New to Forum with Question

okc63avanti · January 5, 2013, 09:02 PM

I am a Newbie on the forum and I am some what of a novice when it comes to firearms and all of the different calibers.

I have a S&W .38 special model 36 (Chief's Special snub nose revolver) the serial no. I found was inside the frame after opening the cylinder underneath where is says mod. 36 and the serial number is 5 digits with the first two being 57xxx. Here are my questions:

1. Does the 57 mean the year this revolver was made?

I have been firing target load .38 special with this at the range several times with no issues and the other day I picked up some ammunition and when I got home I realized it was a little different, it is Remmington UMC 125 gr JHP .38 +P.

Is it safe to shoot these rounds in my revolver?

Thanks, John

jrothWA · January 5, 2013, 09:33 PM

it sounds like you have a early series revolver (when first released).
Have a mid-80's are and it have a couple of "alpha" characters in the SN, not just numbers.

I would follow the use of "+P" ammo, as the S&W website recommends against usage.

Recommend trying the 125 -135 gr standard pressure rounds thru the revolver.

RJay · January 5, 2013, 10:10 PM

What is the number on the bottom of the grip, that is the true serial number, regardless, no, the S&W build date is not incorporated into the serial number. The number on the crane area is only a assembly number ( other than the model number 36 ) and means nothing to the average person, only to the assembly line.

okc63avanti · January 5, 2013, 10:39 PM

The number I gave was located on frame and visible when the cylinder is open. The Serial No. on the bottom of the grip is in this format.

7JXXXX with the last 4 being numbers.

PetahW · January 6, 2013, 06:25 PM

The number hidden by the crane, visible only after hinging open the cylinder, is an assembly number, not the gun's serial number - which is (as posted above) located on the bottom of the gripframe.

.

highpower3006 · January 6, 2013, 06:47 PM

You need give out more than the first two digits of the serial number to get and accurate date of production. J frame revolvers with the 7J prefix were produced between 1979 and 1981. It is hard to pin it down any further without more info.

For instance I have a model 29 that is serial numbered S200207 and I can pin the date it was produced to late 1959.

okc63avanti · January 6, 2013, 11:37 PM

The serial number on bottom of grip is 7J8XXX

warwagon · January 7, 2013, 12:26 AM

First, welcome to the forum!

If I were you, I wouldn't push +P rounds through your revolver. It may take them ok, but most of the older Mod36's were not designed for those pressures, so why chance it?

I would instead, find a round(assuming that you want it for self protection),that is designed to perform well with short barreled revolvers.

The older Smiths stated in the manual that + P was not to be used.

Best regards.
warwagon

Glenn Dee · January 7, 2013, 12:55 AM

A late 70's early 80's model can handle +p ammo. While S&W recomends against it, it wont destroy the gun. Even in a gun that may be effected by them +P's would be used as carry ammo. I'd fire a few rounds every range session just for familiarization.

highpower3006 · January 8, 2013, 07:22 AM

Quote:

The serial number on bottom of grip is 7J8XXX

I misread your serial number earlier, for some reason I transposed the first 7. According to the SCSW, your gun was produced after 1983. The book doesn't list numbers higher than 1J18601 Sorry for the mix up.

January 5, 2013, 09:02 PM	#1
okc63avanti Junior Member Join Date: January 5, 2013 Posts: 3	New to Forum with Question I am a Newbie on the forum and I am some what of a novice when it comes to firearms and all of the different calibers. I have a S&W .38 special model 36 (Chief's Special snub nose revolver) the serial no. I found was inside the frame after opening the cylinder underneath where is says mod. 36 and the serial number is 5 digits with the first two being 57xxx. Here are my questions: 1. Does the 57 mean the year this revolver was made? I have been firing target load .38 special with this at the range several times with no issues and the other day I picked up some ammunition and when I got home I realized it was a little different, it is Remmington UMC 125 gr JHP .38 +P. Is it safe to shoot these rounds in my revolver? Thanks, John

January 5, 2013, 09:33 PM	#2
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	I can't address the SN, but... it sounds like you have a early series revolver (when first released). Have a mid-80's are and it have a couple of "alpha" characters in the SN, not just numbers. I would follow the use of "+P" ammo, as the S&W website recommends against usage. Recommend trying the 125 -135 gr standard pressure rounds thru the revolver.

January 5, 2013, 10:10 PM	#3
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	What is the number on the bottom of the grip, that is the true serial number, regardless, no, the S&W build date is not incorporated into the serial number. The number on the crane area is only a assembly number ( other than the model number 36 ) and means nothing to the average person, only to the assembly line. __________________ Ron James

January 7, 2013, 12:26 AM	#8
warwagon Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2005 Location: Dayton Oh Posts: 341	First, welcome to the forum! If I were you, I wouldn't push +P rounds through your revolver. It may take them ok, but most of the older Mod36's were not designed for those pressures, so why chance it? I would instead, find a round(assuming that you want it for self protection),that is designed to perform well with short barreled revolvers. The older Smiths stated in the manual that + P was not to be used. Best regards. warwagon __________________ SWAT certified Ret LEO certified weaponscraft instructor OPOTA Ret NRA Endowment member

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January 5, 2013, 10:39 PM	#4
okc63avanti Junior Member Join Date: January 5, 2013 Posts: 3	The number I gave was located on frame and visible when the cylinder is open. The Serial No. on the bottom of the grip is in this format. 7JXXXX with the last 4 being numbers.

January 6, 2013, 06:25 PM	#5
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	The number hidden by the crane, visible only after hinging open the cylinder, is an assembly number, not the gun's serial number - which is (as posted above) located on the bottom of the gripframe. .

January 6, 2013, 06:47 PM	#6
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,220	You need give out more than the first two digits of the serial number to get and accurate date of production. J frame revolvers with the 7J prefix were produced between 1979 and 1981. It is hard to pin it down any further without more info. For instance I have a model 29 that is serial numbered S200207 and I can pin the date it was produced to late 1959.

January 6, 2013, 11:37 PM	#7
okc63avanti Junior Member Join Date: January 5, 2013 Posts: 3	The serial number on bottom of grip is 7J8XXX

January 7, 2013, 12:55 AM	#9
Glenn Dee Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,560	A late 70's early 80's model can handle +p ammo. While S&W recomends against it, it wont destroy the gun. Even in a gun that may be effected by them +P's would be used as carry ammo. I'd fire a few rounds every range session just for familiarization.