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.
Lock or No Lock
- Thread starter deltabowhunter
- Start date
sac-gunslinger
Member
Rock Doc, just noticed your avatar. Way cool!
OK gang, who can identify the handsome character in the avatar? Who remembers the TV series? Who can tell who "Blank Reg" was and why he was called that (chilling prediction of our futures, no?).
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.
357-RevolverGuy
Member
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.
S&W1006
Member
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.
JonF
Member
Much ado about nothing.................
JonF
JonF
BrianE
Member
Here we go again about the hole.. (in my best david coverdale singing voice) ;-)
KLYDE
Member
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.
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.
BlueOvalBandit
Member
I find this hard to believe but if so where? Cause I want to move there. That way I can buy and enjoy twice as many S&Ws for the same price, sounds like a win to me.
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.
My self defense guns are no-lock.
I want to eliminate as many FTF variables as possible but don't want to alter a "safety device" that may be brought up in a courtroom.
My target (686 6") has a lock.
I don't care if it accidentally locks while shooting paper or metal.
Just my feelings - nothing scientific.
I want to eliminate as many FTF variables as possible but don't want to alter a "safety device" that may be brought up in a courtroom.
My target (686 6") has a lock.
I don't care if it accidentally locks while shooting paper or metal.
Just my feelings - nothing scientific.
If I'm sitting in a courtroom defending my freedom after shooting some dirtbag, do you think I want to give some DA the opportunity to show negligence on my part by altering the gun that I shot the dirtbag with? Ain't gonna happen.
Also, I only carry what is dependable but that I can live without because after the shooting the law takes your gun as evidence.
Also, I only carry what is dependable but that I can live without because after the shooting the law takes your gun as evidence.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Messages
- 19,859
- Reaction score
- 31,841
Simple ........ NO lock = NO worries!
Cal44
Member
I understand what you are saying, riverbear, and it makes sense.
We have some prosecutors and defense lawyers on this forum. Not to mention lots of LEOs who must have been involved in SD related trials.
I'd like to hear some of them weigh in on this removed-lock issue making trouble in SD trials.
Is this a real problem, or not?
kamloops67
Member
i have one s&w "lock" gun ,a 629-6, no problems its actually my favourite gun. id rather the lock wasnt there though.
most of my rugers have stupid locks on them as well, you must remove the grips to access them,but never a problem with ruger locks either.
most of my rugers have stupid locks on them as well, you must remove the grips to access them,but never a problem with ruger locks either.
I've written so much on this subject that I simply don't feel like going over it all for the umpteenth time.
Of all my S&W revolvers, only one of them is equipped with the ILS (lock). That was because it wasn't offered without the lock when the model was first introduced (M&P 340). As an armorer, I disassembled the gun and inspected it, making sure the bottom leg of the locking arm's torque lock spring was properly secured within the recessed notch in the bolt channel.
I fired that little lightweight with an assortment of Magnum and +P loads and the lock didn't spontaneously engage. I made it my "range beater" snub. I also made it my default armorer "practice" gun (practicing some of the seldom needed armorer skills).
When they released a No-Lock version of the M&P 340 I bought one. Not having the lock was my excuse.
Now that I've got 7 J-frames in my safe (pair of 642-1's & M&P 340's, 37 DAO, 649, 36), guess which one sees the most range time and carry use?
Yep, that first M&P 340 ... with the lock.
It's finish is pretty worn and it's acquired some scratches, dings and marks along the way.
It's also never exhibited any problem with the lock.
I've observed a number of our guys and some private citizens shooting J's made with the lock. No problems in any of them.
FWIW, I've had to identify & correct more problems in revolvers brought to me that involved issues other than the lock, and most of them have been in older S&W revolvers. I've got an older nickeled 36 sitting in my safe at the moment which has a broken hand torsion spring (old style).
BTW, the last time I asked S&W's LE sales dept folks about whether the J's they're selling to large agencies have had the locks removed, I was told the agencies buying and using the guns that are originally equipped with locks, get the guns with the locks. They can order the same internal hammer models offered to the commercial buyers without locks, if they wish, though.
