Should I carry a S&W Model 36?

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If you want to carry a revolver, a J-frame S&W is a great bet. You've acknowledged the 5-shot capacity...when I carry my S&W 642, either OWB or IWB, I use Federal HST 110 gr JHP and a speed loader with another 5 in my pocket. I would choose a hammerless model to minimize likelihood of snagging on the hammer at the draw rather than the 36 with the exposed hammer. The 642 is pleasant to carry but not to shoot with its Aluminum frame.

I much prefer to carry a semi-auto for increased capacity and ability to shoot a more potent round than .38spl. My usual is either a 1911 in .45ACP or a Springfield XD40sc with one spare mag. That gives my 17 shots with my 1911 or 22 shots with my sc, loaded with one short mag and a full size mag as a spare.

Harry
 
Very good carry gun. I used to have one that I carried in an ankle holster. However, I sold the S&W for a Colt Detective which carries 6 shots.

The only con to carry of a 36 or 60 would be it's only 5 shots.
 
Flatbush Harry said:
If you want to carry a revolver, a J-frame S&W is a great bet. You've acknowledged the 5-shot capacity...when I carry my S&W 642, either OWB or IWB, I use Federal HST 110 gr JHP and a speed loader with another 5 in my pocket. I would choose a hammerless model to minimize likelihood of snagging on the hammer at the draw rather than the 36 with the exposed hammer. The 642 is pleasant to carry but not to shoot with its Aluminum frame.

I much prefer to carry a semi-auto for increased capacity and ability to shoot a more potent round than .38spl. My usual is either a 1911 in .45ACP or a Springfield XD40sc with one spare mag. That gives my 17 shots with my 1911 or 22 shots with my sc, loaded with one short mag and a full size mag as a spare.

Harry
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I know this sounds dumb, but I much rather like the look of a exposed hammer and I would like the option to shoot the gun single action if needed. Have you had any issue snagging the hammer on a piece of clothing while drawing IWB? I plan to carry it IWB.
 
I'm in the there's basically two levels of need for a CCW there's one where the BG is easily detoured and one where they're determined. Most anything will work for the first and I have no idea how much the second will take.
I split time between a LCR and a Hellcat.
 
Pros: this gun will get the job done very well and a J-frame S&W snubbie is a great choice in the genre.

Cons: A model 36 “Chief’s Special” is an all-steel old school gun and so is heavier than an equivalent in alloy or a polymer framed Ruger LCR. Yet, despite being heavier it still has enough recoil to make shooting it somewhat unpleasant. So to me it’s “neither fish nor fowl” and wouldn’t be my own choice for that reason alone.

To consider also: old school blued steel guns are becoming something of a collector’s item and while still being accessible at a nice price, if I personally were going to carry one I’d try to find one that was already carried some, shot little, and that way I wouldn’t be tempted to obsess about its finish as I holster or unholster the gun, sweat in the summer, etc.

Whether you carry extra ammo is entirely a personal choice. I would not. But I prize light weight and simplicity over firepower. Some would carry not one, but two speedloaders.
 
They are a fine little piece. I have a642 and love shooting it. They are nice but sadly only give you 5 and are a bit porky to boot . I will prefer my LCP with 8 rounds and a much tidier package to boot. Just personal preference here though as they all will do the job if needed.
 
I think its a good choice as long as you know its limitations. I prefer my 442 because of the lighter weight. I like 110gr bullets because they make a big difference in recoil over the standard 158gr loads. I would carry at least one speed strip. Its a slow reload but at least you have spare ammo with you.

If you can find a copy of "The Snubby Revolver" by Ed Lovett get it. Its out of print now and sells for stupid prices but I promise you will never look at your snub the same way again.
 
When I carried (I do not have a permit for CA where I exist now) I mostly carried my S&W 442, though I own a model 36. The 442 is lighter and I carried it in my jacket pocket or pants pocket depending on the weather. The 36 was strictly holster and ankle holster carry because of the hammer and the possibility of snags. Carry a 36 on your ankle for a day and you know discomfort, regardless of the holster configuration. When I wore a jacket (I ride motorcycles so I pretty much always wore a jacket) I carried 2 HKS speed loaders in one pocket and the revolver in another. When I pocket carried without a jacket I carried a speed strip or two in my pants pockets.
 
Mosin77 said:
Pros: this gun will get the job done very well and a J-frame S&W snubbie is a great choice in the genre.

Cons: A model 36 “Chief’s Special” is an all-steel old school gun and so is heavier than an equivalent in alloy or a polymer framed Ruger LCR. Yet, despite being heavier it still has enough recoil to make shooting it somewhat unpleasant. So to me it’s “neither fish nor fowl” and wouldn’t be my own choice for that reason alone.

To consider also: old school blued steel guns are becoming something of a collector’s item and while still being accessible at a nice price, if I personally were going to carry one I’d try to find one that was already carried some, shot little, and that way I wouldn’t be tempted to obsess about its finish as I holster or unholster the gun, sweat in the summer, etc.

