In .38 Special I "enjoy" shooting the all steel versions better than the Airweights...

but I'd rather conceal carry the AW models. Obviously.

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Bill - SWCA #2327

For a pure CIVILIAN(defensive/reactive compared to proactive/intentional engagment like Police or the Military) self-defense gun, there is probably no better choice than a enclosed hammer snub for most situations. The reason being that a snub revolver is the hardest handgun to disarm from it's right owner and the enclosed will allow it operate even during a grappling encounter, entangled in clothing and even function if fired from a pocket compared to a larger revolver with an exposed hammer etc.

If your only interested in recreational shooting at cans and paper targets, then I can see why a J-frame may not be someones cup of tea. However, if personal defense is your main concern, it's a great choice due to fact being the vast majority of civilian self-defense encounters erupt suddenly at close quarters. If the grip is too small, then simply change them out for full size combat grips like I did which will improve weapon retention capabilities even more.

The fun in shooting j-frames comes from the fact they are so challenging to shoot (at least for me). They may not be what I choose to shoot when I'm serious about shooting out the x-ring at 25 yards, but for their intended purpose they are great. Plenty of challenges there. Try dumping five quick shots into a desert plate sized group at 3 to 7 yards. When you get that down, try it strong hand only. When that is no longer a challenge do it weak hand only. Work on quick reloads and shooting on the move, ...

J-frames are challenging but rewarding. While I might be a "better" shooter with my 952s, K-frames and N-frames than my J-frames, I came to the conclusion that if I ever need a gun unexpectedly, the J-frame is probably the gun I'll have with me. The fun comes in trying to get as competent as possible with the gun in scenarios for which the gun was designed.

To each their own, but for me, j-frames are challenging and fun -- just don't expect them to compete with a tuned model 41 in a bullseye contest.

^^+1^^ Me neither, but I like my J frame.

I carried a Model 342ti as a back up for several years in the field and as a primary when I worked as an administrator. Great carry gun. I used to tell people that it was 364 days of pleasure and one day of pain (day/night annual qualification). I moved on to small semi auto's until retirement and now primarily carry a Kahr P380 daily. That said, I still have a warm place in my heart for a J frame S&W.

I like J frames. My 38's and 9mm are not fun to shoot but are nice to carry.

I guess it is a matter of what you like.I believe in the adage"Shoot what you carry and carry what you shoot." I carry a J frame Model 36 or one of my Detective Specials so that is what is used at the range for practice.If you want to carry a heavier gun then go for it

I love my J frames and I do enjoy shooting them. All of mine are .38s. the one I shot that was a .357 I did not enjoy shooting.

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Support your Police, & NRA

love all my j frames carry one every day off duty and as a back up.
But then again I like all snubs 2 to 3 inches.

Granted, if you're just going to the range, perhaps the j frame isn't the best choice. However, the k and n frames may not be the best choice for carry either. Whether for business or for fun, it does you no good if you don't have it with you.

Steve

Something about a J frame that's hard to overcome. I have got rid of more J frames than any other kind of guns I ever owned. My wife says I can't make up my mind, guess She is right. All's I know is when Its all said and done I always end back up with another J frame. Call me Crazy. Just love the feel and challenge of the little Boogers.

36-1? I have one. Love it.

When I built my cabin up north, I only brought my Model 60 with me on each trip. I didn't want the other guns around. Too busy and too much chance of damage or just getting in the way.

So, every day after work, I'd put a few cylinders through the ol J-frame. Often shooting at bit ends of 2x4's. "Splittin' wood, I called it. Funny how the point of impact gradually fell into line over the course of the summer.

Almost forgot, I got my Model 37 in a straight trade for a KelTec P32 from a Glock-toting coworker.

ECS

Sent from my little slice of Heaven.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

oooo that is nice!
I have gotten to be partial to S&W revolvers, especially snubbies lately, so I've picked up a M60, 642 pro, 642 and a M64....

carry really easy, and they are fun and challenging to shoot. we usually bring several different handguns to the range anyway.

