Test Driving a S&W Airweight

[fickman]

I used to own another 642 Airweight of my own, which I traded with another forum member for a stainless steel 640 .357.

Funny. I used to have a stainless steel 640 .357 until I traded with a forum member for a 642 Airweight!



I also have a Scandium 340PD in .357 magnum that I love.

IMO, J-fames have a place in every CHLers arsenal. I'll echo the importance of practice and familiarity. . . dropping it after the first shot won't help you during a confrontation!

[TexasGal]

I'll echo the importance of practice and familiarity. . . dropping it after the first shot won't help you during a confrontation!

I have seen THAT reaction before!
They need to warn all those 110 pound women at the gun stores before telling them this is the perfect first gun for them.

[punkndisorderly]

It's amazing just how much difference the weight of a pistol can have on felt recoil. I've got a 327PD. Think service sized version of an air weight. Scadmium frame. Titanium cylinder. Amazingly light for a full size 8 shot .357.

Recoil with .38's is more than my 9mm blocks. Recoil with .357's is on par with (most people say worse than) my steel framed 7 1/2" 44 Mag.

The snubbies have always struck me as "experts guns". Small grips, vestigial sights, light weight, often pocket or ankle carried, 5 shots, slow reload even with a speed loader (and most don't carry one) mean you've turned the difficulty know all the way to 11.

That said, someone with a .38 snubby is much better off than the person that left their gun at home. There are folks with the dedication and time that are willing to really learn how to run a snubbie. Those folks are going to be way better off than the average Joe who puts 50 rounds a year (if that) through their gun and the rest of the time it sits in a fewer or console.

[Abraham]

My .357 Magnum Ruger SP101 2 1/2" barrel revolver (spur-less hammer) is a pleasure to shoot .38 specials through especially once I changed out the stock grips for larger Hogue grips.

That said, I shot it ONCE with a .357 magnum round and decided I'd never do it again. The muzzle blast and recoil were horrendous and this is a heavy revolver.

It stays at home.

I use Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 38 special +P (I think 125 or 135 grain) ammo which is plenty powerful enough for me, but after years of carrying a Glock 19 with a spare mag, I'd feel under armed with it as an every day carry weapon.