The best light weight 38 spl revolver - Page 2

skoro · April 11, 2025, 08:18 AM

For me, it's the S&W 642. Light, compact, easy to pocket carry.

The Happy kaboomer · April 12, 2025, 12:50 PM

My S&W 642.

Hawg · April 12, 2025, 10:34 PM

For me it's a S&W 637. I don't like hammerless.

smee78 · April 13, 2025, 08:56 AM

I also suggest a Ruger LCR/LCRX or a Smith 638/637 as excellent choices for a lightweight revolver. Your choices will depend on whether you want a hammer and what you're looking to spend.

I'm also in the same camp as you about copper heads, water moccasins, and rattlers.

Ricklin · April 13, 2025, 01:35 PM

Not a fan of snakes, poisonous ones especially. That said I don't make a point of killing every poisonous snake I see.
They serve a useful purpose keeping down the rodent population. My friend killed a bunch of big rattlesnakes at a property he bought. He was concerned about his dogs getting bit. Better to train your dogs.
Eliminating those big snakes caused a population explosion at my friend John's place, we shot pocket gophers till we were tired of shooting them. That population explosion cost him a couple thousand bucks, the rodents chewed up the wire harness on their new Range Rover. Apparently peanut oil is part of the formula for the wire insulation. Of course not covered under warranty.

gwpercle · April 14, 2025, 08:29 PM

S&W model 637 Air-Weight , 38 Special +P , stainless steel, 5 shot , 11 ounce weight ...
is my J-frame of choice !

Double Action Only handguns ... No Thank You ... Hammers Rule !
Gary

toxophilus · April 14, 2025, 10:18 PM

If you go with a K6xs check it to ensure the barrel is clocked correctly; I had to send mine in twice to Kimber to fix it. Love the sights though and it's really accurate now!

I also have the LCRx 3" in .38 special, great trigger and vert light.

LAH · April 15, 2025, 11:24 AM

Quote:

S&W model 637 Air-Weight , 38 Special +P , stainless steel, 5 shot , 11 ounce weight ...
is my J-frame of choice !

Pumpkin · April 15, 2025, 01:29 PM

A 642 with a Monogrip no less.
I have a nylon one on mine.

Jack Ryan · April 15, 2025, 11:43 PM

I carried my S&W 38 mod 10 today.

Nathan · April 16, 2025, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Eliminating those big snakes caused a population explosion at my friend John's place, we shot pocket gophers till we were tired of shooting them. That population explosion cost him a couple thousand bucks, the rodents chewed up the wire harness on their new Range Rover. Apparently peanut oil is part of the formula for the wire insulation. Of course not covered under warranty.

Insurance will cover that! Ask me how I know. . .ugh

That said, I think we found what we need from S&W. A scandium no lock 640 with good sights and a 4" barrel! Throw some melonite on it for good measure!

fastbolt · April 16, 2025, 12:21 PM

"Best" is a subjective decision.

Personally, I stopped using snakeshot as a young man. I experienced some of the shot coming back in my face when it encountered just the wrong bits of rock/gravel on the ground. Fortunately I was uninjured, but lost interest in such ammo for hiking.

On the matter of lightweight snubs, I tend to favor the S&W variations that have aluminum or scandium aluminum frames and steel cylinders. That's why I own a pair of 642's and a pair of M&P 340's. My 37DAO is built on the older Airweight frame, and it's also a nifty lightweight snub. I rather like the way the lighter models rest a bit lighter than my all-steel models, although my 80's vintage 3" M36 is a joy to shoot using loads which are harder recoiling in the lighter models.

Today's growing snub revolver market offers a lot of choice.

Suit yourself.

Ricklin · April 16, 2025, 02:42 PM

John could ill afford the insurance claim, thus he paid to have a piece of the wire harness replaced and repaired. The Range Rover was a leased vehicle, his wife did real estate. Hell of a nice truck.
The population explosion was pretty amazing, in fact I had a hard time getting my scoped Ruger Mk. 2 back from him. Perfect for the pocket gophers.

Super Sneaky Steve · April 17, 2025, 01:37 PM

If you're shooting snakes with snake shot it really doesn't matter.

Pumpkin · April 17, 2025, 03:38 PM

Non poisonous snakes like Mickey too, and the bigger non poisonous varieties like Indigos and Coachwhips will eat poisonous snakes too.
One instance of shooting a copperhead next to a plastic cattle water trough left a dead snake and some light scratches on the side of the trough. As far as I’m concerned, the shot shell worked perfect.

