My new 36-6 Chief's Special Target Gun

[grip frame]

I have owned two model 36-6 revolvers over the years.
The second one was new in the box. Could not bring myself to shoot the second one, the first I sold one day when I was not thinking properly. Just found a nice 60-4 recently that I am not afraid to use so I am in the game again.

I even saw a third 36-6 one time in a pawn shop that had been refinished and the guy was trying to pass of as new.

 

[KEN L]

Up until last weekend, I had this one.

Made the mistake of putting a price on it and putting it in my display case at the show.

I found someone who wanted it more than me. So now, the hunt is on again. Hopefully for one in the box this time.

At least I still have this one to soothe the pain!

 

[ironhead7544]

I think the 3 inch J frame is the best "snubbie". Had one years ago with a heavy barrel, square butt and 1/8 inch sights. I could hit very well with that one. Adjustable sights makes it better IMHO.

 

[bigl1911]

I have owned two model 36-6 revolvers over the years.
The second one was new in the box. Could not bring myself to shoot the second one, the first I sold one day when I was not thinking properly. Just found a nice 60-4 recently that I am not afraid to use so I am in the game again.

I even saw a third 36-6 one time in a pawn shop that had been refinished and the guy was trying to pass of as new.

What gets me are these guys that try to pass off a refinished gun (excusing the ones that make a mistake) as new or the guys that say "never fired".. There are very few guns that have never been fired out of the factory certainly few that are truly unfired that are represented as such...

 

[bigl1911]

Up until last weekend, I had this one.

Made the mistake of putting a price on it and putting it in my display case at the show.

I found someone who wanted it more than me. So now, the hunt is on again. Hopefully for one in the box this time.

At least I still have this one to soothe the pain!

Sometimes it hard to know if a shooter or nib box which of the two we like better... In this case I am glad a have one that has no box and can be shot... Yours looks great with the box!!!

 

[Doug M.]

While I am not a fan of a longer barreled J frame .38 such as these because they simply do not do anything I value, there is little doubt in mind that the adjustable sights make it much easier to shoot them well. That is of course vital to the folks who do use them, such as the field gun uses described. The 2" j frame with fixed sights has essentially the same inherent accuracy potential as any other quality revolver. It is the ergonomics that makes them harder to shoot well, and getting older means that the increased visibility of the adjustable sights makes a big difference.

 

[M29since14]

I'm right there with Inthewoods. I passed on a couple 36-6s because I was holding out for a 60-4. I wanted the same features in a stainless gun - for the reasons he mentions. The little gun did everything I wanted it to and I never found anything better for it than the usual .38 full-wadcutter target loads. Great little gun for woods-loafing and floating the rivers. I later bought a 60-10 but to this day still prefer the 60-4. There's not a lot of need for a .357 in this type of gun here in the midwest - and the 60-4 is a MUCH prettier little gun. I only wish S&W would have made these guns in .32 Long, too. The .38 is just a little more than needed for bunnies and squirrels. The great Hamilton Bowen made up a .22 Long Snapper on a 60-4 for "experimental" purposes. It improves on the .22 WMRF in a Kit Gun - provided you are a handloader - and is cheaper to shoot. (That was before the price of primers nearly tripled. )

 

[RubEric]

I have looked for one of the carbon steel Chief's Special Target Models for years and I am most envious of those of you that have one. (Anyone in California with one for sale??)

But, here is my Stainless CSTM:

 

[RubEric]

My Model 60 with KB Mini Cokes:

 

[papajohn428]

I suspect there was a reason they only made 615 of the things. A 3" target model???? Hello! I am inclined to think that a dubious idea should not make a collector's item. Still with the Internet, it is possible to find people who really think a 3" J-frame is the be-all, end-all -- so I take it all back. People will seek them out only because they made 615 of them.

Of course, I'm just having fun (but you have to admit that a 3" target gun is laughable -- if you want a target gun, then buy a target gun!). How about a target kit gun???

How about 2 of them, in stainless? These aren't rare, but they sure are popular. I think I might need a third!

 

[madmikeb]

I think I've found another one! Seriously, I bought this new way back when, immediately shipped it off to Andy Cannon for his deluxe tuning. Called Guy Hogue who happened to have a chunk of Arizona Mesquite laying around that he made me a stock out of, and here is the result, all in all a pretty nice 5 shooter!
In retrospect though, had I known how rare a piece this was I probably wouldn't have had it tuned, who knew at the time!

 

[Lobster Picnic]

The 3" barrel with full underlug and target sights changes the whole balance and character of a steel J-frame. You have a longer sight picture, better sights, excellent balance, increased velocity, and less recoil - all in a very compact but very sturdy package.

My 60-4 is nearly the equal of a good 4" K-frame in accuracy and actually exceeds many K-frames in the smoothness of the trigger. The extra weight up front really steadies things down. It's a do-everything gun that can hold its own with much more specialized handguns.

It's not for sale.