Whatevah floats ya boat opie. I prefer them w/longer brls though my last was a 351-C WMR loaded w/WRF.

Rimfire shouldn't count & if a longer brl was available I'd have purchased it instead.

Those of you that have Square butt J Frames... Are you content with the carrying qualities of the Square butt? Comfort, concealability, etc.
I'd like to find a Blue M37 - a beater would be fine- for pocket carry or maybe IWB. I love my SB Model 10-5 but it's a four inch barrel which is not conducive to carry. But I sure love the feel and solid platform that the SB gives me. I'm leaning toward an RB but if the right gun at the right price came up in SB, should I take it even though I want it for pocket carry?

I carry a SB model 36 in my pocket frequently, and have no problem concealing and carrying it. I have several J frames, both round and square, and find that the SB feels a bit better in my hand. It's a subjective thing, though, and a lot of folks may have the opposite experience. You should try both and see what works best for you.

As for the OP, who dislikes J frames and is skeptical of pocket carry, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am in a profession, and work in an office, where I have to wear business dress clothes, so unless I want to wear my suit coat all day, I can't conceal a gun in a belt or shoulder holster. Sure, I would love to be able to carry my 1911 or a full sized revolver, but that just isn't practical. A .38 J frame in a pocket holster may not be ideal, but if I need it, it's a lot more useful than the bigger guns at home in my safe.

As I said, I really like the solid feel of a SB. I have Model 10s in both SB and RB. I originally bought the RB M10 snub for my carry but am not considering a M37 instead. I think the SB for an airweight would be very helpful re: handling/shooting but might be an impediment to pocket carry. I could put Pachmyer grips on a RB to beef it up but that kinda defeats the purpose of an RB for pocket carry.

I just bought an RB M37 Nickel for my bride but she is unlikely to do more than carry it in her car. So, if I bought a SB 37 and didn't like it for pocket carry, I could switch out with her RB car gun.

Do they make a round to square butt grip for the J frame? If so get your wife an all steel gun to keep in her car and you take her RB 37 and change the grip...

Yes, naturally, K-Frames are better shooters, but everything is a compromise in life. The K-Frames don't carry near as well, and with practice, the J-Frame can be shot well. Not as well, but well enough.

I just received my CHL last week and have begun carrying my
Blue m-37 SB. I like it just fine. The SB grip feels good in my hand and conceals just fine IWB or pocket.

I recently helped a lady shoot a handgun for the first time. With my M10, all her head and body shots were on target at ~5yd. With my M49, she was pulling (pushing?) shots left (she shot RH), which is normal for new J-frame shooters.

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Registration? NEVER!

Hey WL, how do you feel about improved I frames? It's never going to win any matches but load this puppy up with .32 S&W's and it's fun to shoot. Even with .32 S&W Long it's still fun.
[IMG][/IMG]

CW

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Nope... I don't are for 'em at all!



It's obvious snubs are useless.

So I'll buy 'em all from you folks for say, $25 each.

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Deaf

That's why I can't figure out what seems to be the short barrel/big gun obsession some folks have.

Someone was bemoaning prices on 2.5" 686s. I guess I'm missing something. An L-frame doesn't strike me as very concealable. That 1.5" of barrel removed from a 4" is expensive in terms of shoot-ability and performance.

Skeeter Skelton used to say the 2.5" M-19 added nothing to conceal-ability vs the 4", because the thickness of a medium-frame revolver was the real challenge .

Did he just wear longer jackets than we do now?

William, Maybe we're old school and we need the heavier iron to realize we're holding a gun. Maybe it just doesn't feel right in our hands. I'm not fond of the smaller snubnose revolvers nor do I own any yet. My gun savy starts at the 5"/6"/6 1/2" barrels that's my hitch. The longer barrel bigger super sized s&w & redhawks attracts me like a magnet to steel. My ruger police service six is nothing but ccw carry with its 2 3/4" barrel. It's my only belly buster as the old timers called the snubnose revolvers at one time. To me an ankle gun would be a cz 50 or a cz 70. It's backup not a front line defense piece. A first line defence is a n framed magnum of course.

