New Quality? (J-Frame)

[JayBird686]

My 442 no lock is a bit older, 2009 or 2010, but reliability is second to none.

About the only thing fit and finish wise is some of the coating has come off the barrel. Not a big deal as it is a dedicated pocket/glovebox gun. It has to shoot, not look pretty.

If I could do it again, I would have at least gotten the pro, for the moon clips. But I chamfered the cylinders, so reloads are easier.

 

[Old cop]

I’ve had my no-lock 340PD for a few years, put about 100 rounds through it and no problems. My Model 60 is at least 25 yrs old, again several hundred rounds and no problems.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I have a 442-1 pro. Built 9/18, so it's kinda recent.
Good shooter. No problems. Straight barrel. No issues.
The moonclips are handy.

 

[haywood]

My 442s have been great. New no locks from around 2012. Dry fired until the action was smooth. One is in my pocket every day. The other gets rotated in the belt with a few others. If I was to buy any gun new, I would deal with the gun genie or like company. They have their own warranty. If something is wrong they handle it on their own without going through the factory. Davidson’s is who our shop felt with.

 

[American1776]

I have examined A LOT of brand new J-frames in the two LGS nearby. This is over the last 5 years or so.

I'm going to be honest. I would NOT buy a new one without thoroughly examining it first. I'm referring to the steel J-frames.

1) Almost all of the one's I've looked at have barrels that are not clocked at 12. This makes the front site lean left or right. I even saw a 640 pro with a barrel canted to the left, and instead of adjusting the barrel, the factory installed the bigdot front site over to the right. A few barrels are straight, and those are the few I've bought.

2) I've seen quite a few new J frames with 'sprung yokes', which means that yoke can be moved laterally with little pressure sideways on the cylinder.

3) Lock up on many of them are very loose. This isn't such a big problem, since the design needs some cylinder wiggle. I still don't like it.

4) I've seen one new 640 with a forcing cone that had a sharp metal shard on the forcing cone, obstructing the barrel.

These are my own observations. What I've done many times, is have my LGS bring out all of their Jframe inventory for me to examine if I want to buy one. Sometimes I've gone through 6 or 7 boxes of J frames, and leaving empty handed.

Not bashing S&W. I own a M69 that I had to send back to the factory to turn the barrel sleeve. But I love it now, and carry it a lot. Just be aware of the issues you need to look for.

 

[MetalMan]

My only “new” S&W is this 2015 vintage 60-15.

All critical mechanical features are perfect. Barrel is ever so slightly off center. It’s proven to be a tack driver with .38Spl and manageable (but not particularly pleasant) with .357’s.

Has been a regular in my EDC rotation loaded with .38 +P and comfortably carried IWB in a Milt Sparks VMII.

 

[kraynky]

I just picked up my first IL J frame (351PD) and I think it looks great. The trigger is heavy, but I expected that. If that's what it takes to be dependable, I can live with it. So far I've only put about 30 rounds through it, and it never missed a lick. It got dark on me before I could run back to the house for more ammo.

I have no complaints with the workmanship (and I'll get over the IL thing, just like I did with the 617). Not a good picture, because I had to take it inside, but it looks well built.


UPDATE: 50 more trouble free rounds fired, and some outside pics. I can now take the pooch out to do his thing in the middle of the night and not have my gun pulling my jammies down (over the place where I used to have a butt).

We back up to some big woods, where coons, possums, coyote and creepy crawlies might be in my yard at any given hour during the night. But I would not be afraid of only having this little pipsqueak were I living near any two legged night varmints either.

 

[BeAnalog]

I just purchased my first Smith and Wesson for conceal carry. I decided on the 637 .38 Special +p rated, DA/SA revolver. I put about 300 rounds through it on the first day at the range. (Yeah, I'm not a wimp. I'm going to use it.) Below is a picture of the first few shots with it and I have never shot a snub before. I know these snubs take practice but it's pretty damn accurate. This round was shot at 20 feet. I also, show my EDC lineup and I think it works well.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[kraynky]

Jay,
This one has been flawless for me since 2016. My decision was made as soon as I saw the nice night sight and U channel rear. Mas Ayoob has good things to say about his.

J-Frame in a Desantis Nemesis in the front pocket of cargo shorts is ridiculously easy to carry.

Good luck and let me/us know what you select.

Good looking holster there, who made that one? One day I'm going to attempt something like that myself. But until I do, I need to get my hands on one.

 

[smithman]

My 642 Pro is ok. The crane is a little gappy.

 

[Buford57]

Old Reliable



642-1 About 10 years old. Some freckles on the cylinder, just discoloration. Wolf springs and a little red paint on the front sight. Otherwise stock.

 

[saemetric]

I’m a Smith guy, but after reading this thread, I thought we were discussing Taurus or Rossi.

 

[PALADIN85020]

These two have worked for me, and are my "most carried" revolvers - a 642-2 from 2008 and a 442-2 from 2009. No problems with either for years. The Barami Hip Grips allow carry in my Levi's front pocket with no holster needed, and keep the grips available above the pocket line. Shirt untucked, they just disappear and allow sitting down easily. The grip adapters give a better grasp on each.

John

 

[wrangler5]

I have a 442 that I carried IWB for a year or so. It would rust if I didn’t wipe it down with a silicone cloth - every night. Rust was only on the inside of the yoke, never on the barrel or cylinder, but it would show up as specks the next day if I didn’t do the wipedown. I switched to stainless models and never had that problem again. (Have to paint the sights to use ‘em in bright light, but I painted the 442 front sight red to see it better, so it’s not much extra work.)

 

[lkabug]

I have multiple J-frames. Newer and older, not a problem with any of them.
I do give new purchases a through look over before buying.

 

[Minorcan]

I’ve got many J Frames and all are great guns. I stick with mostly older S&Ws though. I would suggest you look at a Model 60.

 

[max503]

The knurling on the ejector rod on my brand spankin' new S&W 638 looked like someone put pliers to it. You'd never see anything like that on an S&W from back in the day.

 

[2lmaker]

I have had mixed luck with new S&W, but I understand that in manufacturing it is hard to make as much product as they do without some flawed assemblies getting out the door. Hard, but not impossible.

I will say this- stuff happens in assembly, but what really matters is what happens in customer service. S&W has impressed me with their attention to detail at the service side.
I don't hesitate to look at all the new ones as I see them but honestly, I carry old and proven guns and it would take me awhile to prove one out to myself.
My J of choice is a 638-2, and I have had no problems with it at all. That 640 pro series looks like a lot of gun and I may pick one up just to be able to load a .357 for winter carry.

 

[mod34]

Sorry to here about some of these issues, gang.

I’m still on the fence about them. I have a dandy holster and speed strip pouch but I”m just not feeling too confidedent in the new ones...

A few thoughts from a J-frame freak:

1) grab one and I'm pretty sure, like 99.x% sure, you'll love it.
2) grab one and, if on the 1% chance you don't like it, you'll be able to sell it without too much of a hair cut.
3) Shop for an older one......repeat #1 above.

 

[max503]

I posted above #37. That said - my S&W 638 will shoot rings around my Taurus 605. The 638 is ungodly accurate, and reliable. It does what I want and I'd buy another, or maybe a 637, in a heartbeat.