Would You Ever Swap Out your "J" for One of the Small Autos?

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Nalapombu

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Hey all,

First of all, I don't have a J-Frame yet. I've wanted one for a very long time and I told myself that the next firearm I bought would be a J. That was a couple years ago and I still have not broken my word....unless you think an Adult Air Rifle counts.

What I have a hard time with, and go back and forth over, is whether I would be better off with a small auto like a Kahr or one of the small 9mm like the Sig 938. You all know the ones I am talking about.

You guys and gals that carry the J every day, do you ever think about swapping out to an auto, why or why not? How many of you carry the J and nothing else?

For me the attractive part of the J is where I can pick it up, put it in my pants pocket and go. I also don't have to fret over what holster to buy. If I would ever need one, I could just buy one of those Remora type holsters and be done with it. Sure there are small autos that have the same qualities, but there is just something about the J frames that makes you want to carry one over an auto. Now I just have to GET one.

I am curious about what you guys and gals think of my question and how often you are tempted or maybe you have already been lured over to the Dark Side by the plethora of small autos that have flooded the market in the last few years.

Thoughts?

Thank you

Nalajr
 
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Never been big on "pants pocket" carry.... my wrangler pockets are too tight and the suit/dress slacks material seems too light ......... also in general too much "bulge" for me.

Jacket or coat pocket ..... works for me in early spring,fall and winter.....

While I carry a 337PD sometimes my most carried J frame is a 60-10 3" in a IWB holster......

for the record my everyday carry (95%) is a 9mm S&W 3913 auto in a IWB Summer Special
 
The J's carry nicely and are a joy to shoot in my hands.

Most of the time these days I'm double J'd.
16053148970_71517a2104_b.jpg


In short, "no!"
 
I own over a dozen j-frames, but in the past year I've acquired a couple of Kahrs, a PM9 and CM9. My wife also has a CM9. A couple of thousand rounds later and none of the three has ever malfunctioned. They don't recoil as much as an Airweight 38 Special and you get 7 rounds of 9mm. I still stuff a 442 in my jacket pocket regularly, sometimes as a second gun. I like both platforms.
 
My preference is a 640 centennial in a Kramer pocket holster. I mostly wear blue jeans, and jean shorts when off duty. I have to be careful in selecting my pants, because some have short pockets. I have to wear my Duluth Trading Co. extra long shirt with my short pocket jeans. I've never felt under gunned, but I don't go to many places, where I might need it:D.
 
First I'll admit that the J was replaced with an LCR a couple of years ago. But since you're talking pocket carry revolvers, I'll play. The super-small 9mms... no I wouldn't after my experiences with the Kahr PM/CM models. But a Shield did replace my LCR. It forced me to switch to IWB most of the time but I can and have carried it in the pocket with the flush fitting mag and an aholster. The shootability of the Shield is so superior.
 
I swapped my 1st generation Model 60 out for a Kahr K9.
I have fired 100s of rounds of 9mm from the kahr and trust it to be ready when needed. I would rather have Eight Rounds of 9mm available over Five Rounds of 38spl. One has to consider Engaging multiple targets
 
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nipperdog said:
I swapped my 1st generation Model 60 out for a Kahr K9.
I have fired 100s of rounds of 9mm from the kahr and trust it to be ready when needed. I would rather have Eight Rounds of 9mm available over Five Rounds of 38spl.
Click to expand...

For a belt gun, I'd stick with a semi auto. I carry a Ruger LC9-S. Thinnest and lightest 9MM(not counting the pricey Rohrbach), and inside the waistband is pretty comfy.

But I'm thinking of getting either a Bodyguard .380 or a 642 (I owned one long ago). The Ruger is just a bit too heavy and big for the pocket. Yeah, I can do it (and have), but the 642 I had vanished in the front pocket. I keep hearing mixed reviews on the new M&P Bodyguard, and since I own no other .380's, I don't really feel like buying a different caliber (and more expensive), so I will probably get a 642 or maybe a 442. The 642 had finish issues that bugged me. Don't know if the 442 is any better. But I have other revolvers and reload .38 so the ammo issue won't be there.
 
