When I became tired of carrying one or the other of my steel J's (older 649 & 3" 36 in nickel and 2" blued), and after my pair of CA 3" Bulldog 44 3's snubs and SP101DAO 2 1/4" had proven themselves too bulky and heavy for pocket carry ... I ordered my first Airweight J-frame, one of the early 642-1's rated for +P.
After I'd stopped kicking myself for not having owned an Airweight sooner, it quickly became a common off-duty choice. Even as a long time DA revolver shooter and owner of steel 5-shot snubs, though, it took me a couple cases of .38 ammo before I'd developed the skill and confidence to really run the lightweight snub through the same paces as with my larger and/or heavier revolvers.
I grew to really like the Airweights, finding them handy for most carry roles when it came to my needs and preferences.
The lighter PD/Ti/Sc snubs were just a little too light for my tastes, meaning recoil-wise ... until the M&P 340 came along. I picked up my first one (I own a pair of them), thinking of it more or less as an "improved" 642, meaning a stainless (PVD blackened) cylinder, a stronger Scandium aluminum frame and the excellent XS dot front night sight. The .357 Magnum chambering was interesting, but I'd have bought it even if it had only been chambered in .38 Spl +P.
Nowadays I own a pair of 642-1's, a pair of M&P 340's and one of those special run 37-2DAO's (for the canceled off-shore order). I still have some steel J's, but it's the Airweight/M&P's that I find I carry the most often. Handy.
One of the other benefits of a J-frame is being able to run some heavier bullet weights than is possible in my .380's. That can help lend itself to some better potential for both expansion and penetration, depending on some of the more modern bullets offered in the venerable .38 S&W Spl. I mostly run +P in the J's that will handle it (sometimes Magnum in my 340's), and restrict my pristine 37-2DAO to standard pressure 110gr & 125gr JHP's. All of those are heavier bullet weights, and probably similar velocities, as what I generally run in my .380's.
Well, when it comes to that, learning to properly run a DA/DAO revolver, in general, seems to benefit a lot of handgunners, even when shooting pistols. It's harder work to run a DA/DAO revolver (compared to most pistols), and the smaller the revolver, generally the harder the work and more refined skill level seems to be required.
Sure, they generally require a higher level of revolver skill than the heavier & larger revolvers, but the time invested to try and master them pays off in not only making the small 5-shot snubs practical, but in also improving a revolver shooter's abilities with the larger wheelies.
I think I'll pocket (holster) one of my M&P 340's this afternoon, as I'm planning to take one of my motorcycles over the hill and up to my former work area, to stop at my credit union. Then, I'd like to stop by my cigar club and enjoy the afternoon sun, sitting out on the club patio, doing some leisurely people watching and enjoying some congenial conversation ... while doffing my riding jacket and only wearing a T-shirt.
I'm still occasionally pondering picking up a 638 sometime, to complement my older .38 Spl 649 Bodyguard. Sometimes when I back out to 45-75yds on the range, having the SA capability is very handy. Otherwise, the bulk of my normal training & practice drills is done DA, whether the gun is DA or DAO. Most courses-of-fire and drills I use are usually done at 3-15yds, but sometimes out to 25yds, all using DA.
Handy little guns, the J-frames.
) I pick up the 649-2 on Thursday.
