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I understand, but I only use factory mags for serious purposes. I just don’t want to have magazine-related issues “when the flag flies.”
The humble J frame
- Thread starter Shibadog
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I understand, but I only use factory mags for serious purposes. I just don’t want to have magazine-related issues “when the flag flies.”
I use both small autos like the Sig 365 or a Springfield Armory Hellcat pro as well as S&W 642 or 638, shoot them all often enough to stay proficient
OP
Well if the Glock had been available back when the west was won it would have been "the gun that won the west" In the hands of American police, 65% of the market, it is winning the west, east, north and south today
The image of a Glock and black powder makes me smile-can you imagine?
. I don’t have anything against them, just don’t like ‘em. Gotta give the devil his due, They DO work!Well ok. The 10 round factory Glock magazine is still twice the ammunition capacity of the J-Frame .38.
This summer I was on a long MC tour with a buddy who "carried" a Sig 40cal. Big, loud and lots of bullets. I had my 442 and one speed strip. Just about everywhere we went that honkin' big, loud .40 cal was in a fanny pack locked in his trunk.
I had the small, light, underpowered .38 spl +P with only 5 shots on me at all times. The extra slow to load speed strip was there too.
The icing on the cake is we shoot our HR-218 qualifications together. I've never shot under a 95%. J frames work for me and have for fifty years now.
I had the small, light, underpowered .38 spl +P with only 5 shots on me at all times. The extra slow to load speed strip was there too.
The icing on the cake is we shoot our HR-218 qualifications together. I've never shot under a 95%. J frames work for me and have for fifty years now.
OP
My experience as well. Lots of folks talk about their monster blaster EDC but way too often a discussion will reveal that their “EDC” is in the truck or back at home. That, to me, is NOT a “carry pistol”. I’ve a number of large, heavy caliber handguns that I shoot pretty well. I enjoy them a great deal, BUT they are not my carry gun. Too big, heavy, uncomfortable. If someone actually manages this everyday, good for them. I’d love to, but thus far I’ve never found a way to comfortably conceal one of them. (FWIW, I did one time actually carry a 4 5/8” Super Blackhawk concealed for an entire week, just to see if I could. I did it, but it wasn’t a comfortable experience and not one I’ll repeat). Do what works for YOU, just remember an NAA .22 in your pocket beats a model 29 at home or in the truck every single time. Stay safe out there.
kpoesq369
US Veteran
I carry a 60 in a kydex iwb when I go for my daily walks and feel safe. But if I go to a store or into Philthadelphia, it's a Shield plus and spare 12 rd mag.
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A gunfighting aspirant will never be satisfied with a snubnose J-frame.
He'll be satisfied if it does what he wants.
And isn't it the well known gun fighting aspirant who writes all about his EDC that he's packed for twenty years in the custom Uncle Bob's holster. Accompanied by a photo of a shiny gun, no holster wear and a holster with no wrinkles, stains or sweat marks.
I've seen those here and every other gun forum too. Just sayin'.
I've seen those here and every other gun forum too. Just sayin'.
I frequently carry either a 638 or a 642 J frame and practice with them frequently, I also carry a Sig 365 at times.
Are you referring to me? If you are check your eyesight. If you could see, you'd notice under the “shiny” nickel finish it's rough. I had it nickled in 2006 after the original bluing had worn off. It was rough when I bought it used around 1972 and thirty-four years later I opted to preserve it.
As to the holster, it's 25 or more years old, replacing older holsters. It shows no sweat stains, doughnut glaze, or pork chop grease because I take care of my holsters and don't sweat like a pig nor was the revolver in contact with a beer belly.
Every gun forum has authoritative somebodies who are aspiring Gun Moses bringing down their holy writ from Mt. Ego. They're good for a laugh with their fugazi statements and mental tantrums. Just sayin'.
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This made my mind up.
OP
I dunno about you but the Last thing I aspire to be is a gunfighter
. I believe in defending one’s self and loved ones, but I sincerely hope that is never needed. In todays crazy world one never knows, hence the weapon I carry all the time. I do my best to practice and be proficient with the fervent hope that’s a skill set that’s never needed for serious work.
