My J frames got retired when I got an alloy 396, then an alloy 325 with a 2 1/2 barrel. Only auto I own is a alloy framed 1911 and 3 ruger 22 pistols.

On this board the J-frame will never be dead. But nostalgia aside, people are not buying many revolvers when compared to the small plastic guns.

I work part-time in the LGS. People come in everyday looking for the smallest, cheapest handgun with the highest capacity available. Prior to the arrival of the P365, the PPS 9mm and Ruger EC9 as well as the small 380s were all the rage.

Recoil is not a concern to most of them as they have no intention of actually shooting or practicing with their chosen pistol - beyond the anemic requirements to obtain a carry permit. And in this state you need not qualify with the pistol you intend to carry. You can fire the 30 shots from the 3, 5 and 7 yard line using a 22. And many do.

Try to suggest a revolver to them so they can learn how to shoot or for safety reasons due to their complete lack of experience using a handun and you are met with derision. "Those are out of style" "They only hold 5 shots" "The trigger pull is too hard" are some of the excuses I hear on a daily basis as a reason for buying a small semi auto rather than trying a J-framed size revolver.

So while the small single stack.......and now double stack plastic pistols might not have killed the J-frame HERE, among members on an enthusiasts board, they are FAR surpassing them in sales elsewhere.

Personally, I prefer a small semi auto. A CS9 replaced a 640-1, for me. Thin, light weight and 8 rounds vs 5 rounds. Easier to carry and conceal all day. Faster to reload. Easier to practice with.

No matter what you choose to buy or carry, practicing with it will be the key to whether it "works" or "is enough". And my experience working over 200 GSW Homicides has taught me that you will be out of time long before you are out of ammunition. No matter what you are carrying. My 0.02 Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

The Beretta subcompact is a little easier to shoot with it’s DA:SA mode. The recoil spring absorbs a lot of recoil.

I have a lot of practice with Jframes. They are tough guns to shoot well. After a ton of practice, I can do 3 inch groups at 8 yards double action.

Ballistically, the .38+p from a 2.2 inch barrel doesn’t match the .40 from a 3 inch. And the .40 gets tempered by the slide and recoil spring. The .357 mag from the 2.2 snub is more comparable to the .40 from a 3 inch: and the full magnums do hurt more from the snub than the .4o from the Beretta.

I still love the J frame. The 649 is one of my most favorite guns of all time. But the Beretta has significant advantages.

This, right here, is the issue...you nailed it.

I'm no expert, nor do I claim to be, but I'll say that I'm known to those in my life as the "gun guy". People come to me for advice on these matters. My response always contains the advice of "shoot the gun, often...when you're done with that, shoot it some more." More often than not, I get this look and that's as far as it goes.

We're all gun-people here, this is hobby for us and quite often, a way of life. For them, it's a tool and they confuse it with a hammer. Pull it out when you need it, bang on some stuff, throw it back in the bag. No practice, no time spent choosing the tool in the first place.

I've often told people that manufacturers make what people want, not what they need. If there's a demand for something stupid, they'll make it. Just because something exists, doesn't make it best, or best for you.

Micro semi auto pistols are not for the novice. They require skills and skills require time. Most aren't willing to put in that time. I have the same stance on mega caliber revolvers. Handing some novice shooter a short barreled 500 magnum are the ingredients for disaster.

Amen! The last 6 people who came in and purchased 380 mouse guns had never even fired a handgun. Ever.

They ignored our collective advice to go down the street to the local range and rent and shoot one first. Two of them had a hard time even racking the slides.

And J-frames require a lot of practice to be proficient. They are not a good choice for most "first time" buyers. I come across very few folks who are going to practice. Their usual response is; "....ammo is too expensive. I cant afford to practice." My response is that they cannot afford not to. Especially if they are going to carry the gun.

But, deferred gratification and learning from others is apparently no longer en vogue. These folks buying guns have the internet and gun rags. Thats where they get their information from about the guns they want to purchase. And no manufacturer would lie in their advertising. Right? Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I MUST AGREE WITH YOU. WHENEVER I SEE YOUNG NOVICE SHOOTERS ON THE RANGE, THEY ARE INVARIABLY ARMED WITH HI-CAP SEMI-AUTOS, THAT ARE USUALLY 9MMs. VIRTUALLY NONE OF THEM ARE SHOOTING A REVOLVER......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.