When many shooters think of revolvers, especially ones designed for carry, their thoughts turn to Smith and Wesson.
For decades, that company has been at the forefront of revolver design and manufacture. From their small J-frame to the larger .357s and elephant-stompers, S&W revolvers tend to get the job done.
Their J-frames are the standard by which other pocket revolvers are measured.
Smtih & Wesson
The company has had its share of ups and downs, like any other gun manufacturer. But they seem to be on the right track. Moving from an anti-gun state, Massachusetts, to gun-friendly Maryville, Tennessee (the last time I was there, it was a very pretty place), the company seems to be headed towards the future in good fashion.
The company was the first to introduce all three magnum revolver calibers in their respective revolvers… the .357 in 1935, the .41 in 1964, and the .44 in 1954. They didn’t rest on their laurels, though. Over the past few years, they have released innovative guns. I recently bought two of them after reviews: their Bodyguard 2.0 and their 1854 lever rifle in .44 Magnum. Both of these are well-made and are fun to shoot. The 1854 has accounted for deer.
Every now and again, S&W would go retro and bring back a gun that had sold well once upon a time, but was now missed by the shooting public. They call them Classics, and that leads me to their Classic series of guns.
The Classic Series
The company has, over the years, made a limited production run of several revolvers that had not been produced for a good while. They modernized them a bit and called them Classics. My favorite from this line would be the 6.5” .44 Magnum-chambered Model 29. I owned one of these once, when they were built with a 6” barrel and came in a wood presentation case, back in the ‘70s. I was later gifted, by a dear friend before he passed, an 8 ⅜” 629, the stainless version of the artillery-length barrel .44. It’s a very nice shooter and dates from 1982. It, coupled with my mid-range handloads, has taken more deer than I can remember.
Speaking of the 29, we can thank Hollywood’s Dirty Harry for causing the S&W Model 29 production line to require extra coffee, donuts, and Primatene Mist adrenaline when that movie came out in 1971. The company had sold some Model 29s, but had not set the world on fire with their sales. Many shooters saw it only as a specialized revolver for handgun hunting. Also, law enforcement basically wasn’t interested in a top-end, heavy revolver that would require extra training for officers to shoot well… even with a four-inch barrel. That changed after the movie came out, as demand went through the roof, followed as soon as humanly possible by sales.
However, many shooters didn’t like the way it thumped them in recoil. Years ago, I remember seeing, in a gun shop, an original 6” Model 29 in its walnut presentation box on the used gun shelf with a box of cartridges. Three of the cartridge cases were empty. That speaks volumes for the power of suggestion that movies can provide, along with unmet expectations.
The newest Classics I’m interested in today come in three models… 10, 36, and 19. I requested the latter two from S&W for this review. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Model 10… it is one of the most-produced revolvers ever and has a grand history. I simply wanted to focus on both the smallest and the most powerful of the trio. For this first review, I’ll focus on the pocket-friendly 36. Look for my Model 19 review here.
No Lock? Say What?
I’m about to utter two words that will make the hardened S&W revolver fan jump up and down and spill his Cheerios… these three guns have no lock, no “Hillary Hole” as it is sometimes snidely called. The lock, built into most S&W revolvers since 2001, has stirred up a hornet’s nest of controversy. There have been instances where it shut the gun down and did not permit it to fire after it malfunctioned. Many buyers had taken their guns to a gunsmith and had the lock deactivated. It still leaves a small hole in the frame above the cylinder release, but so be it. These three have no such lock. Yay!
Model 36 – Chief’s Special
The original Model 36 was introduced in 1950 at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) convention. It was a new design, with an innovative, slightly larger frame. Why was a larger frame needed? The move to the .38 Special cartridge dictated that a frame just a bit larger than the older I-frame (which worked with the older .38 Long Colt or the .38 S&W cartridges) was needed; hence, the new J-frame came into being. This revolver was the great-grandaddy of all the J-frames the company makes today. You have to remember that, in those pre-.357 Magnum days, the .38 Special represented an upgrade in power compared to existing .32- and .38-caliber cartridges. That’s why they needed the new frame.
After having a vote to name the new gun (this was before model numbers), the name “Chief’s Special” was selected. It was called that until 1957, when numbers replaced names… it then became the Model 36. I’ve always had a fascination with this little guy. I remember seeing it once in the hands of a friend as he pulled it out of an inside pocket of his jacket and thinking, Wow – the perfect pocket pistol! This was in the late ‘70s, before we had all the choices we do today. I wanted a .38 snubby from that day on. Eventually, I scratched that itch by acquiring a S&W model 643 – their humpback, trigger-shrouded snubby – and a Diamondback SDR, a 6-shot, 2-inch .357. Mission accomplished.
The gun has always done alright in terms of sales. Over the years, twenty-six different variations of the 36 have been made, so that tells you the gun was popular.
Here are some photos.
Note the coiled mainspring. Colt and some others use a leaf spring, but S&W has used coiled springs for years in many revolvers. They do, however, use a leaf spring in some revolvers… my old Model 28 had one, as did my 29. I think they use coiled springs in their smaller revolvers.
Something that the original Chiefs Special would not have had is the QR code at the bottom of the grip frame…
… nor the “+P” designation on the barrel.
My engineer son compared the engraving with that of another inexpensive 2” snubby and noted that the S&W lettering was engraved, while the other one used laser etching. A subtle, but noticeable, difference.
Pretender To The Throne
There have been many attempts to reproduce the allure that the original Model 36 holds for shooters by other manufacturers. Above is shown one of the latest… the Heritage Manufacturing Roscoe, a 5-shot .38 Spl. +P revolver. I recently reviewed it and was very favorably impressed, especially with the finish. The bluing was dark and highly polished.
