i am giving up my atraction for 380 pocket pistols, want a j frame for this job. i need your opinion for a reliable 5 shor for sure pocket gun. Would you but one of the new guns or look for a seasoned veteran. i hear a lot of bad things about new revolvers that it makes me suspect to trust them. I hear a lot of troubling talk about new guns that it makes me wary. I have Ls and Ks and autos, but no Js.

Any Centennial ought to serve you well.....model 642, 442, 640, 49,,,,the list goes on....

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On the Oak Savannah

any 642/442 .38+p

Not a thing in the world wrong with the new 442/642s.

I've got a 642 and it makes a great pocket carry.

They are making them now with or without the lock if the lock bothers you.

It's a machine and every once in a while one slips out that is not right--Smith and Wesson has terrific customer service in the unlikely event that there is a problem.

May seem like heresy to say it, but not all the old ones were perfect either...

My pocket carry is a 442 no lock. In a decent holster, you'll forget it's there.

I am 5'11" and 165. I wear jeans 99.9% of the time. This is always in my right front pocket and I have N-E-V-E-R been called on it.

My M340PD lives in my left front pants pocket all the time. It is rarely my only carry gun, usually a backup to something bigger on my right (strong side) hip.
I literally do forget it's there. Centennials, especially the Airweight or Airlight models are perfect for pocket carry.
Jim

In the pocket in a pocket holster I'd go along with the 642 (with moonclips and no internal lock), 638 or their blued counterparts. I'm also a fan of the Bodyguard 38 with its integral laser. I carry either on a rotating basis and they are both reliable and both will handle Plus P ammunition.



For traditionalists, Molded In Metal (MIM) parts, although perfectly serviceable, are something to be avoided, never mind the polymer covered steel and allow of the BG38. You can get the 642 without an internal lock and the BG38 doesn't have an internal lock. Both revolvers require practice and attention to shoot accurately.

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Bob

I'd vote for seasoned veteran. Not a thing wrong with the newer guns I'm sure, but ...... my near mint Model 37 has a certain "cool factor" missing in newer guns for me. And .... you don't have to wait for it to get older so it may be more likely to appreciate in value.

Conicidentally, I've spent the day carrying a .380 pistol I'd considered carrying on a road trip requiring discretion. My subjective perception ( I didn't shoot anyone with it) left me with a feeling of inadequacy; I'm now planning to take something else on my road trip, most likely a J frame .38.

Whether I would buy a new S&W or a used one is a moot point, since I already have a lifetime supply. If this were not the case, I would not buy a factory new S&W. The last one I purchased a decade ago, while servicable, had the aesthetics of a cap pistol and appeared to be finished in a substance similar to congealed nasal mucus. From the frequent complaints about new S&Ws I've read on this board, it appears quality has declined since my last acquistion. By contrast, the S&Ws I purchased new three decades ago or more, and the used weapons of that period I've more recently acquired have my total confidence.

DISCLAIMER: The late Charles 'Skeeter' Skelton once wrote of an old desert rat who told him auto pistols and double action revolvers were bunkum, and that the perfect defense weapon was the single action revolver. It's been my life's observation that shootists extol the weapons of their formative periods...and I'm no exception.

I'll second the 340PD... So light you forget about it.

I have five j frames I sort of rotate out for pocket carry. Today I carried a Model 60 from about 1974. I have an old Model 36 rb flatlatch, a 36 sb, a 36-1 with 3" barrel, and a 37 with 3" barrel I carry infrequently. I load the all-steel guns with BB 158 grain +P hollow point w/gas checks. I have fired all of them with the BB ammo, and they all shoot to poa at 5 yards. In my opinion, the BB makes the 2" j frames a very viable defense gun, and they aren't that bad far as recoil. I have tried to carry larger guns, but I always come back to the j-frame.

Any gun you use for pocket carry is going to take a beating. I clean mine regularly, taking the sideplate off and cleaning the cylinder/yoke assembly maybe twice a year to get the junk out of it.

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Georgia On My Mind

The S&W model 642 is my 24/7 gun now. I highly recommend it. You do need to practice shooting it regularly if you expect to be a good shot with it.

i carry a 442 in a galco horsehide front pocket, and a 638 in a galco combat master on my hip. one ammo, two guns. i carry a 2x2x2 on the belt, and a speed loader from 5 star firearms in a cargo pocket. i feel like that should do the job in all cities, except kandahar or bahgdad... as stated the airweights are a handfull with full 38+p's, practice is a must.

a S&W model 640 or model 649, pre lock, will work just fine for pocket carry.

I am at the point where I always have a 642 nearby or on me, they are easy to carry and easy to shoot.

