Home on the Range
The Smith & Wesson .38 Chief’s Special
By MARJ LAW
Today, we’re discussing the Smith & Wesson (S&W) .38 Chief’s Special revolver.
I find it difficult to shoot this .38 by pulling the trigger. Often, when a guy purchases a handgun for a woman’s safety, he will buy her a .38 revolver.
“It will never jam,” he declares with good intention. “It has lots of take-down power. I’m buying you the very best!”
Well, yes, it does have great take-down power. And, like anything, if you want to shoot it well, you have to practice.
I do not like this gun for the mature beginner shooter, and this is why.
First, we’ll talk about single action. Single action is when you ask the .38’s trigger to do only one job. This is the job of releasing the hammer.
Try it. Fill the cylinder chambers with snap caps. These are dummy cartridges: not real live rounds. Often, they are made of red plastic, but some are a combination of metal and plastic or nylon.
At a range like the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office range, put on ear and eye protection. Aim the gun toward a target when the range is “hot.” Always point the gun in a safe direction; even when you are using dummy rounds.
First, you cock the hammer manually by pulling it all the way back. Then you pull the trigger. Easy peasy. Takes barely a touch on the trigger, and the gun fires.
When Mr. Bad has broken into your home, will you remember to cock the hammer before you try to pull the trigger?
You may not. You may just be scared. Perhaps all you’ll remember is to point and pull the trigger.
OK, you’re still at the range aiming at a target. Pull that trigger without first cocking the hammer.
Aha! It’s much harder now! So, what happens? Nothing?
Put your finger on the trigger up to the first joint. Try to shoot it again. What? Still no go?
OK, put the trigger up to your second joint. Pull that trigger. Can you do it this time? Pull harder! That’s an amazingly hard trigger, isn’t it?
Shooting without first pulling the hammer back is called “double action.” It’s very hard for Newbie to do with this .38.
Double action is when you ask the trigger to perform not just one, but two actions. Did you ever ask hubby to do two tasks at once? Oh, the whining! Two whole jobs?
Remember, in single action, the trigger does just one job. It drops the hammer onto the firing pin.
In double action, the trigger must perform two jobs. It has to first cock that hammer like you did manually in single action. The other action is releasing the hammer. Since you’re asking the trigger to do more work, you’re going to have to pull the trigger harder. A lot harder.
Trigger pull on a Lyman digital scale is just 3 pounds, 10 ounces if you are shooting in single action. In double action, the Lyman scale puts trigger pull at a whopping 12 pounds.
This is why I don’t care for the .38 revolver for mature Newbie. Or for anyone with frail hands, small bones, arthritis or whether male or female. It’s just too difficult to squeeze that trigger if you haven’t already remembered to pull the hammer back when Mr. Bad has smashed your window. How good is your memory? Have you practiced at the range to reinforce your memory?
My memory isn’t all that great. When Mr. Bad comes, I just want to be able to point and shoot. I want to have practiced enough with a gun so much that pointing and shooting is just a case of muscle memory.
Now, Newbie has been given a .38 revolver. Are you going to keep it? Then let’s go back to the WCSO range. When the range is declared “cold,” put up your target. Put on your eye and ear protection. When the range is “hot,” load your .38. Aim with live loads this time. If you have to, slide your index finger up to the first or second joint: whichever works for you. Pull the trigger.
Did I hear you say “Ow ow ow!”? What? Did you squinch your eyes shut? Try again. This time with eyes on the target. Did you hit the target? Try again. Did you put your gun down? Are you shaking your hand back and forth? Going home for the day? Wait a sec!
Shooting your .38 two times isn’t practice. It’s not enough to feel comfortable with your revolver. With this S&W revolver, you have five shots.
You don’t have many rounds, and you haven’t practiced shooting your gun. Can you defend yourself?
Defending your life, or the life of someone you love is a huge deal. Talk to friends who have handguns. Do some research on the computer. Go to a gun store where you trust the owners. Ask their opinions. After your research, go to a range that rents guns, and shoot the one you think you want.
It’s surprising, but the gun that seems to fit your hand best might not be the gun you’ll like the best. I liked the Kimber Solo because it fit my hand really nicely. The trigger wasn’t too hard, but when I tried it out, the recoil was tremendous. I’m fine-boned. A sturdy man may like that particular gun a lot, but it was too much for me.
Finding the right gun is a personal choice. It depends on how well you can manage the gun you choose. Do you like the trigger? Can you manage the recoil? How many rounds do you want to have in your gun? Are you big-boned and sturdy? Are you older and not so strong as you used to be? Is ammunition for the gun you choose readily available and affordable?
No one else can choose the right gun for you except you. The S&W .38 Chief’s Special is a gun that Joe treasures. I’ve shot a lot of handguns, and the .38 has too much recoil for my liking.
Yes, it may never jam. Yes, it has great take-down power.
But, Newbie, is it the gun for you?
Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.