This gun was not a bad buy at a suggested list of $363. It emphasizes the popularity of the breed… a small, reliable revolver that fits in a pocket. The 36 started the trend… actually, it started the whole J-frame line that is alive and well to this day.
Carrying The Chief’s Special
First of all, you might be asking ‘Why would I carry this gun?”. I can give you five good reasons, all .38 Special +P… Five chambers of protection.
Today’s .38 ammunition is not what was available when this little gun first made its appearance. With modern bullets and other technology, the snub-nose revolver has really come into its own. Thirty-eight loads can be on par, or even a bit ahead of, 9mm.
A game-changer when it comes to .38 defensive ammo is the Black Hills Ammunition HoneyBadger 100-grain load. This light-for-caliber bullet is machined from solid copper and has what I jokingly refer to as a Phillips-screwdriver nose. This load hits at 1200 fps and pretty much pulverizes what it hits. I’m also in line to get some Clear Ballistics Gel blocks… look for a future review herein. I’m anxious to combine the two. Check the links out for details. The ammo wasn’t here in time for this review. This ammo truly makes a .38 snubby a viable defense gun.
Many people won’t carry a 5-shot revolver, not because of stopping power issues, but because reloading takes longer than shoving a fresh magazine into a semi-auto takes. That is true, unless you’re an expert on a level with Jerry Miculek. I have not mastered the art. However, we need to look at statistics gathered by the F.B.I. and others about a “typical” … if there is such a thing… self-defense scenario. I have read, from several sources, that most encounters that involve actually firing your gun (and not just showing it) end after an average of 2 – 3 rounds are fired. OK. Even with 3, you’ll still have a couple of extras.
This is in a perfect world, of course, and things seldom go that way, but my point is that you would not necessarily be under-armed with a 5-shot .38. Heck, there are small semi-autos that only hold 6 in the magazine, which is two rounds more with one in the chamber. We’re in the ballpark.
I am not trying to convince you to rush out and buy the first snubby you see… I wouldn’t expect you to do that. I’m only trying to make the point that a 5-shot .38 +P is still a viable self-defense weapon for those who prefer the simplicity of a double-action revolver. Reliability is a given… if it doesn’t go “bang” when you pull the trigger, pull it again.
Anyway, this gun in a pocket holster, a coat pocket, or even on your belt, is a comfort. I have heard of a few folks who carry a 9mm as a primary CCW but have a J-frame in a pocket holster as backup. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
Range Time
I’m always hesitant about shooting snub-nosed revolvers from a bench, as they are more easily fired off-hand. However, it’s the best way to discern the accuracy potential with different types of ammunition.
So, I set up at my backyard range with a few targets at 10 yards, a distance that seems appropriate for the gun’s purpose, and pulled out some Black Hills 125-grain +P JHP ammo.
Here is a representative target:
Even though it hits a bit right with my eyes, it would be an effective defense load. Here are some average stats, as measured by my Athlon Rangecraft Pro radar chronograph:
- Velocity: 804 fps, avg
- Standard Deviation: 14.3
- Kinetic Energy: 180 ft/lbs
- Power Factor: 100.5
These are not earthshaking numbers, but for a snubose, they’re not bad. As I said above, I think you would be well-served by carrying the HoneyBadger (below) or a similar load in this gun. Let’s face it… There’s a great chance you’ll never need it, but it’s good to have something you have confidence in. When I get gel blocks in, I will be getting empirical evidence as to what loads work as advertised, and more importantly, which ones don’t.
I tried a couple more loads that Black Hills Ammunition sent me. I didn’t have it when I started this review, but I thought it might make a good addition. I am truly grateful for their provision.
I tried two “bracket” loads… loads on either end of the velocity spectrum. They make a new version of an old-timey .38 target load – a 148-grain, hollow-base full wadcutter. Out of this S&W’s barrel, it clocked all of 675 fps. I recently acquired an RCBS bullet mould that throws this same bullet, but with a solid base. Very versatile!
Here’s a target. This load shot very high…
The final load I tried was the HoneyBadger .38 Special. Black Hills loads light, solid copper bullets with a fluted nose at ridiculous velocities… this load tends to be extremely effective on soft targets. They explain it here – it makes an interesting read.
Here’s a sample HoneyBadger target. Look for a review soon of this speedy, solid-copper-bullet defense load. Out of the 36’s short tube, it hit almost 950 fps.
Again, a bit high but doable. At 10 yards, there would be no problem keeping shots centered.
It’s interesting to read about shooting drills and other advice geared just towards snub-nose revolvers. I ran across a site that does just that, here. From practical shooting drills to advice on carrying to reloading, this site has some good info.
Summing Up
A J-frame or equivalent snub-nosed revolver is not the easiest gun for a beginner to shoot. I don’t recommend the type to folks who ask my opinion on what their first handgun should be. Considering its small size, rudimentary sights, and its double-action trigger pull weight, the snubby is better employed in the hands of someone who is not a beginner but who is no stranger to handguns in general and revolvers specifically.
But… if you have been considering buying a snubby as a back-up or a pocket gun, I say go for it. The learning curve can be a bit steep, but it’ll be worth it. You might as well pick up an assortment of .38 ammo and do it right. The Model 36 is a classic… maybe it’s time you owned one!
Links To Items Used In This Review:
Black Hills 125-grain JHP ammo and 148-grain HBWC ammo
MTM Case-Gard High-Low Shooting Table
Birchwood Casey Filled Bag
B C Paper Targets
Caldwell EZMax Low-Profile Hearing Protection
Where To Buy
Read the full article here
