J-Frame Mystique - My Experience

[SAFireman]

These two have gone around once or twice with me.....

 

[transit]

Is there some trick to doing it in a hurry? I’ve dealt with moonclips for years with my 610, and it is quite fast. But the clips are larger and thicker, so easier to handle and don’t flex like an aluminum pop top. When I got my 640 Pro, I thought cool!...moonclips! But in reality for me (and it may be just a manual dexterity issue), it’s pretty tough to get them to just drop right in like my 610. The clips flex, so it’s hard to get all of the bullet noses to line up at the same time and there’s a lot less clearance between the cylinder and frame. I use TK Custom clips and have tried some different thicknesses, but for me it’s still an exercise in futility and I know I’d really flub it under stress. I do carry with a moonclip in it because it makes for a much more positive extraction, but I still carry speed strips for reloads.

I don't own a gun cut for moonclips, so I have no firsthand knowledge. I've only seen them used, and as you observe, the extraction is where the money is. I never see guys with moonclips fingering the empty couple of cases on the frame side to get them clear the way the rest of us sometimes have to.

Whenever I see them reload, they do seem to drop right in, slicker than speedloaders.

Let's see if someone who uses them chimes in.

 

[transit]

Check out the speed "strips" from zetasix.com. If/when I get another J frame, I will have one of these speed loaders. They are like a speed strip but hold the rounds in a circle of 5 rather than in a straight line. And no release knob on top. Reduces bulk.

I have these. They're fine. I find that the rounds wiggle a bit on the reload, often enough to put them out of alignment.

For me these have become a better solution than loose rounds, when I want to store extras ready to go but not carried.

 

[tlawler]

I have these. They're fine. I find that the rounds wiggle a bit on the reload, often enough to put them out of alignment.

For me these have become a better solution than loose rounds, when I want to store extras ready to go but not carried.

I’ve seen those before and thought about ordering some. Seems like a good compromise between speed strips and speed loaders. To address the recoil question, my 640 seems more manageable than my M19 snubby. I’ve got CT grips on it that cushion the backstrap and it has a lot less flip than the 19. I know that seems counterintuitive, but I enjoy shooting the 640 over the 19. I’m more accurate with it also.

 

[Cal44]

There is a little bit of mystique in the old humpbacks.

I have two. Both no-dash versions in 38 Special.

Best pocket guns made, IMHO.

I like the SA option.

A 49ND:

And a 649ND

One of these days I'll find a 38 or early 638 without a lock to add to my inventory.

The little yellow flashlight is also an every day carry item. One Lithium Ion aaa size cell and an LED bulb.

 

[JayFramer]

So glad you found your way to the J-frame revolver.

I’d rather 5 for sure than 10 maybe. The plastic fantastic tupperwares will NEVER equal the reliability and effectiveness of the J-frame.

The .38 snub nose is STILL the finest close range civilian personal defense handgun yet. Nothing else comes close! Oh, and a .38 special is MILES ahead of any .380 my friend, you need to check your facts on that.

 

[Cal44]

But now days we no longer need belly guns, do we?

Bad guys aren't allowed to come closer than 6 feet away.

 

[transit]

There is a little bit of mystique in the old humpbacks.

I have two. Both no-dash versions in 38 Special.

Best pocket guns made, IMHO.

I like the SA option.

A 49ND:

And a 649ND

One of these days I'll find a 38 or early 638 without a lock to add to my inventory.

The little yellow flashlight is also an every day carry item. One Lithium Ion aaa size cell and an LED bulb.

Those are sexy. I've never had one.

A question I have always had though: if you pocket carry; has anything ever gotten into the shroud? I don't ever have anything else in that pocket, so I guess, what could?


But I've always wondered.

 

[Cal44]

Those are sexy. I've never had one.

A question I have always had though: if you pocket carry; has anything ever gotten into the shroud? I don't ever have anything else in that pocket, so I guess, what could?


But I've always wondered.

I've never had that happen.

The hammer back of the thumb cocking nub is rounded and pretty much seals the shroud.

Anything that could get into the shroud would have to be the thickness of a piece of paper or less.

Now when the hammer is cocked, there would be more ro om for something to fit into the shroud. But no one who values their knee cap would carry a j frame cocked.

Like you, I'm not going to carry anything in the same pocket as my gun in its holster.

 

[Justin T]

Here’s my 49. When I first saw it I thought it was a bit ungainly but it was it great shape. The more I thought about it it grew on me-I kinda fell in love with it. I pocket carry it in a cheap uncle mike’s holster. I get a little lint in the shroud, but it’s really no big deal. Shoots lights out if I do my part. It’s like an old friend already!

 

[Walter Rego]

The Centennial style J frames are some of the best guns S&W ever made.

 

[tlawler]

There is a little bit of mystique in the old humpbacks.

I have two. Both no-dash versions in 38 Special.

Best pocket guns made, IMHO.

I like the SA option.

A 49ND:

And a 649ND

One of these days I'll find a 38 or early 638 without a lock to add to my inventory.

The little yellow flashlight is also an every day carry item. One Lithium Ion aaa size cell and an LED bulb.

Wasn’t it a M49 in that famous photo of the police chief of Saigon summarily executing that VC terrorist right after he was caught killing Vietnamese civilians including women and children?

 

[wrkerr]

My M49 dates from the mid-80's. Carried it many years as a backup and off-duty. Now retired, I still carry it EDC with full confidence. I just cannot warm up to plastic 9mm single stacks, and Heaven knows I've tried!!!

I guess there is some sort of "mystique" ..... I own 5 j-frames!

 

[Johnnu2]

+1 to OP....
J-frame for the pocket and 12 ga. pump for the home. It's a 637 pre-lock, I bobbed the hammer.




J.

 

[transit]

Wasn’t it a M49 in that famous photo of the police chief of Saigon summarily executing that VC terrorist right after he was caught killing Vietnamese civilians including women and children?

I've read that it was a Model 38, gifted by the CIA Saigon station chief.

Love to know the truth, and if anyplace might have someone who knows... this could be it.

 

[transit]

I actually posted some pretty cool historical revolver pics on the forum, but didn't get much response.

They both happened to be Charter Arms anyway.

Maybe I'll drop them here too, for the small revolver fans?

 

[KSDrifter]

So glad you found your way to the J-frame revolver.

I’d rather 5 for sure than 10 maybe. The plastic fantastic tupperwares will NEVER equal the reliability and effectiveness of the J-frame.

The .38 snub nose is STILL the finest close range civilian personal defense handgun yet. Nothing else comes close! Oh, and a .38 special is MILES ahead of any .380 my friend, you need to check your facts on that.

No I agree. I thought I said as much. Now. But back maybe 7 to ten years ago, I don’t know if that was the case. I recall .380 ammo back then getting a lot of R&D going on for short barreled pistols, where the pickings for good short barreled ammo for a .38 were still pretty slim.

Could be I’m high. I often am, but I could swear that was the case at one time.

 

[transit]

Gave you the like for admitting the possibility of being high.


No, .380 was never superior to .38 Special. Never even equal.

Broadly, a 158 grain piece of lead going near 900 feet per second vs. a 90 grain piece of lead going the same.

And so on.

 

[JH1951]

My 49 and 649 quickly earned my liking and respect.
The 649 goes out on the town with me quite a bit.

 

[Cal44]

I actually posted some pretty cool historical revolver pics on the forum, but didn't get much response.

They both happened to be Charter Arms anyway.

Maybe I'll drop them here too, for the small revolver fans?

Go for it.