Would you buy a 6-shot .38 J-frame

Would you by a 6-shot .38 Spl J-frame?

  • Yes

    Votes: 200 55.2%

  • No

    Votes: 132 36.5%

  • Undecided

    Votes: 30 8.3%
  • Total voters
    362
steelslaver said:
Yup you ca stretch it more and fit another 38 round. But,only if you stretch it enough that it becomes a K frame.

Get a set of calibers and check it out.

Some manufactures make a near J frame 6 shot J frame diameter cylinder. But their chambers are farther towards the center. S&W can not move their chambers towards the center without reducing the size of the ratchet, which means moving the hand inward, which means making the trigger and hammer narrower. It also means moving the barrel down in the frame and redesigning the yoke to clearance the lowered barrel in the frame. Simple HUH?

PS it also means a heavier double action trigger pull because the ratchet is actually a gear so it takes more leverage. Just like on a bike when the rear gear is smaller it is harder to petal than when it is larger.
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Well, it's after 10 PM and my hip is killing me, so I'll have to wait at least until tomorrow to take a photo of my Rossi 462 with a K-frame. And I already slammed down my thoroughly-vetted and heavily regulated Opioid, so if I fail to hit all points or don't make sense, we know why. :D
Anyway, I disagree. Even the S&W Model 73 was smaller than a K but larger than a J. Since they are nonexistent for us mere mortals, I can't measure one to see the difference. But as I mentioned, the Rossi an older one from the 1990s, is about as close to identical to a S&W in design and construction as you're likely to see. For one thing, the chambers are not "closer," because it's too big for any molded J holster, meaning the cylinder is definitely larger than a J. But it's also too small for a K holster. And I popped the side plate once to see what the fuss was with the recall, and I'm tellin' ya, it's a CLONE in there. It has all the same parts.
For sake of adding to the measuring conversation, I have a couple of Taurus Model 431s, 5-shot 44 Specials. They are nearly identical to a K-frame! Might be off a millimeter or two, but not enough to matter. They fit in all my K holsters, including my molded Israeli Front Line brand.
As far as messing with the hand-ratchet combo, I'm sorry but I don't buy it. If I remember, I'll just photograph a J, a K, and the Rossi together. Good night, y'all!
 
I always wanted Smith to make an alloy framed K-frame with 2" barrel and round butt. Fixed sights would be fine, thought a dovetailed front would be a nice touch.

.38spc would be fine.

I'd be fine with a bobbed hammer though I suspect not everyone would be.

Such a gun would be easy for Smith to produce, at least easier than adding a new frame size.

It would be a modern Model 12.

The 442/642 are great simple, no-frill defensive guns. That's how I'd see this. Just more shootable and with one additional shot.
 
In real steel versions there is about a 10 ounce or so difference in weight between a 60/640 snub and a snub K 10/66. So S&W would have to put tons of money into tooling up for a new frame size between the two for basically one gun, a 6 shot DS sized revolver. A gun that a number of competitors already produce, so its not like they would be cornering an untapped market either. Split the difference between what exists and you are maybe saving 5-6 ounces over a K. Or adding 5-6 ounces over a J for one more round. Doesn't make sense for them to put that much time and money into it for such a small return.
 
uncleted327 said:
In real steel versions there is about a 10 ounce or so difference in weight between a 60/640 snub and a snub K 10/66. So S&W would have to put tons of money into tooling up for a new frame size between the two for basically one gun, a 6 shot DS sized revolver. A gun that a number of competitors already produce, so its not like they would be cornering an untapped market either. Split the difference between what exists and you are maybe saving 5-6 ounces over a K. Or adding 5-6 ounces over a J for one more round. Doesn't make sense for them to put that much time and money into it for such a small return.
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What would an alloy framed K frame weigh?
 
I already did. It's called a Colt Cobra.

enhance
 
malph said:
I always wanted Smith to make an alloy framed K-frame with 2" barrel and round butt. Fixed sights would be fine, thought a dovetailed front would be a nice touch.

.38spc would be fine. [...]
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Back in the 90s S&W did all that in the Model 315 Night Guard. Its frame was machined for standard adjustable sights but it was supplied with a large fixed rear and dovetailed front. Sales were a dismal failure. It was not priced to compete with J frames but that does not explain why those of us who collect medium priced S&W revolvers would not buy it.

The obvious thing that has not yet been mentioned in this thread is that while automatics are selling like hot cakes new revolvers linger on the shelf. The only revolver I found in the new June/July American Rifleman is one ad for a snub. Other wise, nothing. That's a weak market to engineer a new frame for.
 
k22fan said:
Back in the 90s S&W did all that in the Model 315 Night Guard. Its frame was machined for standard adjustable sights but it was supplied with a large fixed rear and dovetailed front. Sales were a dismal failure. It was not priced to compete with J frames but that does not explain why those of us who collect medium priced S&W revolvers would not buy it.