After speaking with the head armorer instructor, and a class room full of revolver armorers during my class, I was unable to find anyone who could report problems with the locks in any of the little 5-shot snubs seeing increasingly more use among LE customers. Some of the older, experienced revolver armorers weren't keen on the new feature, of course, but hadn't seen any problems. (A couple of them worked for one of the major West Coast agencies who have over 9K sworn folks, and the 5-shot snub has a long & distinguished history of use within the agency. )
Given my druthers, I'd prefer a revolver without the lock, if only for simplicity's sake ... but it's no longer keeping me awake at night.
I'll continue trying to wear out my M&P 340 with the lock, and carry it (when I don't occasionally decide to pull one of my 642's, the 649 or my other M&P 340 out of the safe, just for a change ... or, sometimes because the "beater" 340 is dirty from all its range use and I didn't have time to clean it when working the range.)
Suit yourself. We all do.
Of all my S&W revolvers, only one of them is equipped with the ILS (lock). That was because it wasn't offered without the lock when the model was first introduced (M&P 340). As an armorer, I disassembled the gun and inspected it, making sure the bottom leg of the locking arm's torque lock spring was properly secured within the recessed notch in the bolt channel.
I fired that little lightweight with an assortment of Magnum and +P loads and the lock didn't spontaneously engage. I made it my "range beater" snub. I also made it my default armorer "practice" gun (practicing some of the seldom needed armorer skills).
When they released a No-Lock version of the M&P 340 I bought one. Not having the lock was my excuse.
Now that I've got 7 J-frames in my safe (pair of 642-1's & M&P 340's, 37 DAO, 649, 36), guess which one sees the most range time and carry use?
Yep, that first M&P 340 ... with the lock.
It's finish is pretty worn and it's acquired some scratches, dings and marks along the way.
It's also never exhibited any problem with the lock.
I've observed a number of our guys and some private citizens shooting J's made with the lock. No problems in any of them.
FWIW, I've had to identify & correct more problems in revolvers brought to me that involved issues other than the lock, and most of them have been in older S&W revolvers. I've got an older nickeled 36 sitting in my safe at the moment which has a broken hand torsion spring (old style).
BTW, the last time I asked S&W's LE sales dept folks about whether the J's they're selling to large agencies have had the locks removed, I was told the agencies buying and using the guns that are originally equipped with locks, get the guns with the locks. They can order the same internal hammer models offered to the commercial buyers without locks, if they wish, though.
After speaking with the head armorer instructor, and a class room full of revolver armorers during my class, I was unable to find anyone who could report problems with the locks in any of the little 5-shot snubs seeing increasingly more use among LE customers. Some of the older, experienced revolver armorers weren't keen on the new feature, of course, but hadn't seen any problems. (A couple of them worked for one of the major West Coast agencies who have over 9K sworn folks, and the 5-shot snub has a long & distinguished history of use within the agency.
)Given my druthers, I'd prefer a revolver without the lock, if only for simplicity's sake ... but it's no longer keeping me awake at night.
I'll continue trying to wear out my M&P 340 with the lock, and carry it (when I don't occasionally decide to pull one of my 642's, the 649 or my other M&P 340 out of the safe, just for a change ... or, sometimes because the "beater" 340 is dirty from all its range use and I didn't have time to clean it when working the range.)
Suit yourself. We all do.
My short answer is no, I don't care.
My long answer is I only dislike the lock because of the politics that put it there. Simplicity, too, as suggested above, but mostly because the guns never needed them in the first place. I carry a J-frame with a lock every day. There was a time that whenever this issue came up I'd pull it out to check but I've done it so many times now I KNOW it has a lock. I don't care.
***GRJ***
DonD
Member
That's certainly the truth. Don
sac-gunslinger
Member
I'm with Bandit. And I already live in the People's Republik so I don't have to trouble myself with the move. Just send me the list of shops selling at half price. Please!
NorthCountry
Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2013
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 13
I just traded in a 642 that has the lock. I got a really good trade in price for it, and ended up buying a Ruger SP 101 bobbed hammer for pocket carry, with NO lock. Sorry S&W fans, but that lock was starting to bug me. I owned/carried/shot that 642 for years, but didn't want to risk a problem in a situation where I needed it to get the job done . I will consider buying another j frame, if I can find one with no lock.
Similar threads
- Locked
