Home Defense--3" k frame or 4" j frame??

[slownold]

Hi everyone,

New guy here and was wondering if there is much difference in recoil between these 2 sizes of guns shooting .357 or .38's. We have a friend that has a 686 3" and the wife has shot it, but i was curious if a 4" in a j frame might fit/handle better. Since the range does not have a 4", i thought i would ask??

David

 

[shawn mccarver]

Hi everyone,

New guy here and was wondering if there is much difference in recoil between these 2 sizes of guns shooting .357 or .38's. We have a friend that has a 686 3" and the wife has shot it, but i was curious if a 4" in a j frame might fit/handle better. Since the range does not have a 4", i thought i would ask??

David

I would opt for the K frame. The triggers always seem better, mostly due to the geometry inside the revolver, I think, and the K frame holds one more round.

 

[BJoe]

Is there a 4" .357 J frame?

 

[Warren Sear]

My girlfriend (small, 100 lbs) likes shooting my K frame guns much better than the J frame that I got for her. I was surprised, figuring it would be the other way around. Now I am on the lookout for a Model 10 for her.

 

[lhump1961]

Hi everyone,

New guy here and was wondering if there is much difference in recoil between these 2 sizes of guns shooting .357 or .38's. We have a friend that has a 686 3" and the wife has shot it, but i was curious if a 4" in a j frame might fit/handle better. Since the range does not have a 4", i thought i would ask??

David

I'm not aware of a 4" J frame (could be wrong) and the 686 is an L frame...just sayin'...

The 3" K frame is good for anything!

 

[wrangler5]

If you can FIND a 3" K frame I'd say buy it as quick as you can. A 3" K frame is just about the sweetest handling revolver made. I now shoot IDPA matches with one and don't think I give up anything compared to the 4" K frame I used to use. You can shoot one of these all day with 38 Specials and suffer no discomfort.

Your friend's 686 is actually an L frame, which is a bit bigger and will be slightly heavier than a K frame, although the grip sizes are the same.

If there is such a thing as a 4" J frame in 38/357 (I haven't heard of one, but who knows . . . ) it will be MUCH less pleasant to shoot, and will hold one less round, than a K frame. I have fired ONE (1) 357 round out of a steel J frame, basically to say I did it, and will never do it again. Even shooting 38 Specials out of one isn't a lot of fun unless you use big cushy grips.

As for "home defense," be aware that if you shoot one of these things inside a house without ear plugs or muffs you WILL lose some of your hearing for at least a while. If you shoot a 357 round you will lose more of your hearing for longer. In either case the damage may or may not be permanent. Although I do have some 357 revolvers, all those that I keep ready for home defense are loaded with standard pressure (not +P) 38 Special ammo - I haven't found +P to give much extra velocity from short barrels, but it does kick more which makes recovery for follow up shots more difficult.

Whatever you decide to get, remember that the secret to successful use in dire circumstances is PRACTICE, PRACTICE and more PRACTICE.

 

[riverrat38]

I think S&W made the M60 in a 5 inch Magnum version.
I had a M60-10, and it had the 3 inch barrel in a Magnum J frame. I think it would be a good gun for someone with small hands having trouble with the grip and reach on a K frame. I would use it with Speer 135 gr SB plus P ammo, or target WC's if the plus P's are too stout. Also, the Ruger SP101 might fit smaller hands well. I had one, and didn't like the trigger as well as my M60, so I sold it. But, I know women who really like the Ruger. It does have a nice grip.

Best,
Rick

 

[Fly'nBuff]

I'm a recent 3" K-Frame convert. As tricky as they are to find, I imagine an 4" J-Frame would be that much more difficult! I've never seen one in the wild. My girlfriend much prefers the Ruger SP-101. She credits the size of the grip and extra weight in helping mitigate recoil.

 

[murphydog]

There are factory 4" J frames, but only in .32 Long (the model 31) and .38 S & W (model 33), and the .22 Kit Guns.

 

[Berserker]

My k frame feels like it has as much or more recoil with 38s, as my L with .357.

For home defense go big, easy to shoot. Then buy a 2nd small gun for carry.

