I am thinking about getting another J Frame for a bedside gun. A 638 with 2 1/2 barrel and laser grips would be my consideration.

Anybody feel that 5 rds of plus P is sufficient?

This would also be easy for my wife to use when I am traveling. Her Beretta is a bit too little in my opinion and my current Glock 17 is too much for her to handle.

Interested in opinions. Thanks

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He Died, so that I might live!
<><

Have you considered a 4in. Model 10? It would be easier for your wife to shoot especially with +P ammo. A bigger gun also has more intimidation factor, even shooting the same round. Concealment isn't a factor with a bedside gun.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Best, Rick

Good older used 10's are a real bargain!
I have several.

[IMG][/IMG]

I have a similar idea only the 637 is my house gun and I carry the 638.
That was then now I have a 686 4" for my house gun but I have not gotten rid of my j-frames. The laser grips are coming soon.
Frank.

I keep a j frame for home defense. My feeling is that if I awoke in the dead of night and had seconds to get to my gun I want to keep it as simple as possible. I don't live in an area plagued by zombie hordes and so I feel confident that 5 well placed rounds is sufficient. I understand though that in some areas home invasion could be by multiple gang members. In an area like that I would probably keep two guns. My first go to in the dead of night would still be my J frame though.

There is nothing wrong with a laser grip J Frame for home defense as long as your wife practices with the gun enough to be comfortable with it.

My recommendation for a drawer gun is a 4 inch barrel model 10 or 64 with a laser grip.(Or Ruger Security Six/GP-100) 6 rounds vs. 5, heavy enough to tame .38 Special +P recoil and easier to handle under stress.

I don't believe that would be insufficient, unless you're expecting a home invasion by a drug gang. If you look at the annual reports by the NYPD and the (fewer) from the Miami PD re. police-perp gunfights, the average no. of shots fired before the fight was terminated was less than 3, even in the age of police hi-cap semiautos. Most important factor was not caliber but shot placement. I was recently researching lethal gunshot wounds from ER data, and the vast majority of lethal injuries resulted from a single or two hits. Almost all lethal injuries from > 2 hits included many non-lethal hits in the extremities. So, if you can hit what you aim at, a simple and reliable J-frame should be good unless you have reason to anticipate multiple assailants.

The house gun is a four-inch Model 681 L-Frame with Crimson Trace grips loaded with Speer 135 grain GDHP .38Spl +P "Short Barrel" loads. My wife likes it a lot. Recoil is negligible; flash is low; and it's accurate.

I'll either pick up my four-inch Model 10-5 or three-inch Model 13-3 with the same loads. The 1⅞-inch Model 37 loaded with Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP-GC standard pressure loads is available too. If I'm dressed, it's on my belt.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Like Az Rick I suggest a Model 10 or 64, or other comparable gun. I have an old Riuger Speed Six with the small round butt grips on it that fit her hand perfectly. Loaded with 38 Special +P.

Not my choice-then again, I don't own one. One of my bedside guns is my 4" M-27. I second the choice of a 4" M&P, I think they're more easily handled under conditions of stress, low light, etc. Better Pointers, IMHO.

Here's another J frame possibility. I recently bought my recoil-sensitive wife a 632--6 shots of .32 HandR or .327 magnum equal or surpass .38 power with less recoil. She's very happy with the gun. My nightstand gun is a 642 which, should the need arise, I plan to hold while retrieving the 12 ga from under the bed.

I would recommend you letting your wife decide which gun she is comfortable using. My wife tried a Taurus ultralite in .38 special and found it to be painful to practice with, she now has a Ruger SR9C that she chose. She picked out both guns since she had to be comfortable with the weapon if she did have to fire it.

Stumbled on to this one today for my wife. 60-4 3". Small enough for her to grip and control, enough heft to manage recoil, CT grips to intimidate and aim, under priced by at least $200 at my local Cabela's, value will only escalate... bought it. (I had the CT grips on a 642).

Presuming both you and your wife can shoot it well I see no reason why you can't use a 638 for a home defense gun.

However, I think there are better choices. Like others have said, a good 4" K-frame in .38 Special is a solid home defense gun.

Of course, it's possible that even a K-frame grip may be too big for your wife. You may want to consider splitting the difference and getting a steel J-frame, like a 640, 649, or 60 (I have a preference for low-maintenance stainless steel guns). It should work well for either of you and be easier to practice with than an airweight gun.

But the most important thing is that it should be something that both of you can shoot well. My suggestion would be to take her to a range that rents guns and try out a variety to see if you can find something that works for both of you.

