Tale of 2 Airweight J Frames

[eb07]

I recently picked up a 642 for my girlfriend, and didn't even fire it, and dropped it off with Nelson for some work. He's been my guy for more than 20 years. He does excellent work.

Nelson showed me the target he tested the gun with and it was also shooting to the left. I took it to the range, and I was also shooting left. But I wasn't shooting at 30 feet. Christ, the idea of grouping as tight as the OP at 30 feet is something I can only dream of.

Anyway, as with most guns, they are way more accurate than I will ever be.

A pic of the addition to the girlfriend's purse.

I practice a lot


Stationary, one handed, two handed, on the move... and from the draw (appendix). 5 for sure but gotta make them count


My favorite drill from concealement:



HiTS super snub test


B8 Target



10 yards 5 shots 8 seconds from holster
5 yards 5 shots 5 seconds from holster
3 yards 5 shots 3 seconds from holster One hand only


There are also variations with reloads but chances of reloading are slim

 

[chief38]

A 2" J frame is strictly a self defense gun IMHO. That is its sole job and as long as you can keep the groups as tight and close to POA at 10 yards as you show in your pictures you are more than good to go. While I normally shoot handguns at 50 feet, I shoot my J frames at 30 feet - since I see no practical purpose to go out further.

If ANY handgun has a sole purpose of SD, it's a 2" J. All it takes is the tiniest amount off center barrel to slightly vary POI. In your case, POA - POI is as good as one can hope or expect at 10 yards from a fixed sight J Frame.

 

[MajorD]

For decades I carried a blue steel J in an ankle holster. Stomping in puddles snowdrifts tramping through forests and more. Even took a couple inadvertent swims while dog training with the blue J on my ankle. Never had rust or corrosive issues and I am not ocd about maintenance shake it off wipe it down keep trucking
I hate stainless and never saw at least in my experiences a place where it would do anything better than my old blue guns would do.

 

[JimCunn]

"A 2" J frame is strictly a self defense gun IMHO".

I used to use mine for squirrel and rabbit hunting.

 

[raljr1]

"A 2" J frame is strictly a self defense gun IMHO".

I used to use mine for squirrel and rabbit hunting.

Them squirrels was attacking you, right, Jim?

 

[gnystrom]

Personally, I could care less as to what groups my j-frames produce off a rest at 25 yds. The 2" revolver is made for up close personal use.
The 10yd. offhand training is exactly what I subscribe to and although I am restricted to moving only a few feet while shooting, I always add that to the mix.

 

[JimCunn]

I'm more interested in 50 to 75 feet.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

A 2" J frame is strictly a self defense gun IMHO. That is its sole job. .

I agree to this completely. But would add- because I have the choice to choose my tools based on the circumstances.

My range does not allow movement. Bench only. You are lucky. I wish I were you. Only time I get to run around and shoot is the yearly qual with the department[/IMG]

Even at a "regulated due to high liability" facility, you can practice single shot /quick reloads, weak handed, and hopefully hip firing.
Let not one round go to waste. Your time and ammo costs are too precious for standard bench shooting.

 

[JimCunn]

"A 2" J frame is strictly a self defense gun IMHO. That is its sole job"

I've been using them as a general purpose gun since 1965. They are a great all purpose gun.

 

[HamHands]

This one is a laser... Came with a 10+lbs trigger though. My wife couldn't reliably pull the DA trigger.

After 30-40minutes with the India stones "Polishing" sear surfaces and the rebound slide... A Wolff rebound slide spring and hammer strut and buttoned back up the DA trigger pull is about 5.5lbs and touches off every time. The wife can fire until cylinder dump no problem now at 21 feet into a silhouette.

I teach her to run a minimum of 3 rounds smoothly into where the navel is on a silhouette/perp situation.

 

[scottcolbath]

I'm more interested in 50 to 75 feet.

A couple weeks back, I got the girlfriend's Airweight out at her dad's ranch and tossed some lead down range. At 75 feet, I was hitting steel plates consistently. I was thrilled that I could do that, with that little snubby. I had no confidence I could.

S.C.

 

[JimCunn]

I was shooting mine at 100 feet yesterday. I lost my shooting skills when I developed cataracts several years ago. Vision is back thanks to surgery, but shooting skills haven't returned yet. I was consistently hitting paper plates at 100 feet but no longer able to bounce a coke can at that distance. I'm hoping that may return, but I think my days of squirrel hunting with a J-frame might be over.

I keep hearing people mention weak hand but am not really sure what that means. Do very many people have a preference for which hand they use?

 

[gnystrom]

I enjoy all the long distance snubbie shooting stories but then I remind myself if I shoot at someone that 50-100 feet away, I will likely need a lawyer and that thought brings me back to reality.

 

[JimCunn]

" I remind myself if I shoot at someone that 50-100 feet away,"

I've been shooting for 72 years. Haven't felt a need to shoot AT anyone yet. Doubt that I will.

 

[rockquarry]

Whether shooting a snub nose revolver or something else, it's okay to shoot at a target at a distance that's beyond a few yards. It not only tests one's skills, it serves to improve those skills if we practice regularly.

Even for those gunfighting aspirants who think only in terms of deadly encounters and are unable to see beyond such, their own shooting skills will be improved by practicing at distance. It also makes shooting up close even easier.

It would certainly take much of the enjoyment from target shooting if I was always and only preparing for a confrontation.

 

[bear1889]

I disagree in any self defense shooting situation, 21 feet or less, those are excellent groups. And yes you better be training one handed at 21 feet or less.

 

[scruffy]

I shoot roughly 4" groups in semi rapid fire D/A at 21' with both my Centennial style J-frames. The 642 Performance Center groups are almost always tighter with less fliers solely due to the smoother lighter (8.25#) factory trigger. The only J-frame I use to make hits on a steel plate at 50' or beyond is the 637-2 in single action.
For me, J-frames = lots of practice.

 

[yugolovr]

I think you are shooting great. When I practice I try to keep them all in the rectangle center of mass on an IPSC target. As for protecting your 442 I would wax it. It used to work on the model 10 I carried.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

"Weak hand" is typically either your left hand (if you are right-handed: or vice-versa?) or it may have to do with your dominant eye?

Basically, it is the one you are the least proficient with...

I know: never end a sentence with a preposition!

 

[colt_saa]

I would like to carry the 642 when I am in wetter climates to protect from corrosion but the groupings make me take pause. Am I being OCD?

You are being OCD

While the 642 has a stainless barrel and cylinder, everything else is the same. Your internal lockwork has the same susceptibility toward climate no matter which revolver you carry.

If carrying the 442 puts you in the mindset of better end of day maintenance, then it is actually the better carry choice