 

[Waywatcher]

I came to my own conclusion that a 4" K frame .38 is perfect for my needs. The 4" barrel gets more velocity than 3 or 2, which makes the bullets more likely to expand and gives slightly more power. It is also slightly quieter. 6" is too long and heavy, in my opinion.

The sixth shot is also important to me, and it is a 20% increase in firepower over five.

I prefer .38 over .357 because of decreased recoil, increased speed of follow up shots, shorter shells to eject, widely accepted performance that meets most all standards, and it is quieter than .357.

So, I would recommend getting a S&W six shooter .38 special; a classic K frame.

 

[Stainz]

The OP's question concerned .38/.357M. The 5" 60 was dropped over five years ago. It was followed by a 5" 63 (8x .22LR), which followed it into history some three years ago. That was the only .38/.357M chambered J-frame over 3" that I am aware of - at least in recent manufacture. In the five-shooter 3" 60-15 model, like the '60 Pro', you have some nice added features for literally just a few dollars over a basic 3" 60. My 5'10" wife will take my 2" 10, a six shooter blued K-frame, any day over my 60 Pro - both loaded with the same .38 Special ammo. She likes the +P 158gr LHPSWC in it - actually, that is my choice for all of my .38 & .357M revolvers in a SD/HD round. The K/L/N/X/Z frames all have a lockwork that permits a lighter DA pull than that of the smaller J-frame. Of course, there is also the added mass, which also aids in recoil.

It's hard to beat a 4" 10 or it's SS sibling, the 64, as an 'anyone/anytime/anywhere' .38 Special protector, whether loaded with 148gr full wadcutter target loads or my aforementioned protection round.

Stainz

 

[slownold]

Thank you all for the replies, i think i got the 4" j frame mixed up with the ruger sp101 4", so it sounds like for HD get a 3" or 4" K/L frame.

Thanks guys.

David

 

[luangtom]

I don't know of any 4" J-frame in .38-Spl or .357-Mag. The M686 is L-framed and may be a bit larger in grip-size for some female hands. A K-frame in 3" from the Model 65 or Model 13 in .357 would be a great compromise and a great find. You have the ability to fire either round, .38 or .357 in it, too.

 

[eb07]

6 is more than 5. I'd take the 20% upgrade in capacity.

 

[Old TexMex]

Get yourself a 4" model 19, six rounds of .357 magnum, good solid feel. I love the K frames.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Within 48 hours I'll have my new Standard Guide to Smith & Wesson and it will be my pleasure to look stuff up for y'all.

The K-frame will most assuredly have less recoil than the J-frame. Naturally, a Model 19 K-frame will have recoil less than a Model 10 K-frame of similar size but a Model 10 can't handle .357 magnum cartridges. So I'll presume we're not discussing non-.357 magnum guns.

Let's talk about the Model 19, short barrelled 2" or standard 4". I used to describe shooting my 4" gun with a mixed load of .38s and .357s as "puff puff BOOM!" Never mind I blew that gun up (story for another day). But I don't care what J-frame you load with .357 magnum cartridges all you'll get is BOOM BOOM BOOM and you'll hurt yourself at the range and probably be somewhat less effective in a self defense situation than you would be using a less nasty recoiling handgun.

If you're using a Model 19, short or long barrel, do yourself a favor and stick to .38 Special. Yes it will be loud but in your moment of self defense, adrenaline stimulated panic you need to be accurate and the loudness won't matter until later. Nasty recoil except in VERY up close and personal circumstances could easily throw you off.

I keep a 686+ 2.5" barreled revolver ready for action in my bedroom. It's a heavy L-frame so I load it with +P ammunition. I don't want excessive recoil when I'm just awakened by a threat and I certainly do not want excessive wall or window penetration that I can guarantee I'll get from a .357 round.

***GRJ***

 

[robertrwalsh]

I would go with a K-frame rather than a J-frame for a house gun. Size and weight are not that much an issue for a house gun.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

The K-frame is always a solid choice for a home defense gun, but your wife's hand might fit a J-frame better. There are various 3" steel J-frames, some with full underlugs, which have good accuracy potential and recoil absorption.