Joined the J-Frame club

Dr. Marneaus

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2016
Messages
227
Reaction score
721
I have been carrying a .380 for the past year and wasnever super comfortable with that caliber.

Came into a no lock 642 for a good deal and am much happier.

The cylinder would rotate backwards on 2 chambers without touching the trigger so some light filing and stoning of the adjustment area on the cylinder stop got that back into good solid lockup.

Aside from a scratch or three on the aluminum I'm quite happy. It's going to be a carry gun so cosmetics come second.

I'm happy to have something that chucks a projectile of twice the weight of the .380, at the same velocity.

Ive ordered new grips to replace the hogue bantams because I dislike the sticky rubber.

More to come.

 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Good looking piece you got there.

I joined the J-frame club in a similar fashion. I purchased one of the Centerfire Systems 640-1's a few months ago.

There has been a lot going on here, and I have yet to even clean it, much less fire it, but I'll get there.
 
I think you made a good choice. I tried a micro 9mm. It was a reliable gun but I could never achieve the same smooth draw I always seem to with my 649. I figure with my some what less than ninja reflexes that might be a big deal. I also did a re-read of Ed Lovette's snubbie book. IMHO opinion, he makes some compelling points in favor of the snubbie.

You might want to start looking for holsters that allow you to wear your revolver with different clothing choices. For example, I appendix carry almost all the time because I usually wear jeans/shorts with an untucked shirt. However I have a very thin tuckable horse hide holster that I wear with a suit. If it really hot and I don't want to sweat all over my gun and holster, I go with pocket carry.

One point of caution though. Many of us find J Frames to be addictive. At last count I have seven.
 
I think you made a good choice. I tried a micro 9mm. It was a reliable gun but I could never achieve the same smooth draw I always seem to with my 649. I figure with my some what less than ninja reflexes that might be a big deal. I also did a re-read of Ed Lovette's snubbie book. IMHO opinion, he makes some compelling points in favor of the snubbie.

You might want to start looking for holsters that allow you to wear your revolver with different clothing choices. For example, I appendix carry almost all the time because I usually wear jeans/shorts with an untucked shirt. However I have a very thin tuckable horse hide holster that I wear with a suit. If it really hot and I don't want to sweat all over my gun and holster, I go with pocket carry.

One point of caution though. Many of us find J Frames to be addictive. At last count I have seven.


I know that feeling that feeling. I was carrying a Sig P238 which in my opinion isn't super micro but it was the only tiny .380 I have handled that feels like a real gun, more so than the LCP and P3at type stuff. It was reliable and shot really nice but it had a right handed safety and was a auto carrier cocked and locked so I didn't care for pocket carry etc.

This should do better in many situations :-)
 
Agree it's a nice gun. I bought an earlier model 38 bodyguard when I first got my license to carry. Like yours: lightweight, goes anywhere, and as has been suggested, I ended up with a variety of holsters for different circumstances. But my big question: what kind of watch is it?
 
Hard to beat a J frame for personal protection, in my opinion.
I carry an older 36 with a bobbed hammer in my jacket pocket. Its my out for a walk gun. Lol.
If I need to carry all day concealed, I go with my Shield in 9MM
 
Last edited:
Congrats on your 442, I think you'll be happy with it. I had one for a while as a back up to my 342. A friend want it so I sold it to him. But never fear, I picked up another J Frame....a Model 36.
 
I've carried a J frame for well over 40 years, current EDC is the M&P 340. I do own an LCP which is carried when I cannot hide my J adequately but my comfort level is w/the small revolver.
 
J-Frames are about all I carry and shoot these days. I like 442s for my pocket and a 36 for AIWB. I just shot the 36 a couple weeks ago. What a sweet shooter. A lot of people don't consider a J-Frame a Range Gun but, I love shooting these things.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0763.jpg
    IMG_0763.jpg
    63.1 KB · Views: 87
Welcome to the J Frame Club!! I have a bunch, and carry one almost every day, sometimes I carry something different, but mostly a J frame. I also admire the watch...very nice clean look, and you can actually tell what time it is showing!! Some of the newer watches have such busy faces that you can't tell what they are saying!!

Best Regards, Les
 
The 642 gives you more bang for your buck, than any gun I can think of. ~$400 for a new one, around here.

For years I avoided the J-Frames. I was an SP101 guy, but found the Ruger to be a bit large and far to heavy for pocket carry. My wife now has my 642, and I upgraded to a M&P340.

While we have tons of black bears in the local mountains, they don't come down into the foothills, so I can carry something light and compact while mountain bike training. But, there are mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, etc., so I load the little gun with Buffalo Bore 158 gr. Keith, 38+P Outdoorsman. It chronos at 1031 fps. from the little short barrel, and penetrates forever!

38 SPL +P OUTDOORSMAN
 
Back
Top