Why do I still want a J-frame?

[bigggbbruce]

I really like my model 60... I don't shoot it a whole bunch, nor do I shoot a bunch of full load 357mag...

Practice is with 38 +p or light loaded 357mag.

Accuracy is all I could ask for.. I play at 100 yards and can hit the 2" angle iron that's used for mounting targets usually within a cylinder of 5 once. (I hit it with all my handguns)

And they carry so nice you forget it's there at times.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

Is it stupid to want to buy a gun that I didn't enjoy shooting and shot terribly? If I did get a J-frame it would be for pocket carry.

Howdy Mr. Blenderson,

You got the right idea. Don't worry about shooting it well very few ever master a snubby. It's a belly gun, or when Bubba is on top of you fix'n to give ya some whoop you know what. Stick it on their chest and blow a hole clean through 'em.

There is no finer pocket gun than a J-Frame. Carry's well and standard defense loads can still get the job done.

Now, I'm gonna say something here and there are different schools of thought on this. It's better if you can stick to one platform or another, meaning semi-automatic or revolver. Because even the proper grip is different.

I use to use a 642 as my primary draw backed up by a G30, I was doing it in opposite of what most do with a .38 snub. Reason being I don't trust semi-automatics. But I can't get away from that .45 round it's a pleasure to shoot and will put the hurt on ya.

However I just made the decision to stay strictly revolver and bought myself a hand cannon.
We call it BIG Hoss.

Hope that helps ya some, if I where you, I'd wait around another 2-3 years and get thoroughly comfortable with your platform, don't confuse yourself so early in the game.

Good luck to ya .

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I like a steel J-frame for .38 Special and an alloy J-frame for .22 Magnum (7-shots). I can shoot the .22 Mag all day.

 

[Backlighting]

It's taken me approx 100 rounds fired to feel comfortable with my model 638. I mainly shoot it double action at a target 10 yards away. Love the gun...lightweight and easily concealed with reasonable power.

[/IMG]

 

[Mr. Blenderson]

Some nice pics in this thread. The 442 is the one that's really sitting in my brain saying "buy me buy me buy me, she won't notice"

 

[dr. K]

buy what you like, find a grip that fits your hand, start with a very low bullet weight in standard pressure (low recoil), and work your way up slowly to heavier bullets until you find what feels like a comfortable compromise for you. get the right J frame, and you may just have a carry piece that could last you the rest of your life.

 

[colt_saa]

Is it stupid to want to buy a gun that I didn't enjoy shooting and shot terribly? If I did get a J-frame it would be for pocket carry, which is the only carry method that works for me with my clothes and South Florida weather.

You picked a lightweight J-frame and probably had +P to shoot in it.

I love J-frames. A J-frame has been with me almost everyday since 1980 no matter what else I was carrying

You need to re-try your experience, but the right way.

I will gladly meet you over at Big Al's with a few for you to try if you like. They will be steel and you will start with target ammunition.

 

[rwsmith]

All steel.....

My model 36 is all steel and if I shoot medium rounds, it's fun. If I practice with SD ammo or similar a short session is all I can take. A K frame is funner (?) to shoot with heavy loads and if you want to shoot .357 barn burners an L frame or maybe even an N frame is in the offing. Remember that small pistols are made with SD and carry in mind. I've got some other SD semi pistols that aren't fun at all to shoot with heavy rounds but my bigger/heavier ones are downright pleasant.

 

[collim1]

The little Jframes have history, and with a little practice can be very practical self defense guns.

They conceal very well and are very versatile being suited to pocket, ankle, or belt carry.

Don't give up just yet. With the proper grip and a little practice the recoil can be brisk, yet manageable. Accuracy will improve with practice as well.

I have carried a 442 daily for 12 years. It's my go to concealed carry gun and I practice with it regularly. I can't say I enjoy shooting it, but it has become tolerable with practice. That gun is as familiar to me as my hand.

