I cant believe I am considering a J frame...

[sourdough44]

As a well rounded 'gun guy' you need a little of everything.

 

[TACC1]

I never thought I'd get a j-frame, 'cause I thought they were ugly...
until I bought one because of its intended purpose. That's when I found out why they're so popular. The beauty comes from funtion-over-style.
Now, I wonder why it took me so long.
TACC1

 

[DeadAye]

I always have my M49 and a SpeedStrip in my front pocket. Have to feel it now and then to be sure it's there.
A good online read is The Snubnose Files on The Front Sight Press web site.

 

[ENGINE18]

I only have two. My first one is a 640-1. What a great J-frame. A few years ago, I bought a 638-3 when they first came out. Since then, after joining here, I learned about the dreaded internal lock and set out to make it lock up, to no avail! I've ran some pretty hot and heavy +Ps through it and it still locks up like it was new and purrs like a kitten!

 

[stevieboy]

Like the OP I've always considered myself to be a horsepower freak and my little collection of Smith revolvers is heavily biased in favor of N-frames. I'd sort of regarded Js as being toy guns, too small to be used for anything other than in your belly self defense. I'd been told that they were inaccurate and had really terrible triggers. So, for years I simply ignored them.

Then, last fall I saw a used 36 no-dash in my local store's display case. The gun was irresistably cool. It is a tad unusual in that it is a round butt with a 3" barrel and, even though it is almost 40 years old, it has a really nice blued finish. It came with the original grips. The price, $300, was right in my ball park. So, on an impulse, I bought it.

What a revelation! The gun's trigger turned out to be nearly as smooth as those on some of my beloved Ns. It is an accurate little devil shooting .38 special 130 gr. JSPs. For shooting I've replaced the little wooden grips with S & W full sized rubber finger grooves. I have a bit of a problem with the miniscule front sight, but on a good day, I can put 'em all in the 10 ring at 10 yards. And, it is easily concealable. The gun slides into a front pocket of my cargo pants with nary a bulge.

So, count me in as a J-frame convert.

 

[texasgunner]

I just say YES to J frames

 

[florida1098]

There are alot of people who feel 5 rounds are not enough. I am one of them. I used to carry a J frame in NYC as back up and off-duty to my Model 10 six shot. Back then you could not convince me of carrying an auto, but, in the years since I have seen the savagery and lack of respect for human life by two legged animals. I would rather have 5 shots of 38 than nothing but, if I am carrying ( on-or off duty ) it is a Glock w/minumim 10 rds of 40 in waist. I know and am not going to, or trying to convince anybody here of changing their carry choice. These posts are worth exactly what they cost. IMHO, why carry 5 rds of 38, or ridiculously hard to follow-up 357 in a 15 oz J frame, when you can carry 10 rds of 40 in a smaller package, and arguably more reliable semi. I love revolvers and own a few still. I just would'nt carry them.
Everyone be safe

 

[Wee Hooker]

There are alot of people who feel 5 rounds are not enough. I am one of them. I used to carry a J frame in NYC as back up and off-duty to my Model 10 six shot. Back then you could not convince me of carrying an auto, but, in the years since I have seen the savagery and lack of respect for human life by two legged animals. I would rather have 5 shots of 38 than nothing but, if I am carrying ( on-or off duty ) it is a Glock w/minumim 10 rds of 40 in waist. I know and am not going to, or trying to convince anybody here of changing their carry choice. These posts are worth exactly what they cost. IMHO, why carry 5 rds of 38, or ridiculously hard to follow-up 357 in a 15 oz J frame, when you can carry 10 rds of 40 in a smaller package, and arguably more reliable semi. I love revolvers and own a few still. I just would'nt carry them.
Everyone be safe

I won't get into the semi vs revolver thing here. It's covered plenty else where. We all carry what we like. That said,I'll bite. Just what 10 round .40 semi is smaller than a J frame ( or 15 oz for that matter)?? How is it more reliable?

 

[florida1098]

I was wrong

The Airweight Smith weighs 15 oz's, the model 36 steel weighs 20 oz's. The Glock 27 weighs 19 oz's. More reliable is my opinion from what I have personally seen a a training SGT with the NYPD for over 20 years. This was just my opinion, sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[ab4ka]

A good online read is The Snubnose Files on The Front Sight Press web site.

definitely a great website, lots of good snubby info there.