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I dunno about you but the Last thing I aspire to be is a gunfighter
Good for you and your good sense. Some are lacking in that area, based on the posts they make...
Baltimoreed11754
Member
As close to being a ‘gunfighting aspirant’ with my Jframe that I’ve ever been was killing several water moccasins that were too close for comfort. Didn’t get bit and they died, a positive outcome. Always carry extra ammo as 5 isn’t very many bullets.
Model 15-4ever
Member
Got questions?
Having both guns, I'm going to say this is not an apt comparison.
If you are talking about IWB or OWB carry with a belt, the P365 carries as easily the S&W 642 - maybe easier. However, that's not the niche the little J frame excels at.
The P365 is 24 ounces loaded, the S&W 642 is only 15 ounces. This is over a half pound more with the pistol, and is significant if you intend to pocket carry, or IWB with sweat pants or athletic shorts without a belt. The latter carry is borderline impossible with the P365 and similar 10+ round pistols due to the weight causing pants/shorts sagging, but not an issue at all with the lighter J frame.
While talking about Appendix IWB, I would not carry a striker fired or SAO pistol in that position that does not incorporate a manual safety. Yes the pistol is safe, but given the peculiarities of holster retention during body movement in that position, the dynamics of drawing and re-holstering from concealment garb, under stress and/or while grappling with an attacker at close range... I only carry DA hammer guns - with a minimum trigger pull weight of 8 lbs and a minimum trigger travel of 1/2" - in that position.
In regards to front pants pocket carry, the angular shape, width and weight of the P365/etc is not nearly as good as the J frame. The loaded weight of the P365, carried in a pocket on daily basis, is too much in my experience for most people. Anything more than 20 ounces causes sagging and an annoying slapping against your leg with every movement.
In regards to jacket/coat pocket carry, the lighter weight of the J frame is still significant, along with the ability to fire while in the pocket. No self-loading pistol can be completely reliable while fired from within the pocket, while the concealed hammer J frame guns will fire the entire cylinder that way if need be. Your hand on the gun, unobtrusively inside a coat pocket, is a significant advantage in cooler weather when the possibility of an immediate threat lurks.
Arguments about the firearm round capacity, or 25-yard accuracy, or reloading speed, are really not the point of this discussion. If you believe you need 10+ rounds on tap, or the ability to reload another 10+ rounds quickly... no revolver will likely ever interest you. (for what's it's worth, back in the day I regularly qualified at 50 and 25 yards on the FBI Revolver Qualification Course with a 2" J frame... just sayin')
On the other hand, as with the OP, if you believe your situation is well-served by the usual risk of 3 rounds in 3 seconds within 3 yards, the "humble J frame" is not only adequate, it is in some ways superior.
I personally pick the weapon suited to the task, and the 2" revolver is often a correct choice. YMMV.
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That’s not a 642 (14.6 oz unloaded) in that pic, that’s a 640 or 940. Not my picture, it’s a friends pic.
I took my own pics. I hobbled the 365 against my 640 with 2 more rounds just to make it a fair fight. 13-5 The 8 extra rds and still lighter.
Safety? 365’s have a safety if one wants it.
I could put the shorter 365 (17.8 oz unloaded) grip on to compare. 11-5
I’ve made my choice, I like the extra rds, others can do as they please.
Unloaded 640
I took my own pics. I hobbled the 365 against my 640 with 2 more rounds just to make it a fair fight. 13-5 The 8 extra rds and still lighter.
Safety? 365’s have a safety if one wants it.
I could put the shorter 365 (17.8 oz unloaded) grip on to compare. 11-5
I’ve made my choice, I like the extra rds, others can do as they please.
Unloaded 640
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Lobster Picnic
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Here's one more fan of the J-frame. I have a 3" full underlug model 60-4 that shoots like a K-frame. And a 7-shot ..22 wmr 351c that only weighs 2 oz more than my 5-shot NAA mini.
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