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Stan

Since 1974, this Model 60 has been my pocket companion. After all these years and trying every imaginable grip, I settled on the most basic setup for CC use:


After handling a friend's 340, I got the hankering for an Airweight. When the good deals on NO-LOCK 442 came along, I jumped on it. Great little revolver. But the rubber stocks just don't work for me carrying concealed. As my muscle memory is well conditioned to the M60's configuration, it took little time to "retro" my new 442 to my favored setup:

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

IMHO; I prefer steel over alloy - not that there's anything at all wrong with the alloy guns.

For the price and quality; my choice was a 36 no dash with some minor finish issues for $289 OTD. Cleaned up very nicely. Extremely accurate. Only downside is that, according to S&W, I'm not supposed to be shooting +P out of it.

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But then, what do I know?

I trust my life to this one everyday...

Once a week I use a air duster to blow the fuzz out of it and run a swab down the bore...

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Take your time..quickly.

My 24/7 carry has been an IL-equipped 642-2 for most of the last five years. Stoked with +P 158gr LHPSWC's (Remington R38S12), it shoots to POA at 7-12yd. It's close enough with my 125gr JHP homebrew plinkers to hit the SPC targets at 7-15yd without a miss, too (Never mind the time...). I've probably shot 1,000+ plinkers and 400+ of the +P 158gr LHPSWC's - most from GA Arms(Cheaper - ballistically equivalent to the Remi's.). It's CCW occasional use pocket carry predecessor, my .44 Special 296, continues to see some carry - in larger pockets and in the woods. Both are shown in their respective R. Mika pocket holster:





Lately, I've been carrying this new 2 1/8" 632 Pro in a 642's R. Mika pocket holster - loaded with Speer 115gr Gold Dots in .327 Federal Magnum. A bit heavier than the 642 (23 vs 15 oz), the mass is appreciated - it has recoil, noise, and flash! Another J-frame pocket protector.



The beauty of the J-frame, whether a .22 rimfire, .327 Federal Magnum, or .38 - they are small enough for pocket EDC - and dependable enough, too. That 296 and it's .44 Specials are nice, but it was seldom carried.

Stainz

I have a 442 that's kept in an Uncle Mike's OWB fabric holster and it's great for cold weather carry. When things warm up, it goes IWB and all's well. Can't go wrong with any of the J-frames.

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Northwest Ohio

I would recommend an older model Bodyguard airweight, in 38 Special.

Been using the same one since 1972.

I just obtained a Model 36-0 and it's just the ticket for me. As far as for me, I like the pre lock types, but if it's a Smith, its a good one.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

642. Only $361 at Bud's with no tax or shipping.

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Bud

There's a common theme here that focuses on the Centennial, but I still have a preference for the old-style Bodyguard with the shrouded hammer. You can use it single action if you have to, and there is no snag problem with an exposed hammer.

Haven't shown this photo in a while. Yes, I dressed it up with some ebony stocks. No, I would not shoot .357 magnums in this without a decelerator style grip on it.

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David Wilson

David, I agree, I have both the Bodyguard and the Centennial, I bought back in 1972.

I have carried them both, but I most often, by a wide margin, carried the Bodyguard, as I am Old School and like you prefer to be able to use single action.

The Wife carries the Cenntennial.

Been carrying a 442 no lock for about a year, and IMHO it's the best deep concealment weapon available. I never even notice I'm carrying it, and neither does anyone else.

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Even older, even crankier....

I just bought a 438 Bodyguard and had it in my pocket when my wife and i went to the movies tonight. Totally confident it could get me out of most any jam.

I've been pocket carrying the M38 or 442 for more years than I care to admit to. As has been said here before, you cannot beat the J's for CCW

Nothing wrong with the newer J-Frames.

I prefer the 442/642 without the lock. Currently these guns are a steal when compared to the prices of other J-Frame guns.

I've owned three 642 revolvers over the last 15 years. I'd sell one off and replace it with something else for a pocket gun. Always end up coming back to the 642. I promised myself that this time, I'm keeping it.

Although I might pick up a 442, only because at times I would prefer the darker finish on the gun. But my 642 isn't going anywhere.

For a pocket gun/back up gun, it's hard to beat the 442/642 J-Frames.

642CT, 36, 37 all no locks, or 60-14 de-locked in the front pocket almost always. They usually serve as BUG to something with a little more knock-down power, AKA a 1911 of some sort or a 3rd gen 1066 or 1076.

Class III

For pocket carry, you want either the Centennial or Bodyguard in .38 Special. Airweight or not is personal opinion.