 

[carmel10512]

Not trying to pick a fight with anyone, but, I don't know how anything but a J frame(or slim auto) becomes THE gun to carry in the summer. I know many here carry K's, L's and even N's in the summer....frankly, I like wearing shorts and T's in the summer and find anything larger than a J is difficult to conceal. I carry a j frame iwb(or pocket) in the summer, as even owb is hard to conceal.
Yeah, I know the term "dress around the gun", but comfort means alot to me. Don't like Hawaiin, or similar shirts, and besides, they're a dead giveaway. I'm in decent shape and prefer tight fitting T's, not a tent. Just my opinion, no offense intended.
Good choice on the J, Jim.

 

[rpg0123]

If you're making gun purchase decisions based purely on function, a small Glock makes a lot of sense. However, we don't all buy guns just based on function. Just like we don't all choose a car purely for function.

 

[kingcobra07]

Hi all, Just purchased a NIB 638, feels good in hand, is easy to conceal, but took it to the range today and could not hit target well at all. Don't like the sights as the front has no red ramp. Very hard to sight in using groove on back and the front sight. Any ideas for front sight, thanks Steve.

 

[florida1098]

Just a quick follow-up

I know on a revolver forum mentioning other platforms brings flaming. I try not to post things, I honestly do, and walk away a few minutes before hitting the keyboard. As a NYC cop and then Sgt I have personally seen the teletype reports of Officers in my Command that did'nt qualify because there revolvers did'nt function. They simply did'nt clean them, care for them, or used them as every tool imaginable. ( that's another topic. ) I have never ever seen a report, personally, on a Glock at Rodmans Neck that did'nt get at least a mag-full off down range. Now about me, I loved, love revolvers. When I left the NYPD in 04, I was roughly about one of the last two thousand or so cops who would not convert to a semi. I carried my model 10 in a swivel holster w/6 extra rounds sewn to holster. I've qualified w/50 rds for 28 ( 2X a year ) years at 25 Yards, but the Chief/Bodyguard is not an easy gun for everyone to shoot. Being a cop in S. FL now, and wifey also, same exact history, I, repeat I, would not allow anyone to hurt me because of unpreparedness on my end. 10 rds in a similiar weight/size weapon makes sense to me, The extra rounds, and confidence in my weapon, will keep me alive til the cavalry comes. I've taken statements from individuals in scenarios where they were behind tables, under some cover, and held a empty revolver, hoping not to be discovered. To those that believe in their J frames, that is also truly great, because it's the confidence and survival strength, mental and physical that will prevail. To each be safe

 

[Wee Hooker]

The Airweight Smith weighs 15 oz's, the model 36 steel weighs 20 oz's. The Glock 27 weighs 19 oz's. More reliable is my opinion from what I have personally seen a a training SGT with the NYPD for over 20 years. This was just my opinion, sorry if I offended anyone.

No offense ( or distaste for semi's ) here. Just keeping the line between facts and opinions clear. ( It's the engineer in me. )
For the record, I usually carry (and feel safe with) a J frame for my non LEO use in a rural area. I have however carried my S&W M&P compact at times for no particular reason at all. It's all good.

 

[David Sinko]

There was a time I really didn't like the J Frames, but that was mostly because I didn't know how to shoot them well. But now I realize everybody needs a 2" J Frame for pocket carry, whether it's a .22, .32, 9mm or .38. There is no substitute. The Ruger SP-101 I carried for a few years is just not its equal.

Dave Sinko

 

[sipowicz]

Why waste your time with a j-frame? I carry a 4 inch N-frame .44 in my front pocket 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's not all that much bigger than an N-frame 357 which is a tad bigger than an L frame which is only a hair bigger than a K frame which is only a smidge bigger than a j-frame. Sure, on occassion I've had a few store guards stop me thinking I was shoplifting a small appliance, but once they saw me pull out the gun, we all had a good laugh.

 

[67 GTO]

Why waste your time with a j-frame? I carry a 4 inch N-frame .44 in my front pocket 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's not all that much bigger than an N-frame 357 which is a tad bigger than an L frame which is only a hair bigger than a K frame which is only a smidge bigger than a j-frame. Sure, on occassion I've had a few store guards stop me thinking I was shoplifting a small appliance, but once they saw me pull out the gun, we all had a good laugh.

I like your sense of humor.