Best j frame for pocket carry ?

H

HJHMD

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2011
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Hello everyone, new to the forum. I would appreciate any advice on what is the best j frame for pocket carry. I have arthritic hands so things like trigger pull, recoil and ease of cylinder release are important considerations. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Jim
 
Register to hide this ad
Welcome! I prefer the lightest possible J-frame. Preferrably a 342 or 337. The 337 will give you S/A ability, which you may need with arthritic hands.
 
The 638 offers both SA & DA and was my first, and still most-carried, gun. Others will suggest the 642 or 442 (DAO) and that would also be a fine choice. The factory triggers on Smiths are a bit stiff, but I had my trigger smoothed out by the gunsmith at a LGS and it is great. You may want to consider some trigger work after you feel the weight of the trigger pull. A gunsmith may also be able to smooth up the release latch for you. Since recoil can be an issue for you, the lighter (non-steel) guns will provide more felt recoil. You could practice (and you do need to practice to get used to the j-frame!) with light wad cutter loads most of the time and carry them if you feel ok with them, or use a standard pressure .38 JHP load (not +p). Lastly, you will want a decent pocket holster. Lots of guys use and like the Desantis Nemisis. That was my first pocket holster, but I found that it would not stay in the pocket very well. Check out the holsters by Robert Mika. They are very well-made and about the same price as the Nemisis. I now have a couple of them and they are great.
Welcome to the forum. You'll get lots of great advice here.
 
My concern would be the recoil.

How well can you manage it with your health issues?

Will it keep you from shooting regularly?

Snubnose accuracy is tough to master and shooting Airweight can be downright painful with +p 38 Special... even without arthritis

I find the added heft of my 649 to be pretty ideal balance with enough weight to dampen recoil. A joy to shoot at the range. It has SA/DA versitility...

Maybe take a two gun approach... A smooth shooting K frame snub for the range and an Airweight to carry?

I would definatly talk to the gun shop or range and see if you could borrow or test one first.

I might would go with a Model 317 in .22 if push came to shove...
 
Last edited:
My choice is the 642. It has a somewhat lighter DA trigger than the typical S&W dual mode revolver. The enclosed hammer leaves nothing to snag on, and from a safety standpoint, not being able to thumb cock is a plus during stressful encounters.
Where recoil and muzzle blast are a factor (like 90% of the time!!), I would load it with the excellent Buffalo Bore short barrel standard velocity 158 gr. soft lead SWC load they developed specifically for lightweight snubs.
 
Given your hands, might want to consider a Ruger LCR! The Hogue Tamer grips, beat the whole system! Trigger pull is excellent! Get the .357, because the extra weight will help tame recoil. The downside to this gun, is that the grips are a bit bulky, and the trigger guard is bulbous....making it a little less concealable for pocket carry, than a J-frame.

http://www.ruger.com/products/lcr/models.html

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-LCR2.htm

Shoot Hornaday Critical Defense, either .38 for reduced recoil, or .38+P: http://www.hornady.com/store/critical_defense/
 
Last edited:
If you select the 642 I would strongly recommend replacing the grips with something that covers the backstrap. That reduces the recoil discomfort. I used the Hogue monogrip.
 
Definitely a bodyguard. Wife uses the 438 and I always seem to end up with my 649. Wife likes the light weight and SA/DA option (weak grip strength)

We both carry the old FBI load-158gr, HP semi-wadcutters.
 
corgiS&W said:
If you select the 642 I would strongly recommend replacing the grips with something that covers the backstrap. That reduces the recoil discomfort. I used the Hogue monogrip.
Click to expand...

I have never been overly recoil sensitive, but my 442 with the stock grips and +p ammo hurt.
It makes it a little less pocket friendly, but replacing the stock grips with the Hogue monogrip made shooting +p tolerable, if not enjoyable.
Having said that, if I were to do it over again, I'd opt for the 637 to give myself the option of single action firing. I'd practice with the full-wadcutter loads and carry it with the 158-grain LSWC HP loads (not +p).
As always, YMMV.
 