 

[Mr. Blenderson]

You picked a lightweight J-frame and probably had +P to shoot in it.

I love J-frames. A J-frame has been with me almost everyday since 1980 no matter what else I was carrying

You need to re-try your experience, but the right way.

I will gladly meet you over at Big Al's with a few for you to try if you like. They will be steel and you will start with target ammunition.

Wow, that would be great! I'll PM you.

 

[trooper2899]

2inch barrel requires practice - they are way more accurate than most people know. See Hitchcock .45 on you tube ring the Gong frequently at 80 yards. I remember qualifying with a J frame on the ancient PPC Course shooting at silhouette targets at 50 yds in my agency if U wanted to carry a J frame on duty U had to qualify on the Practical Police Course..U started at the 7 yd line then back to 15 then to 25 and then to 50yds(Rt hand Lft Hand Barricade kneeling and prone.....strong hand-Weak Hand....it was a work out - if U flunked U had to repeat it after Lunch (158 Gr soft Lead)

 

[cb56]

Hogue tamer grips on my 642 made the gun more comfortable and my accuracy improved immediately after putting them on.
Added about 1/2 inch to the length of the grip but still carries easily in pocket holster.

 

[JohnRippert]

I am fairly small at 5'9" and 160. A J-frame with factory grips and a T-grip is very concealable and easy to carry for me. Plus, the trigger is really good in both DA and SA.

 

[tug700]

I enjoy the j frames and I suggest that you pick up a Smith 22 rimfire, such as the Model 34 or similar. Shoot that revolver until you are comfortable with the feel of the j frame and enjoy how it shoots. Then, go the a steel frame J and then a light weight J. I have a 442, 642, 640 and a 34 and enjoy them all. Just be judicious when at the range with the light weights, they are a handful.

 

[limhyl]

I made a similar decision to transition to a small revolver as a daily carry after I found how much I enjoyed shooting revolvers. I recently picked up a 640-1 and practice using light 38 spl loads; I was pleasantly surprised that it was quite tame and fun to shoot with these light loads.

The S&W 640-1 and the Springfield XD-S 9mm shown on the right are about the same weight (25.3 oz vs 25.95 oz when loaded with 125 grain rounds) and profile but I find the revolver to be more comfortable to wear inside my waistband. The Springfield however has eight rounds (7 in mag and 1 chambered) vs five. The Ruger on the left is what I carry when we go on outings in the woods.

 

[snubbyfan]

My 442's my everyday carry gun. With Pachmayr Compact grips, I can go through a 100 round box and still want to shoot more.

 

[Longhorn1986]

J frame shooting is an acquired and perishable skill.

Perishable is the key word there. I bought my 60 back in 1997 and have shot .357s in it almost exclusively. After a layoff, the first few rounds are "interesting" until I find my old groove. I understand recoil is highly subjective, but to me, it's just not that big a deal in my J frame. Of course, being 6'6" 275# doesn't hurt either.

 

[camsdaddy]

I am fairly small at 5'9" and 160. A J-frame with factory grips and a T-grip is very concealable and easy to carry for me. Plus, the trigger is really good in both DA and SA.

L
Oh my goodness that's a good looking j

 

[Biggfoot44]

For the moment put all thoughts if J Frames out of your mind.

Make your 686 your new best friend. Use it to master DA trigger skills.( Other threads on learning DA, but this is a seperate skill set from bottomfeeders.)

Then, retry a J Frame, prefrably a steel one first.

Grips are a sword with at least two edges. For range shooting per se, ovrsized grips are much more pleasant/ much less painful. Meanwhile, if a gun's primary purpose is to be a pocket gun, then being able to fit into a pocket and efficiently obtain a grip upon it while in the pocket are a binary yes/ no requirement.

 

[G-Mac]

This is my 649 Bodyguard....the first S&W that I ever bought. I've sold some guns over the years, for various reasons, but this one is a keeper.