s&w mod. 36

[scoper05]

whats the opinion of the mod 36 snub nose 38.i hear its not real accurate but what else do people think about then.
i picked one up at a gun show this weekend.it will most likly be my new ccw.

 

[RussellD]

Mine is very accurate. With a good fitting pair of grips and firing .38 wadcutters these little guns surprise many. Find a good pocket holster and it goes everywhere.

 

[Pilgrim]

it's one of the most popular self defense guns ever made.

 

[ajpelz]

Mine is one of the most accurate handguns I own. Outshoots my 4566 and my M-15....

 

[murphydog]

There is intrinsic accuracy - how well the gun shoots off a solid or mechanical rest - and practical accuracy, which is how well humans can shoot it unsupported.

With the short sight radius and small stocks a model 36 can be difficult to handle, but it is no less "accurate" than a larger gun. Be sure to find the right stocks and practice, and you will find it will shoot for you just fine.

 

[JC4013]

I think you'll find shooting a "snubbie" will take a bit more work and you might find yourself getting frustrated at first. Generally, these are short range guns. I didn't shoot mine at much more than ten yards, although at fifteen it was still respectable. I would not have closen it for precision shooting voluntarily. The claim that the Model 36 and its companions are "inaccurate" comes from shooters unwilling to really put it through its paces at the range, experiment with different loads and find the grips that fit your hand and style of shooting. I carried a 36 or a 60 as a primary weapon when working plainclothes and as a backup when in uniform. It's not the gun I'd choose to go into a situation where I was pretty certain there would be gunfire, but I wouldn't have backed away from anything either, although that has more to do with hardheadedness than anything else. The great benefit of the 36 is that you are more likely to have it with you because its convenient to carry. I've carried a 1911 and a M-9 concealed and it's a lot easier to conceal the smaller gun and more comfortable.

 

[tbury]

I can hit 8" plates 5 for 5 at 15 yds double action with mine. Its accuracy surprise me for a 2" barrel. I was shooting 158 gr LSWC with 3.5 gr of Bullseye. I think most people who say they are not accurate have never shot one. JMHO

 

[AKsRule]

whats the opinion of the mod 36 snub nose 38.i hear its not real accurate but what else do people think about then.
i picked one up at a gun show this weekend.it will most likly be my new ccw.

Bob Munden shooting a balloon with a 2" .38 special....

YouTube - ‪Bob Munden -- Impossible 200 Yard Shot‬‎

AT 200 YARDS

 

[SJshooter]

Not accurate?! Heck no. Hard to shoot? Very. Just takes practice.

8 yards standing:

10 yards standing:

5th shot clipped the bottom of the card.

 

[JC4013]

When ya'll come 'round, remind me to walk soft and be real polite and say, "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" a whole lot.

 

[Richard44]

Picked up 3" Mod. 36 at good price. Sighted it in at 10 yds. on 8x10 with quarter sized bullseye. Shot 2" groups, but 6" low and 6" to left. Filed off front sight .050 and took punch and hammer to right side of front sight, it did move the barrel. Changed to 158gr. cast HP with 2.5 gr. bullseye. Now shooting 1.5" groups dead on. Did spring job and trigger job, 6 hrs. of honing. Starting to like this little gun better and better. .

 

[loc n load]

J frames

There is intrinsic accuracy - how well the gun shoots off a solid or mechanical rest - and practical accuracy, which is how well humans can shoot it unsupported.

With the short sight radius and small stocks a model 36 can be difficult to handle, but it is no less "accurate" than a larger gun. Be sure to find the right stocks and practice, and you will find it will shoot for you just fine.

Well said, I have carried a M-49 everyday since 1973 as a bug.....and have several other J frames as well.....was a police firearms instructor for 30 years and for grins during our lunch breaks the instructors would shoot the PPC course from 3 yds to 45 yds with subbies only.....DA only....there were always wagers, and this grew into an intense competition, and word spread and pretty soon we had all kinds of guy's showing up with their snub's wanting to get into the action.....bottom line...if you can keep that sight picture, roll that trigger thru that DA stroke maintaining that sight picture, that little J frame will put the rounds where they need to go, it get's really interesting at 25 yds and especially at 45 yds because you had to shift your point of aim to lob those wadcutters into where you wanted them to go.....it was good fun, really good practice for us guy's who carried subbies for bug's and demonstrated that even with the 2" barrel, if you have good command of the basics, you can get the job done with a 2" bl.

