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StackerKen | 03-14-2008 12:20 AM
Old gun Howdy folks My wife has an old S&W 38 Special pistol that belonged to her dad. She tells me it has not been fired in 15 years and the ammo is at least that old probably older Is this Gun Safe to fire? and what about the ammo? Of course I would clean the gun before I tried to shoot it. Any other tips? thanks!

electric-amish | 03-14-2008 12:28 AM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by traderken (Post 1010654) Howdy folks My wife has an old S&W 38 Special pistol that belonged to her dad. She tells me it has not been fired in 15 years and the ammo is at least that old probably older Is this Gun Safe to fire? and what about the ammo? Of course I would clean the gun before I tried to shoot it. Any other tips? thanks!
Keep away from special +P ammo until you get an age of the gun and determine if it can handle it. Have fun and shoot the thing. E-A

LibertyAZ | 03-14-2008 01:06 AM
Re: Old gun I have rifles that are over 100 years old. Your revolver is probably fine. if you are worried about it have a gunsmith take a quick look at it. The oldest ammo I have fired is about 60 years old.

Mumwaldee | 03-14-2008 01:29 AM
Re: Old gun ........................

LukeNM | 03-14-2008 01:38 AM
Re: Old gun If it is a revolver check the indexing of the cylinder to make sure there is not excessive play (movement) or misalignment between the cylinder and the barrel cone. When the cylinder is open make sure there is not too much play and that it locks up tight when closed.

jrog100 | 03-14-2008 09:14 AM
Re: Old gun I don't know. Can you post some pictures. Also, you can take it to your local gun shop and ask them. Just make sure you have it in a case.

DodgebyDave | 03-14-2008 10:33 AM
Re: Old gun I have to echo the take it to a gunsmith, he'll have the tools and the expertise to judge the condition of the gun. The important part is the indexing, and not shooting +P loads until you know if it can handle it.

StackerKen | 03-14-2008 07:23 PM
Re: Old gun Thanks everyone for you replys :D Quote:
Originally Posted by Mumwaldee (Post 1010789) Firearm and ammo both should be fine as long as there is no evidence of corrosion. If the pistol is corroded you'll have to scrub it down and treat it with some kind of lubricant/protectorant. I use CLP, but there are a lot of options out there. If the ammo is corroded...I'd ditch it or talk to a reloader about salvaging them. Show us some pics!
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...rken/mygun.jpg Nope, No corrosion The bullets look good too.:D Gonna go shoot that sucker in the back yard! I'll let you know how it goes

Fullpower | 03-14-2008 07:25 PM
Re: Old gun nice little s&w. used to be called a chiefs special. great little hide out piece

SilverCity | 03-14-2008 08:33 PM
Re: Old gun 3 Attachment(s) Quote:
Originally Posted by traderken (Post 1012125) Thanks everyone for you replys :D http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...rken/mygun.jpg Nope, No corrosion The bullets look good too.:D Gonna go shoot that sucker in the back yard! I'll let you know how it goes
Smith & Wesson Model 60 Stainless 38 spl...will handle +P just fine...YOU might not..:no_ma: I would recommend some bigger grips on it first...like these:

Caligula | 03-14-2008 09:03 PM
Re: Old gun 15 YEARS!!!??? OMG!!!!! That was like the early 90's, or somethin'!!! :confused_ma::banghead:

LibertyAZ | 03-14-2008 10:32 PM
Re: Old gun Silvercity, that last set of grips is beautiful. Agree, Smith Model 60, safe for +P. Best self defense loads for that would be the new Speer Gold Dot 135 grain 38 special +p.

GoldWampum | 03-15-2008 12:38 AM
Re: Old gun Looks in fine shape. Nice piece.

Mumwaldee | 03-15-2008 12:40 AM
Re: Old gun ........................

