Need Your Opinion on First Revolver Purchase: 649-5

[giants1]

Thanks. For longer barrels, I'm interested in Models 60 and 60 Pro (Performance Center) in 3" and 686 and 686 Pro in 4".

60 and 686 are out of stock, unclean when back in stock.
60 and 686 Pro will be in stock in 8 days.

Prices (new): 60 $770, 60 Pro $860, 686 $870 or $910 (two LGSs have), 686 Pro $1,070.

Can you give me guidance and recommendations? I *think* the Performance Center would be better, if nothing else, would have a higher resale value, and I rarely regret my non-gun purchases that have upgraded features.

 

[KurtC]

The first revolver I ever qualified with was a GP-100 with 6" barrel. That was back around 1990, shortly after the model was introduced. Shot a 99% on the FBI course of fire.

The one thing I learned over the years is that when it comes to defensive use of a revolver, moon clips trump speed loaders every time. You can't beat them for speed and reliability.

If I were to use a J frame today, for defensive purposes, I would sell a kidney and get a 940. 2" for the ankle, 3" for the belt. I prefer having a Tritium front sight, so I'm using an SP-101.

 

[gnystrom]

Giants1,. You are getting a lot of information. Some of it good and some i disagree with strongly.
Correct me if I am wrong but have you purchased the 649? If so, learn to shoot it before you jump into another.
The 2" gun will carry better than any longer barrel model.
The price you paid for the Speer Gold Dot’s is what it is. Hopefully you will never shoot more than a box just for practice.
I find appendix carry to be the easiest (especially while driving) and fastest for me.
I would not order a $170 paddle holster before deciding where you will be carrying that gun. That money is much better spent on training and plenty of very nice holsters can be had for under $100 and, if you are in a humid climate, leather may not be your best choice
Moon clips with a long cartridge like 38 sp. make loading extremely difficult. A simple speedstrip will do the job.

Ankle carry sounds great but a pound strapped to your ankle presents another set of issues so make sure you have someone competent guide you.

One more thing, you mentioned your gun had ports cut in the barrel. People that take that step usually do a trigger job as a matter of course.

Summed up, in my opinion, get training with the knowledge that when you have become proficient with your 2" gun, everything else will be easier.
More advice here might just be confusing.

 

[giants1]

Thanks.
Yes, I paid for it; will pick up after the background check.
How can I tell whether or not it had a trigger job?

 

[gnystrom]

The dealer might be able to tell by the smoothness and a trigger pull scale. To be honest, lots of dry fire practice will negate the need for trigger work. In the heat of battle, a 2# difference in trigger weight is inconsequential.

 

[KurtC]

Ported barrels are not the best choice for a self defense handgun. During qualification, or any competent defensive training, there are close quarter drills where you fire one handed, the instant you clear the holster. The ports blow a lot of **** straight up into your face. You'll be wearing safety glasses at the range, but you won't be in real life.

Be careful of trigger jobs. A proper one simply involves stoning the contact areas for a smooth trigger pull. There are clowns out there that put in reduced power hammer and trigger return springs, which create reliability issues in a defensive revolver.

 

[gnystrom]

KurtC, just a suggestion, Giants1 has already bought this gun. All you have done is tell him how much you personally dislike his decision. How about the old saw "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"?
There are thousands of snubbies carried AIWB every day and your suggestion that he buy a holster that allows him to reholster without looking I find to be a dangerous practice.
I applaud anyone's decision to try something new and I think Giants1 will have a lot of fun discovering the joys of shooting a revolver.
How about we all let him get back to us with his thoughts after he gets a couple of boxes downrange.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Congratulations on a Revolver and a S&W !

The Bodygaurd family J Frames are excellent revolvers for their intended purposes . Oversimplified ( and I'd disagree in other contexts ) = Small revolver intended for close or close-ish self defense , particularly well suited for firing Within pockets .

Within that market niche , the enclosed hammer variants ( 640 , 642 , etc. Etc ) have found better sales .

As J frames go , this one is fairly heavy . For comparison , M37 Airweight - 13oz , and all steel M36 - 16 to 18 oz . Whether weight is good thing or bad thing discussed later .
In 2 inch- ish revolvers , the stroke length of the ejector rod won't completely extract the casing . The answer is in your technique . Hold the gun vertical ( straight up & down) with cylinder open . Smak sharply on ejector rod , and the empty cases will be forcefully ejected .

No question , Speedloaders are much faster for reloaded . I prefer the HKS brand . but the distant second place Safariland is usable , and some people prefer them .

BUT they are more difficult to conceal , and these J frames are intended for concealment .

Speed Strips are much better than loose ctgs or loops , and are easy to discretely carry . ( Or Both ! )


As far as the OP should look at things , pretend that the gun does NOT say .357 Magnum , rather instead it says " rated for unlimited use of .38 Spl +P " .

For a .357 Magnum on purpose , starting point criteria would include medium frame , six shot , 4 inch or longer bbl . Being as this is a S&W forum , you can hear all about everyone's prefered K or L frame .357 revolvers , but comparable Rugers are also fine choices .

