Originally Posted by Ruger71

Trying to educate myself. Looks like the Airweights start around $500 and price quickly goes to the $700-$900 range rather quickly. What do the higher end ones offer that the lower ones don't? I am looking for a car carry/CCW revolver in 38+p or 357. Thanks for the help.

S&W 642 if you are willing to stick with standard pressure .38 spcl (I do!) and 640 if you absolutely must have +P or .357 capability. I own both and love them. High end (S&W) means getting a better made and more reliable gun. Go with a used S&W before going cheaper new! I have a Taurus 85 and use it for" shop gun" when cleaning my other guns, but I don't EDC it.

Originally Posted by wjh2657

S&W 642 if you are willing to stick with standard pressure .38 spcl (I do!) and 640 if you absolutely must have +P or .357 capability. I own both and love them. High end (S&W) means getting a better made and more reliable gun. Go with a used S&W before going cheaper new! I have a Taurus 85 and use it for" shop gun" when cleaning my other guns, but I don't EDC it.

LOL

Used ones don't exist where I'm at. What few that do are new price.

Try this link: http://www.shootersjax.com/ . You can get a 642 for $450, including shipping; $620 with CT grips. I bought one there and they're super quick shipping to you.

Originally Posted by Ruger71

What do the higher end ones offer that the lower ones don't?

Lighter weight, attained by the use of more expensive alloys.

It costs quite a lot to decrease the overall weight by a couple of ounces......

Originally Posted by Ruger71

Trying to educate myself. Looks like the Airweights start around $500 and price quickly goes to the $700-$900 range rather quickly . . .

I bought a new 642 Centenial (inclosed hammer) last fall for $400 at a local gunshop. Having five gunshops here helps "price competition". I bought CT Lasergrips, the newer "short" version. $219 off the 'Net from OpticsPlanet.net.

It's for CCW and car "console" use. I keep it in a DeSantis "Super Fly" pocket holster to protect it in my console.And a El Paso Saddlery belt slide for strong side "behind the hip" carry.
My aluminum frame and stainless cylinder gun is rated +P. And, weighs 15 ounces. It's .38 Special only. Including +P.

The more expensive models are "Scandium" alloy. I agree with the above, getting a couple of ounces less weight considering the big price hit for "Scandium" doesn't make much sense.

Nor does getting the .357 Mag/.38 Special versions. You get a 1/8" longer cylinder. And a WHOLE lot more recoil and muzzle blast with .357 ammo. I tried a friend's .357 snubby. One time on the range.
Go ahead. Buy the .357 Mag version. Try .357 Mag ammo once. Use .38 Spl the rest of the gun's life.

+P in my 15 oz. gun "Airweight" is further than I want to go with recoil. I use "regular" .38 Spl. Premium self-defense loads. It's a VERY nice gun.
If you get one, shoot it a LOT in the beginning. It needs a lot of practice to "master". The gun has "almost no" sight radius. Lasergrips really, REALLY help accuracy.