J frame or Shield

[Axis223]

Seeing how one of these recent mass shootings happened only 2hrs from home it has me a little on edge and makes me think I should rethink my EDC options with something a little more higher capacity and accurate.

I currently carry a J frame 642 with a speed strip. I can hit a silhouette target fine with it but accuracy has a lot to be desired. I have been looking at shields but have some concerns with those too. I have large size hands and tried carrying a shield 1.0 in an IWB holster and did some range drills with it and it was hard to get a good grip on when drawing. I figured an OWB would fix that issue. So what do you guys think?

Now let me edit this saying that I would still keep the J frame but not carry it that much.

 

[mikerjf]

I didn't vote because my call would be: keep the 642 for house/neighborhood/backup, and get a 1911/Glock 19/Sig/whatever for trips to the mall.

The Shield has more ability than the J, but not that much more. I would think the extra sight radius of a bigger gun would be worthwhile in a bigger venue.

 

[Mister X]

I voted snub. Every time one of these shootings happen, people start second guessing their carry gun. It's always good to reevaluate, but despite the constant media attention, these events are still astronomically rare. Your snub will be quicker and easier to access as well as be more reliable in real world civilian self-defense conditions than any auto, especially a small one.

Against an active shooter I think getting out as quickly as possible is the most logical course of action and if at ground zero when it goes down, I would probably actually go hands on rather than immediately draw my weapon, but if needing to transition to it during a contact scenario, I know a snub can be accessed, brought into action more effectively and will more reliable in extreme close-quarters. What about a run/hide/fight scenario? I think the snub just might offer numerous advantages there as well. I wouldn't let these events have much influence on your thinking, training or choice of weapon due to their extreme rarity and a snub still makes a lot of sense for the kinds of scenarios the armed citizen is likely to encounter. If that changes and they become a substantial fraction as common as physical assaults, car-jackings, armed robberies, muggings and rape(never will happen), then it deserves greater consideration, but until then I'd stick with the 642.

 

[delcrossv]

Unless you're going to carry a full sized weapon e.g. CZ75, or a 1911, there's not enough difference IMO to switch.

Remember the whole "active shooter" scenario is a vanishingly small percentage of actual crimes.

Pack for what you''ll most likely encounter.

 

[Amp]

I have carried a j frame for very many years. Still trust a revolver over other choices.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Keep the J frame. Why learn a new gun when you have an adequate carry gun already?

As stated prior, the Shield doesn’t provide much more firepower to justify the switch.

I would suggest more practice. Shoot, reload. Repeat.

Two hours is a long way. Evaluate your current surroundings. Adjust accordingly if necessary.

 

[S&WOkie]

I have both and carry my J-frame alone 99% of the time. I will add the Shield now and then when I feel that a backup and more capacity are called for but not very often because my lifestyle doesn't tend to put me in those situations.

I copied this from an article from late 2018.

Gun violence data: Odds of being shot, other causes of death compared - Business Insider

According to this analysis, assaults by firearm kill about 13,000 people in the US each year, and this translates to a roughly 1-in-315 lifetime chance of death from gun violence. The risk of dying in a mass shooting is about 35 times lower than that, with a 1-in-11,125 lifetime chance of death.

 

[Ziggy2525]

I have both and carry my J-frame 99% of the time. I will add the Shield now and then when I feel that a backup and more capacity are called for but not very often because my lifestyle doesn't tend to put me in those situations.

I copied this from an article from late 2018.

According to this analysis, assaults by firearm kill about 13,000 people in the US each year, and this translates to a roughly 1-in-315 lifetime chance of death from gun violence. The risk of dying in a mass shooting is about 35 times lower than that, with a 1-in-11,125 lifetime chance of death.

The 1-in-315 lifetime chance of death from gun violence is .3%. That's really high. Way higher than I thought it was.

