Don't let the forum guys know, but I carry wadcutters in my "J" frame. Also use a set of Pachemir grips.
Jimmy (aka wimp guy).
Jimmy (aka wimp guy).
Model 36 getting uncomfortable to shoot
- Thread starter smithman 10
- Start date
shep854
Member
Wadcutters are wicked little beasts in their own way; they may not blast huge holes, but the ones they cut are nasty.
Might not be as effective as a 40mm grenade, but sure beats a pointy stick!
OP
smithman 10
US Veteran
I believe I'll both practice with and carry this one, when I do, with wad cutters.
Florida_Cracker
Member
You might want to consider a trigger shoe and upgrade the grips. The Performance Center Model 60 comes with walnut grips (S&W 411740000) that convert the round butt to square butt. It made a huge difference to me and I have added these to four of my round frame j-frames. Go on the S&W website and look at them. Some friends tried my j-frames with these grips and four of them ordered their own. They are often back-ordered so be patient.
As for the trigger shoe, I would be cautious of doing business with Tyler right now. There is another active thread on the forum from a member who is trying to take them to court for failure to produce the goods and will not refund.
Malamute
Member
Smooth triggers have become the common fad, though they arent universally preferred by any means. Jerry Miculek has said he prefers grooved triggers, not to mention many of the hot pistol idols of the past, like Ed Mcgivern, Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan, none ever mentioned grinding triggers smooth, though they mentioned various modifications. Mcgivern called most butchery.
Any smiths I come into with smooth triggers get grooved ones installed. Smooth feel slippery and unsure to me, worse with sweat, and no doubt blood on your hands. Some grooved triggers have sharper spots, easily fixed with a triangular ceramic stone, but otherwise they are my absolute favorite. I dont know how many 500-1000 round days I had with the K-22 and its horrid grooved trigger I spent, but never ever felt discomfort from the trigger.
The Pachmayr Compacs are pretty good. Armor All reduces the clingy feel and the rubber odor. I pocket carry a Colt D frame with the pachmeyrs, no issue in Carhartts or LL Bean jeans. Some pocket holsters raise the gun up, I carry no holster or a milk jug holster along with a speed loader in the same pocket to help keep the gun in position and change the print-through of the pocket. It worked for about 15 years with J frame working daily as a carpenter and about 5 with the Colt. If you dont want to change the holster, or the grips because of pocket fit, you can change pockets, or get yours altered a bit by a seamstress to make the grips/holster work, but carhartts work great.
Wadcutters for carry and practice, when that doesnt work any more, 38 short colts should. They make good yard loads for snakes in the 73 carbine
Any smiths I come into with smooth triggers get grooved ones installed. Smooth feel slippery and unsure to me, worse with sweat, and no doubt blood on your hands. Some grooved triggers have sharper spots, easily fixed with a triangular ceramic stone, but otherwise they are my absolute favorite. I dont know how many 500-1000 round days I had with the K-22 and its horrid grooved trigger I spent, but never ever felt discomfort from the trigger.
The Pachmayr Compacs are pretty good. Armor All reduces the clingy feel and the rubber odor. I pocket carry a Colt D frame with the pachmeyrs, no issue in Carhartts or LL Bean jeans. Some pocket holsters raise the gun up, I carry no holster or a milk jug holster along with a speed loader in the same pocket to help keep the gun in position and change the print-through of the pocket. It worked for about 15 years with J frame working daily as a carpenter and about 5 with the Colt. If you dont want to change the holster, or the grips because of pocket fit, you can change pockets, or get yours altered a bit by a seamstress to make the grips/holster work, but carhartts work great.
Wadcutters for carry and practice, when that doesnt work any more, 38 short colts should. They make good yard loads for snakes in the 73 carbine
If you want to shoot fast you need double action and a smooth trigger. If you want to shoot accurately or shoot skunks and snakes, you need single action and trigger does not matter.
If you expect gun fights, you need to be able to shoot one hand, double action is good close, single action mandatory for distance.
