Which J Frame?

[chief38]

I guess that's exactly why they make so many different J Frame models..........

 

[BE Mike]

I am a pocket carry kind of guy, so I carry a small 9mm auto, but previously carried a S&W 642. If I were going to belt carry, I'd carry my S&W 60-10. I shoot it well IMHO because of the extra inch of barrel. So, favorite j frame for pocket carry is the 642 and belt carry is the 60-10.

 

[RSanch111]

Any one of them with a shrouded or non-exposed hammer. I like the blue ones because after you carry it for a whole career and it shows a lot of wear on the finish, it has character that the stainless ones don't.

 

[Lt JL]

Those ultralightweight unobtanium J frames hurt like the dickens to shoot, and a fast pair is impossible. Any J, preferably in the model 40 or 42 family, will fill the bill nicely.

 

[jack the toad]

IMO, either a Centennial or Bodyguard in 38 or 32.
Currently for me, a 642 but a .32 mag might work.

 

[mrsig]

I have a 36 /w low S/N-safe queen therefore my carry rotates between the M&P 340, 637 Wyatt Deep Cover and an older 37. Love J frames.

 

[RSanch111]

It will give prosecutors a chance to throw out accusations that you cocked your weapon if ever used self-defense.

Have you ever heard of that happening??? Ever???

 

[ContinentalOp]

Have you ever heard of that happening??? Ever???

SELF-DEFENSE PLEA FOR MIAMI OFFICER - NYTimes.com

The prosecutor, Abe Laeser, said the state would show that Mr. Johnson was not drawing his gun, but only turning slowly to face Mr. Alvarez. Mr. Alvarez flinched and his service revolver, which was cocked, went off, Mr. Laeser said.

''It was fate that placed those men in that arcade, but it was not fate that caused that death,'' Mr. Laeser said. ''It was a whole series of negligent actions, one building on the other.''

 

[RSanch111]

Sounded like you were implying that one shouldn't carry an exposed hammer because the prosecutor might falsely accuse you of having the gun cocked. Sounds like this officer TOLD them it was cocked and he flinched. Better than saying he shot the guy on purpose...Or flinched hard enough to fire an uncocked revolver. This doesn't sound like a prosecutor trying to make a justified shooting negligent because the shooter had a gun that could be fired single action. Sounds like it was an unjustified negligent shooting from the start.

 

[vito]

I had posted earlier on this thread stating that I stopped carrying the 642 in preference to the 640 with a CT laser. When carrying OWB (my preferred method) the extra weight was not a problem, but my recent abdominal surgery has made carrying on a belt more of a challenge and the weight of the 640 definitely is affecting me. I'm going back to mostly pocket carry and have just ordered a CT laser for the 642. I expect that will again become my daily carry. For awhile I switched to a compact 9mm semi auto (Ruger LC9s) for the greater capacity, but I will admit that despite its apparent reliability, it doesn't give me the absolute confidence of a S&W revolver. So I guess I'm back in the 642 crowd, and if 5 won't do the job, maybe 8 wouldn't do it either.

 

[dogsoldier]

Try to find a nice, early model 640. They're rated for '+P+ .38SPL ammo'.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I've had "more than several" J-frames over the last .....35 years.......discovered I'm not really a J-frame kind of guy..... that said I have 2 special purpose J-frames today;

A 337PD with big dot sight...... for when can't carry anything bigger or heavier.... my Colt Mustang pocketlite "revolver".

A 60-10...... 3" .357 micro 686....... a great all around, holster carry, 5 shot revolver....snake shot to wadcutters to .357 magnum..... generally carried with +P .38s..... for when I don't want to carry a 3" K frame.