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
Nope. I own several 5-shot J's with associated gun specific gear and don't see any practical advantage in adding an oddball gun just to gain one additional round.
 
No, I wouldn't buy one because it would have to be larger and heavier than the five-shot. I can't see anything wrong with the five-shot models.
 
With help from steelslaver's replies I've thought this through. BBMW, the O.P., is asking for a smaller K frame. To get there requires abandoning a few features that make K frames superior to Colt D or Dick's Special frames. The K frame would have to lose the under barrel front cylinder latch, center pin and gas ring as was done to get .44 Magnums in L frames. The gas ring extends forward under the BC gap to keep fouling out of the center of the cylinder. Lead fouling in there creates a gritty DA pull. steelslaver pointed out that the cylinder ratchet would have to become a smaller gear which would make the DA pull heavier. The K frame's DA pull is what made it the predominant 20th century revolver. It is not worth giving that up to make it a wee bit smaller. Carrying the K frame in a thinner holster can accomplish the same size reduction without losing a great DA pull. I voted NO.
 
I have a 357 J - the 60-15. Fired five Remington 158gr 357's from it at the range. That was enough. Glad I have it, though, Very accurate shooting 38 +p's. But it's still a J. Small, light, fits my belt if concealed. I have four others, one 637 rated +p, then a 60, 36, and 38 (which I will never shoot). If five isn't enough, I'm not shooting accurately.
 
I voted no... "J" framed (relative sized) 6 shots are Colt "D-Framed" snubbies... That said, I love my 5 shot compact J's for their... well... compactness...
 
I'd be very wary of giving my CC number to anyone that was advertising a 6 shot 38 J frame for sale. {even if they are a Nigerian Princess with a large inheritance}
 
This is and interesting analysis, and I haven't heard about some of this before. My immediate question is how does the J-frame handle these issues? I don't see this as cutting down the K-frame, so much as stretching the J-frame. Basically, make J-frame cylinder big enough to accommodate 6 rounds of, stretch the cylinder gap in the frame to accommodate the bigger cylinder, and may the necessary geometry adjustments to the various mechanisms in gun to accommodate the previously changes. So how the J-frame deals with the issues you talk about would be equivalent on this gun.

k22fan said:
With help from steelslaver's replies I've thought this through. BBMW, the O.P., is asking for a smaller K frame. To get there requires abandoning a few features that make K frames superior to Colt D or Dick's Special frames. The K frame would have to lose the under barrel front cylinder latch, center pin and gas ring as was done to get .44 Magnums in L frames. The gas ring extends forward under the BC gap to keep fouling out of the center of the cylinder. Lead fouling in there creates a gritty DA pull. steelslaver pointed out that the cylinder ratchet would have to become a smaller gear which would make the DA pull heavier. The K frame's DA pull is what made it the predominant 20th century revolver. It is not worth giving that up to make it a wee bit smaller. Carrying the K frame in a thinner holster can accomplish the same size reduction without losing a great DA pull. I voted NO.
Click to expand...
 
Tauruses and CA both run smaller cylinders than S&W. Their chambers are closer to the center. I have a 5 shot 44 specials from all three, plus good sets of calibers and know this is a fact. Alsop both Taurus and CA use a considerable smaller ratchet than any S&W. There hand is therefore closer to the center of the frame. Although they are 5 shot44 and not 6 shot 38s the same principal is at work in order to keep the outside chamber wall thick enough. It is also why CA and Taurus made 5 shot 45 acps and S&W does not. S&W can not and retain their frame and ratchet.

As stated earlier, for S&W to make a 6 shot J frame cylinder (or a 5 shot K frame big bore) they would have to make the ratchet smaller and to operate, it move the hand and its window in on the frame. This also means a skinnier trigger, /hammer as the hand is on the side of the hammer. Then moving the chambers to the center means moving the barrel down in the frame to line up with those chambers, this means a skinnier ejector rod (anyone notice the rod on a CA??) to lower tthe top of the yoke to clear the frame for the lower barrel

IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. no way no how.

I would rather have an alloy 6 shot J frame 327 Federal anyway.

For now I will just keep packing my 325s. Bulkier, but 6 rounds of 45 acp Will get it done for me and it weighs nothing.
 
So what's the size difference?

steelslaver said:
Tauruses and CA both run smaller cylinders than S&W. Their chambers are closer to the center. I have a 5 shot 44 specials from all three, plus good sets of calibers and know this is a fact. Alsop both Taurus and CA use a considerable smaller ratchet than any S&W. There hand is therefore closer to the center of the frame. Although they are 5 shot44 and not 6 shot 38s the same principal is at work in order to keep the outside chamber wall thick enough. It is also why CA and Taurus made 5 shot 45 acps and S&W does not. S&W can not and retain their frame and ratchet.

As stated earlier, for S&W to make a 6 shot J frame cylinder (or a 5 shot K frame big bore) they would have to make the ratchet smaller and to operate, it move the hand and its window in on the frame. This also means a skinnier trigger, /hammer as the hand is on the side of the hammer. Then moving the chambers to the center means moving the barrel down in the frame to line up with those chambers, this means a skinnier ejector rod (anyone notice the rod on a CA??) to lower tthe top of the yoke to clear the frame for the lower barrel

IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. no way no how.

I would rather have an alloy 6 shot J frame 327 Federal anyway.

For now I will just keep packing my 325s. Bulkier, but 6 rounds of 45 acp Will get it done for me and it weighs nothing.
Click to expand...
So what is the diameter of the cylinder of Taurus and CA 38spl ? I'd think a 5 shot if the cylinder was smaller than a Smith. I haven't seen a CA in a long time. Never handled a Taurus. I'm suspicious of the quality
 
Taurus 856

Just last week helped a lady friend of my wife locate her first self-defense handgun.

