Chief's Special

ZVP · September 19, 2012, 05:38 PM

Always wanted one, finally got one!the sesMpdel
Has to be about the best carry/pocket revolver ever!
Just does everything well!
Yes, plus P's have more power than the.38 Special but if you are a decent shot the .38 special will do it's job!
Light powerful small, the Chief is the quintessential "carry gun!"
ZVP

lowercase · September 19, 2012, 05:54 PM

Gotta love those Chief's Specials. Great little guns.

I'm very partial to the 1962 square-butt flat latch model I have.

aarondhgraham · September 19, 2012, 07:06 PM

I am also a fan of the Chief's Special,,,
It's one of my guns I will never part with.

But please tell me what a "the sesMpdel" is?

Aarond

.

ZVP · September 20, 2012, 03:15 AM

A I Phone misspelling sorry the touch pad isVERY touchy! Please ignore that one.

ZVP · September 20, 2012, 03:27 AM

Far as I was able to research, mine is a 1985 nickeled version. Former owner bobbed the hammer. I sorta like the D/A only. Makes me work exclusivelly in an area that I'm weak at! Has a heavy trigger tho.
I sure am happy with the little sweetheart!
I shoot either 158 or 130 g factory ammo only.
ZVP

aarondhgraham · September 20, 2012, 10:22 AM

Where is the pic of your little beauty?

Here's mine,,,
I named her Velma,,,
Along with my Model 34 named Velda.

I didn't know mine was a flat-latch,,,
Until I saw the picture of lowercase's gun.

Aarond

.

twhidd · September 20, 2012, 06:29 PM

I picked up this 36 a while back for around $200 because most of the bluing was worn off and it had some rust. The frame lug was also loose, so I replaced it. The action was still tight.

I stripped off the remaining bluing and sanded it down to about a 400 grit. As you can see in the picture it's down to bare metal. I'm now in the process of "rust bluing" it. It's turning out pretty nicely.

twhidd · September 20, 2012, 06:31 PM

There's also the Model 60 Chief Special.

James K · September 20, 2012, 09:57 PM

I carried a 3" square butt for years, and I guarantee the loads I used were a lot hotter than the wimpy +P rounds for sale today. The gun is still in top shape except for minor holster wear.

Jim

aaronsc · September 20, 2012, 10:16 PM

I just got this one two weeks ago. I was actually on here looking for info about it to see how good a deal a got on it. I'm glad to see it is a popular choice for cc.

windshear · September 20, 2012, 11:08 PM

Mine's the 37 Airweight. Built 68 or 69. Looked virtually unfired when I bought it early this Summer. Great gun for pocket carry. I'm afraid it won't look new much longer.

rebs · September 21, 2012, 07:10 AM

How well do the air weights hold up ? Are you leary of shooting full loads in them ? I have a model 37 air weight on lay away but am a little leary of it loosening up, should I be ?

dgludwig · September 21, 2012, 12:41 PM

By "full loads" do you mean +P rounds? If so, and it's an earlier model not rated for same, you might should be leery of firing very many of them in it in terms of it "loosening up". Most revolvers rated for +P loads will say so somewhere on the barrel. It should be noted, however, that any handgun firing +P loads continually, whether rated for them or not, will loosen up over time faster than they would if using only "standard" loads.

GM2 · September 23, 2012, 01:18 AM

I have two the model 36 and a model 60 love them both. Bought the 36 in 1970 and the 60 was a retirement gift from my LEO agency.

rebs · September 23, 2012, 06:32 AM

I meant standard full loads, not +P loads.
You guys that have the older chief specials that are not rated for +P, do you feel you are missing anything ?
What loads do you guys use in pre +P 38's for self defense ?

roaddog28 · September 23, 2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

I meant standard full loads, not +P loads.
You guys that have the older chief specials that are not rated for +P, do you feel you are missing anything ?
What loads do you guys use in pre +P 38's for self defense

As far as I know, a model 36 all steel revolver is ok with +P loads. S&W states in their online manual, model number S&W 38 special revolvers made from 1957 or later are okay to use +P ammo. I have a model 36 no dash and yes I use 38 +P ammo in the revolver. Either Remingtons LSWCHP 158 gr +P or standard pressure Buffalo Bore LSWCHP 158 gr would work fine. And another load that would work is Buffalo Bores cast wadcutters in 150 gr. Actually the all steel model 36 is a sturdy revolver.
Regards,
Howard

tguil · September 24, 2012, 06:28 PM

For what it's worth. I have a pristine Model 36. Bought it new in 1984. Only thing through it were regular wadcutters, semiwadcutters, and snake shot. A year ago I accidently loaded some Winchester factory new 158 grain semiwadcutter +p's into it. This load bulged one of the cylinder charge holes just enough that spent cartridges would not extract. Shouldn't have happened but it did. It's taken a year to find a satisfactory replacement cylinder.

