDC and I bought this because I have been looking for a 351c hammerless model, but now that I have the 43c, this will work quite nicely.

I have heard all the hoop la about using a 22 as a defense weapon, but I know many police officers who will tell you how many deceased folks they have seen compliments of the 22, so I feel quite capable and with the newer ammos like federal punch and the CCI stingers, I am not worried and I practice regularly at the range.

 

[JackM]

I like mine a lot. It had to go back to Springfield to get some things corrected but that transaction cost me nothing but the minor inconvenience of dropping it off at a pack&ship. What I have now is the gun that should have left the factory in the first place: a well-made shooter.

 

[413Maxwedge]

I bought mine in Nov '23 for the wife and kid to practice with. It has performed flawlessly and the wife keeps it in her desk at work.

Yes, ballistically a .22lr doesn't compare to .38, 9mm, etc but as you pointed out... lots of bodies show how well they do work. Much better than a Byrna self defense pistol.

 

[hyena]

Nice score for $400. Congrats! That will allow you to practice with cheaper ammo than your 351. I like my 43c for that very reason. Cheaper to shoot than my other J frames.

 

[Gater]

Congratulations! You got an amazing deal. I’m sure the previous owner would be happy that it went to someone who would appreciate it. You should to be ashamed of yourself you stole that gun. Just kidding. Lord rest the original owners soul. He would be great-full you now have it. I hope the Lord blesses his family.

I purchased a M43c used. The only thing with my M43c when I purchased it; someone had shaved the end of the ejector rod with a Dremel tool. I haven’t seen too many of these show up at my local gun shop. I didn’t get the deal you got. It was less expensive than a new one. So I had to buy it. I took it to my local gunsmith for an action job. It was not cheap but it was worth it. I’m not sure what the trigger weight is. The action is smooth as glass. I love the U-notch rear site and the big dot front site.

When I purchased it; it was dirty. I didn’t clean it and I put 325 rounds of federal champion through it. Towards the end of the 325 rounds I only had 4 misfires. I rolled the cylinder agin they went bang.

Every day for the most part since I got it back from the gunsmith I have been using it as a back up or primary.

So far I have killed 2 groundhogs and 1 mole with it. It has 3 confirmed kills. In the summer when I’m outside doing yard work I carry 4 rounds of CCI shot shells and 4 rounds of the Federal Punch. I shot the 2 groundhogs with the Federal Punch and the mole with the CCI shot shell.

What I have found the Federal Champion and the Federal Punch are very close ballistically. I shoot close to the same group size with either of them. In ballistic gel, the penetration is very comparable between both rounds.

That bullet coming out of that 1.875 inch barrel is not going have enough velocity to open up a hollow-point. That’s why I like the Federal Punch. Because it’s like a wad cutter.

The only problem I have had with the M43c was yesterday when I came in from shoveling snow. I pulled it from the DeSantis O2 pocket holster and the screw that holds on the cylinder release had backed off. The cylinder release fell off. I was fortunate when it fell off I was inside the house standing on carpet, and the parts fell into my pocket. I’m very grateful that the parts didn’t fall off while standing in the yard or standing on the street.

I put some white Loctite on the threads. I have been caring it every day.  So my point is make sure you check your cylinder release screw when you clean your guns.

I did buy a M34PD and had the same gunsmith do a trigger job on it. Those two centennials mirror, one another except for the caliber. The triggers are close in feel to one another. It’s much cheaper to shoot the 22LR than it is to shoot .38 and .357 and it’s also less painful.

Spend the extra money you saved on a trigger job. Enjoy that M43c.