Advice on stainless steel J Frames and Airweight snubbies

[cptdenny]

I'm curious about the kind of failures attributed to these light J frame models. I've carried an older no lock alloy J for well over 40 years and never had any kind of failure w/any of them.

Carrying a brand new S&W 340PD (.357 mag) for 3 years before I finally decided to take it to the range, I figured hey it's a revolver they're reliable. This revolver weighs less than 12 oz and is known as the "Devil's handshake".

Firing the first two rounds were painful, pulling the trigger on the 3rd round failed to rotate the cylinder. The recoil was powerful enough to unseat the remaining bullets from its brass casing, causing the bullet to extend out far enough to jam the cylinder from rotating. I was using factory quality .357 mag ammo.

S&W was aware of this issue and recommended using lighter .357 Mag loads or just use .38 cal ammo.

I sold/trade it to a member here informing him prior of this ammo issue.
First & last time I ever had a revolver jam on me and it had to be on a $900 gun!!!

 

[jaaeatax]

I have two 642's and a 442 pro.. I have over 600 rounds through one of the 642's with no issue. The 442pro had a problem loading moon clips with every brand of ammo I tried. Returned it to S&W and no problem since it's been returned. They replaced the extractor rod. I also have a 640 stainless steel. It's heavier and is much easier to shoot. I don't pocket carry but if I did it's either of the 642's or 442. Belt carry it's the 640 with 38 plus p. I hope there are no other issues with the aluminum guns..

 

[jaaeatax]

Just wanted to acknowledge the Hammett reference in your screen name.

Living in NYC, I believe the gun control people have fixed it so that your home defense weapon must now be kept unloaded and locked in a safe with a separate trigger lock attached or some such nonsense. How many people can even get into their home gun safe on the first try under normal circumstances much less in the dark and under duress? When I lived in a storefront in a sketchy neighborhood the door to my space opened up directly onto the street. I always kept a large fighting knife hanging in a sheath attached to the inside handle of the door. Once in a while it would fall out of the sheath and drop on my foot. Luckily, every time it landed point first I was wearing boots (I guess that's the bladed version of an accidental/negligent discharge). Anyway, the progressive movement in NYC government is working tirelessly to protect the safety and rights of criminals while some of us wish they'd bring back "stop and frisk" in a big way.

New York Cuomo is out of his mind..He has body guards...I will never let a politician decide my fate. My gun is locked but loaded and the trigger is not locked. They aren't gonna come crashing in your house to check but the home invaders might. Keep that thing in a bedside locked case but loaded and ready to fire.....Just my two cents..

 

[Boudiepitbull]

New York Cuomo is out of his mind..He has body guards...I will never let a politician decide my fate. My gun is locked but loaded and the trigger is not locked. They aren't gonna come crashing in your house to check but the home invaders might. Keep that thing in a bedside locked case but loaded and ready to fire.....Just my two cents..

I'm not so sure they won't come crashing in. A few years back an older gentleman in my co-op building died in his sleep. When he failed to move his car for 2 days we got concerned and entered the apartment with EMS workers and the NYPD. After the coroner was done another group of NYPD showed up to collect all his registered guns, so somehow there was a database that was alerted by the coroner's report. A year later more NYPD showed up to collect the same guns that they had collected a year earlier. That tells me it's harder to get off a hit list than it is to get on it. Another guy I knew ended up doing 12-18 months in prison when he was being evicted and the landlord's movers found his unregistered handgun under his mattress or something. So bad things will happen. Your kid could inadvertently rat you out to a mandated reporter at school (happened to the husband of one of my ex-wife's friends over a hunting rifle), a visiting healthcare worker or repair person could accidentally see something you'd rather they didn't and suddenly it's game on.

 

[Legacy Defense]

642 to 640 pro

Add me to the list of people that had a 642 problem.

The trigger stud broke off on the 642. I sent it (and and some money) to S&W and replaced it with a 640 pro.

MY recommendation is that if you are going to actually shoot the gun, DON'T get a 642. Also, the sights are MUCH better on the 640 Pro, along with the ability of 357 and the other differences, the 640 Pro is by far the better choice.