Not to get too far off topic from the thread but I sure disagree with the 327 mag having less recoil than the 38. I own both in J frames and to me the perceived recoil with the 632 327 mag is MUCH sharper than a 38 special...but as to the OP's original question I agree with the others that the best bet for a HD gun is a heavier, longer barrel model. Concealment isn't an issue for HD, and it is simply a fact that snubbies are not easy to shoot WELL compared to longer barrel revolvers, so why give yourself a handicap?

If it's for your wife, let her decide what she wants and put aftermarket Crimson Trace grips on it. Surprisingly, my wife (5 foot tall, 115 lbs.) prefers a 4" Model 28 N-Frame over any smaller revolver.

She currently has a M&P9C with attached light for her bedside gun.

A snubby is fine.
You're not going to be shooting beyond 20 feet.
I'm not a fan of +P. It doesn't give you a lot more than standard ammo and it makes a follow up shot more difficult.
Take a hard look at the .327. It's almost the perfect night time gun

AFS

No, it's not.

FWIW I keep a Model 10 4" for HD and I own two hi cap semi-autos. It is the platform I am most familiar with in an emergency and my wife, although not a shooter, knows how to handle a revolver.

Best,
Old Cop
LEO Ret.

I couldn't agree more with the choice of a K frame 3 or 4 " gun in 38 or 357. Shooting a J frame airweight accurately takes alot of practice. A K frame with the smaller magna grips will fit most smaller hands and recoil is lighter due to the weight. Lighter recoil means more practice. More practice means better accuracy. Good hits are what counts in stopping a bad guy!

My wife is small and has tiny hands. A J frame is easy for her to handle but I think a steel frame makes more sense for recoil control. The air weights have nice price points but you will pay the price I recoil. I will keep my eyes open for a nice clean J in steel, like a 60 maybe.

Thanks again!

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He Died, so that I might live!
<><

Regardless of my professional carry or other firearms I might own, I always keep a wheel-gun in the bedroom night stand. If you get a break in its gonna be in the middle of the night, your groggy and trying to get your wits about you. 911 call needs to go out as quickly as possible. any shooting you may be involved in is going to be short & sweet and up close & personal. Chances are your heart will beat out of your chest and you wont even think about the laser.

Sure you could 'prepare' for the dreaded gang-land home invasion but it simply is not going to happen (statistically speaking).

Oh, I do keep a shotgun handy in the closet.

IMHO;

Is five shots enough? Yes.

Will a steel gun have less felt recoil than an airweight? Definitely.

Is a 3" or 4" better for HD than a 2"? Probably, depending on how much you practice. If you practice a lot, the 2" will be fine.

Not discussed yet: Revolver vs. Semi-Auto for HD 'nightstand gun': The SA, when loaded, will hold tension on the magazine springs. Left untouched for a year or two, the tension in the mag springs becomes iffy IMHO. The revolver has no such issue. +1 for the revolver for HD. If you are not an avid shooter and you're just going to park a HD gun in the nightstand - then I would suggest, as others have, the 4" model 10 or 64. They're cheap ($269 for a Bud's RB Aussie version), can be fitted with smaller grips (again, the RB version) and totally reliable.

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But then, what do I know?

My wife and I both agree the 3" M60 is just as accurate as the 4" K-frame. Recoil is similar and the trigger just as nice.

I keep the K on my side because the J fits her hand better.

Since my 642 is the ONLY gun I own I guess it'll have to be good enough for home defense.

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S&W M642-2,
ATI 1911a1, 4.25"

Loaded with Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P for short barrels, or a similarly effective ammo, the 638 w/ lasergrips is a fine choice. The fact that it would be EASY for your wife to use makes it the PERFECT CHOICE.......

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

The one advantage of old 10s, 64s, or Speed Sixs -- they can be fairly inexpensive compared to a new 60.

A 2" Model 60 with 5 rounds +P is all I rely on, day or night.

My wife prefers the J frame guns and keeps a 442 no lock in her night stand and a 649 in her car. I have tried to get her to move up to the K frame but she likes what she likes. Because of her penchant for revolvers I keep several placed strategically around the house (it's just the two of us with no children around). I gave up on getting her to change. I still hand her any new gun I purchase to see how she likes the feel, but it's the J frame for her. I consider the airweight versions good for deep cover/back-up, but not so much for home SD. I too keep a shot gun handy, and an AR, and a bazooka, some claymores in the yard and... just kidding about the claymores.

