First J-frame

[FortyFiveACP]

I picked up my first ever J-frame through a local private sale. Used 638 in excellent condition. I haven't shot it yet but am jazzed. It seems to me that the 642 is more popular but I like the shrouded hammer model.

 

[Valmet]

Nice score- J frames have a tendency to multiply. You’ve been warned...

 

[Marshal Tom]

I never liked them before and preferred the Centennial models. I recently picked up a 649-2 in excellent condition and really like it. It is also a lot more pleasant to shoot being all steal to my M&P 340.

 

[ImDrRich]

You did very well. I, too, like the model you bought since the hammer can be seen. Shoot it safely.

 

[rockquarry]

I picked up my first ever J-frame through a local private sale. Used 638 in excellent condition. I haven't shot it yet but am jazzed. It seems to me that the 642 is more popular but I like the shrouded hammer model.

My J-frame .38s are mostly older steel guns from the 1970s, but the 638 I got new about fifteen years ago is measurably more accurate than the earlier guns, even at twenty-five yards.

I don't know if I can attribute the accuracy to the lock, the rifling type, other modern technology, or a combination of those factors. Enjoy your gun.

 

[colt_saa]

I picked up my first ever J-frame through a local private sale. Used 638 in excellent condition. I haven't shot it yet but am jazzed. It seems to me that the 642 is more popular but I like the shrouded hammer model.

Congratulations

I have had a J-Frame with me almost every day of my life since 1980. They are fine firearms

 

[colt_saa]

Nice score- J frames have a tendency to multiply. You’ve been warned...

DO NOT put TWO of them side by side in your SAFE

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My J-frame .38s are mostly older steel guns from the 1970s, but the 638 I got new about fifteen years ago is measurably more accurate than the earlier guns, even at twenty-five yards.

I don't know if I can attribute the accuracy to the lock, the rifling type, other modern technology, or a combination of those factors. Enjoy your gun.

I would think the reason your 638 is more accurate is your old guns were mishandled in days gone by!
The naked muzzel of a J-Frame and a lighter or pocketknife can peen the muzzel and still not bee seen!

I carry a 49 no dash and owned a 638 when they first came out! Using Speer Gold Dot 135 gr (short barrel), the 638 couldn't hold a candle to its older cousin!

Ivan

 

[rockquarry]

I would think the reason your 638 is more accurate is your old guns were mishandled in days gone by!
The naked muzzel of a J-Frame and a lighter or pocketknife can peen the muzzel and still not bee seen!

I carry a 49 no dash and owned a 638 when they first came out! Using Speer Gold Dot 135 gr (short barrel), the 638 couldn't hold a candle to its older cousin!

Ivan

None have been mishandled and all shoot well, even at 25 yards. All are no dash guns , a couple of which I bought new. The 638 just shoots better. This is all with the H&G #51 160 grain SWC design cast bullet and standard pressure loads.

 

[TJm15.38]

I like the 638. I bought mine about five years ago. It's had a few hundred rounds through it. It's now carried a lot and shot little.

 

[MajorD]

None have been mishandled and all shoot well, even at 25 yards. All are no dash guns , a couple of which I bought new. The 638 just shoots better. This is all with the H&G #51 160 grain SWC design cast bullet and standard pressure loads.

It maybe variations in the type of grips the guns wear, if you have older guns with say standard wood grips and a t grip, versus the modern gun with the rubber grips, just for experiment may want to swap grips around and see if this matters.

Also the newer guns have a marginally larger and bulkier frame ( from when S&W standardized on a frame that could accommodate a 357 magnum length cylinder) and this may be making the difference as well.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My 649 is with me almost daily. Sometimes it steps aside for a 9mm pistol.

As much as I like J-frames I can't abide those lightweight ones so good luck with your 638! I had one.....it was stolen....no problem!

 

[rockquarry]

It maybe variations in the type of grips the guns wear, if you have older guns with say standard wood grips and a t grip, versus the modern gun with the rubber grips, just for experiment may want to swap grips around and see if this matters.

Also the newer guns have a marginally larger and bulkier frame ( from when S&W standardized on a frame that could accommodate a 357 magnum length cylinder) and this may be making the difference as well.

Could be. I seldom change out stocks, especially on J-frames. I've yet to find stocks better designed for compactness and concealment than the wood round butt stocks that used to come on the guns from the factory. The synthetic stocks that came on the 638 look terrible but work fine.

I generally shoot them all straight-out-of-the-box with no molesting or aftermarket "upgrades"(?). I've tried grip adapters and found their value to be 100% cosmetic (but do they look neat) rather than useful, for my purposes anyway.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

My J-frame .38s are mostly older steel guns from the 1970s, but the 638 I got new about fifteen years ago is measurably more accurate than the earlier guns, even at twenty-five yards.

I don't know if I can attribute the accuracy to the lock, the rifling type, other modern technology, or a combination of those factors. Enjoy your gun.

Rock, I've found that my pretty new 442 no lock shoots considerably better than other J frames I've had over the last fifty years. Maybe I'm just getting used to them.

 

[Shoebox1.1]

I have the same piece. Gave up my charter arms undercover to change to SW. glad I did

 

[rwsmith]

You will be getting more...

...it's a fact of life.