 

[oldiesradio1560]

Since the 70's I've carried .357 magnums my last two over the past 20 years have been a 640 and 640 Pro. Loved both. Then I brought my first semi automatic the new Shield .380 Shield EZ. My EZ let's me put more rounds into the kill zone of a target in a shorter period of time. Isn't that the point of self defense? I sold my 640's and my EZ at 8+1 Rounds is all I need.

 

[Axis223]

I sometimes visit rougher neighborhoods where family lives and last year someone was robbed at a local dollar store. I feel okay with the 642 but one thing I forgot to mention was I carry while hunting too and the semi auto and more capacity may come in handy. Coyotes and drug growers are thick around here.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I sometimes visit rougher neighborhoods where family lives and last year someone was robbed at a local dollar store. I feel okay with the 642 but one thing I forgot to mention was I carry while hunting too and the semi auto and more capacity may come in handy. Coyotes and drug growers are thick around here.

As others have said, the Shield won't give you a significant increase in capacity. If you're really concerned about capacity, you may be better off going to something like a Glock 26 or 19, or the S&W M&P equivalent.

Just my opinion.

 

[Backlighting]

I just switched from a snubbie to a Ruger Security-9 Compact semi auto. I prefer the extra punch of the 9mm, the longer sight radius and 10+1 capacity over the snubbie. This is not to say the snubbie doesn't have some fine features.

 

[Old cop]

CCW means carrying ALL THE TIME so for me the 9MM will eventually be left behind b/c it’s too heavy. In spite of recent events the chances of confronting a mass shooter are remote at best, while a sudden confrontation is more likely as we get older and present an inviting target. I’ll stay w/a J frame or a tiny .380.

 

[HardToHandle]

I love J Frames but mostly for the history.
Generalized, nearly any modern polymer pistol will yield 40-250% more cartridges, less effective recoil, modern night sights and a much faster reload, usually at a lower price, using more effective bullets and at a similar size.

I switched from a steel frame revolver to a Kahr PM9 nearly 20 years ago. Maybe not quite the ease of carry of a J Frame but close. Every other objective measure was a slam dunk for an auto pistol, including maintenance of training. I know dozens of other guys who made the same realization in the last two decades.

Carry what you care to, but totally with ContinentalOp.

 

[31FordA]

My choice is to stick with the J frame, a 340 in my case. Actually my first choice is my 12-2, but when I don’t carry the 12-2 I carry the 340. When I’m working I rely on a 65-3 or SP-101.

The Shield seems like a fine pistol. I’ve shot several in 9mm and .40, and had no complaints. Two friends carry the 9mm Shield and are very happy with them. I haven’t shot the .45 version yet, but I suspect it works well also. I simply prefer revolvers, so I’ll stick with my 340 and 12-2. Someone who prefers auto’s would be well served by the Shield. If I was going to carry a compact pistol the Shield would be my choice.

 

[ladder13]

I switched from a J frame to a Sig P365. Doubled+ my load in a smaller gun. Never looking back.

 

[Goldstar225]

Get both. I adopted the Shield 9mm earlier this year as my primary carry gun. Before that I was alternately carrying a 642, Kahr K40, or a 1911. The shield is now what I carry the vast majority of the time. The shield provides a 60% increase in available rounds on board, more energy per shot and a quicker reload. It's also easier for me to shoot well, just about doubling my effective range over the 642. Don't get me wrong, the 642 was a faithful companion for many years and I shoot it quite well. I'm keeping it for those times that pocket carry is the best option for me.

 

[jerry52]

pistol vs rifle lots a luck with whatever you carry

 

[zzclancy]

I didn't vote. The problem with the poll you didn't ask shield or J frame. You added more capacity and added accuracy to the shield.

I agree on capacity, maybe. Accuracy I disagree.

Marksmanship counts. Carry what you train with and shoot the most. There are many pros to the revolver. Simplicity for one.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I carry a Shield 9mm with a Magguts +2 spring kit. Gives me 9+1 capacity in virtually the same size mag as the 7 round. So 10 rounds is quite an increase in capacity over a J frame.