Choices, Choices. Which S&W J frame for CCW

[b79holmes]

Originally posted by Deek:

SNIP.. At dinner last nigh she asked me if I had ever shot someone. I said, heck no, nor do I ever want to; I would never be able to get that experience out of my head. She seems to think, and I am sure this is a common thought for some people, not just women, that if you own a gun, much less a lot of guns, you want to shoot someone. She actually said, "Why are you so blood thirsty?"
...SNIP

You should also get her the Kenik or one of the Ayoob self defense books. She needs to understand how 'literal' the term and action "self-defense" really is before she is CCW'ing.

I lean towards the 642CT myself.

Bill

 

[cmort666]

Originally posted by Deek:
I am doing some research for a friend of mine. Her husband will leave for Iraq soon and after listening to me "preach" to her about purchasing a gun for so long, she has agreed. I will take her to the range and let her shoot my 642 (I like the shrouded hammers and she could care less.) I went to the S&W website and saw a 438 Bodyguard, 442, 638 and the 642. Too many choices! They all seem to have similar tech specs, so what is the difference?

Of course, I tried to tell her she needs more than one gun.

If she's either not going to carry it or doesn't mind the weight while carrying it, go with a steel frame gun. The more unpleasant a gun is to shoot, the less the owner will practice with it, and that's a bad thing.

 

[justbob]

Originally posted by justbob:

Originally posted by Rich S:
NYS court officers had 3" model 60 .38's that did a good job of ccw and were reasonable as duty guns through the eighties. there is a .357mag version out there which with the rubber grips it comes with is quite manageable with .357's she could start out with target wadcutters (which would be a decent ccw choice then move up to the speer 135gr +p golddots when she's ready, then if she never went for magnum power she'd be well served at that. (or at least that is what my plan is for my wife.)i have a M-60-10 that she seems to like O.K. enoughand i know some say she should become proficient with iron sights first but i am buying my wife a crimson trace laser grip to increase her hits and hopefully her enjoyment so she'll shoot more.
Regards,
Rich

IMPE, all good advice there. My M60-15 (IL be scorned) 3" is my "baby 686." I would not say shooting full-power .357 Magnums of any stripe are a pleasurable experience with this gun, but they are in no way as brutal as doing the same with the flyweight alloy guns. It's an accurate creampuffy sweetheart to shoot with anything in .38 Spl./.38 +P. The only downside to this gun in a 3", IMO, is the lack of holster options.

For an EDC everywhere all the time gun, I have found nothing that works as well as the M642 (or M442 in blue) in a pocket holster. Jump quick and get a new one without the IL. Mine is always loaded with those aforementioned Speer 135 gr. +P Gold Dots. It just works.

 

[bhk]

My 60 with a full-lugged, 3-inch barrel is many times easier to shoot that my 642. It would be a great choice for everything except pocket carry.

 

[scoutsdad]

My wife likes to pull the hammer back herself.