Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Are new S&W Airweights any good?

I am still considering different handguns for light weight carry. I've heard disparaging remarks about the new Smiths. What if any issues do new 38sp Airweights have? If an older model would be better, what years should I look for? Does anyone else make a better-quality light weight 38sp?

Generally, I'd recommend a pre-lock. Even better, a pre-82.

Here's my pre-82 S&W Model 38 "Airweight Bodyguard," .38 Special, wearing modern made S&W rubberized grips. Aluminum frame.

AIRWEIGHT:


or, AirLite:

Well,I don't know. Which is better?

There’s a filler commercially available for the lock:

I know, but the period that started with the lock also marked a decrease in general quality control. Just like there's nothing special about a pinned barrel, it serves as a demarcation of a new period in S&W manufacturing that also featured a slight reduction in general quality.

Depends on what you want. The AirLite is the lightest by a few ounce, due to its Titanium cylinder and aluminum barrel shroud, but shoots just fine (though it do kick some). The AIRWEIGHT feels less like a toy, but is still substantially lighter than an all steel J-Frame.

Airweight models feature aluminum alloy frames. Airlite models feature scandum alloy frames which combine lightweight with (supposedly) the strength of steel.

The AIRWEIGHT was also made with a 3” barrel. But, they are quite hard to find, and priced accordingly:
This one cost an arm, but thankfully not also a leg.

The above-shown AirLite is a Model 342 in .38SPL. More commonly seen, is the Model 340 in .357MAG, most examples having been fired very little before their previous owners quickly tired of the beating it gave them. Of course, .38SPL ammo can certainly be used in a Model 340.

The Centennials are the way to go with newer guns, though. Their actions feel much better than the newer exposed hammer S&W revolvers. While there’s not nearly as much pride in ownership of a newer S&W revolver, it’s also not as traumatizing when necessarily surrendering it to the cops after a self defense shooting.

And you can get them without the key lock.

Thank you. That's the kind of info I was wanting. I'll look into a Centennial. I have never heard of them before.

I have a whole bucket full of these jframes and have 1/2 dozen new ones. The new ones are just fine for me. You can get a 642 with no lock and a 340. The 340 is great but is in 357. Shoot standard pressure 38s or if you handload or shoot reduced 357s. I narrow the front sight on my 642s. Despite being al framed, the 642 holds up.
S.

Bought a 442-2 Airweight, trigger was stiffer than I like so installed Wolff springs and it's been a great shooter.

One distinct advantage of the Centennials, not realized by novice revolver shooters, is the ability to get the shooting hand much higher up on the backstrap than is possible with exposed hammer revolvers. This makes a huge difference in their accurate double action shootability, though single action is obviously not an option with a Centennial.

Damn flyer.

I always liked an exposed hammer fired J-frame. I had an early stainless model 60 .38 Special +P, but at 22 ounces, it was more than I wanted to carry around in a pocket. S&W made the lightest hammer fired Scandium frame pre-lock .38 Special +P back in 2000 called the model 337PD. Mine weighs 10 ounces empty and 12 ounces loaded. In 2002 they made it the 337PD-2 two more years and included the lock. My model 60 was sold and replaced by that 337PD at half the weight. It gets carried, but isn't shot very often.

Just grab a 442 or 642.

Load it up with some good full wadcutters from a reputable manufacturer, get some practice in, and carry on.

There are literally thousands and thousands of them carried every single day and problems are exceedingly rare.

If there is an issue, Smith will take care of you.

I bought a new 642 two years ago and it is well made and finished. The action is as crisp and smooth as any factory J-Frame I have ever handled from any era. The only change I made was to replace the factory grip with a Hogue Boot Grip, because the original S&W Boot Grip did not have quite enough clearance for use with HKS speedloaders.

I think the new J-Frames are just fine.

I carried one for years as my warm weather off duty. My agency changed its off duty policy about 6 years ago and revolvers were not permitted. I was one of three LEO s in my agency who still carried a revolver. That gun was so easy to hide and carry. You never knew I was armed.

What possible reason could they have to bar revolvers for off duty carry?