I keep a Model 36 3" in a hollowed out book on my night stand with two speed loaders. I sleep well. I don't use +P ammo either. I use Federal Low Recoil Personal Defense JHP ammo. It's performance is equal to some of the +P rounds.
I also keep a Colt 1911 with Crimson Trace grips on top of that book. 230gr Federal Supreme Elite Personal Defense JHPs. Why does Federal have such long names on their ammo. I guess it's to make you feel good about paying too much money for ammo.

My wife 'acquired' my 2" 10 some years back. I had fitted the rounded goncalo alves fg Hogues to her hand on a used 3" 65 - which she hated. The 2" 10 was instant love - I sold the 65 and mounted the grips on my 2" 10 - and she only shoots +P 158gr LHPSWCs (Remington R38S12) in it (It's +P rated - a 10-11 made 12/02 - I bought it new 9/03 - $280 + s/h from CDNN!). Bob Munden would be proud of her shooting. Myself, I bought a new unissued security guard trade-in 4" 64-8 for a bedside gun 5/08. Then - 2/10 I bought a PC627 UDR - a second one 10/10 as a bedside gun. Both are in the safe - my pocket protector 642, same Remi's, goes from my pocket to the nightstand. Go figure.

Now, I bought some other J-frames...



I have a 632 Pro - and a 642. Believe me - with the small OEM rubber boots, the 642 with +P 158gr LHPSWCs, is kinder in the recoil department than the really brisk recoil of that 632 Pro with either AE 100gr SJHP or Speer 115gr Gold Dots, both in .327 Federal Magnum - and sporting the larger wood grips of the 60 Pro, which I obviously like. The 3" 60 Pro is acceptable, according to my wife, with those +P's. She still prefers the 2" 10, however - she likes blued revolvers - I like SS (The 2" 10 was my only blued revolver!). Let your wife pick what she uses for home protection. If .38 +P is 'too much', consider standard .38 Special 148gr full wad cutters. The .327 Fed Magnum is an answer for a gunmaker needing a use for a bunch of 3" SP101's in .32 H&RM - rebore the chambers/restrike the caliber - get Federal to make some ammo - new round! The .32 H&RM round took two decades to die - I'll be shocked if .327 Fed Mag makes one decade. Try to find brass & bullets - then afford them. .38's are cheaper - and a lot more plentiful. Rant off. YMMV!

Stainz

Like others have stated, a bigger sized gun would be a little bit better if you are going to use it for the house.

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Don't look, reload and shoot!

Why is a defensive slower load better?
Less wall penetration with a slow speed bullet.
Greater Accuracy.
The ability to shoot more rounds in a shorter time if you need it.
Many J frames don't hold up as well if +P is fired through it constantly.
A lot greater kick with a +P load, a longer recovery time, and the inability to shoot as many rounds as a standard load.
If you shoot more rounds than you need to stop an intruder it could look like murder instead of self defense.

1. Hopefully there is no wall penetration at all. Just some blood splatter.

2. If I am constantly firing for self defense, I should move.

3. Hopefully 1 shot would do the job, if not I need more range time.

4. Accuracy has never been a problem at 3-4 yards. If it is you need more range time.

The J frame does have some advantages over the larger K, especially if the K has a longer 4" barrel. Gun retention is a BIG issue with a home defense gun and the short barrel J will always have an advantage over the 4" K in that comparison. Also, the lighter J's are easier to hold "en garde" as compared to a heavier 4" K.

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Centennial Every Day

I have slept with a J frame under my pillow for years. It is usually in my front pocket when I am up. A S&W J frame is light, durable and requires very little maintenance, especially if stainless steel. They can be stored loaded for years and still be relied upon for immediate use. If something happens, it will take place fast and when you don't expect it. You need to have your gun handy, and a J frame is small enough to have with you at all times. There are also a couple of loaded shotguns in my house if I do need something bigger.

For HD, I prefer a 18.5" shotty to any handgun.

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686, 629, 15-22 MOE FDE

No. The laser grip is not a bad idea but I want more than a J frame.

If I'm awakened in the middle of the night I will have my SIG P229 in my hand. It has the DAK trigger and handles as easily as a revolver and it holds 15 rounds. You may not need 15, but I don't want 5.

I like the J frame and own two. One is a 640-1 loaded with standard pressure Nyclad ammo. It stays in my wife's bedside table as a last-ditch weapon. The other is a 442 and lives in my pocket as a BUG. My wife can actually shoot my P229 better than the Smith (because of the trigger). When I travel I carry either a P220 or a DW 1911. The P229 stays at home so she always has access to it.

My life's experience is that if I ever need a firearm (now that I'm a civilian) I'll want more than a J frame.

