I DON"T CARE FOR J FRAMES

[caryg]

Something about a J frame that's hard to overcome. I have got rid of more J frames than any other kind of guns I ever owned. My wife says I can't make up my mind, guess She is right. All's I know is when Its all said and done I always end back up with another J frame. Call me Crazy. Just love the feel and challenge of the little Boogers.

 

[iwanna]

J-frames are cool. You're missing out.

36-1? I have one. Love it.

When I built my cabin up north, I only brought my Model 60 with me on each trip. I didn't want the other guns around. Too busy and too much chance of damage or just getting in the way.

So, every day after work, I'd put a few cylinders through the ol J-frame. Often shooting at bit ends of 2x4's. "Splittin' wood, I called it. Funny how the point of impact gradually fell into line over the course of the summer.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Almost forgot, I got my Model 37 in a straight trade for a KelTec P32 from a Glock-toting coworker.

ECS

Sent from my little slice of Heaven.

 

[kbak67]

In .38 Special I "enjoy" shooting the all steel versions better than the Airweights...

but I'd rather conceal carry the AW models. Obviously.

oooo that is nice!
I have gotten to be partial to S&W revolvers, especially snubbies lately, so I've picked up a M60, 642 pro, 642 and a M64....

carry really easy, and they are fun and challenging to shoot. we usually bring several different handguns to the range anyway.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

Whatevah floats ya boat opie. I prefer them w/longer brls though my last was a 351-C WMR loaded w/WRF.

Rimfire shouldn't count & if a longer brl was available I'd have purchased it instead.

 

[Kensterfly]

Those of you that have Square butt J Frames... Are you content with the carrying qualities of the Square butt? Comfort, concealability, etc.
I'd like to find a Blue M37 - a beater would be fine- for pocket carry or maybe IWB. I love my SB Model 10-5 but it's a four inch barrel which is not conducive to carry. But I sure love the feel and solid platform that the SB gives me. I'm leaning toward an RB but if the right gun at the right price came up in SB, should I take it even though I want it for pocket carry?

 

[Seven3]

Those of you that have Square butt J Frames... Are you content with the carrying qualities of the Square butt? Comfort, concealability, etc.
I'd like to find a Blue M37 - a beater would be fine- for pocket carry or maybe IWB. I love my SB Model 10-5 but it's a four inch barrel which is not conducive to carry. But I sure love the feel and solid platform that the SB gives me. I'm leaning toward an RB but if the right gun at the right price came up in SB, should I take it even though I want it for pocket carry?

I carry a SB model 36 in my pocket frequently, and have no problem concealing and carrying it. I have several J frames, both round and square, and find that the SB feels a bit better in my hand. It's a subjective thing, though, and a lot of folks may have the opposite experience. You should try both and see what works best for you.

As for the OP, who dislikes J frames and is skeptical of pocket carry, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am in a profession, and work in an office, where I have to wear business dress clothes, so unless I want to wear my suit coat all day, I can't conceal a gun in a belt or shoulder holster. Sure, I would love to be able to carry my 1911 or a full sized revolver, but that just isn't practical. A .38 J frame in a pocket holster may not be ideal, but if I need it, it's a lot more useful than the bigger guns at home in my safe.

 

[Kensterfly]

I carry a SB model 36 in my pocket frequently, and have no problem concealing and carrying it. I have several J frames, both round and square, and find that the SB feels a bit better in my hand. It's a subjective thing, though, and a lot of folks may have the opposite experience. You should try both and see what works best for you.

As I said, I really like the solid feel of a SB. I have Model 10s in both SB and RB. I originally bought the RB M10 snub for my carry but am not considering a M37 instead. I think the SB for an airweight would be very helpful re: handling/shooting but might be an impediment to pocket carry. I could put Pachmyer grips on a RB to beef it up but that kinda defeats the purpose of an RB for pocket carry.

I just bought an RB M37 Nickel for my bride but she is unlikely to do more than carry it in her car. So, if I bought a SB 37 and didn't like it for pocket carry, I could switch out with her RB car gun.

 

[lanceman193]

Round to square grips

As I said, I really like the solid feel of a SB. I have Model 10s in both SB and RB. I originally bought the RB M10 snub for my carry but am not considering a M37 instead. I think the SB for an airweight would be very helpful re: handling/shooting but might be an impediment to pocket carry. I could put Pachmyer grips on a RB to beef it up but that kinda defeats the purpose of an RB for pocket carry.

