el jefe
Member
I know a lot of shootists who shoot .38's from their .357,
but--
What is your favorite S&W .38 model?
but--
What is your favorite S&W .38 model?
Your Favorite .38 spcl
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Vulcan Bob
Member
Easy one for me, a mid 50s five inch M&P. Its a reblue but it shoots extremely well.
jpwhel
Member
Tough question. In order... probably the 10-5 with a 4" tapered barrel, a close second would be a 4" barrel Mod 67-4 and then a Mod 64-3 with a 3" barrel. Have you noticed they are all K frames. All of the .38 specials are good shooters.
YeshuaIsa53
Member
14-3, my first S&W. I have shot it so much since I bought it in the seventies, it seems to be an extension of my arm at times.
My favorite "looker" would be the Pre 14 ISP 5 incher. Maybe a different one tomorrow and a different one next week.....like 'em all.
My favorite "looker" would be the Pre 14 ISP 5 incher. Maybe a different one tomorrow and a different one next week.....like 'em all.
My vote goes to the 60-7.
Marshal Tom
Member
I have a few but I think my favorite is a 1951 combat Masterpiece 4" that I picked up a couple of years ago.
T
T
I've never shot but one Smith & Wesson 38, so I guess that would be it. A 5", 10-5 that I bought a few weeks ago.
Out of pure sentiment it would be the M60 that my Dad inherited from my Grampa that now resides with me after Dads death.
As a shooter it has to be my 5 screw 4" Combat Masterpiece. Unbelievably sweet trigger pull and shoots like a dream.
As a shooter it has to be my 5 screw 4" Combat Masterpiece. Unbelievably sweet trigger pull and shoots like a dream.
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Far from my first, but my favorite so far is a 4" 15-3 that I picked up last fall. With a Hogue walnut grip and Buffalo Bore 158 gr. +P LSWC it has become my traveling companion.
Dragon88
Member
This would have been easy before, my 50s era Pre-10 5" pencil barrel. Recently I purchased a nickel 10-6 4" though and it balances better in the hand. Right now it's a toss up, guess I need to shoot them both some more and decide. 
AZ Desertrat
Member
Model 36 Chief's Special
Fessor
Member
.38 Favorite
My favorite .38 sp is a Victory model from 1945. It has a smooth action and is accurate. It's a blast to shoot.
My favorite .38 sp is a Victory model from 1945. It has a smooth action and is accurate. It's a blast to shoot.
Black_Sheep
Member
I like shooting my 2" RB Model 12 Airweight. The diamond magnas' and Tyler T-Grip seem to fit my hand perfectly...
MacGuffin
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1 for function & 1 for nostalgia
I have two favorites -
My S&W M38 is my go-to piece for pure function and the fact that it is very attire friendly.
and...
My Colt Detective Special for pure nostalgia - and, for the fact that it happened to have been made the same year I was born. (Yes. It's a pre-72!)
Believe it or not, while the DS has a much smoother action, the M38 is easily the more accurate of the two.
Regards,
Mac
I have two favorites -
My S&W M38 is my go-to piece for pure function and the fact that it is very attire friendly.
and...
My Colt Detective Special for pure nostalgia - and, for the fact that it happened to have been made the same year I was born. (Yes. It's a pre-72!)
Believe it or not, while the DS has a much smoother action, the M38 is easily the more accurate of the two.
Regards,
Mac
David LaPell
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My favorite .38 is this late 1940's Military & Police with a 4-inch barrel. None have ever shot as well as this one.
Bullseye Smith
Member
My favorite .38 is this late 1940's Military & Police with a 4-inch barrel. None have ever shot as well as this one.
I had one like the above and I let a buddy talk me out of it, the one below is the one I use the most, don't think it has ever had a 357 in it. Most has been 148gr HBWC for Bullseye.
One of these days I will find another one like David's that is a shooter.
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When you say 38 Special, you have to think M&P Smith and Wesson. IMO, the 'K' framed Smith is the perfect format for the 38. Of the many, many fixed sighted, adjustable sighted, long barrel, short barrel, round butt, square butt.......and on and on......I must say I prefer my five screw, 6 inch post war K-38's the best. I have one near mint (1949) and another 95% (1952) shooter. I like them primarily because of the quality of workmanship, smooth action, adjustable sights, perfect balance, square butt, target hammer (and trigger on some) and heavier, non-tapered barrel. Just the best there is.....again, just my opinion. I have shot many and have yet to run across one that didn't shoot smoothly and accurately. While that can be said for nearly any 'K' Smith, I just prefer this vintage and barrel configuration for the pure pleasure of shooting.
GyMac
US Veteran
I have several S&W .38's, including a Model 14, 15, and some Model 10's. I've given it a lot of thought but I can't decide which is my favorite. I think I lean toward a pencil barrel with a 4 inch barrel. Of all my guns though, the .38's are my favorites.
GF
Member
Prolly this M&P for my favorite shooter...
GF
GF
Model 10 4" SB
scooter123
Member
It's an easy answer for me, my 4 inch tapered barrel model 67-1. IMO you won't find a revolver with finer balance than a K frame 4 inch S&W with the tapered barrel.
bmcgilvray
Member
I've owned a 1971 vintage 4-inch Model 10-6 Heavy Barrel since the mid 1970s and have done my best to wear it out. Despite heavy use, it shoots so well and has been so trouble free that it makes a mockery of Ruger revolvers and their "built like a tank" reputation. And, unlike Ruger DA revolvers, it has a elegantly smooth action.
Stainz
Member
I, too, shoot .38's and very mild .357M's from my .357M revolvers, but this thread is about purpose built .38's. I have three - my first was a new/closeout 2" 10-11 bought from CDNN 9/03 for $279. Next was a pocket protector - a 642-2. Then - this monstrosity:
That's a now just a couple of years old 4" 64-8 resplendent in it's MIM parts, IL, and, yes, the two piece barrel! I bought it as an unissued security guard trade-in ~2.5 yr ago. Guess what... it's my favorite .38! Whether 125gr Montana Gold JHP 'poppers', 148gr target full wadcutters, or +P 158gr LHPSWC's, they pile on top of each other, stringing vertically due to speed variations, but dead on for windage. I term it an 'i' dotter. Super trigger - full strength Wolff hammer spring - it'll pop anyone's primers. My only regret - it was $309 - and they had another one - why didn't I buy it, too? Here it is in it's usual OEM grips for HD duties - it's forte:
Stainz
That's a now just a couple of years old 4" 64-8 resplendent in it's MIM parts, IL, and, yes, the two piece barrel! I bought it as an unissued security guard trade-in ~2.5 yr ago. Guess what... it's my favorite .38! Whether 125gr Montana Gold JHP 'poppers', 148gr target full wadcutters, or +P 158gr LHPSWC's, they pile on top of each other, stringing vertically due to speed variations, but dead on for windage. I term it an 'i' dotter. Super trigger - full strength Wolff hammer spring - it'll pop anyone's primers. My only regret - it was $309 - and they had another one - why didn't I buy it, too? Here it is in it's usual OEM grips for HD duties - it's forte:
Stainz
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ACP230
Member
My usual carry gun is a Smith M649-2 in .38 Special.
I liked it so much that I bought an M649 (no dash) so I'd have a pair.
Close second (some days in first place), is my M15-3 two-inch. Easier to shoot than the J-frames but not as easy to carry.
I liked it so much that I bought an M649 (no dash) so I'd have a pair.
Close second (some days in first place), is my M15-3 two-inch. Easier to shoot than the J-frames but not as easy to carry.
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