Best "J" frame

[SAWBONES]

No single "best" J-frame.

Someone whose main interest in a J-frame is easy and convenient CCW use may want an Airweight 442 or 642, or even an AirLite like the 340PD.

Someone who actually intends to shoot a J-frame much will likely prefer an all steel gun, though.

In any case, I'd recommend getting a .38 Special model rather than a .357, since the likelihood of actually shooting much .357 in a J-frame is small for most people, even in a 3" Model 60. (Sure, it can be done, but it's unpleasant and there are better frame choices for dedicated .357 shooting.)

I've said this before, but shooting .38 Special in a revolver cylinder made for .357 Magnum is in essence having redundant freebore, with a longer distance to the forcing cone and extra gas leakage (and perhaps reduced accuracy) being the result.

Most people who buy .357 J-frames actually shoot .38 Special loads in them, so might as well get a J-frame solely designed to shoot that cartridge. JMHO.

 

[Cal44]

Most people who buy .357 J-frames actually shoot .38 Special loads in them, so might as well get a J-frame solely designed to shoot that cartridge. JMHO.

I respect your opinion, but disagree.

I'd just turn it around. Even if you intend to shoot mostly 38 sp, you might as well get a J frame that shoots 357 also if you ever change your mind.

Most of the current production all steel J frames (e.g., M60, M640, M649) only come in 357 magnum versions.

Same is true of most current Scandium J frames.

Plus, I figure a gun designed for 357 magnum, will be overbuilt for 38 special and therefor last longer and be less prone to needing maintenance.

 

[Hapworth]

As I see it, the best functional argument for .357 in a J-frame is if it's a defense piece and you're concerned that .38 out of a short barrel might not have enough velocity to perform as designed; this is a reasonable concern.

The added velocity from a well-designed .357 defense round can mitigate this risk, and fortunately there are some very good load available that supercede .38+P but don't thump like a hot, full-house .357.

 

[Screwball]

If you are never going to shoot .357 Magnum, why get a gun chambered in it? More weight and higher price...

I personally am not a fan of .357 Magnum. I don't think the differences between .38 +P and it are worth it. If I'm going Magnum, it will be a .44 Magnum. So, for me to get steel .357 or one of the Scandium guns, it would be pointless. That is why I ended up with the 642-1...

If I knew I was going to go 9mm with it, I might have gone with a steel or Scandium revolver, and thusly a .357 Magnum, but still glad I did the conversion with the alloyed frame (considering weight and its role as an ankle gun).

 

[M3Stuart]

The 60 2" mag frame has the added advantage of doubling as a flame-thrower with full house magnum loads!

 

[Abflyboy]

I agree that the average .357 load is not all that efficient in a short barreled .357 Magnum. I'm not overly impressed with .357 mag loads in my 2.125" Model 60, but on the other hand with the right load, it's not bad in the 3" Model 60.

I use 8.5 grains of Unique under a 125 gr XTP and it produces right at 1300 fps in my 3" Model 60. Now that's not barn burner performance by 4" or 6" .357 Magnum standards, but it's a load that has comparatively little muzzle flash relative to a slow burning powder such as 296 or 2400, and the recoil is manageable with a slightly larger grip like the Hogue Monogrip.

That 1300 fps velocity compares to 1100 fps with a .38 Special +P load with the same bullet, so you're getting an extra 200 fps over a +P load without much downside.

On the other side of the coin, with a +P load the recoil in a properly gripped 3" Model 60 is pleasant enough that you'll shoot that load on a regular basis.

My BUG is a M360 scandium J with a 1-7/8" barrel. I did some testing over my Oehler 35P with about 30 different .357 Magnum loads, store bought and handloads. I had a couple hot handloads that barely topped 1100 fps. Nice, GIANT fireball.

Tried a bunch of different .38 spl +p and never saw more than 820 fps. I know that the super stubby barrel is going to compromise velocity, but are there any +p .38 spl that actually get 1000 fps out of a 2" barrel?

Oh, BTW, my vote for best J is M360. I love the light weight scandium frame titanium cylinder package. Very easy to carry.

 

[SAWBONES]

Most of the current production all steel J frames only come in 357 magnum versions.

Same is true of most current Scandium J frames.

You're right, more's the pity.

Then again, on the basis of reports from other owners on this forum and elsewhere, I've come to have some distrust in the QC of S&W's "current production" revolvers, and own only older examples.

