How Many Have DUMPED their J-Frame for a NEW MINI Semi-Auto?

[gen3guy]

I've been picking up used J frames at my LGS. People are trading them for 50 cents on the dollar for credit toward their new wonder pistol. There's some great deals out there. My compact .380 is a 30 year old PPK/S.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Probably some of those guns would have been attractive in my youth. But even after some companies started making guns that I considered safe to carry in a pocket (like Seecamps), I made a decision, perhaps a wrong one, that I wasn't going to carry a gun I couldn't shoot accurately with. That put J frames at the lower limit, although I did once have a Beretta .25 that I shot fairly well.

Anyway, between having Chiefs and such, and dressing a little differently, I found that I could carry a J without a jacket. Now, there is not much motivation to look for a flat gun that works all the time, since the J-frame guns do the job well enough.

More power to anyone who finds a reliable autoloader that shoots a decent cartridge accurately, but I don't need anything better than a J-frame .38 Special just yet.

 

[Brian41]

I carried one of my 3 J frames which are DAO in my pocket for the longest time and were happy to do so. I had my second back surgery last summer and started carrying a Beretta Tomcat as it seemed lighter and an easier carry. I'm still carrying it but will soon switch back to my J frames I think as they're all 38s and a better round than the .32acp in my thinking.
I also feel 5 shots are plenty and if I ever needed more I was doing something wrong or in the wrong place.

 

[Arik]

I can shoot my J Frame 442 from inside my coat pocket if circumstances demand it. Tell me all about how well that works with a bottom feeder.

I guess it depends on the type of coat you have but I had no problems shooting my Kahr CW9 from my old work jacket pocket. Nothing jammed

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[STCM(SW)]

Tried one of the small plastic .380's.
The magazine button on the side would let loose & then the thing was worthless.
M49 now is the main one I CC. KISS is better for me.
Still CC M10-5 3" or one of the .44 Spl.

 

[4330Inroute]

I went the opposite too. Dumped a Colt Gov't. .380 for a Chief's Special. I walk about 2 miles every evening and use the Chief as my walking partner. In an IWB holster it rides comfortably and out of sight. I have faith it will go bang the first time and everytime after that. Just couldn't get the Colt to work right so I sold it off and bought the Chief. Nope, no looking back on that one with regrets.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I do have a runt Kahr in 9. Have carried it some, it just don't give me that comforting home cooking feeling Like a 642 does.

 

[kudzu3]

I will never put my model 60 in storage. I alternate between the m 60, the kahr cw 9, and the glock 36, I like them all.

 

[waffles]

I love the J Frame, but that little LCP I had was easier to shoot, lighter, flatter, and just incredibly easy to carry. I wouldn't dream of carrying a J frame while I was running, but the LCP stays there just fine.

 

[fla_gun]

I would never dump either of my J frames for anything else. I prefer having both. I am also old school and shoot my J frames so much better than the .380's or 9's I have.
I agree that there are good alternatives to a small revolver that carry more concealed.

 

[S&WForty]

There may come a time when my 638 makes my Shield .40 take a backseat. I love the Shield more than any other non-1911 semi-auto that I've shot, but the simplicity and feel of the 638 just wows me.

 

[Joe Kent]

In 1969 I first started carrying a Model 40 and have carried some version of it ever since either as primary or backup depending on the circumstances. I have never felt unprotected.

 

[psjoe]

Just picked up a 442 Pro yesterday to supplement my G26. The J frame is reliable and conceals well. The perfect EDC for casual outings and light clothing. The G26 has been great and will get the nod when I am wearing a cover garment or out in the city.

 

[quinn]

I'm with Kenjen. It depends on clothing: 340PD or Kel-Tec 3AT (380)

 

[JonF]

I have one or more 642/342's on me at all waking hours.

 

[gwpercle]

My 637 airweight in 38 spcl. still comes out on top. I've tried semi-auto's but it seems there are just too many things that can, and do go wrong . And the smaller the gun the less reliable. Ammo has to be right, bullet nose, feed ramps, clips/magazines can mysteriously be fine one day and non-functioning the next. As a self-defense tool I need the reliability of the revolver. When I need it , my life will be in danger and I want the gun to go bang, no if's and's or but's

Gary

 

[gmiller0737]

Love My Model 60-7 But I also have a LCP the LCP is easier to pocket carry so it is carried more often I do still carry the Model 60 in a IWB Holster & feel better armed with the M 60



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[PlaytheAces]

Yes and no.

I'd never ever ditch my J frames. I shoot them well and I'm quite confident in their ability to get 'er done. And compared to these little pocket .380s, the J frame is a rock solid stable shooting platform. Shoot one of these little bitty .380s and you'll know what I'm talking about.

But last summer a decent deal on a pocket .380 fell in my lap. I'd been thinking about picking one up for some time, so when the deal came up I took it.

The .380 is purely for those times when I'd normally leave the 36 at home anyway. Yeah, I know I should always pack heat but the truth is I don't.

The little .380 is smaller and lighter than the J frame. I slip it in a front pocket and forget it's there. It's a great shorts and tee shirt weapon.

So while a J frame is still my primary, I'm glad I picked up the pocket rocket. It gives me another option. And I find I'm carrying a lot more than I used to.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

J-frame. Repeat after me. J-frame.

Not that I don't have some small auto pistols, I do, but I'd never carry one in lieu of my J-frame. Daily carry is my 642 but if I were inclined to vary that it would still be a J-frame, maybe a M32 or my 649. Those are my present trio - that will grow to more down the road when I slow down on the K frame collection.

If I want to carry a large gun I can easily switch to belt carry for a K, N, or L frame or, maybe, an auto pistol, in which case I have many choices.

But stop carrying a J-frame for daily carry is probably never going to happen. I graduated from a pocket Beretta in .25 ACP to a SIG 238 (I think that's the right model number), the SIG was a lemon, seriously, so I dumped it, went to the 642 that I already had, and never looked back..

J-frame.

J-frame. Repeat after me. J-frame.

***GRJ***

 

[billj47]

I like both.

Carry either my 642 or my Shield 9 depending on how I feel. You can't go wrong with either one.