Best "J" frame

[haywood]

I can't find Speer Gold Dot SB, but I believe Hornady Critical Defense and Federal Hydra Shok in +P are good, dependable rounds you can trust to do the job.

I just ordered 6 / 50 round box's of SGDJHP 135gr +P from amunitionstore.com As far as best J-Frame, I like the 442. It's my favorite everyday pocket gun. 38+P is enough for me these days but back when I didn't feel the affects of Arthritis my belt gun had 357s in it my belt guns are a LCR357, SP101, or 617 Taurus 7 shooter. Rotated as I feel the need. When I get this order of ammo I'm going to shoot a few of the older rounds to get reaquainted with the 135gr GD.

 

[old bear]

The best J frame, or for that matter, any revolver, is the one you can shoot the best and will carry as needed. For me it's my Model 640-1 stoked with some hot +P 38 special ammo.

I'm with old cop, just to old to want to shoot .357 Magnum ammo from a J frame.

 

[onejdm]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=215622&stc=1&d=1447629311 I only have two. A 60-9 and a 60-10. I enjoy them both!!

 

[eveled]

You really can't go wrong with any J frame. Just a matter of finding the one that matches how you are going to carry, and shoot it. Really like choosing between "great", "really great", and "even greater".

For a very long time my only double action revolver was a stainless model 60, in fact it was my only defensive hand gun. I never felt under gunned.

 

[JFrames4ever]

My picks

As my avatar would suggest I have several J Frames. My overall favorite is a 640 no dash cen prefix and marked +P+. I wish it had the sights like on my 640 Pro Series. For pocket carry I like my 442. My 340 PD just sits in the safe. The 442 is light enough, if I don't want to pack .357. If I do the 640 Pro Series gets the nod. I like this quality of problem to have.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've read from various sources, including some here, that much of the advantage of .357 Magnum ammo is diluted or lost when it's fired from a snubby, and .38 Special +P or equivalent is a better choice.

I can no longer shoot the .357 stuff due to arthritic hands. It's too painful in a K-frame and out of the question in a J. Add in the slower recovery time, greater flash and blast, and the purpose for which I carry a J-frame as my EDC, and .38 Special is my choice.

So is the concealed hammer of the Centennial series. I don't want or feel that I need the single-action option for an up-close-and-personal self-defense gun. The likelihood that I'll need to make a precision shot at any serious range is even more minuscule than the chance I'll need to use my gun at all.

I'm just fine with a 640 no-dash.

 

[wreckville]

Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight if you can find one for good price. If not,Model 442.

 

[BB57]

No offense to the suggestion of the M60-15 .357 3" but I would suggest you go with a "K" frame if you want the additional .357 option. The "J" frame in a .357 isn't much fun to shoot and can be a challenge to master without a lot of range time.

Gun Review: Smith & Wesson Model 60 - The Truth About Guns

The J-frame revolver is itself more or less an "experts gun" when it comes to effective self defense. If you're going to carry one and expect to be able too employ it effectively, you need to shoot it a lot.

If you do that the major objection in the truth about guns article becomes a non issue. The DA trigger pull isn't bad. It's capable of 3" accuracy off hand with a 2 hand hold - even DA - but it takes a good deal of practice to develop and maintain the skills to do it.

Staging the trigger consistently with a two hand hold can be done consistently with a consistent grip with placement of the weak hand thumb so that the end of the trigger finger just meets it as the bolt rises into the cylinder. In my case, that means placing the pad of my thumb right at the point where the rear of the trigger blends into the bottom of the frame. The end of my thumb then is the point where the tip of my trigger finger need to stop, then hold pressure and squeeze to deliver the shot when the sight picture is right. It's one method to help develop the motor loop needed to stage the Model 60 reliably - although I still would not recommend staging the trigger in a high stress situation.

This group was shot for this month's snubby match this afternoon with 5 shots DA strong hand only and 5 shots weak hand only at 25 yards. Single hand shooting does make the DA pull more challenging, particularly with the weak hand. However, even single hand, weak hand, it's still a sub 6" group, and it's on point of aim.

I've read from various sources, including some here, that much of the advantage of .357 Magnum ammo is diluted or lost when it's fired from a snubby, and .38 Special +P or equivalent is a better choice.

I agree that the average .357 load is not all that efficient in a short barreled .357 Magnum. I'm not overly impressed with .357 mag loads in my 2.125" Model 60, but on the other hand with the right load, it's not bad in the 3" Model 60.

I use 8.5 grains of Unique under a 125 gr XTP and it produces right at 1300 fps in my 3" Model 60. Now that's not barn burner performance by 4" or 6" .357 Magnum standards, but it's a load that has comparatively little muzzle flash relative to a slow burning powder such as 296 or 2400, and the recoil is manageable with a slightly larger grip like the Hogue Monogrip.

That 1300 fps velocity compares to 1100 fps with a .38 Special +P load with the same bullet, so you're getting an extra 200 fps over a +P load without much downside.

On the other side of the coin, with a +P load the recoil in a properly gripped 3" Model 60 is pleasant enough that you'll shoot that load on a regular basis.

 

[G.T. Smith]

This one!!

You asked what is the best J frame, well it is this one right here because it is mine! It shoots straight and I've never had any problems with it except the cylinder latch stud came out of the bolt. New bolt, all good. She's ugly but tight and reliable, and mine.
peace,
gordon

 

[Rick_A]

Any of these.
20151111_091707 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20150409_132722 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20150312_104857 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

I think it's impossible to just have one.

 

[Macinaw]

Photo just for the heck of it.

The J frame in the back is a 632 Pro 3inch barrel that has six rounds. Any of the .32 caliber J frames would be worth considering.

 

[pineappleshooter]

Best J? You might as well ask me to pick a favorite child.

 

[jsfricks]

I carry a S&W model 042 from, I think, 1994. There weren't many made and it was never catalogued. I like it because it's has no MIM parts, it's built on the J frame and not the J Magnum frame so it's smaller overall, and it has no lock.

 

[petepeterson]

The 442 gets carried the most, and the 60-15 does the "woods and river" duty.
The one that gets shot the most?- The 34-1. I love .22s!

 

[Vulcan Bob]

From my small herd my favorites are.

1. M-640 in .38 special
2. M-649
3. M-38
4. M-442
5. M-40
6. M-36

As you can see I'm a .38 Special fan for the J snubbies, the .357 Mag has for me too much recoil for too little return.

 

[PR24]

My Mod 60 .357 is a dandy. Wolff springs, XS tritium front sight loaded with Speer 135 gr GDHP .357SB loads.

My 2.5" 638 is my back up for work. It too has the XS sight k Wolff kit. Great pieces! The 2.5" Airweights are hard to find though.

 

[Cal44]

BB57' s post should be sticky or some kind of easy to find tutorial for newbies, IMO.

 

[Screwball]

Everyone has their own idea on best...

For me, the 942 I made based on other members' revolvers. [emoji6]

 

[petepeterson]

The other great thing about "J"s is- with an open-ended holster, you can carry a large variety of revolvers that can handle numerous tasks. The 3 revolvers I mentioned above, along with a simple belt-slide holster covers alot of ground.

 

[629shooter]

It's hard to pick one. So, my top two are a older 640-1, and a M&P340(no lock)