Smith and Wesson 36-7

[OldnTired]

I went shooting for the first time yesterday. Shot a Ruger 357, Glock 17 and a Glock 23. As you can imagine, I'm ready to go again today.

I have this small revolver and would like to start shooting it regularly. So far, it's never been shot. What's the best ammo for longevity here. I love the feel of this little thing and want it to last. I know squat about guns so here I am looking to learn all I can. I've had this 5 shot S&W .38 for 30 years, in the closet?

Here in CA gun laws seem to be strict. You can't find a Glock 9mm for sale, all backordered. I was told by another shooter to buy a 23 and have different size barrels to swap out for more variety. Is this a good idea or not?

 

[jad0110]

Given the age, I'm assuming this is actually a 36-2. The little steel J frames are actually pretty durable. Still I would stick to standard pressure 38 special ammo. Recoil will be more pleasant and the gun won't smack your metal carpal quite as much. I have a 36-1 3" that is a real joy to shoot with Standard pressure 38.

And welcome to the shooting sports and the highroad! You're going to enjoy it here.

 

[1KPerDay]

Any standard .38 special, non +P round will work fine and do no damage to your Model 36. +P are probably fine also, though you may not enjoy shooting them as much. You might want to try some more hand-filling grips, or add a tyler T-grip to yours. They are great revolvers.

Welcome to the addiction.

A .40 glock with 9mm conversion barrels makes a lot of sense if you can't get hold of them easily. One pistol can run .40, .357 SIG, and 9mm with just barrel changes. You may want to get some 9mm magazines also but mine works fine with .40 mags.

 

[Waveski]

Welcome .

So - you own just 1 handgun. It is , however , a dandy! The Smith & Wesson model 36 Chief's Special is the standard against which all snub nose revolvers are measured. You will never wear it out shooting standard pressure .38 special. Inexpensive LRN would be just fine.

I envy you for that revolver. Enjoy!

Addendum -
You owe us a picture of your Chief.

 

[OldnTired]

I didn't say that was my ONLY gun?

Around the same time I bought the S&W 36, I picked up and older model Ruger GP100 also, which also took 30 years to shoot. I know this sounds stupid, but I've been busy when I was working. My son who is younger than both guns (23 yrs old) took me to a pistol range yesterday and I found a new hobby that I now have plenty of time to enjoy. My S&W 36 does have 36-7 stamped on it. Anyone know what the 7 means?

 

[OldnTired]

Upsidedown Pictures

They were right side up over here.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

I think you are off by about ten years - the serial number on that GP100 indicates 1995 production. The -7 indicates the seventh change to the Model 36; one of the S&W experts will no doubt be along soon to explain what was changed.

 

[OldnTired]

Thanks for the Welcome and the Responses

I am glad to find a place to talk about guns. I will try to keep up with you guys, being a greenhorn for now. The only other forum I've ever been on is for my motorcycle (Honda F6B) and this is set up similarly and I'm on there a lot. I hope to hang out with everyone here quite a bit as well.

 

[rcmodel]

The 36-7 change took place in 1990.
So it can't be over 26 years old.

The sight width was changed from 1/10" to 1/8" on the -7 model.

That was the only change.

While I agree standard pressure loads will be more pleasent to shoot.
+P won't hurt it a bit either.

rc

 

[OldnTired]

You are right?

I looked for the receipts for both guns and they were both bought in '96. Paid $249.99 for the 36 (new) and $299 for the Ruger (used), man, prices have changed for sure. Sorry for the lapse in my timing. It seems like it was 30 years ago. I have the arthritis to prove that part. Thanks, Sergei.

 

[Monster Zero]

They appear to be well taken care of, but one thing I like to mention is DON'T store a firearm in any case or bag, etc. It will trap moisture against the firearm and cause it to rust. Store it instead in a relatively dry and (obviously) secure place NOT in a case.

Also I suggest getting a simple cleaning kit to clean them up after each time you go shoot. This is the beauty of revolvers, the simplicity and ease of ownership.

Use eye and ear protection, and save your empties. Store them in paper bags in a dry place. You'll figure out why in time...

 

[Twiki357]

If it’s a 36-7, it would only be 26 years old at most. They came out in 1990. Any standard ammo is good to go. It will handle +P, but I would not recommend a regular diet. That rubber grip you have on it should work just fine.