StackerKen | 03-15-2008 12:55 AM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverCity (Post 1012226) Smith & Wesson Model 60 Stainless 38 spl...will handle +P just fine...YOU might not..:no_ma: I would recommend some bigger grips on it first...like these:
Great advice That would def. make it easier to keep a hold of. Thanks Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet....Went to Costco and wally world and did some more stocking up. Maybe after work tommorrow I have shot quite a few pistols in the past,38, 45, 9mm. My dad was a cop for 30 years. So I grew up going to the range on week ends Been a while though. I was a Purty good shot too. even if I do say so myself :D Thanks guys... I'll let you know when I get a chance to fire it

Lars Ragnarsson | 03-15-2008 04:01 PM
Re: Old gun I have underwear older than that....:D Gun and ammo should be fine as long as they've been kept clean and dry....

TomD | 03-15-2008 04:16 PM
Re: Old gun I've got a 55-year-old Browning A5 shotgun that was my Dad's and there is no problem shooting anything out of that. When you said old gun, I was envisioning an ancient revolver with a cylinder with about 15 degrees of slop.

Dusty | 03-15-2008 05:37 PM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by traderken (Post 1010654) Howdy folks My wife has an old S&W 38 Special pistol that belonged to her dad. She tells me it has not been fired in 15 years and the ammo is at least that old probably older Is this Gun Safe to fire? and what about the ammo? Of course I would clean the gun before I tried to shoot it. Any other tips? thanks!
15 years.. the gun you should not worry..(make sure it is clean and lubed.. In my time have fired 60 + years ammo.... For all of you reading this ,,the really old ammo had primers that were not good for your barrel..(sp) But 15 year ammo.. In my thoughts do not worry.. will be fine... Dusty

Dusty | 03-15-2008 05:39 PM
Re: Old gun Shot gun.. if the rounds are plastic.. cool.. if paper do not try.. But i think paper went out longer than 15 years. .D

elroy | 03-16-2008 11:54 AM
Re: Old gun That is certainly an early version Smith & Wesson model 60. I have one that is identical. I purchased it new in 1977. The papers that came with it said DO NOT use +P ammo. Smith made newer versions in later years that would handle +P ammo but not this one. I have been told that these were popular in Viet Nam as concealed pieces with U.S. soldiers and pilots. Back then a stainless steel gun was a rarity.

SilverCity | 03-16-2008 02:35 PM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy (Post 1014079) That is certainly an early version Smith & Wesson model 60. I have one that is identical. I purchased it new in 1977. The papers that came with it said DO NOT use +P ammo. Smith made newer versions in later years that would handle +P ammo but not this one. I have been told that these were popular in Viet Nam as concealed pieces with U.S. soldiers and pilots. Back then a stainless steel gun was a rarity.
Yes they did back in those days...liability issues I am sure. I would not recommend a steady diet of high pressure loads in any fiream not specifically designed for them. A few +P rounds every once in a great while won't hurt...the gun, that is...I doubt the shooter will ever make a regular habit simply because they ain't no fun to shoot..:thumpdown IMO, simple wadcutters or standard pressure 38 Spl. loads are about as good as it gets performance-wise out of a 2" barrel anyway... For what it's worth, Smith & Wesson AIRWEIGHT alloy J-frames are now +P rated...OUCH! :rant: I can almost GUARANTEE you won't be shootin' many of those. :smokin:

TomD | 03-16-2008 03:03 PM
Re: Old gun I've got a Taurus titanium in 38 that is rated for +P. The pistol is incredibly light, less than a pound but it's no problem to shoot because the barrel is ported. Because of the porting, there is no muzzle flip at all and the perceived recoil is quite low. A lot of what we interpret as recoil is really the barrel flipping up. Get rid of that and follow up shots are much quicker too. I've got another Taurus revolver in .41 Mag with a 4 inch barrel, also ported. I wouldn't want to shoot it unported. Though there is no flip, it comes back with a pretty hard slap. I shot it once on a cold day, after about 18 rounds, my palm was bright red and stinging.