Whether you carry extra ammo is entirely a personal choice. I would not. But I prize light weight and simplicity over firepower. Some would carry not one, but two speedloaders.
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Any idea where to find nice used snubbys like this one? I looked on the sportsmans warehouse website and they looked newer and more expensive. Should I check pawn shops?
 
Nothing wrong with a J frame S&W revolver. In Arizona heat is an issue, sweat is an issue. I would be inclined to look at one of the stainless revolvers like a Model 60, 637 or 638 (638 gives the best of both worlds in which your hammer is shrouded but still able to be cocked. A new J frame is probably going to be cheaper than an older pristine Model 36 also. But that being said, the Model 36 is a great gun. I have been carrying a Model 640 Centennial for almost 30 years.
 
I have carried a Model 38 when in "revolver mode" for competition with bigger guns.

A Model 36 with a lanyard loop seems a bit odd.

I know Chic Gaylord wrote of the advantage of being able to shoot a CCW single action but it is not important to me. That M38 has the odd shrouded hammer that you can cock if you want to bad enough, but I don't.
 
cokehayes45 said:
I know this sounds dumb, but I much rather like the look of a exposed hammer and I would like the option to shoot the gun single action if needed. Have you had any issue snagging the hammer on a piece of clothing while drawing IWB? I plan to carry it IWB.
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Yes. I cannot recommend carrying a 36 either IWB or in a pocket. I do often carry my 36 in an older OWB holster.
 
I don't carry CCW - at all, ever - but I do carry on a belt around the neighborhood. We're pretty rural so it's not unusual to be armed in the fields and pastures. Typically I carry a .38 or .357, mostly a single-action or sometimes a small revolver. I carry for varmints and vermin of the four-legged variety. Two-legged vermin also but they're more rare in these parts. A good .38 with a heavy bullet is enough for a rabid coyote or domesticated dog gone rogue, dumped off by some city folk, or born wild. Even good dogs can be a problem after a few days without food and water.

And then there are the smaller critters prone to rabies: fox, raccoon, rats, etc. A .22 or .32 is fine for raccoons and smaller but a .38 is always better.

I have a Rossi 3" Model 68 I like to carry - a decent revolver similar in size and weight to the S&W 36 - in a Blackhawk holster. This revolver has been modified by a gunsmith: the hammer has been bobbed and re-weighted for good primer hits, the single-action notch and catch are removed (making it a DAO), the release spring has been replaced with a stiffer spring, and the grips is a S&W smooth wood finger-groove compact grip cut to fit the Rossi. I carry handloads in it: 200gr. Hunter's FNHC over 4gr. of Unique. It's a pretty stout load but easily manageable.

Rossi and Knife.jpg

The knife is a 4" Damascus steel with Buffalo horn that goes with me pretty often. I've found a good knife to be a good companion. The cup of coffee is a MUST!
 
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cokehayes45 said:
Any idea where to find nice used snubbys like this one? I looked on the sportsmans warehouse website and they looked newer and more expensive. Should I check pawn shops?
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Pawn shops and club swap meets are always good sources of used firearms. I bought my Rossi as a parts gun and got it running on my own with some parts off the internet. Once it was running and reliable it went to a gunsmith I've known since he was in junior high and got a good working over - for free. :) I have a total of $50 invested in the gun and holster.

Rossi and Ammo.jpg
 
you will get over a dozen people tell you yes or no on this issue alone. based on your question I'm guessing that you are very new to carrying a gun for personal protection, and probably do not carry any gun right now. so, to your question, yes.
 
Always had a soft spot for the Model 36 when I was first starting out with snubnose revolvers; also had a preference for the 3" barrel/round butt version as it gave me a longer sight radius and handled slightly better versus it's shorter barreled brethren. Then from the Model 36 I transitioned to the Model 38 as I liked the concealed hammer design and that if need be you could carry it in a coat pocket with less of a chance of snagging the pocket lining with the exposed hammer on the Model 36. Some time later I picked up a Model 649 as I finally found a worthy replacement to my Model 38 and then a few years back I bought a new Model 638 as I was looking for something a bit lighter in weight for warm weather carry. As to holsters I really like the DeSantis SOF-TUCK IWB model. Very comfortable and secure to wear for long periods of time. I also carry spare ammo on two Bianchi Speed Strips.
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GeoDudeFlorida
The knife is a 4" Damascus steel with Buffalo horn that goes with me pretty often. I've found a good knife to be a good companion.
Click to expand...

Like the Rossi and the knife! I use to have a Rossi Model 88, stainless steel with a 3" barrel. It was my slightly over sized Kit Gun that I took with me on many a backwoods hike.

Sometimes I will carry my Model 649 along with a fixed blade knife like a Gerber Mk.I just so they can keep me and each other company on those late night dog walks!
aj3o7Ek.jpg
 
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