As for the 36-?, S&W would change the dash indicator when there was a change made to the gun. It’s a good gun and I’m sure you will like it. I do. That’s why I have 7 of them.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

They appear to be well taken care of, but one thing I like to mention is DON'T store a firearm in any case or bag, etc. It will trap moisture against the firearm and cause it to rust. Store it instead in a relatively dry and (obviously) secure place NOT in a case.

...

Not 100% correct. I have at least 40 firearms in cases and have been storing them that way for years and have never had a speck of rust....You have to use common sense. I never put them in a wet case. I always let them acclimate up to room temp before closing the case. I store them in a humidity controlled environment. And of course, I wipe them down with a good oil before recasing.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just a warning, don't expect to be able to shoot that revolver well right away. The trigger is heavy and the slight picture short. With practice you will improve, I just don't want you to get discouraged. Buy a set of snap caps and do a lot of dry fire practice. It will improve your trigger control greatly. Welcome aboard, it's a great ride!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

When the Model 36 first came out it had a different thumbpiece. This was a carry over from the earlier Chief's Special.





In 1966 the thumbpiece was changed and the earlier version became known among collectors as the Flat Latch version.





Your Model 36 has a more modern thumbpiece on it. Unfortunately I do not know what year that particular change was made.

 

[Jim K]

For one new to shooting small revolvers, I suggest starting with wadcutters, light target loads that have good accuracy and low recoil.

Jim

 

[Jeeper.45]

At first I was thinking it was a pinned barrel model and thinking, don't shoot it, but in the pic the latch looks like it's mim, so have fun and plink away..

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

At first I was thinking it was a pinned barrel model and thinking, don't shoot it, but in the pic the latch looks like it's mim, so have fun and plink away..

Why shouldn't anybody shoot a S&W revolver with a pinned barrel?

I have dozens of them. I shoot them all the time.

 

[Jeeper.45]

Driftwood I was kinda lookin at it from a collectors standpoint, when I seen em say its in unfired condition, I know they quit pinning the barrels and recessing the cylinders in 82..

 

[Panzerschwein]

Here in CA gun laws seem to be strict.

Ya think?

I love me a Model 36, the airweight Model 37 is even better.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Driftwood I was kinda lookin at it from a collectors standpoint, when I seen em say its in unfired condition, I know they quit pinning the barrels and recessing the cylinders in 82..

I'm a collector. Having a pinned barrel never stopped me from firing a revolver.

 

[Jeeper.45]

Some of the folks I know that collect smiths won't shoot an unfired revolver, my model 25 mountain gun didn't have a turn line, but it sure was fun putting 1 on it..

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Getting a little bit off topic here, but there are two types of collectors.

There are some guys who spend a great deal of money on revolvers. I'm talking tens of thousands of dollars. Some of these guns will be valuable because of historical provenance, or maybe because it is an exceedingly rare gun, or because it is a pristine example of an old gun.

Then there are guys like me. Sometimes we call ourselves acquirers instead of collectors. We add to our collections for a variety of reasons. Sometimes because we find a variation of a gun that we don't already own, sometimes because something about an old gun appealed to us. Generally speaking, guys like me don't spend tens of thousands of dollars on a firearm. Oh, I have dropped a pretty penny on a few, but not that much. So guys like me, acquirers, generally are not reluctant to fire an old gun in our collections.

I'm reminded of a story I heard a while back. A guy at a gunshow dropped a good chunk of change on a beautiful old Colt that the dealer claimed had never been fired, not even turned. So as soon as the deal was completed, the new owner gleefully cocked the hammer and worked the action staring right at the dealer. In my book, that was unnecessary. Yeah, the guy had paid the money and the gun was his and he could do anything he wanted with it. He could even tie it to his bumper and drag it down the street if he wanted to. But rubbing the dealer's nose in it like that, I just think that was uncalled for.

 

[rcmodel]

Same here.
Over the years I have 'acquired' a pretty nice bunch of very nice old guns.

Never paid too much for any of them.

And I never left an unfired example NIB any longer then it took me to go shoot them.

That includes a new Colt SAA, and more S&W's and old Colts then I care to keep track of.

Shooting them doesn't hurt the value that much, if you take care of them properly.
And take care of the box & paperwork.

rc

 

[Malamute]

For one new to shooting small revolvers, I suggest starting with wadcutters, light target loads that have good accuracy and low recoil.

Ding! Ding! Jim K for the win.

The 148 grain Mid Range Wadcutters are the lightest loads commonly available for the 38 special. They aren't as common as in the past, but you can either order them yourself (if allowed in your area) or have a shop get them.

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/38-special/-handgun-148grains-