 

[DepOne]

ReallY!

Carrying a brand new S&W 340PD (.357 mag) for 3 years before I finally decided to take it to the range, I figured hey it's a revolver they're reliable. This revolver weighs less than 12 oz and is known as the "Devil's handshake".

Firing the first two rounds were painful, pulling the trigger on the 3rd round failed to rotate the cylinder. The recoil was powerful enough to unseat the remaining bullets from its brass casing, causing the bullet to extend out far enough to jam the cylinder from rotating. I was using factory quality .357 mag ammo.

S&W was aware of this issue and recommended using lighter .357 Mag loads or just use .38 cal ammo.

I sold/trade it to a member here informing him prior of this ammo issue.
First & last time I ever had a revolver jam on me and it had to be on a $900 gun!!!

I don't doubt you at all, but my 340PD has never had a hiccup. You're right that it isn't a Magnum range gun, but 38s give you practice. Sorry you had the problems. I wouldn't sell mine for most any price.

 

[kimbergal]

I will never see NYC again

From a woman's viewpoint, I won't go anywhere I can't protect myself. I have carried even when I wasn't allowed. Won't travel in New York, Illinois is bad enough about the 2nd amendment.

I have a Lady Smith. I pocket carry with it. I like the hammer and would rather have the option to shoot single action. I carry HP .38's in it, but I can shoot it with .357 and stay on target.

I like stainless steel and take it out of it's pocket holster every couple months, clean the lint, take it to the range and shoot it.

I like shooting my 686 more than the Lady Smith, but really I'd rather carry my Kimber Ultra--just not in a pocket. I really like the 45s.
Oh, and men's jeans have a lot bigger pockets than ladies. So we are limited in pocket carry. I mostly carry the Lady Smith in cargo short pockets.
I enjoyed reading the thread. Lots of info on j-frames.
Thanks

 

[the perfesser]

No problem with my 442 with many hundred rounds through it.

 

[thibaultfelix40]

I have a 637 I bought years ago ($280 NIB). Some years later I got a 60-15. I am sure I have put more rounds through the 637. As I write this the 637 is here at the house ready to shoot things that need to be shot and the 60 is at Smith to be fixed.

 

[Dunetraveller]

Congratulations on your choice!

I carry one at work for "up close and personal" protection. I recently had to bring it to the range for the mandatory re-qualification. I shot better groups than with my 4" Model 10. I believe it had more to do with the grips than anything. The 640 just fits like a glove. The RSO kept chuckling after every group I shot. He had to explain that he doesn't see many people come through using a snubbie like I do, and he was mighty impressed I could perform as well as I did out to 25 yards. I equip it appendix carry in a Blackhawk CQC paddle holster. It has done wonders for my posture as that steel can (eventually) mess with you if you hunch over too much when you walk. The only time I acknowledge it is when belting my seat belt. Otherwise, it disappears from my mind, even into the tenth hour. I have fired both .38 and .357 ammunition and I can say I would stick to .38 +P just for better follow-up speed. I use Buffalo Bore 158 gr. LSWC HPs for work. I fully expect to be able to hit to point of aim when it matters. I have the COMP-1 5-shot speed loaders; and while you have to angle them a tad because of the short crane, they work quite well. I like everything about this revolver. I used to carry a 686 strong side, but once I found the 640 I was hooked. The 686 is my Home Defense gun now. Hope you love the 640 as much as I do.

 

[catleman]

Have a 60-15 pro, love it. Iwb & owb

 

[Model 15-4ever]

..we already have an early 80s Rossi clone of the Model 36 in the family...

What do you think?

I think since you are not possessing these guns, and only shooting when you visit your son in Florida, you should shoot the above-mentioned snubnose that's "in the family", and ask your son to buy something new and different for you to shoot when you visit.

NYC Police Department will issue premise licenses, and give authorizations to go to a range with it. So you can legally own a handgun in NYC. Unless there is some reason you can't obtain a pistol license....