My pocket carry is a 442. If you can find people that own J frames that would let you try them you could decide what works best for you.
 
I would recommend a .38 Special 640. They are a bit heavy for pocket carry although it can be done easy enough. Just depends on how much weight you can stand in your pocket. Use 148gr wadcutters to minimize recoil. Be sure to have a quality trigger job done!

I would love to recommend a Model 642 but I think the recoil will be bothersome if you suffer from much arthritis.

p.s. You will have to find a used .38 Special Model 640 as the factory discontinued them a few years back. The new Model 640 is a .357 Magnum and is a bit longer and a bit heavier.

Edit to add: Welcome to the Forum!
 
I carry both the 638 & 442 and suffer from arthiritis in my hands. When I practice I use oversize Pachmeyer rubber grips and standard pressure FMJ 130 gr. range ammo. For carry, IWB or pocket, I use the wood boot grip and 158 +P. Another option is the Federal Nyclad 125 grain standard pressure (non +P) load.

During my LEO days I was involved in two deadly force encounters and never felt the recoil or heard anything. Those bad guys are no longer around and I'm a grandpa.

If you discover the .38 is too much for your condition S&W makes a nice J Frame .22 & .22 Mag.

Best, and let us know what you decide to do.
 
HJHMD said:
Hello everyone, new to the forum. I would appreciate any advice on what is the best j frame for pocket carry. I have arthritic hands so things like trigger pull, recoil and ease of cylinder release are important considerations. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Jim
Click to expand...

Recoil and easy pocket carry are basically impossible to reconcile, since lighter weight makes easier carry but harsher recoil. Your choices are all steel, aluminum frame/steel cylinder (stainless or carbon), or aluminum or scandium frame/titanium cylinder.

There's also the Bodyguard vs. Centennial debate, which is right up there with 9mm vs. .45 ACP and AR-15 vs. Mini-14 arguments - no one's ever going to win, nor stop trying.

I would suggest a 6xx or 4xx series as a reasonable compromise on carry and recoil. Recoil in the aluminum or titanium-frame guns with titanium cylinders is very sharp.

The Centennial series is more pocket-proof than the Bodyguard series.

I have been carrying a 342 since they were first introduced, but I'm not sure that's the best choice for you (it would be a 340 now, since they stopped making the .38Sp version of this general configuration).
 
Last edited:
I carry the 442. My RA is in remission at this time so recoil isn't too bad. The 442 is a lot more friendly on the hands than the LCP that it replaced.

Just saw a 442 for $300 on the PFOA forum. Don't know the gun or the seller.
 
The internal hammer models were specifically designed for pocket carry. I'd choose one of those. My personal pocket carry revolver is a M&P 340 loaded with Remington .357 Magnum 110gr SJHP's.

A good set of grips goes a long way toward maximizing control and comfort when shooting magnum loads. ;)

SW_MP340_Pachs.jpg
 
I have model 331 and 332 32 h&r magnum airlites which at 11 ounces is very easy to forget its in your pocket. The recoil is also much more manageable than .38 or .357 in that weight gun.

xtrooper: NJ State Police are a very sharp, professional looking group and have been since i remember as a child going to Sussex County for the summers and vacations.
 
+1 on the .32 magnum. I have a 632 airweight that shoots like a .22 with .32 long wadcutters, and even .32 mags aren't nearly as stiff as +P .38's.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

kiki
new sw j frame 442
Replies
16
Views
670
Nomadmax
N
A
Question on Scandium J frame revolvers.
Replies
9
Views
783
TheTinMan
T
M
J Frame aluminum grips?
Replies
2
Views
141
McClean
M
C
The best carry J Frame
3 4 5
Replies
90
Views
7K
seldon14
S
flundertaker
J Frame Grips
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
ltgem612
L

Latest posts

Back
Top