The bottom line is we all can't like the same woman right? We all can't like one food? So we all can't like the same guns.

I once could drop an n frame in my pocket with to bother. Nowadays I need suspenders.

Isn't this the need for a plastic gun because of its light weight?

Amen. But add spinach to the dislikes and Ruger wheelguns to the likes.

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Deaf

I'm an improved I-frame guy meself totin' a '56 four screw serrated ramp nickel 3" .32 long HE pre-mod 30 sportin six 75 grn hardcast SWC courtesy of Buffalo Bore.

She's a sweet carry.

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Caveat venditor.

Au contraire, my friend - a model 60-18 with the 5" barrel is indeed an excellent range gun.

One feature of a short barrel on a larger gun is that it can be quicker to clear a holster. Whether it's an advantage depends on the individual shooter's personal style.

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Registration? NEVER!

I always liked revolvers, but until I bought my first 442, quite a few years ago, I hadn't been hooked. I figured, if I was going to carry the little j frame, I should practice with it. I got a few boxes of wadcutters and the rest is history. I put about a 1000 rds through that first airweight. Got pretty good with it out to about 15yds. After that, it was all down hill. I was hooked on shooting revolvers. Now, revolvers are about all I shoot on the pistol range. I guess I owe it all to the little J frame. Lol

I don't like to use my Jeep Wranglers for Drag Racing, especially my Rubicon, as you see I have two Wranglers and they are my least favorite for Drag Racing. I just don't understand why they won't work for that, should I get rid of them?

I also hated using my Dodge Charger for Four Wheelin', it was really bad at that. This is why I got rid of it, it was my least favorite for Four Wheelin'. I just don't understand why it wouldn't work for that?

SMH

If you want something to hang onto then go get a 27

If you want something to hang onto then go get a 27

I'm not a huge fan of J frames. I think the model 13 3" RB and 2.5/3" 686s are the best looking guns.

and yet, somehow I ended up with 3- Js.... 1- 686, and no 13 (yet)

After years of shooting many different handguns, J-Frames are my Favorite. For long periods of shooting my 36 with Pachmyer Compact Grips is comfortable and fun to shoot. The weight helps. I don't mind shooting the lighter guns like my 442s but, not for as long. These are also the guns I carry most.

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Two Handguns every day

One can shoot 148 gn WC out of a J-frame all day long.

It's more comfortable than WWB 240gn out of little wooden stock Ruger Redhawk Model 5004 at three lbs, one oz unloaded.

YMMV ...

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Caveat venditor.

"Beware of the man with only one gun... he likely knows how to shoot it!" While a Model 60 would probably not be my first choice of my "one gun," I would certainly not feel unarmed or even under-armed in most situations with a J-framed 38 Spl, and if it were my 3" under lug barreled Model 60-4...

Froggie

The 130gr ball I often see on store shelves is easy-shooting in my J-frame.

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Registration? NEVER!

To practice with a 9 inch and carry a snub for protection makes no sense. I shot a snub when I got my conceal permit because that is what I carry.

Or Hickok45 maybe?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Ad Unum Omnes

I bought a 442 as my first gun. I hated the 12-14 pound double action trigger and it hurt my hand to shoot it. I sold it and got a Glock26 9mm....same size gun basically but holds twice the ammo.
But now,20 years later I find myself looking at the wheelguns again....I do miss those little 38's

Attached Images

	glock.jpg (101.4 KB, 12 views)
	wyatt gunsmoke deep carry.jpg (61.9 KB, 13 views)

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

I DO like J frames, wonder why I can't get a S&W J^ 9mm revolver......ammo is less costly and commonly used in pistols, including mine.

Ejecting the rimless case is problematic; you need either moon clips or a complicated extractor star. S&W has marketed 9mm revolvers from time to time, but they never really caught on.

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Registration? NEVER!

I prefer a K for a primary - I shoot them much better, but for a back up a J just can't be beat.

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K & N S&W revolvers