 

[bigl1911]

Just want to say it is very interesting getting everyones read on this type of revolver... Thanks and a great eye opener... I thought my baby insignificant 30-6 was an enigma and I stood alone. Come to find it is a significant revolver and loved by many...

 

[bronco45]

About 25 years ago, I was working as a Lt. in a Sheriff's office and most of my duties were paper pushing. At the time I wore a SP101 3" 357 loaded with 357s of some brand.

Got a request from 2 of my Detectives to assist on the arrest of an individual for attempted murder of his wife and he had been located in a Trailer park in a nearby town. Went to the scene and the trailer the guy was in was at the end of a row of trailers.

I circled around the end of the trailers to act as a sentry to stop the individual from accessing his vehicle, a pickup.

As the pickup came into view I saw the suspect dash from a side door in the trailer to the pickup. I stood up and confronted the individual with SP drawn and aimed at the suspect.

He had seen the 2 detectives standing on the other side of the trailer and wasn't aware of my presence until I announced. He froze in action half in and half out of the car, staring at me.

The distance was about 60-70 ft. He stopped just long enough for the 2 Detectives to come around their end of the trailer and hook the guy up.

I tell this story is the SP was a 3" with non adjustable sights, it was stainless, and the guy definitely saw it. But from my point of view all I could think of was that's going to be a long shot if I have to shoot. Where's that statistic about 7ft and 2.5 rounds. I'd given my eye teeth at that moment for a 3" 36-6 or 60-4. Actually I was thinking fondly of my Colt 45 Auto sitting at home in the dresser cause it was too heavy to carry that day.

Enjoy your target sighted 3" you never know when you will be glad you have the target sight advantage.

 

[Chuck Jones]

my two

/c

 

[bigl1911]

About 25 years ago, I was working as a Lt. in a Sheriff's office and most of my duties were paper pushing. At the time I wore a SP101 3" 357 loaded with 357s of some brand.

Got a request from 2 of my Detectives to assist on the arrest of an individual for attempted murder of his wife and he had been located in a Trailer park in a nearby town. Went to the scene and the trailer the guy was in was at the end of a row of trailers.

I circled around the end of the trailers to act as a sentry to stop the individual from accessing his vehicle, a pickup.

As the pickup came into view I saw the suspect dash from a side door in the trailer to the pickup. I stood up and confronted the individual with SP drawn and aimed at the suspect.

He had seen the 2 detectives standing on the other side of the trailer and wasn't aware of my presence until I announced. He froze in action half in and half out of the car, staring at me.

The distance was about 60-70 ft. He stopped just long enough for the 2 Detectives to come around their end of the trailer and hook the guy up.

I tell this story is the SP was a 3" with non adjustable sights, it was stainless, and the guy definitely saw it. But from my point of view all I could think of was that's going to be a long shot if I have to shoot. Where's that statistic about 7ft and 2.5 rounds. I'd given my eye teeth at that moment for a 3" 36-6 or 60-4. Actually I was thinking fondly of my Colt 45 Auto sitting at home in the dresser cause it was too heavy to carry that day.

Enjoy your target sighted 3" you never know when you will be glad you have the target sight advantage.

Great story (can't make those up) and thank you!!!

 

[RevolverDen]

There's just something enticing of a J frame no matter the barrel length that makes cash levitate out my wallet nearly every time I have the opportunity and ability to add one of even the slightest variation. The above eye candy is simply a pleasure to see. But that goes for most J frames or Snub barrels on other frame sizes as well.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Well, I guess this thread won't be complete until we have six hundred and some posts. Meanwhile, I have one in the safe, with old-fashioned M36 RB Magnas. I consider it a great .38 kit gun, lighter than other guns of equal capability. However, nowadays I am usually already carrying a decent gun, light or not, so a walk in the woods is no reason to break out the 36-6. If I desire to be able to plink at low cost, perhaps a .22 would be better, although I'm not sure that that is true just this moment.

It's still a lot better gun than a 37, and, in a good holster, just about as painless.

Anyway, about 600 to go, I guess.

 

[Doug M.]

I think I've found another one! Seriously, I bought this new way back when, immediately shipped it off to Andy Cannon for his deluxe tuning. Called Guy Hogue who happened to have a chunk of Arizona Mesquite laying around that he made me a stock out of, and here is the result, all in all a pretty nice 5 shooter!
In retrospect though, had I known how rare a piece this was I probably wouldn't have had it tuned, who knew at the time!

*
I'm not sure that a good action job by a competent and respected gunsmith will have a negative impact on value, and to the extent it might, the increase in utility while you have the revolver is worth it. If you let Bubba do an action job with a hacksaw and a dremel too, you deserve the resulting loss, of course.

 

[kaaskop49]

There's just something enticing of a J frame no matter the barrel length that makes cash levitate out my wallet nearly every time I have the opportunity and ability to add one of even the slightest variation. The above eye candy is simply a pleasure to see. But that goes for most J frames or Snub barrels on other frame sizes as well.

RevolverDen thinks like I do. Hope he doesn't look like I do... Never met a snub I at least did not look at twice.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103