If you carry at night, the smartest device you can put on a J frame is a laser, I have 4 on wheel guns, never ever had one fail. Big dots work, but not for me, they still require you to aim, the laser does not, you can shoot without even seeing any part of the gun.
Just decide what the real risk or if no risk, bling it up any way you want.
I no longer carry hammerless guns, my J frames now all have external hammers, after 50 years of pocket carry, they ride in a soft holster and the hammer comes out without a snag on the draw, not an issue once you learn and that preserves my ability to make 50 or even 100 yard hits if need be. My use may be different than others but that gives my j frame a similar capability as my Glock, if need be.
Too many people, in my humble opinion, do not understand the potential of short barrel wheel guns. I have 9s. and 40s, and 10s, and 44s, and 45s and used them all in law enforcement. But thinking back, I have seen more dead people from 22s and 38s than from all others. That suggests the 38 are plenty good enough for most killing chores. An the J frames fit big people and little people one an all. Just saying. There is a reason we all have lots of them.
If you expect gun fights, you need to be able to shoot one hand, double action is good close, single action mandatory for distance.
If you carry at night, the smartest device you can put on a J frame is a laser, I have 4 on wheel guns, never ever had one fail. Big dots work, but not for me, they still require you to aim, the laser does not, you can shoot without even seeing any part of the gun.
Just decide what the real risk or if no risk, bling it up any way you want.
I no longer carry hammerless guns, my J frames now all have external hammers, after 50 years of pocket carry, they ride in a soft holster and the hammer comes out without a snag on the draw, not an issue once you learn and that preserves my ability to make 50 or even 100 yard hits if need be. My use may be different than others but that gives my j frame a similar capability as my Glock, if need be.
Too many people, in my humble opinion, do not understand the potential of short barrel wheel guns. I have 9s. and 40s, and 10s, and 44s, and 45s and used them all in law enforcement. But thinking back, I have seen more dead people from 22s and 38s than from all others. That suggests the 38 are plenty good enough for most killing chores. An the J frames fit big people and little people one an all. Just saying. There is a reason we all have lots of them.
OP
smithman 10
US Veteran
Just got hold of some Pachmyar Compac grips and put them on. They add a layer of rubber over the backstrap but the gun still fits my pocket holster and my jeans pocket as well.
Looking forward to a range session to see how much more comfortable it feels to shoot the 36 with them on the gun.
Looking forward to a range session to see how much more comfortable it feels to shoot the 36 with them on the gun.
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Smooth / wide triggers are available on eBay, gun shows, parts sellers, etc. and can be installed in you r gun. You can also use another serrated trigger and then remove the serrations to smooth it out. Personally I like to keep the original and "operate" on another one, this way the gun is always capable of being returned to factory spec's.
You say the rounds you were shooting were "unknown" so I can only think they are reloads. I am unaware of any factory made ammo that is not marked with the company name and +P designation if that is what they were. My rule is to never fire reloads other than my own.
Years back I was given 200 reloads of .38-55 rifle rounds that had been reloaded - don't know by whom. As some may know .38-55 cases are not easy to find these days and when you do they are pricy! Unwilling to fire someone else's reloads in my prized vintage Marlin, I pulled them apart using the primed case only to make my own reloads. I tossed the powder & bullets themselves as I did not know what they were. I reloaded them with my powder charges and bullets and now I know what I have and can safely shoot them.
You say the rounds you were shooting were "unknown" so I can only think they are reloads. I am unaware of any factory made ammo that is not marked with the company name and +P designation if that is what they were. My rule is to never fire reloads other than my own.
Years back I was given 200 reloads of .38-55 rifle rounds that had been reloaded - don't know by whom. As some may know .38-55 cases are not easy to find these days and when you do they are pricy! Unwilling to fire someone else's reloads in my prized vintage Marlin, I pulled them apart using the primed case only to make my own reloads. I tossed the powder & bullets themselves as I did not know what they were. I reloaded them with my powder charges and bullets and now I know what I have and can safely shoot them.
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