I just bought an RB M37 Nickel for my bride but she is unlikely to do more than carry it in her car. So, if I bought a SB 37 and didn't like it for pocket carry, I could switch out with her RB car gun.

Do they make a round to square butt grip for the J frame? If so get your wife an all steel gun to keep in her car and you take her RB 37 and change the grip...

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

For general fun shooting I like the K's myself.

Yes, naturally, K-Frames are better shooters, but everything is a compromise in life. The K-Frames don't carry near as well, and with practice, the J-Frame can be shot well. Not as well, but well enough.

 

[Kensterfly]

Do they make a round to square butt grip for the J frame? If so get your wife an all steel gun to keep in her car and you take her RB 37 and change the grip...

I just received my CHL last week and have begun carrying my
Blue m-37 SB. I like it just fine. The SB grip feels good in my hand and conceals just fine IWB or pocket.

 

[shep854]

Yes, naturally, K-Frames are better shooters, but everything is a compromise in life. The K-Frames don't carry near as well, and with practice, the J-Frame can be shot well. Not as well, but well enough.

I recently helped a lady shoot a handgun for the first time. With my M10, all her head and body shots were on target at ~5yd. With my M49, she was pulling (pushing?) shots left (she shot RH), which is normal for new J-frame shooters.

 

[Straightshooter2]

Hey WL, how do you feel about improved I frames? It's never going to win any matches but load this puppy up with .32 S&W's and it's fun to shoot. Even with .32 S&W Long it's still fun.

[/IMG]

CW

 

[DeafSmith]

Nope... I don't are for 'em at all!

It's obvious snubs are useless.

So I'll buy 'em all from you folks for say, $25 each.

 

[jtcarm]

For range work, you are correct.

Try dropping a snub N-frame in your pocket, or strapping an N-frame to your ankle.

Sooooo, for range work the N-frames are my favorite and for carry the J-frames are unbeatable.


And the K's? Somewhere in the middle, house and holster guns?

That's why I can't figure out what seems to be the short barrel/big gun obsession some folks have.

Someone was bemoaning prices on 2.5" 686s. I guess I'm missing something. An L-frame doesn't strike me as very concealable. That 1.5" of barrel removed from a 4" is expensive in terms of shoot-ability and performance.

Skeeter Skelton used to say the 2.5" M-19 added nothing to conceal-ability vs the 4", because the thickness of a medium-frame revolver was the real challenge .

Did he just wear longer jackets than we do now?

 

[BigBill]

William, Maybe we're old school and we need the heavier iron to realize we're holding a gun. Maybe it just doesn't feel right in our hands. I'm not fond of the smaller snubnose revolvers nor do I own any yet. My gun savy starts at the 5"/6"/6 1/2" barrels that's my hitch. The longer barrel bigger super sized s&w & redhawks attracts me like a magnet to steel. My ruger police service six is nothing but ccw carry with its 2 3/4" barrel. It's my only belly buster as the old timers called the snubnose revolvers at one time. To me an ankle gun would be a cz 50 or a cz 70. It's backup not a front line defense piece. A first line defence is a n framed magnum of course.

The bottom line is we all can't like the same woman right? We all can't like one food? So we all can't like the same guns.

I once could drop an n frame in my pocket with to bother. Nowadays I need suspenders.

Isn't this the need for a plastic gun because of its light weight?

 

[DeafSmith]

I don't like boiled okra.

I like J-frames. And K-frames. And N-frames. And Colts.

Amen. But add spinach to the dislikes and Ruger wheelguns to the likes.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

I'm an improved I-frame guy meself totin' a '56 four screw serrated ramp nickel 3" .32 long HE pre-mod 30 sportin six 75 grn hardcast SWC courtesy of Buffalo Bore.

She's a sweet carry.

 

[Triggernosis]

Well WL, I must agree that the J frame does NOT make a very good range gun. That is NOT it's intended purpose, however. What it IS, is arguably THE FINEST CCW revolver ever built. For THAT purpose, it is my favorite.....

Au contraire, my friend - a model 60-18 with the 5" barrel is indeed an excellent range gun.

 

[shep854]

One feature of a short barrel on a larger gun is that it can be quicker to clear a holster. Whether it's an advantage depends on the individual shooter's personal style.