Much of my trigger time has been with wheel guns. A j-frame in an Uncle Mikes #4 is my pocket EDC. I do live in a HOT humid climate and dress casually, so pocket carry works for me. I'd not give up that configuration unless conditions require it.

That's not for everyone. Do you, or will you train more with a pistol or revolver? Behind trained, capable hands, both serve their purpose.

Best to you and stay safe.
 
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Nope. I like my concealed carry IWB and deep, and I've never cottoned to the safety (if there is one) or the trigger on a micro semi under those conditions, except perhaps with kydex, which isn't the most comfortable with IWB.

I'm also leary of micro semiauto reliability.

For deeply concealed every day carry, I prefer a J-frame's simplicity, reliability, and solid trigger pull.

When I jump to a semiauto, it's OWB and medium-sized.
 
Hapworth said:
Nope. I like my concealed carry IWB and deep, and I've never cottoned to the safety (if there is one) or the trigger on a micro semi under those conditions, except perhaps with kydex, which isn't the most comfortable with IWB.

I'm also leary of micro semiauto reliability.

For deeply concealed every day carry, I prefer a J-frame's simplicity, reliability, and solid trigger pull.

When I jump to a semiauto, it's OWB and medium-sized.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. I carry my 360sc appendix a lot and I have a trust for the revolver that I do not have with a striker fire semi auto that close to my "goods" [emoji15] not saying I don't trust semi-autos it's just that the revolver simplicity is hard to beat. If I were carry a semi auto I prefer DA/SA I trust the safety of a double action trigger pull over any mechanical safety. That is just my personal preference though.
 
kbm6893 said:
For a belt gun, I'd stick with a semi auto. I carry a Ruger LC9-S. Thinnest and lightest 9MM(not counting the pricey Rohrbach), and inside the waistband is pretty comfy.

But I'm thinking of getting either a Bodyguard .380 or a 642 (I owned one long ago). The Ruger is just a bit too heavy and big for the pocket. Yeah, I can do it (and have), but the 642 I had vanished in the front pocket. I keep hearing mixed reviews on the new M&P Bodyguard, and since I own no other .380's, I don't really feel like buying a different caliber (and more expensive), so I will probably get a 642 or maybe a 442. The 642 had finish issues that bugged me. Don't know if the 442 is any better. But I have other revolvers and reload .38 so the ammo issue won't be there.
Click to expand...

The 642 finish problem can be cured with a coat of Ren Wax and a water resistant holster like a Mika. Mine is 7 years old and looks new.
 
Nope. I tried the small auto route and didn't much care for them. I had a Kel-Tec P-11 in 9mm, and a Makarov, and a CZ-83 both in 9x18. Oh. I had a Walther PP in 32 acp also now that I think about it.

All good guns, I don't think any of them ever malfunctioned. I just prefer a revolver.

I don't care for pocket carry. Even with a small gun like a 642-2, I want a holster on my belt, at 3:00. I've pretty much settled on Don Humes J.I.T. belt slide holster for everything.
 
I wouldn't. I love the simplicity of just dropping my 642 in a Kramer pocket holster in my front pocket. I can do it with jeans or shorts.

I have pocket carried my HK P2000sk and M&P 40c in my front pocket too...but they are a little heavy, j frame is much more comfortable.

Fox
 
I only pocket carry but I have the best of both worlds: a 340PD and when the need is for something smaller/flatter (think Harley) I have a Kel-Tec 3AT in 380. I use Uncle Mikes pocket liners.
 
In a word - NO. Been there, done that. I've carried a Model 36 or Model 637 for years, depending upon the season. IWB with Bell Charter Oak SUMMER HEAT holster. A couple years ago picked up a small auto with thoughts of swiching to it for daily carry. After several range sessions, the small auto went on a trade for yet another Model 36. The one small auto I still own, Glock 26, sits in the safe, unused. I'm very content and confident with my J frames thank you.
Dave
SWCA #2778
 
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