Local inventory is kaput but I looked around and found a small gun shop that had a Taurus snubbie new for about $360. I glanced at it, picked it up and opened the cylinder. It had six charge holes in it!

All steel, not much heavier than my 60-7, trigger pull not great but good enough. Rated for +P. She won't use it as a carry gun but will keep it at home.

I could have sworn it was a Taurus 85 at first glance. If she had not needed it I would have bought it for sure!
 
I voted no because I wouldn't be interested in a gun any bigger and heavier than a 442, or in steel, the original 40/640.

I made the choice nearly 50-years ago when I bought my first Model 36. Could have bought the Detective Special, and didn't. I still think five rounds rounds are sufficient in this type of gun.
 
smithman 10 said:
Just last week helped a lady friend of my wife locate her first self-defense handgun.

[...] a Taurus snubbie new for about $360. [.38 Special ...]

She won't use it as a carry gun but will keep it at home. [...]
Click to expand...

That was a mean thing to do. As we all know the biggest weakness handguns have for beginners is hitting anything. That is much easier with a service size handgun which will sit in the dresser drawer just as well.
 
Last edited:
Taurus 856

Had there been a used k-frame or equivalent size revolver available I would have steered her that way. At least it's an all steel gun which will dampen recoil more than a 442 or 642.

There are virtually no used K- frames around these parts. Maybe some new ones but prices are out of this world.

I think I did good.
 
The 856. An interesting gun, sort of the genesis of this thread. If Taurus can do it, why can't S&W

They now have a 3" barrel version of that gun.

smithman 10 said:
Just last week helped a lady friend of my wife locate her first self-defense handgun.

Local inventory is kaput but I looked around and found a small gun shop that had a Taurus snubbie new for about $360. I glanced at it, picked it up and opened the cylinder. It had six charge holes in it!

All steel, not much heavier than my 60-7, trigger pull not great but good enough. Rated for +P. She won't use it as a carry gun but will keep it at home.

I could have sworn it was a Taurus 85 at first glance. If she had not needed it I would have bought it for sure!
Click to expand...
 
S & W chose to make a small concealable revolver when they designed the 5 round J frame 38.

It is not that they can't do a 6 shot {they do in a K frame} It is just they chose to go slightly smaller and make it fit 5.

Everything, in design, is a trade off.

So, if you wish to have small {J frame} and wish more than 5 rounds, you will need to compromise and change caliber {6 rounds 327, 7 rounds 22 or 22 Mag }
 
RoyM52 said:
S & W chose to make a small concealable revolver when they designed the 5 round J frame 38.

It is not that they can't do a 6 shot {they do in a K frame} It is just they chose to go slightly smaller and make it fit 5.

Everything, in design, is a trade off.

So, if you wish to have small {J frame} and wish more than 5 rounds, you will need to compromise and change caliber {6 rounds 327, 7 rounds 22 or 22 Mag }
Click to expand...

Or you can compromise and get the Taurus 856.😊
 
OOPS...meant 8 rounds of 22 LR. 7 rounds of 22 Mag.{J frame}

compromise might also be a Kimber, doesn't have to be Taurus or compromise and get a K frame.

Or if you need more rounds, compromise and get a L or N frame. Lots of compromises to choose between.
 
RoyM52 said:
OOPS...meant 8 rounds of 22 LR. 7 rounds of 22 Mag.{J frame}

compromise might also be a Kimber, doesn't have to be Taurus or compromise and get a K frame.

Or if you need more rounds, compromise and get a L or N frame. Lots of compromises to choose between.
Click to expand...
The one thing Taurus has going for it is that the 856 comes in an Ulta Lite version at only 16 ounces. I wish Kimber would try to produce a lightweight version of their K6S.
 
7 Mags sounds good

RoyM52 said:
OOPS...meant 8 rounds of 22 LR. 7 rounds of 22 Mag.{J frame}

compromise might also be a Kimber, doesn't have to be Taurus or compromise and get a K frame.

Or if you need more rounds, compromise and get a L or N frame. Lots of compromises to choose between.
Click to expand...
7 22 Magnums would be good for me. But the m351 is about $200 more than a 442
Six 32 Mags would be fine too. But S&W dropped out of that game
I'll stick to 5 +P 38s and endeavor to do my best and making each shot count. I don't want anything bigger than a J frame or LC9s in my pocket
 
There's no question they could do it if they wanted, and judging from what Taurus is doing, they could probably sell more of them than they need to do it profitably. It would give a lot of people who already have 5-shot Js to buy another gun.

RoyM52 said:
S & W chose to make a small concealable revolver when they designed the 5 round J frame 38.

It is not that they can't do a 6 shot {they do in a K frame} It is just they chose to go slightly smaller and make it fit 5.

Everything, in design, is a trade off.

So, if you wish to have small {J frame} and wish more than 5 rounds, you will need to compromise and change caliber {6 rounds 327, 7 rounds 22 or 22 Mag }
Click to expand...
 
Just to wrap this up, over 50% of people responding to the poll said they'd buy a small frame 6 shoot snubbie from S&W. So maybe it's an idea they should pursue.
 
No.

They should bring back the Model 12, a 6-shot alloy K-frame in .38Sp.

They should also expand the J-frame lineup to include steel and alloy 6-shot models in .32/.327
 
I'm sorry but while S&W was dozing, somebody beat them to the punch. Best snubby action I ever felt.
bmh6U6A.jpg
 
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