Do you own a hammer-less J?

[Roger Beach]

Hammerless J frame

I own 2. Well one is a 642 "hammerless" with the hammer completely enclosed. The other is a 49 Bodyguard with the side plates extended so the hammer is just barely exposed.

For more info on snubby revolvers you could read THE SNUBBY REVOLVER by Ed Lovette who is a former CIA paramilitary operations officer. This book is a 175 page tribute to the snubnosed revolver be it a Colt Detective Special or one of the many Smith & Wesson variations on the theme.

Or you may want to take a look at The Snubnose Files at
The Snubnose Files which pretty well covers the subject.

Under history you will see a reference to j frames and on that page you will see them report that in 2006 the 642 was S&W's biggest seller. On the Smith website they currently show about 45 variations on the 2" J frame. So, yaaaah...as a general statement I would agree it is the most popular carry gun around.

 

[BigBlueSix]

442 carried most everywhere, everyday.

 

[gertieguy]

Oh yea! Own 637, 642, and carry is a 432. Light, easy to shot, and pretty dead on accurate. With some trigger work and APEX kits...got a winner. From my own lessons- they do not do well with Rem +P 158 Lead SWHP
(old FBI load) they shoot...but it hurts. 38 runs great with Hornady 110. 32 Mag is just nice. Goo- J Frame- Goo J Frame

 

[BgDnTx]

638 because of the SA/DA option, and glad I did because I immediately put a crimson 305 on it and the SA allows zeroing in with a little better fine tuning. Pretty ugly hump, but no problem, never leave home without it.
Used a nemesis but went to a mike #3 because it exposes the trigger guard a little more and I can pull it from the front pocket with my finger on the trigger ready to go.
Speer GD 135g short barrel.
Sort of wish I'd got the model 60 for the classic look and .357, and probably will when I can find one, but the 638 is pretty much perfect for deep carry.

 

[David Armstrong]

Don't know about hammerless, but certainly the J-frame snub is consistently the default we find with shooters. It may not be the primary gun, but it seems like everybody has one as a BUG or a "just in case" carry. Even today I'd guess that close to half of the LEO's I know carry a J-frame. I own 4 of them, myself. I tell the story of being at a firearm trainers conference and sitting around with a group of instructors, and while there was no consensus on our main gun, it turned out every single one of us was carrying a J-frame as the #2 gun.

 

[rdubya]

Started out with a Mod 38 Airweight a very long time ago. Changed to a 340pd about 8 or so years ago and still carry it.

 

[jchristanner]

642

Carry a 638 in ankle holster. Lightweight and shoots well. Carry Critical defense.

 

[poordevil]

640-1

I like that alot. What are those grips??

 

[ohiocarry]

642 no lock. great carry.

 

[iouri]

Now I do, just picked up my 642 (w lock) yesterday. Great shooter.

 

[mrd]

My 42

I have a 42 but I have never seen if it has a hammer or not. I tried using a light and looking behind the trigger but still couldn't tell. All I know is that when I load that rascal and pull the trigger, it goes "bang". It is my carry.

 

[robertcriss]

Been carrying a model 60 in an IWB holster for almost 40 years. I've had several J frames but I still love my 60.

 

[Greg G]

342PD in a Kramer horsehide pocket holster.

 

[JCS0446]

I carry a Wilson Combat "Bill Wilson" .45 ACP 1911 all the time. But I also carry a Smith & Wesson 340PD .357 MAG as a backup gun. You ask, "What are you afraid of?" Not a damn thing!

 

[foggbird]

Nope. My only J-frame is a Model 49 Bodyguard (shrouded hammer).

The one I really regret not buying some years back was the Model 432 Centennial Air-Weight in .32 H&R Magnum.

Are you interested in S & W 331in H & R Mag with a bobbed hammer? In NC

 

[Henry O]

I carry a Bodyguard J-Frame almost every day. Switch out to either a 642 or 442 from time to time and also carry them as a BUG if possible.

 

[Dixiejack]

I carry a Bodyguard 38. Those .38 +P rounds work on my arthritis in my shooting hand. I started shooting WC's in it. Does anybody make any larger grips for it? I would like to put some larger wood grips on it. I owned a "lemon squeezer" about 40 years ago.

 

[computerdynamics]

I've got the Microtech UDT. All I need now is the J-Frame.... ; )

 

[BloodyThumb]

Voted yes... I have 2. One of them stinks though. Off duty it lives in my left boot when I am not wearing gym shoes.

 

[luangtom]

Yup, two of them...M&P340 and 340PD.