What About a J-Frame in Other Calibers

[shouldazagged]

Another enthusiastic vote for an all-steel .38 Special J-frame with Pachmayr Compac grips. The weight isn't burdensome when you get used to it, the Pachs aren't really hard to conceal, and the gun will absorb +P recoil quite comfortably compared to an Airweight or gnatweight. Up close and nasty, .38 Special +P will do do what you need done, with good shot placement.

 

[326MOD10]

In order is an older 649 that had a spare model 60 cylinder converted to shoot 9mm and installed. Still have the original .38 special cylinder and put it back into it when I purchased my 940.

A model 360J Airweight converted to shoot 9mm by TK customs with an XS sight added to the front. A little brisk to shoot but not bad. The old school Bianchi Lightning grip was added to conceal the hammer and give a bit more of a grip.

An an original chambered 940. I lucked into this one with around $550.00 total into it. Just had to keep looking until found one I thought I could afford.

All a bit snappy to shoot but very manageable.

Mostly I find myself stuffing my 442 in a pocket holster for carry.

 

[rwsmith]

You right on that....

Alloy guns are great for carry but they ain't fun to shoot. Pachmehr or Hogue grips help, but increase the size a little.

A steel J frame is great for carry and you can choose a load that suits you rather than one that knocks your hand off.

Remember that 9mm will lose a little velocity out of a revolver. That doesn't seem to bother Jerry Miculek.

Also, good SD ammo is better than it used to be and the .32 is a viable SD round.

 

[Green Frog]

Been there- Tried that.
IMHO, the 327 fed has too much muzzle blast and the ammo is limited and expensive. Resale is horrible too. The 9mm feels snappier than 38 +P to me. (Then there are those PITA moon clips to deal with too.) As for the extra round , chances are that 5 rounds are twice as much as I would likely need for non-LE use. Truth be told, there is a reason that J frames are so popular in 38.

In any case I'd recommend shooting before you buy so as to avoid an expensive lesson.

“Resale is horrible too?” Have you tried buying a used one? The only thing horrible about reselling a 631, for instance, is the danger of being run over by the stampede of potential buyers! The problem is that there were so few of them out there, they each quickly find their “forever home” and go out of circulation. About the only gun left on my S&W Bucket List is a 4” Model 631 in 32 H&R with adjustable sights. Finding one for under $1500 (without IL) is like finding a unicorn colt. don’t even get me started on the 327... I had to have my own K-frame built just to have a Smith in this caliber. Any factory production of this caliber from S&W is token at best.

Froggie

 

[steelslaver]

I know most here will say a 32 s&w Long is not enough power I sure enjoy shooting my 30-1.

A shooter J frame in 32 long is the cheap path to a J frame 32 H&R mag. Get a J frame 32, rent a 32 H&R reamer, buy some cutting oil. Remove cylinder and extractor. Spend maybe a hour of turning the reamer by hand, removing it every 5 turns or so to clean chips and relube.

Buying a 9 mm revolver to replace a 38 spec. is not a great idea, unless you absolutely love 9mm. You can get 38 special loads from mild to wild, from 110 gr to 158gr or more. Rounds that can do anything a 9mm will do. Heck if you like clips you can even have a 38 special cut to run clips.

 

[max503]

Roundabouts 1980 my then LGS got in two S&W J frame 22's. A 2" and a 4". I chose the 4". Still have it and it is still one of my most used guns.
I wonder how my life would have been different had I chose the 2"?

 

[BAM-BAM]

Buying a 9 mm revolver to replace a 38 spec. is not a great idea, unless you absolutely love 9mm. You can get 38 special loads from mild to wild, from 110 gr to 158gr or more. Rounds that can do anything a 9mm will do. .

Steelslaver hits it for a home-run..............................

My thoughts exactly....... .38 is a versatile cartridge. A three inch 60-10 is my Penn's Woods Kit gun..... think micro,5 shot 686..... shot shells to .357s and everything in between........ lots of choices..... even at a local Walmart.

.22magnum is great out of a 16" barrel.... matching 9mm muzzle energy...... but IMHO not worth it out of a handgun with less than a 8" barrel.....I'd just go with a 34/63 4" .22lr with CCI "Velocitors"

 

[cmansguns]

Model 31 - 32 S&W Long...ammo not to bad around here, fun to shoot, not my EDC

Model 34 - 22 LR....definitely a all around family favorite fun shooter, plinking cans or punching paper, spinners, etc.

Model 36 - 38 Special - the classic, the one and only, still not my EDC since getting the Airweight years ago

Model 637 - 38 Special + P, with Altamont Combats, my EDC for many years now OWB in S&W leather, doesn't seem to print bad with loose shirts, dress /business occasions require coat anyway, so no biggie. With 5 +P aboard I haven't ever felt outgunned.

Love the J's, just my 2 cents, whatever you end up with for gun or rig it is the confidence that makes all the difference...not the round count or caliber but again...just my opinion.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Everyone has their own preferences, likes and dislikes.

Sort of in order of today's favorites:

640 Pro with Karl Nill Centennial grips

940 with Craig Spegel grips

Vanity Baby Chiefs with Craig Spegel boot grips

36-2 DAO & 36-6 Target with S&W Combat grips

31 with Craig Spegel full size grips (this is sort of fudging 'cause it's an I-frame)

 

[ImDrRich]

Good question.

Sometimes I carry my J-Frame S&W 351PD in .22 Magnum. Alloy frame makes it so light it's scary.

I believe I read somewhere that the ballistics of the .22 magnum are approximate to the .380acp. YMMV.

Carry what you like.

 

[H Richard]

J Frames do come in several calibers. The 940, 9mm. Top left side in this picture. (The other two are 38's).


.32 H&R Magnum has become a favorite of mine, and I acquired both a 431PD (with Hammer), and the 432PD (Hammerless).


Of course most all of the J's can accommodate the .357 now, but it can be more than some people can handle, and I would never give one (loaded with magnums) to a new shooter or lady.

 

[jcelect]

Centennials!

Here are a few of the older Centennials in a couple different calibers. I haven't had time to add the 632(32 H&R Mag) and the 632-1(327 Mag) to the pic, plus a couple other Centennials in the usual calibers. FYI, the 327 Mag can shoot the 32 Long, 32 H&R Mag, and the 327 Mag.

jcelect

 

[rich5674]

Love them all

I’m very happy with the size, weight, power and the price I payed for my 360J 38spl. But I would also be happy with a Airweight 327 or a 351 in 22 magnum. Lightweight is the key. The other pistols are much more expensive than the 360j.