Hi everyone. I am looking to buy another carry piece and am leaning toward a S&W J-Frame. Right now I carry a 9mm Sig Sauer 228 and even my larger .357 S&W 581 under a coat in cold weather. However, on summer days when it's just too hot I find myself leaving the house without a gun, and that's a habit I want to break.

I love the old Smiths, but I am not opposed to buying a new gun. Recommendations? I'm an average-sized guy, 5'10" and 170 lbs.

Anyway, I would appreciate some recommendations with accompanying rationales.

Thanks in advance.

You need a Centennial.
If you want a .38 Spl get a M442, or the more rust resistant M642.
If you can handle the recoil get a M640 or a M340 M&P, or the one I have in my pocket right now, the M340PD. 12 Oz. of .357 Magnum power. Not fun to shoot, but real easy to carry, and tolerable to shoot enough to stay proficient.
These have a totally enclosed hammer so there is nothing to snag on the draw.
Trust me, you NEED one.
Jim

642 no lock, or 442 no lock. They are basically the same gun just with a different finish, so that comes down to personal preference. You can buy these new for about $350. One of the best deals in the CCW market right now in my opinion.

If you don't mind used check out the model 49 Bodyguard. Shrouded hammer perfection! Easy carry, easy conceal on the belt, IWB or in a coat pocket.

Agree w/442 or 642 sans lock if you can find them, but the lock is really no big deal.

Any of the j snubbies would do you well. And as for HAVING to have a 357 with modern loads a 38 ain't nothing to sneeze at. I'm comfortable carrying a 36 in an IWB right now with just a T shirt over it. But half the time I carry it in a Blackhaw check 6 holster open so...

But any J will do you right.

__________________
One gun is never enough...

Here are a few examples of some fine J Frames.

Attached Images

CIMG0003.jpg (103.7 KB, 134 views)

I've had a 49 for decades. Wonderful gun, easy to shoot. I did about 70 rounds with it yesterday, at 6" steel plates, from 7 to about 30 yards (158g lead bullets @ ~750fps - standard velocity, but it puts the plates down with authority, and I can go all day with 'em.) Knocked most of the plates over most of the time. At longer ranges I cocked the hammer (it's a choice you have with this model) and the only problem was having to hold higher and higher the farther away I got.

BUT - it has always been too heavy for me to just put in a pocket. And if I'm going to put it in a holster on the belt, well with 5 rounds it weighs as much as my Glock 26 with 11 and is dimensionally similar.

SO - a few months ago I gave in to the conventional wisdom and got a 442 no lock. In this case the conventional wisdom was right - now THIS is a gun you can just drop in a pocket. I bought the black model so I could see the sights, having had experience trying to see all stainless sights in the past.

HOWEVER, I started to carry the 442 every day, in a holster (my pockets are full of other stuff that I don't want to leave home) and just recently noticed that it is starting to rust - on the top of the crane and the mating surface of the frame cutout. Apparently sweat can accumulate there and just go to work. So I'm now looking to replace it with a 642, and just figure out how to get black or black/red sights on the thing.

I like the shrouded hammer of the 49, and would carry a lightweight model if they made one without a lock. But I don't think they've done that for a long time, so finding one would be a chore. Hence, the decision to go for a 642 - reputedly the best selling model S&W makes, and having shot its brother I can understand why.

My carry gun is a M638. I removed the lock and bought "The Plug". It was an easy elimination of the lock.

Ditto Model 442/642 NO LOCK. SKU# on the 442 is 150544. Add an Apex Tactical Kit, a pocket holster, speed strips or speed loader and you are good to go.

Best Regards,
ADP3

I appreciate your suggestions and will give them all careful consideration. Excited to pull the trigger (yeah, pun intended) on another gun.

I have a 642 and its great. It only weighs 15 oz. And easy to hide. Can't go wrong with stainless.

Agreed. With a Nemesis pocket holster from DeSantis, my 642 CT slips into my pocket, and hides rather well. I'm 5'06" and 165 lbs, if it works for me it should work for you.

i suggest either a s&w model 60 .357 magnum revolver with a 3 inch barrel or a s&w model 36 aka the Chiefs special they are my two favorite j-frames.

