New revolvers at SHOT/Lipsey's release

[Jim Watson]

Being a distributor special, surely this is not what they are advertising as "Smooth."

[mikey357]

Lipsey’s is going to cost me money.

There seems to be a good bit of that same sentiment running around here right about now...

[BarryinIN]

Being a distributor special, surely this is not what they are advertising as "Smooth."

No, that’s the Model 1854 lever action rifle.

[SwampDweller]

I have one of those Lipseys .45 Colt Flattops.

I added a few custom touches to it like putting on the Bisley hammer, but never had to fiddle with the .45 Colt throats.

It is an amazing shooting revolver. This is 5 rounds of 270 grain wide nose Keith SWCs at 20 yards.



Hands down, it is my favorite single action revolver.

I immediately went to Ruger's catalog to see if I could find this. Damn... missed my chance without even knowing it was there.

[SteveThePirate]

Now I have to find a way to afford a 432 and a 632! This is outstanding news that they're bringing back the 32 H&R guns. I've been loving my 432PD, but it's been nearly irreplaceable. These new guns look to be a not insignificant improvement to the old 432 and 332s (except, perhaps, in the weight department, though that's subjective).

I might have to cough up my 640-1, assuming I can be one of the lucky ones to even get in on these guns before they're gone. Here's hoping S&W keeps cranking them out as fast and as long as they can maintain a high level of quality on them, and no faster than that.

[RJ]

Jeez, I'd pretty much sworn off on any new S&W and, 38's for that matter...might have to rethink this. The video was very informative. I may have to have one but, I'm curious about the trigger, they said improved but, now much, how consistent will the improvements be gun to gun...

Same here, it's a great video. I'm not in the market for one, but can definitely see how the sights are a major step up.

I'm interested in the trigger also. Is there any information on the pull weight on the S&W Ultimate Carry J-Frame in .38?

Also: it's stated gun is regulated to "standard pressure 148 gr. Wadcutter loads". Forgive me, but what would be the typical velocity in fps out of a snubby barrel when Lipsey's says "standard pressure WC"? I'm just trying to compare what this gun is regulated to, to the .38 ammo I have on hand. My "standard" for Wadcutter is Federal Gold Medal Match, which Federal says is 690 fps, for instance.

[45dotACP]

as for this 'new trigger' does that mean an Apex kit will not work?

[jlw]

@JEC in regards to sight regulation, are they shooting drive the dot / cover hold, or top of the dot / front sight? May be splitting hairs, but curious either way.

Also assume holster compatibility and the Crimson Trace LG-405 fitment remains the same.

Per DB, drive the dot.

[Stephanie B]

as for this 'new trigger' does that mean an Apex kit will not work?

Or they're being installed at the factory, like the Volpar trigear mod for Beech 18s.

[jtcarm]

You can "bet your bippy" that this is going to be a Lipsey's "allocated" item for high-volume dealers who get on a list. Your LGS may see exactly 1 of these in the next 12 months. And that one may likely end up on GunJoker for a couple hundred over list.

Sorry to poop in the punchbowl, but having shot, carried and qualified with J frames (including at 50 yards) for the better part of 40 years... I'm not feeling the hype on this. An airweight revolver with big VZ grips (an acquired taste in any event) and big sights, for a gun that goes into your pocket or ankle. Hmmm... why don't you just pick a bigger gun if you're going to make it bigger?

The ammunition targeting deserves a double "Hmmm". The .38 Spl version is claimed to be zeroed for 'both the Speer 135 grain GDHP +P and also the 148 grain wadcutter". Say what? Hmmm #1 - those are probably the two least available .38 Spl factory rounds to be found. They make .32 H&R factory defensive ammo - which is scarce - look like a cornucopia. Hmmm #2 - in every single .38 Spl revolver I've fired those two rounds in - and I've lost count - they shot to different points of impact. I can't think of one specimen where they shot to the same POI. Yet in this magical revolver the sun doth shineth in full glory, and the seas are parted. I suppose if you make the target big enough they hit the same place...

S&W made the relatively plain-jane aireweight .32 H&R 431PD and 432 for a few years and for the purposes intended, they worked just fine. I have a 431PD with the tiny little old factory-supplied Uncle Mike's Spegal-inspired boot grips, and it will stay on an FBI Q at 50 yards prone. Other than making what is supposed to be a small gun bigger, I don't see what this new amazing re-hash brings to the table from a practical sense, as opposed to a marketing/selling "the new" point of view.

Hard pass, folks. I get that Lipsey's and S&W are in business to make money. But I like my small guns, well, small. Otherwise, just get a bigger more capable gun. I'll wait for an open-market SKU plain jane version from S&W. Might be a long wait. Better would be a steel-frame exposed hammer model, but that's a pipe dream in today's perceived market.

For those who are salivating, buy one of each!

Plus, the vibe I pick up from everything I read/view about these Lipseys runs is their quality. Which makes sense, Lipseys doesn’t want to put their name on crap guns and demands better quality.

So you have to pay a fat premium just to get Smith to build them right? Then also pay for features you may not even want.