Which weight J frame carry guns do you prefer?

[NoBatSoup4Me]

I carried a 940-1 for years. Bought it JUST prior to the .357 640 coming out as it was marginally more powerful than +P 38 special a available at the time. Replaced a Bodyguard with it.
Now EDC a 340 M&P. More cartridge in less package and no moon clips to fight with.

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[delcrossv]

For pocket carry, I really like the 342. No saggy pants here.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I typically carry a 9mm IWB for CC with a couple extra mags, but I work in a building that is posted "No Firearms", so I can't carry inside. But it's dark in the morning when I go outside to get into my truck, so I stick my 36 in a pocket holster and slide it in my coat pocket. Then I lock it in my car before going inside. I load 38+P with hornady XTP 158 gr.

I bought a cheap holster made for the 36 off of Amazon because it's not something I carry regularly. It fits way too loosely for my taste. Anyone have a good recommendation for a nice snug fitting pocket holster for a 36 snubby? I don't want to pay a fortune, but I want something that will hold the gun more snuggly.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Anyone have a good recommendation for a nice snug fitting pocket holster for a 36 snubby? I don't want to pay a fortune, but I want something that will hold the gun more snuggly.

You might want to check out the pocket holster by Blue Force Gear. I have one for my 642 and it'll fit your 36. It's definitely a snug holster. When I use mine in my pants pocket I have to make sure the holster extension catches the edge of the pocket or the holster will come out with the gun. It's actually more snug than I like in a pocket holster, but it's thinner and more comfortable than my Nemesis pocket holster. It's made from a semi-rigid neoprene-like material. I believe they go for around $16.

Hope that helps.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

You might want to check out the pocket holster by Blue Force Gear. I have one for my 642 and it'll fit your 36. It's definitely a snug holster. When I use mine in my pants pocket I have to make sure the holster extension catches the edge of the pocket or the holster will come out with the gun. It's actually more snug than I like in a pocket holster, but it's thinner and more comfortable than my Nemesis pocket holster. It's made from a semi-rigid neoprene-like material. I believe they go for around $16.


Hope that helps.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I like the price.

 

[rich5674]

Airweight

442 and 360J are easier to pocket carry than steel and easier to hold than the Airlites. Also the Airweights are much cheaper. My 2c. The recoil of the light weights is not so fearsome. I shoot mine with +P 125gn 38s

 

[hyena]

I've broken 2 airweights and 1 scandium. Yet to break a steel J, but also don't carry any of those with regularity so not quite fair. If I could find one of the older (smaller) 640s I'd snap that up and call it good.

Would you be kind enough to elaborate? How did you break them? Repairable? Under warranty?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

All steel J frame only - the rest are just too light

 

[DRYHEAT]

Light however is good for the AZ Summer - His & Hers:

 

[transit]

Anyone carry a steel-framed J-frame in a pocket holster?

Sure. For many years in a Desantis Nemesis.

BUT, they were heavy uniform trousers along with another 25 or so pounds of gear. Never even noticed the M640.

Years before that, I used to carry it in a Desantis Stealth IWB style, behind my mag pouches.

As I have moved on from uniforms; in the pocket, I've moved on to an M&P 340. The weight makes it superior in a pocket, the sights just make it superior.

Of course, I also have a 642. One must.

It's also a better plain clothes pocket carry.

But ANY J frame is a suitable defensive gun. There are a "million" variations. Find what works for you!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I dumped my 642. Too light. Had a 638. Too light. Nasty little beasts.

Originally Posted by Runs With Gun View Post
Anyone carry a steel-framed J-frame in a pocket holster?

Every day. I have a Galco nylon pocket holster (gun is lying on it) for this puppy:

I carry that in light weight summer shorts, light weight casual pants, in jeans of course, basically every day except those days when I feel like I need my 9mm with higher capacity because of where I'll be. Mall, houses of worship, places like that with too many targets of opportunity for miscreants. And that means it's with me during hot, North Texas summer days and nights. It's never a problem.

 

[NCBeagle]

Felt like swapping the Airweight for something heavier the other day. Model 40 with a Sideguard holster.

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[Runs With Gun]

Scored a 38-2 today....if she shoots well I'll start carrying her. I really like the larger hammer spur of the earlier guns.

I think a steel (49 or 649) is just too heavy for pocket carry, which is how I carry most of the time.

Khaki pants, Desantis Nemesis pocket holster. Crimson Trace laser grips.

In fact, if CTC made a laser grip for the Colt Agent / Detective, I'd move up to the 6-shot cylinder, but alas, they do not.

Here is the 38-2.

 

[S-W4EVER]

442....every day

My Grandad's 36 when I'm feeling nostalgic or want to shoot stuff at any real distance...it's amazingly accurate for a snub!!

+1. I bought a new M-36 Chief's Special when I got out of the Army in '76, carried it most every day including as a backup weapon (before they were authorized by my agency). I practiced with it quite a bit and found it and my subsequent J Frames to be incredibly accurate...

The first time I saw a M-649 Bodyguard for sale I thought S&W must have been thinking of me when they released it (& I bought it). I carried that until my agency went to 9mm. Bought and carried a M-940 for awhile. A few years later I bought my M-442-2 that I still carry now that I'm retired. It's one of the very few firearms that I've carried that I can't find anything to improve on it. Even though I have large hands, I like the boot grips and see no reason to go to something larger. The black finish is really durable and the improved thumb piece and smooth trigger are perfect. There are no sharp edges, it's as smooth as a bar of soap. I really doubt this can be improved upon so will probably carry it for the rest of my days...

 

[CaliTrav]

Wow, alot of amazing revolvers! I am adding my first revolver to my CCW. 640-1 I carry all my other pistols IWB so I am not concerned too much about the weight. Wanted to go steel to shoot those 357's.

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[Runs With Gun]

The only improvements I'd do for a J-frame are these:

Full lug barrel---by that I mean "shrouded ejector rod."

Longer ejection rod.

Bigger hammer spur (638.etc.)

6-shot cylinder.

So basically turn it into a Colt Agent.

 

[ContinentalOp]

The only improvements I'd do for a J-frame are these:

Longer ejection rod.

FWIW, I've heard of J-frames modified by removing the regular underlug on 2" barrels, installing a longer extractor rod, and installing a ball-detent yoke lock.

 

[CaliTrav]

Nice, I will look into these upgrades, I did not know you can change out the cylinder to make it a six shot. I just have to be careful not to do any internal modification yet since I will be using this on my CCW and my sheriff recommends no internal mods. Exactly why I am here, you all are the experts. Thanks again

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[Cal44]

You can't swap out the cylinder on a 5 shot j frame 38 special and make it a six shot.

Not enough room.

You can, however, get a 32 magnum 6 shot Smith revolver that's the same size as a m36.

I carry a m431pd often.

 

[sipowicz]

I was trained that my j-frame was only used to fight to get to my Detective Special.