April 13, 2025, 08:56 AM	#29
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,948	I also suggest a Ruger LCR/LCRX or a Smith 638/637 as excellent choices for a lightweight revolver. Your choices will depend on whether you want a hammer and what you're looking to spend. I'm also in the same camp as you about copper heads, water moccasins, and rattlers. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

April 13, 2025, 01:35 PM	#30
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,310	Not a fan Not a fan of snakes, poisonous ones especially. That said I don't make a point of killing every poisonous snake I see. They serve a useful purpose keeping down the rodent population. My friend killed a bunch of big rattlesnakes at a property he bought. He was concerned about his dogs getting bit. Better to train your dogs. Eliminating those big snakes caused a population explosion at my friend John's place, we shot pocket gophers till we were tired of shooting them. That population explosion cost him a couple thousand bucks, the rodents chewed up the wire harness on their new Range Rover. Apparently peanut oil is part of the formula for the wire insulation. Of course not covered under warranty. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

April 15, 2025, 11:43 PM	#35
Jack Ryan Member Join Date: November 9, 2009 Posts: 93	I carried my S&W 38 mod 10 today. __________________ "The middle of no where is dead in the middle of some where and EVERY WHERE is some where." Your being lost doesn't make some where in to no where or abandon or un owned. It just makes you lost.

April 16, 2025, 12:21 PM	#37
fastbolt Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2002 Location: northern CA for a little while longer Posts: 1,954	"Best" is a subjective decision. Personally, I stopped using snakeshot as a young man. I experienced some of the shot coming back in my face when it encountered just the wrong bits of rock/gravel on the ground. Fortunately I was uninjured, but lost interest in such ammo for hiking. On the matter of lightweight snubs, I tend to favor the S&W variations that have aluminum or scandium aluminum frames and steel cylinders. That's why I own a pair of 642's and a pair of M&P 340's. My 37DAO is built on the older Airweight frame, and it's also a nifty lightweight snub. I rather like the way the lighter models rest a bit lighter than my all-steel models, although my 80's vintage 3" M36 is a joy to shoot using loads which are harder recoiling in the lighter models. Today's growing snub revolver market offers a lot of choice. Suit yourself. __________________ Retired LE - firearms instructor & armorer

April 16, 2025, 02:42 PM	#38
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,310	John could ill afford the insurance claim, thus he paid to have a piece of the wire harness replaced and repaired. The Range Rover was a leased vehicle, his wife did real estate. Hell of a nice truck. The population explosion was pretty amazing, in fact I had a hard time getting my scoped Ruger Mk. 2 back from him. Perfect for the pocket gophers. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

April 11, 2025, 08:18 AM	#26
skoro Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,967	For me, it's the S&W 642. Light, compact, easy to pocket carry.

April 12, 2025, 12:50 PM	#27
The Happy kaboomer Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Posts: 277	My S&W 642.

April 12, 2025, 10:34 PM	#28
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,352	For me it's a S&W 637. I don't like hammerless.

April 14, 2025, 08:29 PM	#31
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,890	S&W model 637 Air-Weight , 38 Special +P , stainless steel, 5 shot , 11 ounce weight ... is my J-frame of choice ! Double Action Only handguns ... No Thank You ... Hammers Rule ! Gary

April 14, 2025, 10:18 PM	#32
toxophilus Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Colorado, Earth Posts: 16	If you go with a K6xs check it to ensure the barrel is clocked correctly; I had to send mine in twice to Kimber to fix it. Love the sights though and it's really accurate now! I also have the LCRx 3" in .38 special, great trigger and vert light.

April 15, 2025, 01:29 PM	#34
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 875	A 642 with a Monogrip no less. I have a nylon one on mine.

April 17, 2025, 01:37 PM	#39
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,321	If you're shooting snakes with snake shot it really doesn't matter.

April 17, 2025, 03:38 PM	#40
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 875	Non poisonous snakes like Mickey too, and the bigger non poisonous varieties like Indigos and Coachwhips will eat poisonous snakes too. One instance of shooting a copperhead next to a plastic cattle water trough left a dead snake and some light scratches on the side of the trough. As far as I’m concerned, the shot shell worked perfect.

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