 

[hotrod150]

The little Chief is no target piece, but is hard to beat for use as a personal defense carry gun. I own two 36's & two 60's. Nuff said.

 

[Meeteetse]

I've had mine for nearly 30 years and love it. I finally semi-retired it in favor of a 442 just because of the hammerless idea and pocket carry. If I carry OWB it is still my gun of choice if I want a small gun rather than a large semi or revolver. They take practice, but they can do the job.

 

[snubbyfan]

As the others have mentioned, it's only as accurate as the person shooting it. The gun itself is very accurate but requires dedication on the part of the person shooting it. Lotsa dry fire and live fire practice in both single and double action. A proper grip is also important and I had to change the grip on my 442 to a Pachmayr Compact before I could shoot it with any accuracy. I've got a Laserlyte laser on my snubby that I use for dryfire practice. I just put the red dot on something and keep it there as I pull the trigger.

 

[kaaskop49]

PPC snubby?

loc n load knows how to have fun! PPC with J-frame at lunch time? Why bother eating! Would have loved to shoot against you people; 'course my J-frame would be "in the shop" (I have about 20 but you wouldn't know that), so I would be forced to use a 2" K-frame instead... Go ahead, try to tell me 'no.'

loc n load, you sound like the NYPD instructors back in the revolver days at the Rodman's Neck range. Friendly, helpful, no egos. I wasn't PD but was allowed to shoot there on occasion.

 

[loc n load]

snubby PPC

loc n load knows how to have fun! PPC with J-frame at lunch time? Why bother eating! Would have loved to shoot against you people; 'course my J-frame would be "in the shop" (I have about 20 but you wouldn't know that), so I would be forced to use a 2" K-frame instead... Go ahead, try to tell me 'no.'

loc n load, you sound like the NYPD instructors back in the revolver days at the Rodman's Neck range. Friendly, helpful, no egos. I wasn't PD but was allowed to shoot there on occasion.

You would have been welcome on my firing line....but you would have caught some ragging abt the K frame( we had guy's try that "in the shop" line also)........and as SOP we did not eat lunch we shot.....put a bunch of "bullet heads" out on the range doing 8 hours of instruction, then give us an hour with free ammo....what did they think was going to happen? Several of us could shoot "possible" on the PPC with our K frames, so we upped the ante by going to the J frames...it was an "eye opener" for a lot of officer's, to see what the 2" J frame was capable of....and a confidence builder for those of us who relied on it for our "last line of defense".....sometimes for a real challenge we would shoot the course weak hand/supported only.....it was all good....I instructed revolvers until 95, then it was hi cap pistols until 08 when I pulled the pin.
Revolvers were my first love and now that I am retired I find myself going back to the "one who brung me to the dance". As far as ego's go.....always tried to stay humble....saw a lot of guy's and gal's let that ego thing get them into the funny papers too often. Good hearing from you.

 

[Sebring Pop]

I can hit 8" plates 5 for 5 at 15 yds double action with mine. Its accuracy surprise me for a 2" barrel. I was shooting 158 gr LSWC with 3.5 gr of Bullseye. I think most people who say they are not accurate have never shot one. JMHO

I have been shooting Bullseye for a lot of years using my model 60 2" in carry gun competition and can do the same at 50 feet. Any one who say they are not accurate has not spent time with their gun.

Thanks Pop

 

[Beach-Hunter]

My M-60 Is very accurate

I have been shooting Bullseye for a lot of years using my model 60 2" in carry gun competition and can do the same at 50 feet. Any one who say they are not accurate has not spent time with their gun.

Thanks Pop

I agree the J's are very accurate guns!! I shoot mine out to 50ft all the time with great results..Yes it is a 2" also..My 60 no-dash 36 and my 649 no-dash all were very capable at the 50ft mark.

 

[BigCityChief]

I've owned a Chief since Sept., 1980 - extremely accurate - no maintenance needed other than regular cleaning after use. PS: I carried it as a BUG on patrol for 28+ years.