S&W 638- not a range gun

[Maddawg46]

Picked up a SW 638 Airweight snub nose .38. Took it out to the range yesterday. Yes, it's true that you do not want to shoot this little bugger a lot. Very lite and not much to hold onto. I got two boxes of Gold Dot .38+P with the deal. Probably will stay in the boxes! Just Remington round nose .38 were almost too much to handle. Will have to do a lot of practice with this gun to get good enough to CCW.
But I now have a snub nose.......which will be spending lots of time in the safe.

[drifter2be]

I miss my 637 Performance Center.

You think standard 38 is "fun to shoot" try running some good +P ammo through it. Will definitely make you hope that you never have to use it to defend yourself.

I put a Hogue Monogrip on mine, bit larger, but you get a full grip, and the rubber in the back helps dampen some of the felt recoil. It does make it a bit larger, so pocket carrying with that grip is out of the question, but, for me anyway, it didn't make much of a difference for IWB carry.

I wish I had kept it, but I didn't care too much about having a lightweight revolver, and my SP101 snubby is just as accurate, handles recoil a lot better, and its a 357.

[Black Majik]

Yeah, that's no fun in such a light gun.

If you want to feel true unpleasantness, try a scnadium j-frame 360PD .357mag. I think one of the few guns I rather get shot with than be the shooter.

[nadodave]

I would take it to the range every time you go, and just put one cylinder through it. then 2, then 3, etc. I would bet you find yourself able to work up to more.

['ol shooter]

I shoot home rolled 125 HP's with 4.5gr. of Titegroup in my 442 Power Port. Purrs like a kitten, a joy to shoot.

[9mmepiphany]

Start practicing with 148gr full wadcutters. Learn the trigger and how yo hold it correctly, before you start battering yourself.

I've always found steel framed J-frames pretty controllable compared to the aluminum alloy models, but a bit of practice will get you there...I can consistently hit soda cans at 50 yards with my 642.

If you mean the 135gr +P Gold Dots, I found them softer shooting than the 158gr Ball

[scotchblade]

I was tempted by that and the Ruger LCR but went with the heavier SP101 with 2-1/4" barrel. Will have my first outing with it Monday.

I handload and will begin with some soft wad cutters and end up with some warm .38 specials. I'll probably try a cylinder or two of .357s to satisfy my curiosity. It weighs 26 oz, so it shouldn't be too bad.

[snubbyfan]

Last time I had my daily carry Smith and Wesson model 442 out to the range I put over 150 rounds through it, had a great time.
I did put Pachmayr Compact grips on it so it'd fit better in my big hands. It's can still be pocket carried.

I think I got him.

[squiddo]

Ha thats how I feel with my LCR .357......can't imagine calling that a range gun even with the .38's

[steel30]

I have a 442 with Hogue grips and a model 36 with original wood grips, definitely like the Hogue grips better! Don't go out much past 20 yards with those snubbies though, soda cans consistently at 50 yds is impressive with a snub 9mmepiphany!

[SILENT GUNMAN]

Snubs make great range toys. They just require much more practice and a good firm grip. If the recoil is too much a nice hogue rubber grip and some padded shooting gloves will help a lot. I put +p gold dots through my LCR every time I go to the range. That little gun always impresses me with how accurate it can be, if i do my part, out to 20-30 yards.

[Lurch762]

Exactly the reason I sold my 642.

[Pistolgrip Pump]

Idk how the weight compares, but my lcr in 357 is fun and easy to shoot. Put full power 357 loads in and it's a different story.

[Ritchie8719]

soda cans consistently at 50 yds is impressive with a snub 9mmepiphany!

In fact, a youtube vid of that would be one of the most watched.

[9mmepiphany]

I'll see about it after it warms up some. It is a great parlor trick shooting for beer money after a day at the range