Plus, I figure a gun designed for 357 magnum, will be overbuilt for 38 special and therefor last longer and be less prone to needing maintenance.

Maybe you're right about that, but having personally tried every single load and brand (20-100 rounds each) of premium .357 Magnum loads in bullet weights of 110-158gr as were available at the time several years ago, in my two 340PDs, I found that the accuracy was less than with the several of the better .38 Special loads, with the Gold Dot "short barrel"+P 135gr coming out on top.

I would really recommend that owners of ".357 Magnum" J-frames actually test their guns thoroughly with various .357 loads if they intend to carry that cartridge, and ascertain whether any of those guns actually will shoot better with that cartridge than with .38 Special.

I'm merely stating my opinion, based on my experience, and since I'm a stickler for both accuracy & precision, I want to be as certain as possible that if I do my part, POI will coincide with POA at reasonable "defensive distances", with any gun I might use for CCW.

Best.

 

[Rick_A]

My 442 was my first new Smith in years and has been a backup to larger guns. Out of all my guns it's on my person the most. It's an excellent shooter and shoots just as well or nearly so as any gun I own. Its regular home is an ankle holster.

The 649 is a waistband carry and is used in an IWB holster. It's a great deep carry piece when lightly clothed and handles shooting magnums surprisingly well.
20150109_153932 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

The 642 is a new addition and is a dedicated pocket carry. In combination the three have become the most often carried guns despite having some great autos.
20151117_103945(0) by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

The Chiefs Special will be the wife's and I figure she can carry however she pleases. She found my Airweights too light and lively and the steel J magnums are a bit on the heavy side. I think it'd make a great all 'rounder and the diminutive grip and trigger guard should make for an easy carry and be okay for smaller hands. It shows evidence of having made a regular carry for somebody in the past, and hopefully that continues.

When it comes to these the grips make the gun and with the J's there's a lot of choices to suit most preferences, hand sizes, and carry options.

 

[shutupdata113]

My fav is a 442...on the look out for a 442 pro

 

[mbliss57]

I Like the 649-3 in .357 Magnum with J frame RB Combats for IWB
And I love the Model 38/638 for pocket carry with .38 special +P . I have owned all the .38 special and .357 J frames made except for the 4xx series. Nothing wrong with them I just like Blued or SS. I have found these two to be the most to my liking for carry.
Now if it's not a carry gun then the Model 36 and Model 60 3" are awesome fun to shoot.

 

[Wishbone]

Okay so whats the difference between and airlight and an airweight?

 

[Screwball]

Okay so whats the difference between and airlight and an airweight?

Airweight is an aluminum alloy framed revolver.

Airlite is a scandium framed revolver.

 

[mbliss57]

Screwball is right on. This 340PD has a scandium frame and Titanium allot cylinder. I believe the unloaded weight is 11 or 14 oz. I would have to check catalog. . With a .357 mag load it practically tears your fingers off.

 

[Mister X]

I would add that the Scandium frame guns are actually Aluminum-Scandium alloys. The actual percentage of Scandium they contain is extremely low.

 

[murphydog]

For regular carry (one that isn't too heavy and you won't leave at home) - a 642.
For carry and regular shooting (a little extra weight) - a 60 out to the -7.
For .357 capability - a 60-9 (2 1/8" fixed sight) or -10 (3" adjustable sight).
For the really weird - a 5" 60-18 in .357.

 

[Krell1]

I carry a 60-7 with +P in a De Santis pocket holster that works for me. The only problem I have with the gun is trying to shoot it with the stock grips. There's no support for your pinkie finger so I changed the grips for one that had the extra support. The new grips are cherry, the gun is polished to my liking and it shoots quite well.

 

[mbliss57]

I would add that the Scandium frame guns are actually Aluminum-Scandium alloys. The actual percentage of Scandium they contain is extremely low.

That's correct. In fact when we talk about aluminum, scandium , titanium frames / cylinders these are all alloys... not pure elemental metals.

 

[JH1951]

My favorite J-frame for defensive concealed carry is the .38 Spl. Model 49. A sweet piece to carry comfortably, and I would not want to be on the wrong side of it.

 

[vytoland]

i always liked the S&W model 649 bodyguard.......a very good carry revolver....

 

[oldguyshoot]

Choosing which J is splitting hairs. Adding a Crimson Trace (longer version) laser grip will make more real world difference (including making .357s in a scandium frame useful) than any other factor except practice. And with a J, you better practice.

FWIW, I love my Js, but I can easily outshoot them with my G43.