mtnman | 03-16-2008 04:17 PM
Re: Old gun Heck the pistol I carry every day is twice as old as your Chief Special. Most likely there is nothing wrong with that pistol. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...an37879/SW.jpg

twenty4karat | 03-16-2008 05:28 PM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by traderken (Post 1012125) Thanks everyone for you replys :D http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...rken/mygun.jpg Nope, No corrosion The bullets look good too.:D Gonna go shoot that sucker in the back yard! I'll let you know how it goes
This looks like it may be a Model 36, if so, DO NOT USE +P's! If it is a Model 60, it's an older one and may not handle +P's (you'll know when your cylinder jams or blows up in your face). In normal condition it should shoot regular '38's. No need to mess with plus P's anyway. As for indexing, ware safety classes or you'll get shaved lead in your face and/or eyes! If it does, the indexing is worn and out of sync. Either way, always use shooting glasses. Other than that, those grips are fine. They make it highly concealable. You could carry it in your back pocket very easily. Maranatha, :smile:

twenty4karat | 03-16-2008 05:30 PM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnman (Post 1014283) Heck the pistol I carry every day is twice as old as your Chief Special. Most likely there is nothing wrong with that pistol. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...an37879/SW.jpg
That's a "Body Guard Special". Maranatha, :smile:

mtnman | 03-16-2008 05:35 PM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by twenty4karat (Post 1014365) That's a "Body Guard Special". Maranatha, :smile:
Otherwise known as a S&W Model 38 Airweight. This one was special order from the factory with an airweight frame and a stainless cylinder. At least that's what S&W told me.

twenty4karat | 03-16-2008 05:51 PM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnman (Post 1014374) Otherwise known as a S&W Model 38 Airweight. This one was special order from the factory with an airweight frame and a stainless cylinder. At least that's what S&W told me.
Here's both. http://www.snubnose.info/docs/bodyguard.htm http://www.snubnose.info/docs/M637.htm These are great hide a ways and you can shoot them all day long with out any problems. Maranatha, :smile:

SilverCity | 03-16-2008 07:14 PM
Re: Old gun Quote:
Originally Posted by twenty4karat (Post 1014359) This looks like it may be a Model 36, if so, DO NOT USE +P's! If it is a Model 60, it's an older one and may not handle +P's (you'll know when your cylinder jams or blows up in your face). In normal condition it should shoot regular '38's. No need to mess with plus P's anyway. As for indexing, ware safety classes or you'll get shaved lead in your face and/or eyes! If it does, the indexing is worn and out of sync. Either way, always use shooting glasses. Other than that, those grips are fine. They make it highly concealable. You could carry it in your back pocket very easily. Maranatha, :smile:
I beg to differ...the pistol in question is a S&W MODEL 60 .38 Spl, the model 36 is BLUED...all earlier Smith stainless revolvers started with the number "6", as in 60, 64, 65, 66, 67, etc. Current SAAMI pressure limits for .38 Spl and .38 Spl +P are 17,000psi and 18,500 psi (old rating 20,000psi) respectively...NOT a problem for any Smith J-frame I ever owned from the 70's. New J frame Model 60s are also chambered in .357 MAGNUM (35,000psi). You may be thinking of the older revolvers in .38 S&W or New Colt Service cartridge with a 14,500 psi rating...I would not shoot +P in one of those (if you could chamber it). If any doubt lingers, Mr. traderken, call Smith and Wesson yourself and ask them. The .38 S&W (.38 Colt New Police) By Chuck Hawks "Smith and Wesson devised this black powder cartridge in 1877. It was intended for the relatively weak top-break Smith revolvers of the period. Colt also chambered revolvers for the cartridge, which they called the .38 Colt New Police. As I understand it, the only difference was the flat-nose lead bullet loaded in the Colt version of the cartridge. (The S&W version used a 145 grain round-nose lead bullet.) Both claimed a muzzle velocity (MV) of 730 fps and a muzzle energy (ME) of 173 ft. lbs. There was also a variation of the .38 S&W called the .38 Super Police or .38/200. These used a 200 grain LRN bullet at a MV of 620 fps with 176 ft. lbs. of energy."

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