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Centennial Every Day

A Model 60-7 with bobbed hammer. I like the extra weight when I practice with it.

Don't really notice the extra few ounces when I carry it (which is 9 days out of 10, the other day maybe a 2" Model 64).

But if I had my choice, I'd like to have one of the older Model 640's in .38 Special, before they changed over to .357 Magnum. That would be my absolute favorite choice for a J-frame pocket revolver.

And I always use a holster to cover the trigger guard too.

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638 for me. I love my K frames in steel, but if I need something as small as a J frame I don't want the weight of the steel frame.

I use the M649 as my primary and the M640 for a change. On occasion I will carry a M38-2

I always pocket carry with Mika holster

I'll add another vote for the 638/original Bodyguard style. My first and still most-carried J-frame.

I carry a Smith 340M&P in right front pocket in an old Galco horsehide pocket holster. I also carry a 438 in a Hume L/H JIT slide about 8:30 for use with my left hand. Speed strip in back pocket and a second one in a drop pouch on the belt.
Guns are loaded with Remington 158 LSWCHP+P. I guess I'm old school because both revolvers have Magna grips and Tyler T's.

340sc with mid load .357 or 442 with .38+P's are my 2 go to j-frames. The 340 is so light you almost forget you're carrying. It can also be a .38 if you want but if a .38 is the gun of the day the 442 works just fine. With an Uncle Mike's in the right front pocket and a speed strip on the off side you're good to go.

The gun that goes with me everywhere and is in my pocket until I go to bed is a 640-1 .357 magnum 2 1/8" with an XS Big Dot tritium front sight. In my opinion there is not a better centennial made.

Do like that big front sight!

This is a Model 38 Airweight that I bought maybe 15 years ago. It is often in my pocket, where it rides pretty much unnoticed. I was surprised by how accurate it is. I can't imagine a better pocket-carry J frame.

The DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster finally arrived; out of stock all over town so Cabela's shipped to the store.

My no-lock 642 + Apex carry spring kit + Nemesis = just disappears in my pocket. Accuracy both 1-handed and 2-hand hold out to 7 yards is very good. I owe it all to the Apex kit and lots of dry firing. Before the Apex items the pull was too gnarly and my accuracy suffered even at close range on quick draw drills from pocket.

More comfortable than my old LCR 38 in a pocket holster. I was thinking of buying a S&W 43c or the LCR 22LR for practice & fun, but my 38sp +p 642 is the same weight, costs less and since I'm not sending hundreds of rounds down range (just practice once a week for a few cylinder's worth after practicing my idpa & uspsa cardboard fun) there's no reason for me to own a 22LR for practice or pocket carry.

I'm not a S&W kool-aid drinker, but this 642 in a Nemesis is finding itself going everywhere with me like a cell phone.

Isn't it something...since the prediction of the demise of revolvers when the wonder-autos started proliferating in the '80s, the J-frame is as popular as ever. Says something for the pure simple reliability of it.

My fav is a 642, but any J in .38 or .357 will do you well.

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Jon

Interesting, informative thread--not that I expected anything less...

I carried (pocket) a nickel 442 Airweight a few years back, and later swapped it for a 49, after I decided that I wanted SA capability. The weight wasn't an issue to me; I could hardly feel the difference. The hump of the 49 was ugly to me for a long time, but it's a small price for the snag-proof profile.

Centennials are great for pocket carry, no exposed hammer, so less likely fuzz gets down in there:



The pocket holster is a 10 dollar Blackhawk! found at Wallyworld. Doesnt print, and it goes unnoticed.

My only regret is I didnt buy the pro model with moon clips. I chamfered the cylinders so that aides a bit in reloading, but nothing like a moonclip!

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686-4 442-1

Very nice pistola there, JayBird!
The classic "lemon peel" stocks give your newer gun that "classic" look, and the T-Grips sure help shootability!
My M49 had rubber boot grips when I got it, and looked purely tacky (though it shot well).

Thank you sir, eventually I will get a vintage one!

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686-4 442-1

I love my 940!

I went through two different brands of 380 and gave up on them.
I now carry the 638 more often than the 637. I will carry the 637, with the longer barrel, or the 638 in a iwb holster and just forget it is on my body. The 638 fits in a Galco pocket holster and is very comfortable also.
Frank.

got a 442 and a 638. 442 rides in a front pocket galco horsehide holster, 638 in either a galco combat master or don home jit slide. 2 guns one speed loader. i feel ok in all but the worst areas. 442 or 642 is a damn fine carry or BUG. buy one with or without the lock if your nervous. mine have locks and thousands of rounds downrange without a hiccup. hope this also helps...