Lock or No Lock

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deltabowhunter

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I found a J Frame I've been wanting, but the gun has the lock feature on it. Would you have any reserves about buying it with this feature?
 
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If I had a choice between a "lock" gun and a pre-lock I would, of course, take the pre-lock but if I liked the gun and it had a lock it would not stop me unless it was an ultra-lightweight in a magnum caliber. I bought a 327 TRR8 with a lock and it has become my favorite handgun. (It was never built w/o the lock). I normally fire .38 +P in it.
 
rock doc said:
I bought two frames with the lock because I could not find any without the lock at the time. I removed the locks and used Bullseye's plugs.
Click to expand...

Same story here. I have recently purchased my first lock revolver (627 PC 2 5/8" UDR) because the pre lock versions will cost at least double, usually much more. A cheap plug will do. It's a must for a carry gun.
 
I have a 686+ and a 642 that both have locks. Like others have said, if I had seen a lock and a no-lock side by side then I would have purchased the no-lock but I've never had any issues with them so I'm not concerned about them engaging accidentally.
 
I guess I have more with locks than without and have never had the first problem with any of them. I do not like the looks of them and never will but mine have caused no problems. My lock guns range from 38spl to 500mag and all work well.

Doyle
 
I read that police departments refuse to use guns with the lock, though I don't know which departments still use revolvers, but perhaps it was for back up guns, I didn't verify the story about police departments.

One story I DID verify, Massad Ayoob has in fact verified for himself that there have been incidents of these locks locking up during firing of the gun, I'm sure a google search will confirm this, and also this has been posted somewhere on this forum. I believe that can be found in the "sticky" that has the thread about the locks.

Myself, I will not tolerate a lock but one day I WOULD like to buy a Night Guard, or a an M&P TR8 revolver, or a Thunder Ranch .45 ACP revolver with a 4 inch barrel, but I intend to remove the lock when I buy any of these guns.

I would not entrust my life to a gun with a lock, do a google search on this, remember Murphy's Law, but if you find a beaut Smith you want, don't let the lock stop you, just disable the lock. Smith still makes beautiful revolvers, don't let the lock stop you from getting something that pleases you.
 
I've had no interest in locked guns but since a 5" 63 was intriguing (and only comes w/ a lock) I bot one anyway. Picked it up a couple nights ago, lock a non-issue. I'll likely remove/plug it down the road but honestly I don't even notice that it's there.
 
My LGS had the brand new S&W N Frames for around half price with the loc. It's a no brainer for me I'll take all the brand new s&w with the loc's I can buy between $599 / $699. After all my brand new s&w m29-10 is the best m29 that s&w has ever offered with all the upgrades. I can look past the loc. If the loc saves one child's life it's worth it, remember safety first.
When and if they ever discontinue the loc feature I have mine already. The collectors will be scrambling to buy them and will pay three times what there probably worth. Bb
 
The only time I even consider a lock gun is when they never made a pre lock version of the gun.Even then I still find it hard to spend the money on the gun and usually end up buying a different but similar model without the lock.

EDIT:The proof is in the pudding,Gun shops have to cut the price in half to sell the lock guns.
 
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For me, the issue comes down to the use of the gun.

For a range or target gun, I don't really care if it has a lock or not.

For example, I recently bought a 625JM with lock. In the unlikely event the lock comes on at the range, I'll just unlock it and keep shooting -- or take it home and unlock it if I didn't bring the key. No big deal.

Same thinking applies to hunting guns.

For a gun most likely to be used for self defense, particularly one you carry, I don't like locks.

If a lock fails on a SD gun it could be a big deal.

This is particularly the case with the light weight Aluminum or Scandium J frames.

Although, putting even that into perspective, many people carry semi-autos for SD and it seems the chances of a jam or failure to go into battery is greater than the lock on a revolver failing.

S&W currently offers 642s, 442, and M&P 340 's without locks.

I just bought a 642 new no-lock here in California so I know they are available.

Dave
 
Ive had a few guns with the lock and they never were a problem,but I prefer the looks of the older guns and replaced them with pre lock guns.
 
ken4 said:
I went to a class and they told me it is a good idea not to alter a gun in any way because if used in self defence, the courts can use it against you. Probably more so here in NY.
Click to expand...

Please explain how that could be. The lock is not a safety device, and no one in their right mind would carry one CCW with it locked, so how could carrying it with the lock turned off be more of a liability than having the lock disabled or even removed?

The lock is only for storage, when there is a chance that an unauthorized person might get it and cause damage.
 
As has been mentioned there is a user here on this forum that sells plugs for the lock. I myself won't buy another in-lock Smith. The only one I own is a 686+ and I hate seeing it on the side. The last three revolvers I have bought were made by Sturm-Ruger.
 
If I like the gun a lock won't stop me. I actually like the fact some people prefer not to have the lock so I can buy the gun cheaper. I can disable it and plug the hole if I decide to. It's no big deal either way to me. My biggest hope of snagging a 610 is if I find a lock model the pre-locks are too expensive for me. I'll take the savings for something I can ignore or eliminate in a few minutes.
 
Told myself I would never own a lock gun. I love the .44 Spl and have a few. 696, 624 and had a 431 Taurus. Traded the Taurus because of large chamber throats caused severe leading. The Taurus was a good woods gun and the fixed sight aided carry. Was hoping to find something close from S&W.

Happened to be in the gun store last weekend and spotted a new 21-4 Thunder Ranch. With no intentions of buying I asked to take a look at it. Fit and finish appeared to be exceptional. Must have been there for awhile because the price was decent. The RB beats the heck out of the SB Taurus and the tapered barrel gives it a nice balanced feel. Slapped $100 to hold it. Going back tomorrow to make the purchase.

Ordered a plug from Bullseye, a set of magnas from Collinscraft and an Avenger holster from Lobo. Should fit the woods carry bill perfectly. Guess I can overlook the lock.
 
jughed440 said:
Same story here. I have recently purchased my first lock revolver (627 PC 2 5/8" UDR) because the pre lock versions will cost at least double, usually much more. A cheap plug will do. It's a must for a carry gun.
Click to expand...

Here too. 627 PC 2 5/8" UDR and a 327 2" SC/PC, both used for carry, have Bullseye's plugs. Two other PCs for the range still have the lock. I avoided models with the lock as long as I could. I finally gave in with these four. Don't anticipate anymore locked models in the forseeable future.
 
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