 

[KurtC]

KurtC, just a suggestion, Giants1 has already bought this gun. All you have done is tell him how much you personally dislike his decision. How about the old saw "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"?
There are thousands of snubbies carried AIWB every day and your suggestion that he buy a holster that allows him to reholster without looking I find to be a dangerous practice.
I applaud anyone's decision to try something new and I think Giants1 will have a lot of fun discovering the joys of shooting a revolver.
How about we all let him get back to us with his thoughts after he gets a couple of boxes downrange.

With any handgun carried for self defense, there are two things you need to be able to do without looking...reload and reholster. Your eyes need to remain on the threat and the situation at all times.

The choice of a holster is just as important as the choice of handgun. You need to be able to reholster with one hand. Your day isn't over because you decided to draw your handgun. Most threats or attacks occur when you are doing something else...managing children, carrying groceries, fumbling with car or house keys, getting in or out of your car, etc. Whether or not you had to discharge your firearm doesn't matter, you still need to continue getting you and yours to a position of safety and you may need both hands to do so.

I don't denigrate the purchase of the handgun. Buy anything you want. I do think it is a poor choice for a first defensive handgun. I also strongly suggest that anyone carrying a handgun for self defense take an accredited course in such. That's an easy and safe way to determine if you've made the right choices.

 

[IAM Rand]

Giants1, as you can see, there are many OPINIONS here. As has already been stated, some good and some not so good. The horse is out of the barn so all you can do is make good decisions going forward. Not that I am criticizing your choice of guns. I think you should have gotten training prior to purchasing a gun. Most instructors will have several for you to use if you don't have one. Kinda the try it before you buy it BUT, since you already have it let’s move forward from here. If you are purchasing it to just have fun and target shoot then there would have been better choices. If you are looking for protection then you have a nice firearm.

I have never been a fan of the appendix carry just because it doesn’t look comfortable when sitting down. You need to do some research on an appropriate holster. I have carried on my ankle and outside the waistband. I wouldn’t mind carrying inside the waistband but, either need to lose weight or buy larger pants. Neither is happening anytime soon. You need to find what is right for you. You will be buying several holsters over time. I won’t guarantee it but, am very confident you will.

Col. Bill Jordan once said, in relation to the 357 magnum, “Practice with 38 and carry 357.” If you don’t know who he is, he is worth Googling. Not that a good 38 special round is not a worthy defensive round but, I have always been a proponent that if you have a 357, carry 357 ammo in it. Practice with the 38 but, carry the 357. You also need to practice with the 357 to know what you are getting into. If you get into a stressful situation where you actually have to use your firearm you will not notice the kick of the gun. Stress and adrenaline have a funny way of making you overlook that. If you have to draw your firearm and actually discharge it, you will most likely not even remember how may rounds you fired. Don’t know if I am worried about the stout ammo or that it is ported.

Your next step is getting training, training, and yes, TRAINING. That is if you are planning on carrying it for protection.

 

[giants1]

Thanks, everyone.

A few months back, I shot a few rounds of I believe .357 Magnum through an acquaintance's Chiappa revolver and really liked how it handled and shot, though I understand that the bore axis is lower than the S&W.

And I just talked to one of the indoor ranges, which rents S&W Model 686 in 3" and 4" barrels and 60 in 3" barrels. When I pick up my 649-5 (I have some FMJ .38 SPL and .357 Magnum ammo), I would like to go to that range to do side-by-side comparisons of how the 2", 3", 4" and 686 vs. 60 each fit and shoot. What order would you recommend I shoot, eg the 4" first to see whether or not .357 Magnum would work for me? How many rounds should I expect to allocate for each?

 

[IAM Rand]

How many rounds? 1 to infinity. What is the purpose of shooting the other guns. You have already purchased a gun. Are you looking for another gun or to see if you made a good purchase? Not sure it matters what you shoot first.

Slow down and take a class please.

 

[giants1]

^^ Several people here told me that the 649-5 is not a good choice as a defensive .357 Magnum and to compare shooting different barrel lengths to see what works best for me. Also, I'm interested in buying another revolver.

And as a parallel of the benefits of shooting before buying, I *thought* that I would shoot a Glock 17 better than a Glock 19, but someone loaned me a Glock 19 at the range and I outshot my own tried-and-true Glock 17.

 

[IAM Rand]

Just as there is not a magic bullet, there is not a magic firearm. Can't fault you for wanting another revolver. They are kinda like Lays potato chip, you can't just have 1.

If someone tells you that a particular gun is not good for something then you need to ask yourself what are this person's qualifications. Just sayin.

 

[gnystrom]

Just as there is not a magic bullet, there is not a magic firearm. Can't fault you for wanting another revolver. They are kinda like Lays potato chip, you can't just have 1.

If someone tells you that a particular gun is not good for something then you need to ask yourself what are this person's qualifications. Just sayin.

Agreed. I fear Giants1 is jumping too far ahead way too fast. Might be a good idea to shut off the computer and deal with the gun he has already purchased.
Too many cooks spoil the soup syndrome.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Congrats on the purchase. You will buy a bunch of 357, shoot one cylinder full and move up to the K or L frame sooner or later anyhow. Welcome to the addiction.