Shield v Jframe

[ISCS Yoda]

Glad to see others make the same comments that I do. To paraphrase an earlier post - I really do not know anyone who shoots a J-frame well. Period. But maybe some folks have the time and patience to get it done. Not counting the wizards like the late, great Bob Munden or Jerry Miculek very few (nobody I know) folks really can shoot a J frame well.

Yes, they can be carried and fired from a coat pocket, especially the concealed hammer models. IF you carry your gun loose in your coat pocket. You ain't gettin' that done in a pocket holster in jeans. Jus' sayin'......it ain't the movies out there folks.

I carried a M 642 for years and years. Never got into a gunfight so I never had to prove my skill with it. I never enjoyed improving my skill with it, either. Thus, my recent move to a snubbie K frame. HAPPINESS!

Those baby .380s are not a joy to shoot, either; carrying them is a joy, just like J frames. After that, well, it gets dicey.

In a discussion last week I agreed that J frames are great purse guns. They really are. But for a real street fight, well, fortunately criminals will run if you shoot at them - most of the time, anyway.

I don't mind if my remarks inflame the fans of J frames. I carried one long enough and have shot enough of them (I have several) to understand their limitations. Same with micro-380s. But if you want to practice and practice and practice to be sure you're good with it then by all means you should do so. I would never gainsay practicing with your EDC gun, no matter what it is.

 

[barking_dog]

After reading all of the comments, I think I wIll just stick with the Shield for EDC. I do have a little LCP I carry when I cannot carry a real gun. After around 500 rounds, I shoot it OK and I take it to the range at least once a month I think I will just stay with what I have rather than spending the time and money to learn something new. Thanks for all of you help.

 

[lrrifleman]

I have read all of these replies with great interest. I believe that all of the replies are relevant.

I have a S&W Model 36-6 (Chief's "Target" Special) with the 3" barrel. I replaced the nubbed rubber spongy Hogue Monogrip with a wooden Hogue Monogrip. My 36-6 is not +P rated, but it does have a smooth combat trigger. For SD, I carry Hornady Critical Defense ammo, but for practice, I use handloaded 148gr wadcutters and 160gr hard cast SWC ammo. At close range (under 7 yards), I can keep my rounds DA on a 6" paper plate. Doing deliberate SA slow fire, I can usually shoot a 2-3" group at 25 yards.

What I have found, is that the grip needs to be hand filling, hence the use of larger grips or the Tyler T grip. Practice is important, but so is keeping in mind that most J frames are designed for close encounter shooting, not 50 yard precision.

 

[Ofc.JL]

Irrifleman; Your dating yourself, my Brother...lol! Only us older shooters even know what a Tyler T-grip is. I doubt very many on this forum have even seen one. And I haven't checked lately, Is Tyler's still around? I know Melvin passed away several years ago and I had heard that his son was still running the business. But as of lately, I have no idea if that is still true.
With the advent of Pachmyer and Uncle Mike's rubber grips, the T-grip has just about slipped into obscurity. I still have my J frame T-grip, and plan to keep it forever. Used it on my older J frame and one or two Charter's that I have had over the years. And I believe Uncle Mike's rubber grips are now gone as well. S&W bought the manufacturing rights, I believe, and only make grips exclusive to their firearms.
Ah the good old days, huh?