S&W 638- advice?

[Maddawg46]

Just bought a used 638. I'm not a revolver guy, so may you can give me some tips. It's about a year old. I got it with a Milt Sparks pocket holster, Crimson Lazer grips, speed loader, ankle holster and two boxes of Gold Dot 38+P ammo. I'm in California so hard to find guns you want. I gave $500 for it. Just want to know if there are things that I should be aware of. Hope it's a good revolver. Will pick up in 10 days.
I probably paid too much, but that's ok. If it works ok it will be one of my CCW guns.

 

[Rpg]

You did well.

I could do without the laser grips, but that's just me.

 

[Sloman]

You did darn good!

 

[snubbyfan]

Lotsa practice before ya start carrying it. Make sure you can hit what you're aiming at. Practice shooting it double action a lot. Don't become dependent on the laser as a sight, make sure you learn the proper use of the sights on the gun.
I have a laser on my 442 and I use it more for dry fire practice than anything else. I just put the red dot on something across the room and keep it there while I pull the trigger.

 

[jrs70]

You got a good deal. I would have paid $500 for what you got.

 

[Maddawg46]

I figure I'll put the stock grips on for a while until I get use to it. I don't want to wear the batts down in the lazer when I'm at the range. I just updated my CCW with another gun, so not in a hurry to carry it. I have a bunch of Moly coated .38s I can load up for practice.

 

[Helderberg]

You get my vote. Good gun and I also have the CT grip on mine. I go back and forth with this and a 442. Follow what the previous post have suggested. I use snap caps, some do not, and do a LOT of dry fire concentrating on keeping on target and being smooth.
Frank.

 

[Glockman9mm]

Congrats!

Pretty badass deal in my book!

 

[snubbiefan]

Hate to bring it up....but it's a lightweight you know. If you did nothing but read the threads and post concerning cracked frames around the barrel on the Airweight and AirLite....one may think they never made a good one, which is obviously not the case. I prefer the 649 (older NL stainless version). Those are up in the $600 plus area, when you can find one. But....don't worry about it.......you have a nice little gun.

 

[kaaskop49]

The J-hounds are hot on the trail of this thread. You made a very good deal. New 638s in the valley are going in the low $500s now. You got a pocket rig from a great maker who is not cheap, AND the laser grip (which, like rpg, I'm also not fond of) so the deal is fine. I've found sellers often put expensive add-ons on their mdse that buyers may not really want to jack up the price, but apparently, the seller did not do this.

I have no interest in laser sights. On TV, the laser dot never moves on the target/BG. In real-life, the dot moves with every little motion of the gun, and handguns being handguns, they move more than rifles. I've seen people shoot patterns, not groups, with laser sights at close range, so no benefit at all if one cannot shoot. Might be good for practice like snubbyfan says.

Learn the trigger pull and sight picture with dry firing, not just at a blank wall, but at the target you'd use at the range. EMPTY GUN, triple check this! If you're not familiar with lightweight snubs, a qualified instructor would be money well spent. The 638 is a wonderful little gun and you even have a great pocket rig to use it properly.

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire

 

[Rogue Tom]

Very nice deal. THE CT grips add to the overall value as you could sell those off quickly for 150+ if you needed to. The laser grips are very helpful for training and learning aspects of your trigger pull (good or bad).

I assume the gun has the internal lock on the left side just above the cylinder release?

No deal can be perfect of course.

 

[waffles]

'Sup 638 buddy. Great choice!

 

[kaaskop49]

attn waffles

Hey waffles, perfect photo. J-frame snub with factory woods and grip adapter. To top it off, a worn IWB suede job to accompany it. I love it! Absolutely perfect. You know how to carry, friend!

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire

 

[Old cop]

My EDC is an older Model 38, basically similar to your gun sans lock and finish (mine is blued). These are great pocket guns and are small/light enough to go anywhere w/you. Congrats, you did well.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Maddawg: I think you did very well and got an exceptionally good deal. J-frame prices, as well as availability of used ones are really sketchy. Depending on condition, presence/absence of the inner-lock and model number, I've seen J-frame prices ranging from $350.00 - $550.00+. That's for a used J-frame without any of the goodies that you received in your deal. As you can see from the enclosed photo, I'm a Bodyguard fan, and the Model 38 and Model 638 serve as my EDCs. The one on top is a Model 38-0 with a nickeled cylinder from a parts gun. The one on the lower left is a Model 649-0, and the one on the right is a Model 638-1. I like laser grips - if you look closely, you'll notice the Model 38 and Model 638 are wearing Crimson Trace LG-405 laser grips. These grips have an air pocket along the back strap, which really helps soak up the recoil. The heavier (all stainless steel) Model 649 is equipped with the older (and cheaper) Crimson Trace LG-105 grips. Most Crimson Trace laser grips are equipped with a very small "on/off" switch (the LG-105s are not so equipped). So you can turn the laser "off" if you don't need/want to use the laser. By the way, I'd suggest using standard velocity ammunition in your piece. Though +P ammo is okay for occasional use in the older model Bodyguards (prior to the more modern versions that are stamped ".38 Special +P"), I'm just fine with the standard velocity loadings. An exception are the loads that are designed specifically for short barreled ("snub nosed") revolvers.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[mbliss57]

Great deal. You can always sell some of those extras off if you don't want them. I bought a new one 638 last Saturday for $417 incl tax. But yours has a couple hundred in add ons. So you did very very well. BTW with all the J frames I own..I have finally chosen the 638 as my #1 pocket carry. I have some older and /collectable 38s/pre 38s that I wanted to keep in nice condition. So I decided to go with the 638 with the SS finish. It is light weight and I like the Bodyguard (shrouded hammer) better than the enclosed hammers of the Centennials. 40/42/64x I always have that SA option.

 

[photoman]

$500 is a great deal for the gun and everything that came with it. Be sure to try some standard pressure ammo.

 

[oldafsp]

Number 1 in my carry rotation is a 638, purchased two years ago now.

I did do a spring kit from Wilson Combat, which I prefer over the Wollf kits. Use the 13# rebound spring that comes in the kit. It makes a huge difference in the double action trigger pull.

No misfires or light strikes with this combination and over 200 rounds of mixed factory ammo on the test before I started carrying it after the spring kit.

A good dependable carry gun..even with the dreaded lock, which has never given me any problem on this model.

Good choice!

 

[rmw]

To me, it's worth the price of the grips and the rest (gun) is nothing I would own. But CA is unique, and I don't know if you have to have that dash # or what. (List?) Good luck with that. I'm looking for a no lock 638, and it seems pretty scarce. I'll find one eventually for 400 or so.

 

[flyrobb]

I paid $409 a year ago for just the gun so I'd say you got a good deal. It is my #1 carry gun, either pocket carry in an Uncle Mikes #3 or in the Lobo Enhanced Pancake in the Pic. I also carry a speed strip in the opposite pocket. Good Choice.