3rd CCW gun...perhaps a Revolver

[El Gato]

My model 12 is a 4 screw round but mechanical beauty... It was pristine until carred by my wife for a number of years... now it is still in great shape but I only carry it upon occasion... shoots 130gr. military ball about 18 in. low at 25 yards but 158 gr. lead hollowpoint swc loads are 2 in . high at the same range... The bun belonged to a late relative who also had 3 digit serial number 38 super commercial... someday my dad might give that to me too....

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by Glock32

If it is true M13 you are one lucky man. I have been collecting S&W revolvers for about 25 years and have only seen one. It was a demilled sample with a deep torch cut across the topstrap and all the way into the cylinder. I offered to buy it, the guy did not let it go!

Check tis out if you are interested.
Xavier Thoughts: The Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman

Yep, it lettered as real. Non-demilled (Milled?), numbers match, with a matching and correct holster, ammo, cleaning supplies, manual and a S&W Aircrewman box (wrong serial number.) The grips seem slightly oversized and may not be original.

IIRC my dad paid about $500 for it in the late 1980's.

[PHM]

I use to have a S&W Model 640 38 rated for +P rounds, that was a great little gun, I ended up selling it and now I wish I never had, but that gun is hammerless and very concealable and used by a lot of off duty LEO's.

[NikNak]

Originally Posted by Bombard

When I took the CCW course under CCWI at OT, I had a Glock 23 and a SW 640 to qualify with. After I'd shot the required cycles and gotten my hands good and tired, I loaded the 640 with Remington 125g +p and put a new target down to 25 yds. In slow fire, DA only, I got about an 8 inch group. Not competition worthy, of course, but good enough.

Must be young eyes .... good shooting!

[NikNak]

[quote=AMS MIKE;28380]When shooting with Mike (OCRancher) this morning, he got me thinking of a 3rd gun to add to my CCW. He mentioned a small revolver and I can use an ankle concealment gun. This is a good idea when I cannot carry IWB for some reason, or to carry this as backup along with my IWB. I have never shot a revolver but i do know a little about them and how they opperate.

Is there a benefit between having a centennial style (enclosed hammer) or the chief style (exposed hammer) ?

I like these two below because they take .357mag & .38+P Anyone have experience with these?
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My $.02 worth ....

I have S&W 637 and 649 on my CCW. Both have the black rubber grips. They were to be my secondary pieces after my Taurus PT145 (ok, so I'm cheap). I have found myself carrying the 637 airweight +P the most often. The 637 does not have a shrouded hammer, but it has yet to snag with my Uncle Mike's IWB holster (yes, I'm cheap - it works until my Milt VMI comes in). I found the aluminum 637 to be nice and light as compared to the SS of the 649 bodyguard +P. I bought the 649 used after someone had altered it to DAO ... probably a Cylinder and Slide change-out. I give kudos to whomever did the DAO job on the 649. They did a nice job. I bought it used at Centerfire(just robbed on monday) last year.
I have a brother in Utah who has one of the Titanium S&Ws in 357. It really barks! He shoots 38s for fun, but big ones(357) as carry. He has his CCW and has a CT laser on his .... I know laser not allowed in OC.
I had no problem qualifying with the 38s. I did both 38s and the 45 on the same night. I went through a lot of ammo - 250 rounds. Most of it was with the 38 spec... not +P. I have rather whimpy hands(salesman), but I do shoot quite a bit. Again, I had no issues.
I would never consider a 38 snubbie as a range gun. I will only bring it out for occaisional familiarity and to show people like yourself how they feel.

38+P works for me ..... so far. Hope to never have to test.

Good luck, you can always buy another if you don't like them.

[Tough Guy Levi]

Howdy NikNak:

While I have three weapons (up to 3 allowed) listed on my Orange County Sheriff Department CCW (Carry Concealed Weapon) permit, in November 07 I purchased a S&W 642 .38 +P Special at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show in Costa Mesa, CA. As you know it is a J alloy frame hammerless model, DOA sans CT Lazer grips (OCSD - not allowed). I've been practicing with it using my Cowboy Action loaded rounds meaning they don't go downrange very fast and use lead bullets. It's fun to practice with these rounds but I've used +P's too but I wouldn't want to make a habit of practicing with these too often. But, having said that, my NAA .32 acp Guardian punishes my hand/trigger finger more so practicing with it than does my newly acquired S&W 642. My Guardian is the last weapon (Kahr PM 9-Baby Browning .25 acp) I use to qualify with when I need to renew my CCW permit. Seventy-five rounds Guardian rounds is a "killer" even when wearing gloves plus a band aid on my trigger finger. For some reason, the trigger/my finger and frame don't "get along".

If you are in the area of Evans Shooting World in Orange, I'd be more than happy to meet there and let you use my S&W 642. Please supply factory ammo for obvious reasons. I'm getting close to tax time thus the sooner the better since my time will be limited etc.

Tough Guy Levi
SASS# 61430L

[X-ffdo]

I am with Bonovox. I would add that a snubby center of bore is quite high and reloading is a problem, specially in the dark. Capacity is minimal with lousy ballistics unless you go to a +P round, making the recoil and muzzle climb problem worse.
Get a compact 9mm, like a PM9. In the end, after the romance of a snubby is gone, you'll be happier.
If you still must have it, (Life is an adventure!) I vote for the S&W Model 638.
The hump gun has a proven history of service!

[Tough Guy Levi]

Howdy:

Bert DuVernay Director of the S&W Academy states "three fundamentals are affected when shooting a snub-nosed revolver. Loading-sight radius-grip - all have to be learned! To use the snubby to its full potential is a challange, but one that is worth mastering"!

I've been thinking about replacing one my CCW weapons with my newly purchased S&W 642. But first, I want to master the above and when competent, then make a rational decision.

Tough Guy Levi
SASS# 61430L

[OCRancher]

Other than loading, I have no problem getting back on the sight picture with my 640PD.

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by Tough Guy Levi

Howdy:

Bert DuVernay Director of the S&W Academy states "three fundamentals are affected when shooting a snub-nosed revolver. Loading-sight radius-grip - all have to be learned! To use the snubby to its full potential is a challange, but one that is worth mastering"!

Tough Guy Levi
SASS# 61430L

Burt has not been at Smith for at least 7 years. He's a chief of Police in Mass.

[AuburnHunter]

Originally Posted by OCRancher

Other than loading, I have no problem getting back on the sight picture with my 640PD.

I have had the 642 for a short time now, and am by no means an expert.

I just wanted to add that I don't find it a problem getting back on the sight picture with the 642. For me the gun shoots well out to 10 yards (I haven't attempted longer ranges than that yet).

The recoil is noticeable but I don't think it is as bad as some make it sound. That said, I do notice that my hand begins to tire after about 50 rounds of standard .38spl. At that point I just switch to a different gun.

Again, I have only had the 642 a short time and I am no expert. YMMV