Should have been more clear. My .32 Mag loads in the 632 (3 inch barrel) produce more energy with a lot less recoil than my .38 carry load in my 642. We keep .32 mags in the 632. The .327's kick more like a 158 gr Plus P Plus. I also enjoy the recoil-absorbing qualities of bigger revolvers and tried to sell the wife on my Model 10, Model 15 and 4" Trooper Mk III--no dice..."too heavy" and the grips were "too big for her hands." She loved the Model 34 grips and lack of recoil, the Chief's Special fit her hand but "kicked too much." The 632 solved all those concerns. Just hoped my experience could save the original poster some time and money.

I recently had a weeklong debate with myself deciding whether to purchase a 3" 327 Magnum revolver or a 3" 38SPL revolver.

I chose the 38 SPL, based on the larger ammo choices, but why am I still thinking about the 327 Magnum??

Guess best thing for me to do is not read gun postings on the Internet!

"The .327 Fed Magnum is an answer for a gunmaker needing a use for a bunch of 3" SP101's in .32 H&RM - rebore the chambers/restrike the caliber - get Federal to make some ammo - new round! The .32 H&RM round took two decades to die - I'll be shocked if .327 Fed Mag makes one decade. Try to find brass & bullets - then afford them. .38's are cheaper - and a lot more plentiful. Rant off. YMMV!"

Gotta stand up for my .32's. The .327/.32 HandR/.32 long will be around as long as people handload. If you don't you're missing out on half the fun of the sport...and wasting a lot of money. The .327 chambering is more versatile than most handgun calibers--I have light loads using the .32 long case that are quieter than a .22lr...accurate and with no recoil. Loaded with wadcutters it's one of the most accurate target rounds going. My hot .32 mag loads generate more energy than my .38 carry load with modest recoil. The .327 mag is all anyone would ever need in a defense round. Finding brass and bullets is never a problem thanks to Midway and other online sources.

Yes five rounds of +p is more than sufficient if you hit what you aim at. For a bed side gun I would want something a little heavier to give you a better sight radius and recoil management. For example a Model 60 with a 3" barrel would be excellent for that role.

Sorry for the heresy but my night stand gun has been a 39-2 for the last 30 years. I switched from a wheel gun to a semiauto when my first child was a toddler and didn't want a loaded gun accessable. The mags went in one drawer and the pistol in the other. If they were old enough to figure out how to put them together, they were old enough to be taught to shoot. Those mags have been loaded for 30 years and when I shot the gun today, they still fed fine.

(I know this is a Smith and Wesson forum, and I apologize in advance for the following post O/P, my wife can't handle the recoil from my J frame 642 even with regular or mild loads, but she does not mind the heavier and larger Glock 17. As many have recommended, take her out to the range and let her decide for herself what she likes better. She might surprise you.

Most shooters will do better with the full size 9mm compared to the Airweight J frame. That's good and well as long as the full size 9mm functions good and well.

Most shooters, at the first sign of a jam, just stand there and stare at the gun wondering what to do. Not a good situation to be in when some strung out meth addict is about to split your melon wide open with a baseball bat!

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Centennial Every Day

It's exactly what I use - 638, laser, LSWCHP +P, with a riot gun/buckshot in reserve.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

+1! Nothing wrong at all w/ a "J" frame for a house gun. But not an alloy or scandium framed model. The snubby is actually a good house gun in that there is less for a perp to grab in an attempt to disarm you, that said, an alloy framed model in .38+P would be very difficult to shoot at any distance or for an untrained family member, but an all steel model w/ Pachmayrs can be fired with deadly precision with very fast follow-up shots, plus, it is superior for the defensive stance of blocking with the weak side arm while firing. Remember the old rule about snubbies: alloy frames are for carrying but steel frames are for actually shooting. Still true today!

I believe a J-frame with 5 rounds is sufficient, but....
My current bedside gun is a model 36-3 Ladysmith (steel frame, 3" barrel) with CT lasergrips. It is loaded with standard pressure .38 Spcl, as my intent was to have something my non-shooting wife could use in an emergency. That 36-3, kept inside an old fanny pack with the zippered compartment open, is only the first line of defense, however. It is within easy reach while I am still under the covers, along with 2 flashlights. There are several more options available after I roll out of bed.

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A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Random thoughts...

For a home defense gun weight and, within reason size do not matter...

However, having "all" of your defensive guns be exactly the same, is not a bad plan. IMHO.

38 caliber is fine for self defense....if she has to use it in that capacity ...i promise she will not even remember ANY recoil whatsoever

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