New Acquisitions for February 2007

Just picked up a brand spanking new S&W 637 Airweight. After much searching for a very discreet carry gun, I could not escape the undeniable advantages of a Smith J frame.

I simply could not find a more comfortable, more concealable package in a proven defensive package.

I picked up a box of 50 Winchester 38 Spl 130 FMJ for break in and fam fire, but I would like the input of the round gun shooters here regarding a for real defensive load. I've always like Speer Gold Dot in 9 mm, so I was thinking of the same in 38 +P. Dunno about bullet weight, however.

I also need a holster, but I have IWB tuckables from Mitch Rosen, Holsters By Eric, and Tucker Gunleather to choose from.

Anyway, here's the weapon:
wqN9TD9xIr1V5quJ3+GGjf1DcnGhBhb70300.jpg
 
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I want with the hammerless but either way you won't you go wrong.

Great carry piece - Great decision.
 
Jose said:
I picked up a box of 50 Winchester 38 Spl 130 FMJ for break in and fam fire, but I would like the input of the round gun shooters here regarding a for real defensive load. I've always like Speer Gold Dot in 9 mm, so I was thinking of the same in 38 +P. Dunno about bullet weight, however.
Click to expand...

Nice choice.

Speer makes a round specifically tailored for snubbies: their 135 gr .38 +P Gold Dot. I'm happy with them: the recoil is tolerable and they extract easily even when the cylinder's a bit dirty. They're pretty accurate, to boot.
 
Jose,

I often carry a 642 as a backup and I use the Remington LSWCHP +P "FBI loads". At 158 grains, they're heavy enough to penetrate; and Remington uses a softer lead than other manufacturers. They'll expand - maybe not as much as the Gold Dots in ideal conditions, but the soft LSWCHP will expand in all conditions.
 
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Jose, the 637 is one of my frequent carries, and one of my favorite shooters as well. I have HydraShoks in 110 grain for it, but usually carry 148 grain +p HP's.

As for holsters, I'm a CTAC fan, so no contest:

ctac.jpg
 
Tele, thanks for the clue on the holsters. I can't believe that I had Comp Tac in my favorites and missed the CTAC. I was considering their Shirt Tucker, but the single offset clip makes the gun unstable unless you reef on the belt. That's my problem with the DeSantis Tuck This that I use for my 915.

I think I the J frame CTAC has climbed to the top of my "must try" list. Have you tried the C-clips? They look like the ticket for trasfering weight to the belt yet being more discreet than the standard clips.

ETA: Does the hard Kydex dig into you or become uncomfortable during the heat of the summer? All my holsters have ever been nylon, which is a plastic come to think of it.
 
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Here are some of the holsters I'm considering:

HBW (Holsters By Eric)
Picture_045.sized.jpg


Tucker Texas Heritage
rlcompanyusa_1933_14380207


Mitch Rosen Workman
wkm.jpg
 
I don't know how active you are, but if I had it to do over, I'd avoid a leather IWB with the Airweight. My first holster was a High Noon IWB, and I bought the gun specifically for mountain biking before it became a favorite. Unfortunately, the leather absorbed my sweat, and the finish on the gun was destroyed. I haven't noted any additional damage since switching to kydex.
 
What happened to the finish? Was the gun blued? It would be hard to damage the finish of an aluminum and stainless gun, I would think.
 
tele_mark said:
I don't know how active you are, but if I had it to do over, I'd avoid a leather IWB with the Airweight. My first holster was a High Noon IWB, and I bought the gun specifically for mountain biking before it became a favorite. Unfortunately, the leather absorbed my sweat, and the finish on the gun was destroyed. I haven't noted any additional damage since switching to kydex.
Click to expand...

I saw the results of sweat on an aluminum framed S&W with a friend's 317 (and Mark's 637). I went with a G&G high ride pancake holster. I wear it at 8:00 (I'm a lefty) and forget I have it on.
 
tele_mark said:
No, it's exactly like yours. Here's a picture I just snapped:

637_damage.jpg
Click to expand...

[shocked]

Wow. No idea.....

I will say this, my strenous exercise is nowadays reserved to the gym, so I don't know if what happened to you would happen to me.

I like that some of the better quality leather holsters have a flap that forms a barrier between skin and weapon.

I have to think this over, as the gun will be worn both with and without a t-shirt between skin and holster/gun.
 
MrTwigg said:
Nice wheelie there Jose. Makes me want a smaller revolver.

I like the idea of a BUG.
Click to expand...

This is my first revolver, and I am liking it. I see a 686 in my future. [smile] And I am not talking about a Beretta over/under. [wink]

I have to admit that my dad was a wheel gun man. He kept a Ruger Security Six at home and a Charter Arms Undercover on himself. So I have a soft spot for revolvers.

I am a Smith & Wesson man through and through, though.
 
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S&W Regulation Police

Here's my newest acquisition (Click on any picture for a larger image):


It's a Smith and Wesson Regulation Police in .38 S&W with a 4" barrel. It's a 5-shot I-frame, and it's the first I-frame that I've owned. The .38 S&W is shorter and a little wider than the .38 Special. The "little wider" part is a bitch - I found brass OK, but I need new dies, a new shellplate, and had to find a source for .360" diameter bullets. Back in the day, it was loaded with a 200 grain bullet at about 600 fps! Believe it or not, this was the larger of the two Regulation Police calibers that S&W offered (the other being a .32).

The I-frame was replaced by the J-frame. This revolver is very small

rp4.jpg

The serial number on mine puts its manufacture in the early 1920's.

I picked this up at Blue Northern in Ayer for a good price.
 
EddieCoyle said:
=Back in the day, it was loaded with a 200 grain bullet at about 600 fps!
Click to expand...

Man that bullet is just creeping right along! I read somewhere that under certain lighting conditions the .455 Webly (at about the same velocity, but much bigger round) could sometimes be actully SEEN traveling downrange.

Dunno if I belive it, but I felt it was worth mentioning.

Arrrr

-Weer'd Beard
 
Weer'd Beard said:
I read somewhere that under certain lighting conditions the .455 Webly (at about the same velocity, but much bigger round) could sometimes be actully SEEN traveling downrange.
Click to expand...

I don't doubt that for a second.

When shooting skeet in a lighted field, or during a mildly overcast sky, you can sometimes see the shot swarm and most skeet loads are 1 to 1 1/8 oz of #8 or #9 shot at anywhere from 1100 to 1200 fps.
 
I don't know man, Danvers show is next week and I need something to chime in on this month's New Acquisition thread. Do I order a RC K98 or save my cash for the Danvers show?
I feel as if since I recomended these threads I should be contributing on a monthly basis. [smile]
 

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