heeter3
Member
For me Markmontana it's the revolver. It carries extrodinarily well I shoot it well and am very confident with the.38s it uses.Besides I no longer own or seek to own any semis.
S&W J frame vs. Glock 42
- Thread starter Markmontana
- Start date
I carried a S&W model 37 for years. Since I bought my G42 the 37 stays at home loaded in a hidden spot. The 42 is easier to conceal and easier to place shots on target quickly than the J frame. An extra magazine is easy to carry also.
When it comes to carry I'd rather have a 9 mm semi than one of my 'J' Frames. More power, more rounds, flatter, lighter, more concealable carryable and I shoot it well. I'd carry a J frame if I had nothing else, but add up those pluses. If I had to go down a step I would carry a .380 (and yeah, all ammo's gotten better and now the .380 is OK WITH THE RIGHT AMMO, of which I have three that I trust out of all of the makes) As far as being 'undergunned' I don't count on 'one shot stops and intend to pull the trigger until all threats are stopped. With my Shield (my lowest capacity) that's three bullets for three perps and one left over just in case.
In the house, it's somewhat different. I have higher capacity pistols, carbines, etc, but my wife has a model 10 revolver and her .380 That she shoots very well. My other revolvers are loaded with standard .38 ammmo.
In the house, it's somewhat different. I have higher capacity pistols, carbines, etc, but my wife has a model 10 revolver and her .380 That she shoots very well. My other revolvers are loaded with standard .38 ammmo.
- Joined
- May 27, 2025
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 28
Over the years I have owned and carried a lot of handguns. My preference is for a J frame, preferably in 357 magnum. I currently own a model 37 (38 special) and a model 60 3 inch (357 mag). I only shoot the 37 for cheap practice. When I went hiking up in Northern Wisconsin, I carry the model 60. Where I walk I am in both bear and wolf country and am hiking with a dog that doesn't know any better than to want to play with a Mama bear and her cubs, and wolves like nothing better than doggie for a morning or afternoon snack. Buffalo Bore Heavy 158 gr hard cast is in the cylinder mostly due to the bear issue, but it would work equally well on a wolf if it became necessary. I have also owned a Glock 42 as well as a 43. I was not impressed by either of them, especially anything to do with the 380. I have a Sig M17 and a P365 that I sometimes carry, again with Buffalo Bore 9mm Outdoorsman 147 gr hard cast. More rounds but I still prefer the model 60. I feel much more secure with the 357 mag than the 9mm,.In any case, its up to the user to decide what they feel most comfortable with. In my case it's the Model 60 with 357 rounds in the cylinder.
Oh boy, do I approve this message. Mostly because my formative years were all revolver related. All my time in active patrol it was a model 10-6.
Then 18 years as the range officer I could shoot most anytime I wanted with all the ammo I wanted. Even though we had moved to Sigs, I only wanted to train with my revolvers. So I did. It's really amazing how proficient you can be with a J frame that fits your hand.
And that is my bottom line, pointability, familiarity, safety and reliability. To reach that point takes an enormous amount of time and ammo.
Truth be told it takes a lot of time and ammo with the auto loader too. Not to many are willing to train.
Retired I'm a RSO at the local range. It's probably 90% spray and pray. Seems like only the serious target shooters or the revolver guys belive in trigger control.
I do have a G42 for those deep cover summer days.
Could I ask why?
Not trying to start anything, just genuinely curious.
It seems like I gravitate more towards my striker fired pistol these days.
Hypothetically, it’s easier to ND with a striker-fired handgun than a hammered one if something snags on the trigger. Clothing, an errant finger, keys, etc. With most hammer-fired pistols, you can feel the hammer being cocked from DA if you’ve got something engaging the trigger.
I can't answer for gym cat, but for myself it goes to my post, above. Beyond that There's the threat of Glock Leg. And now lots of questions about the Sig 320. I simply don't want to shoot myself in the ass. I think of the revolver as safer on a number of fronts. The striker fired weapos are basically longer pull single actions, most without manual safeties.
Reality is I carry and qualify with a G42 as well as a 442. But damn, when carrying its in the holster when I put it on and take it off. A slightly worn holster makes me nervous. I have one G42 Bianchi holster with stiff new leather I only use when doing draw and shoot qualifications once a year. And reholster by sight with no excess clothing to screw things up. Very carefully.
Four other striker fired autos that are range toys but slowly coming to terms with one more for possible carry. I'm a geezer, wheel guns are what I was brought up with. They served me well for decades of carry. It's a matter of training, comfort and faith.
I fully understand those who have carried Glocks since the eighties should feel the same way. But there is no way I'm ever going to stick one inside my belt aimed at my crotch. Plastic holsters be dammed.
Goodtime Charlie
Member
Well, first of all, you have set up a false choice scenario that you have to choose only one to carry. Why would you limit yourself to carry "only one", when firearms are mechanical devices which can fail, and loss of life is at stake? Unless you live in a state that limits you to only one gun carry, you do yourself a major handicap by limiting yourself to carrying only one firearm. I used to carry three, but due to a physical limitation, have gone to only carrying two--a semi-auto and a revolver.
Look, both revolvers and semi-auto pistols have pros and cons. I carry both, to help compensate for the cons of each. Semi-autos can fail to cycle if you limp wrist them. Lets face it, in a self defense scenario, you are not guaranteed a perfect grip. Revolvers will fire and cycle with a limp wrist, no problem. Revolvers are low ammo capacity, and most people cannot reload them quickly, whereas semi-autos have high capacity options and are faster to reload, and are not gravity dependent to reload like revolvers are.
There are more pros and cons of each type, but there is no need to go into that here, you can find that elsewhere. Suffice to say that in most cases, you do not need to choose one or the other, you can carry both. I have been carrying both types since about 2008.
938 is a darn fine pistol. Mine has been dead nuts reliable and is accurate to boot. I shoot it as well as most full size pistolsVery interesting topic as I have both G42 and J frames from Smith/Taurus. While I like and shoot both well, I moved to a Sig P938 with the factory Hogue grip. Let me tell you, for such a small 9mm, it is extremely accurate and very manageable to shoot consistently! I've contemplated letting a couple of the J frames or the G42 go to purchase a second 938.
View attachment 763083
m42 in my pocket if I can’t carry a service type pistol.If somebody is looking at your bulge, ther weird and you should leave the area at once.
MetalMan
Member
That’s why I bought an Sig P365 with manual safety which I carry IWB with confidence. Awaiting delivery of my OWB holster for this pistol.
The P365 provides a higher capacity alternative to my tried and true 640-1 Pro; also carried IWB or OWB depending on dress.
For me, this represents the best of both worlds.
YMMV…
The P365 provides a higher capacity alternative to my tried and true 640-1 Pro; also carried IWB or OWB depending on dress.
For me, this represents the best of both worlds.
YMMV…
Similar threads
- Locked