No reason to use +p's. That's why "god" invented the .357 mag.

KenW. · September 25, 2012, 12:21 AM

Quote:

That's why "god" invented the .357 mag

John Moses Browning did not invent the .357 Magnum.

My M-36 is a pristine nickle 1989 model; almost a shame to carry it around it's so good looking. I load it with .38 135 gr Gold Dot +P for short barrels.

youngunz4life · September 25, 2012, 12:46 AM

Hail to the Chief!

September 19, 2012, 05:38 PM	#1
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	Chief's Special Always wanted one, finally got one!the sesMpdel Has to be about the best carry/pocket revolver ever! Just does everything well! Yes, plus P's have more power than the.38 Special but if you are a decent shot the .38 special will do it's job! Light powerful small, the Chief is the quintessential "carry gun!" ZVP

September 19, 2012, 07:06 PM	#3
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Hello ZVP,,, I am also a fan of the Chief's Special,,, It's one of my guns I will never part with. But please tell me what a "the sesMpdel" is? Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

September 20, 2012, 10:22 AM	#6
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	So,,, Where is the pic of your little beauty? Here's mine,,, I named her Velma,,, Along with my Model 34 named Velda. I didn't know mine was a flat-latch,,, Until I saw the picture of lowercase's gun. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

September 20, 2012, 06:29 PM	#7
twhidd Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 823	I picked up this 36 a while back for around $200 because most of the bluing was worn off and it had some rust. The frame lug was also loose, so I replaced it. The action was still tight. I stripped off the remaining bluing and sanded it down to about a 400 grit. As you can see in the picture it's down to bare metal. I'm now in the process of "rust bluing" it. It's turning out pretty nicely. __________________ Todd NRA Life Member

September 20, 2012, 06:31 PM	#8
twhidd Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 823	There's also the Model 60 Chief Special. __________________ Todd NRA Life Member

September 19, 2012, 05:54 PM	#2
lowercase Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2012 Posts: 287	Gotta love those Chief's Specials. Great little guns. I'm very partial to the 1962 square-butt flat latch model I have.

September 20, 2012, 03:15 AM	#4
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	A I Phone misspelling sorry the touch pad isVERY touchy! Please ignore that one.

September 20, 2012, 03:27 AM	#5
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	Far as I was able to research, mine is a 1985 nickeled version. Former owner bobbed the hammer. I sorta like the D/A only. Makes me work exclusivelly in an area that I'm weak at! Has a heavy trigger tho. I sure am happy with the little sweetheart! I shoot either 158 or 130 g factory ammo only. ZVP

September 20, 2012, 09:57 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I carried a 3" square butt for years, and I guarantee the loads I used were a lot hotter than the wimpy +P rounds for sale today. The gun is still in top shape except for minor holster wear. Jim

September 20, 2012, 11:08 PM	#11
windshear Member Join Date: January 13, 2011 Posts: 37	Mine's the 37 Airweight. Built 68 or 69. Looked virtually unfired when I bought it early this Summer. Great gun for pocket carry. I'm afraid it won't look new much longer.

September 21, 2012, 07:10 AM	#12
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	How well do the air weights hold up ? Are you leary of shooting full loads in them ? I have a model 37 air weight on lay away but am a little leary of it loosening up, should I be ?

September 21, 2012, 12:41 PM	#13
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	By "full loads" do you mean +P rounds? If so, and it's an earlier model not rated for same, you might should be leery of firing very many of them in it in terms of it "loosening up". Most revolvers rated for +P loads will say so somewhere on the barrel. It should be noted, however, that any handgun firing +P loads continually, whether rated for them or not, will loosen up over time faster than they would if using only "standard" loads. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

September 23, 2012, 01:18 AM	#14
GM2 Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Location: Southeast, USA Posts: 350	I have two the model 36 and a model 60 love them both. Bought the 36 in 1970 and the 60 was a retirement gift from my LEO agency.

September 23, 2012, 06:32 AM	#15
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I meant standard full loads, not +P loads. You guys that have the older chief specials that are not rated for +P, do you feel you are missing anything ? What loads do you guys use in pre +P 38's for self defense ?

September 24, 2012, 06:28 PM	#17
tguil Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 41	For what it's worth. I have a pristine Model 36. Bought it new in 1984. Only thing through it were regular wadcutters, semiwadcutters, and snake shot. A year ago I accidently loaded some Winchester factory new 158 grain semiwadcutter +p's into it. This load bulged one of the cylinder charge holes just enough that spent cartridges would not extract. Shouldn't have happened but it did. It's taken a year to find a satisfactory replacement cylinder. No reason to use +p's. That's why "god" invented the .357 mag.

September 25, 2012, 12:46 AM	#19
youngunz4life Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2010 Location: United States of America Posts: 1,877	all I gotta' say is Hail to the Chief! __________________ "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -Admiral Farragut @ Battle of Mobile Bay 05AUG1864