The obvious thing that has not yet been mentioned in this thread is that while automatics are selling like hot cakes new revolvers linger on the shelf. The only revolver I found in the new June/July American Rifleman is one ad for a snub. Other wise, nothing. That's a weak market to engineer a new frame for.
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Yep. I almost mentioned the 315. I didn't buy one either to be honest.

They were expensive if I recall correctly. Perhaps if there was a similar model built to the level of a 442/642 it would do better???

I did run into one 315 at an LGS. Dang if it didn't have the worst, most gritty, stagey trigger I'd ever felt on a K frame.

For what they wanted for it, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

If i had known I'd never see another, I probably would have bought it anyway and dealt with whatever issues the gun had.
 
You've seen one more 315 then I have.

There were a few variations of 7 shot aluminum L frame snub nose .357s. The ones with titanium cylinders would not weigh much more that a Model 12. Considering price and availability one might be the way to go.

I'll leave it to someone else to get the thread back up on the rails.
 
k22fan said:
Back in the 90s S&W did all that in the Model 315 Night Guard. Its frame was machined for standard adjustable sights but it was supplied with a large fixed rear and dovetailed front. Sales were a dismal failure. It was not priced to compete with J frames but that does not explain why those of us who collect medium priced S&W revolvers would not buy it.

The obvious thing that has not yet been mentioned in this thread is that while automatics are selling like hot cakes new revolvers linger on the shelf. The only revolver I found in the new June/July American Rifleman is one ad for a snub. Other wise, nothing. That's a weak market to engineer a new frame for.
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You know that really hit home during the recent Antifa/BLM induced panic buying.

The local guns store got pretty barren looking. Looked like plagues of locust came through and took off with all the guns.

But they left the revolvers....decent revolvers...586s, 686s, 64s, ... guns that would actually make sense for a first time gun buyer.

I'm sure those revolvers still sell, but it really hit me that they are just not what the masses want these days.
 
Making one would put it on par with a K frame. But why have they discontinued 2" K frames? I'd like one of those. I know I can get a used Model 64 or 10, but the fact that they are no longer made makes them stupid expensive. Make a new 64 in 2" Without the lock and I'm interested. They can make j frames without the lock. They can make k frames without one too.
 
Groo here
Hogue has an aftermarket rubber grip for the DASA k6s..
Got one for my K6s DASA 3in.
Covers the backstrap and allows me to shoot mags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Sure if it were stainless steel in 327 mag. No space age plastics or pot metal frames for me.
 
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By the way, in reference to the above, I choose to self-mandate that I stick with .38+P for accuracy. Nobody "likes" the recoil of a .357 in a light-weight small-frame revolver. Me neither... I have a couple .357 4in 'rs for that!

Small frame and "accuracy" is the name of the game, and NOT Magnum P.I.... ;-)

Just my 2-cents...
 
rubiranch said:
I just bought an M&P 45 Shield M2.0 :eek: so if I feel the need to carry more than 5 shots I'll carry this one. :D.
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Now, there's a common sense answer for ya!

I have three J's, and I love every one. I also carry two of them from time to time. Great woods guns, or when traveling in places where hazards are low.

For places where the danger is greater, I have a pair of Shield 9's. Like Stalin stated, quantity has a quality all it's own. ;)
 
Interesting question. I just bought a 7 shot Charter Arms 32 Magnum "professional". I don't know about which profession chose it but it is a decent trail gun. 3" bbl, 7 shot almost D frame cylinder. I didn't care for the green tube sight, the hump in the grip for my right thumb worked much better than it looked. It fit my hand fine and I wear a size XL glove that is too long in the fingers. Price out the door was $398.99. There was nothing gritty inside the plate.

DA pull is no K frame but acceptable. I did have to adjust to technique with it. I shot 90 gr swc, 95 gr wc, 98 and 118 gr swc's through it yesterday. With putting a target just atop the front sight I was 5 inches low at 10 yards. Finding an aiming point that worked I had my rear sight even with the bottom of the 1" target dot and the green dot covering it at 15 yards to be hitting the dot.

Best groups were with 118 gr bullets.. Cylinder throats were .314" on the pin gauges for all 7, all my bullets were sized .313 so I hope to see improvement with a new size die.

So I don't see S&W putting out a new revolver with a suggested retail or less than $600 and consider this their competition.
 
Are you sure?

chief38 said:
Don't see how you could get 6 .38 Spl. rounds in a conventional sized J Frame. In order to do that you would have to make the cylinder a larger diameter and that in turn would hurt its concealability.

You could do it with smaller caliber rounds but that would hurt effectiveness of the revolver's stopping power.
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Are you sure a 38+p is more effective than a 327 Magnum?
I'd have interest in a 442 or 342, 360j in 327
 
Note, while it has a short barrel, there's nothing particularly small about that gun. It's much bigger than the original Cobra, and is pretty much the same size as a Glock 19. The original Cobra/Detective Special would be the size target for what I'm thinking about.

CajunBass said:
I already did. It's called a Colt Cobra.

enhance
Click to expand...
 
My J frame

The only 6 shot J frame I would buy would be 327 magnum with the same diameter cylinder a J frame has now. No bigger.
 
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