The 642 finish peels in time. You can keep the 442 from rusting if you use the Superfly holster with the flap on the leg side of the pocket. It acts like a sweat shield. You can get a no lock version at Bud's Gun Shop online or at Gallery of guns online right now.

442 is a blued steel with blackened aluminum finish and 642 is stainless steel with clear coat finish over aluminum. Both are now in no lock models. I'm a "we hate the ILS" guy so I would buy either of them over the 637 or 638. I bought the 637 and while I don't mind the exposed hammer in my holster, I hate the ILS hole in the frame and having to remove it. I'm trying to save up for a new 442.

Nail polish.

I just bought a 442 (and recommend it highly) after shooting the equivalent 642 of my buddies on the range. I wanted to make sure that I could shoot the air weight fairly accurately before investing in one - then found a really good price ($349) on both the 642 and 442 at my local gun shop so I plunged. Its a great piece - mine has the lock - not an issue for me.

__________________
What goes around comes around

You really can't go wrong with a 442 or 642. I love my 442

Another J-Frame for consideration is the M632 in .327 Federal Magnum.

It's a six-shot vs five-shot for the others mentioned in this thread.

It's a little powerhouse and runs all over the .38 Special. It's also very easy to control and recoil is magnitudes less than one of the J-Frames in .357 Magnum. No, it's not for everyone, but I sure do like mine a lot.

__________________
SgtSam

Another vote for the 642/442 no-lock. Light weight,snag free, easy to carry.

A 642 with CorBon DPX ammo in a Mika pocket holster.

__________________
Centennial Every Day

I "like" my 640's best, but truth be told, I end up carrying the (no-lock) 442 more. Had a 642, but the finish on the aluminum failed, so out it went. If I had to pick just one, I'd keep the 640 (no dash), because stainless wears so well over the long haul.

My thing about carry guns is that they ought to be black (blue) rather than stainless. Black just hides better and glares less. Thus I chose the 442 rather than the 642. If the finish fails it goes back to S&W.

__________________
What goes around comes around

Dude that is really a nice looking set of grips.

__________________
One gun is never enough...

Twin 640ND not seen in the best of places!!

Thanks everyone--your help is much appreciated.

I am a 640 fan myself, but the best approach is to rent, or borow, a number of models, shoot them, and decide for yourself what fits you best. There are significant differences between the various models, and the ergonomics are quite variable. However, there is no such thing as a "bad" J-frame.

When I needed a gun fora CCW class, I grabbed the 642. It taught
me how to shoot DA. Recoil is a little stout, but not enough to make
you "cry uncle". I've shot about everything though it, with no
problems. Mine could use a gold bead front sight, though. TACC1

When I needed a gun fora CCW class, I grabbed the 642. It taught
me how to shoot DA. Recoil is a little stout, but not enough to make
you "cry uncle". I've shot about everything though it, with no
problems. Mine could use a gold bead front sight, though. TACC1

I agree with everything you just said, the 642 was my first Revolver, and my first handgun in general and I am in love with it. Admitidly I did not do my research like maybe I should have on the different available models of J frames. Luckily I ended up with the 642 without the lock. I can honestly say for it's size it is very accurate. It shoots better groups than my service pistol which is a Baretta M9. It kicks a good bit but I put 100 rounds down range in about 30 minutes with no issues. Every squeeze of the trigger produced a accurate shot. I had about 6" groupings at 13 yards. I'd call that sufficient. The aluminum finish peeling is something I have not heard of yet and if it happens on mine it will go back to S&W for a new finish. Maybe they can change the color?

I have only heard of it too but I've also been told by an number of my buddies that S&W service is exemplary and, although I have the 442, I'm not worried about the finish "failing" either. I think Smith makes it right whatever the problem.

__________________
What goes around comes around

Either they fix it on their own (they have good service apparently) or I have to drop a little coin. Either way it can be fixed if need be and since my 642 is not even carried at the moment it will last a while.

__________________
GO NOLES!!!

I must have those grips... What are they and where can I find some.