Would you buy a 6-shot .38 J-frame

[smithman 10]

Taurus 856

Just last week helped a lady friend of my wife locate her first self-defense handgun.

Local inventory is kaput but I looked around and found a small gun shop that had a Taurus snubbie new for about $360. I glanced at it, picked it up and opened the cylinder. It had six charge holes in it!

All steel, not much heavier than my 60-7, trigger pull not great but good enough. Rated for +P. She won't use it as a carry gun but will keep it at home.

I could have sworn it was a Taurus 85 at first glance. If she had not needed it I would have bought it for sure!

 

[M29since14]

I voted no because I wouldn’t be interested in a gun any bigger and heavier than a 442, or in steel, the original 40/640.

I made the choice nearly 50-years ago when I bought my first Model 36. Could have bought the Detective Special, and didn’t. I still think five rounds rounds are sufficient in this type of gun.

 

[k22fan]

Just last week helped a lady friend of my wife locate her first self-defense handgun.

[...] a Taurus snubbie new for about $360. [.38 Special ...]

She won't use it as a carry gun but will keep it at home. [...]

That was a mean thing to do. As we all know the biggest weakness handguns have for beginners is hitting anything. That is much easier with a service size handgun which will sit in the dresser drawer just as well.

 

[smithman 10]

Taurus 856

Had there been a used k-frame or equivalent size revolver available I would have steered her that way. At least it's an all steel gun which will dampen recoil more than a 442 or 642.

There are virtually no used K- frames around these parts. Maybe some new ones but prices are out of this world.

I think I did good.

 

[BBMW]

The 856. An interesting gun, sort of the genesis of this thread. If Taurus can do it, why can't S&W

They now have a 3" barrel version of that gun.

Just last week helped a lady friend of my wife locate her first self-defense handgun.

Local inventory is kaput but I looked around and found a small gun shop that had a Taurus snubbie new for about $360. I glanced at it, picked it up and opened the cylinder. It had six charge holes in it!

All steel, not much heavier than my 60-7, trigger pull not great but good enough. Rated for +P. She won't use it as a carry gun but will keep it at home.

I could have sworn it was a Taurus 85 at first glance. If she had not needed it I would have bought it for sure!

 

[RoyM52]

S & W chose to make a small concealable revolver when they designed the 5 round J frame 38.

It is not that they can't do a 6 shot {they do in a K frame} It is just they chose to go slightly smaller and make it fit 5.

Everything, in design, is a trade off.

So, if you wish to have small {J frame} and wish more than 5 rounds, you will need to compromise and change caliber {6 rounds 327, 7 rounds 22 or 22 Mag }

 

[Triggernosis]

S & W chose to make a small concealable revolver when they designed the 5 round J frame 38.

It is not that they can't do a 6 shot {they do in a K frame} It is just they chose to go slightly smaller and make it fit 5.

Everything, in design, is a trade off.

So, if you wish to have small {J frame} and wish more than 5 rounds, you will need to compromise and change caliber {6 rounds 327, 7 rounds 22 or 22 Mag }

Or you can compromise and get the Taurus 856.

 

[Triggernosis]

The 856.

They now have a 3" barrel version of that gun.

And I'm going to purchase one as soon as I see one in a shop somewhere.

 

[RoyM52]

OOPS...meant 8 rounds of 22 LR. 7 rounds of 22 Mag.{J frame}

compromise might also be a Kimber, doesn't have to be Taurus or compromise and get a K frame.

Or if you need more rounds, compromise and get a L or N frame. Lots of compromises to choose between.

 

[Triggernosis]

OOPS...meant 8 rounds of 22 LR. 7 rounds of 22 Mag.{J frame}

compromise might also be a Kimber, doesn't have to be Taurus or compromise and get a K frame.

Or if you need more rounds, compromise and get a L or N frame. Lots of compromises to choose between.

The one thing Taurus has going for it is that the 856 comes in an Ulta Lite version at only 16 ounces. I wish Kimber would try to produce a lightweight version of their K6S.

 

[rich5674]

7 Mags sounds good

OOPS...meant 8 rounds of 22 LR. 7 rounds of 22 Mag.{J frame}

compromise might also be a Kimber, doesn't have to be Taurus or compromise and get a K frame.

Or if you need more rounds, compromise and get a L or N frame. Lots of compromises to choose between.

7 22 Magnums would be good for me. But the m351 is about $200 more than a 442
Six 32 Mags would be fine too. But S&W dropped out of that game
I’ll stick to 5 +P 38s and endeavor to do my best and making each shot count. I don’t want anything bigger than a J frame or LC9s in my pocket

 

[BBMW]

There's no question they could do it if they wanted, and judging from what Taurus is doing, they could probably sell more of them than they need to do it profitably. It would give a lot of people who already have 5-shot Js to buy another gun.

S & W chose to make a small concealable revolver when they designed the 5 round J frame 38.

It is not that they can't do a 6 shot {they do in a K frame} It is just they chose to go slightly smaller and make it fit 5.

Everything, in design, is a trade off.

So, if you wish to have small {J frame} and wish more than 5 rounds, you will need to compromise and change caliber {6 rounds 327, 7 rounds 22 or 22 Mag }

 

[BBMW]

Just to wrap this up, over 50% of people responding to the poll said they'd buy a small frame 6 shoot snubbie from S&W. So maybe it's an idea they should pursue.

 

[dr. mordo]

I would much, much, much rather buy a 6 shot 327 magnum J frame...

 

[Valmet]

Prob not for me. I like my J-frames just the way they are.

 

[Triggernosis]

There are 3 J-frame six-shot .32 H&R's on Gunbroker right now listed for $1,200-$1,500. Wow!

 

[Lobster Picnic]

No.

They should bring back the Model 12, a 6-shot alloy K-frame in .38Sp.

They should also expand the J-frame lineup to include steel and alloy 6-shot models in .32/.327

 

[RWPBR]

No because a 327 J frame would do everything a 38 special could do and more.

 

[bronco45]

I'm sorry but while S&W was dozing, somebody beat them to the punch. Best snubby action I ever felt.

 

[touchoneoff]

Old thread, but I'll chime in. Yes, I would certainly buy a 6 shot J-frame.