S&W 351 PD trigger pull.

[38snapcaps]

I'm considering buying one of these revolvers. Could anyone tell me how the trigger pull compares to a 642-same, lighter, or heavier?

What do you think of this for a carry gun? It's an Airlite so that would be nice, it has more shots than my 642, and the .22 mag round, from what I've read, seems plenty potent.

 

[Steve_NEPhila]

The pull depends upon the final revolver fitter and the day of the week. In short, they are all just a little different across a broad spectrum. However, it is not anything a good gunsmith cannot fix.

As for the .22 Mag for a defensive round, not bad if you are fighting off rabbits. People are pretty robust and strong, I would advise against using such a low powered round for defense from people. Extra ammo does not do very much good if it has little effect on the target.

I have a 642 that had an action job by a master gunsmith that shoots two inch groups offhand at 10 meters! Needless to say, we are very intimate friends. If ammo capacity has you concerned practice speed loading the right way until you get fast and precise. Here is a video on loading a revolver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVWwOahGf8&feature=related

 

[Old Fuff]

Actually the factory doesn't fit lockwork anymore, that's too labor intensive - and therefore expensive. Now revolvers are just assembled.

Also because of it's rimfire construction, any revolver chambered in .22 WRM requires an extra strong mainspring to be reliable. You can expect a heavier trigger pull, and will have to learn to live with it or risk misfires.

As far as the cartridge is concerned, The U.S. Border Patrol's ace shooter, Bill Jordan recommended the .22 Magnum for use in ultra-light back-up guns, and unlike most advise you get on the Internet he had "been there and done that" when it came to gunfights. You do however, have to depend on precise accuracy and bullet placement, and he was good at both.

 

[Jim Watson]

Interesting point on the Wolff site:
The standard mainspring for centerfire J-Smiths is 8.5 lb, reduced is 8, extra is 9.
The standard mainspring for rimfire J-Smiths is 12 lb.
Unfortunately they do not make anything between 9 and 12 lb. They don't even make a 12 that you could clip.
A real gunsmith might could get everything just right and make a .22 shoot with the 9 lb, but just swapping springs in a stock gun would be problematical.

I saw a M317 .22 LR in a local store that had a very manageable DA. But it was in the used gun case and who knows what kind of spring may have been substituted. I had to bite my tongue and get out before I told them that I would buy it if it was reliable in their shop range.

Chick Gaylord, based on his access to NYPD and no doubt the morgue, said the then-new .22 WRM left a worse wound than a .38 Special. Of course this was in 1960 and the 158 gr RN was about it unless you were very adventurous and shot the 200 gr Super Police.

 

[mbr]

I love my 351PD, it is one of my favorite handguns. It has enough pop to know you are firing a real gun, but much easier, and cheaper, to shoot than a centerfire. the spring is stout, but mine has a pretty smooth, short, trigger that is easy to control. It is great training for the larger caliber j-frames which do make more sense for most defense needs, though my 351PD is the one I take with me to the woods most often, mostly due to its light weight.

Some interesting information about .22mag: http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page1504.htm