I prefer the steel J framed guns, since they tame the recoil a bit. With larger hands, those lighter J's aren't much fun to shoot, especially with stouter loads. There's just not enough room for my fingers.
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I had one of those. I gave my oldest daughter her choice of my 640 Pro or my 342Ti. I still have the 342
I do carry the 342 in a Mika pocket holster around the house quite a bit, but opt for something with a little more firepower when I venture out. Man, I really miss that 640 Pro!
Piwo
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I don't usually pocket carry, but when I do it is always a J frame 38 of the shrouded or concealed hammer type. When I do, it is usually in cargo shorts or something similar of relaxed fit, such that I can get my entire hand on the gun in my pocket. There are many excellent pocket holsters but I use the Desantis Nemesis because when it gets funky from sweat over time I just wash it with my jeans and let drip dry. Even in extremely humid summers here in Cleveland I prefer to carry IWB. I have been in a few situations where I had to draw my gun at a dead run or while taking other evasive actions. A pocket holster draw under such conditions is difficult if not impossible. In lower threat environments, though, it "don't git no more gooder" than a J frame S&W of any type carried in a comfortable pocket holster.
Four Months every Winter in Florida. My 442 is normally in a pocket holster and in my off hand pocket. I check it often. I wipe it down once a week or so. No problems. I have a few other guns with me that I carry in the waist. Lately it’s a 638. Waist bands require attention on sweaty days. I check them and wipe off as needed. This one is 14 years old and has been carried the most of all my pocket J-Frames
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I need soft grips to practice at the Range. I’d rather the Uncle Mikes Boot Grips but, it’s Pachmayr Compacts or Hogue Tamers for shooting and pocket carry for my old hands.
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I paint my sights. Easier to see.
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moonsterman
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638 or the new 632UL hands down!
EDC/pocket carry a J frame virtually every single day of the year except and unless I am going somewhere that I think is too attractive to "Tangos" and similar perpetrators and then I go to a higher capacity pistol.
My J frame is a M649. I don't see any difference pocket carrying a steel revolver versus a featherweight so I got rid of all of the featherweights. The difference in recoil level was the deciding factor. By a very large margin.
My J frame is a M649. I don't see any difference pocket carrying a steel revolver versus a featherweight so I got rid of all of the featherweights. The difference in recoil level was the deciding factor. By a very large margin.
The 442/642 are good to go. They can be had without the lock.
I owned a 642 in the past. Worked fine. No issues. I have heard of the finish having some trouble. I never did with mine.
I currently have a 640 Pro. Awesome gun. Steel though, like your 36. Good stuff. Heavier, yes, but easier to shoot. I am thinking of picking up a lightweight again for times I'm wearing certain clothes that aren't up to the task of toting my 640 in a pocket. Yes, I pocket it.
I have had a 357 LCR. Not bad, just didn't care for it.
I had gotten a S&W Bodyguard at one point from a client (in lieu of a cash payment, new, fired one cylinder) and I'll be honest, I absolutely HATED IT. Recoil I felt was terrible, meh trigger, cylinder release was weird. Sold it for what I was owed and then some. The LCR was nicer, IMO, than the Bodyguard.
So, either stick to reliable steel guns or 442/642 and you'll be good.
Nothing beats a good pocket carry, in my opinion and experience. Especially in a warm/hot state.
I owned a 642 in the past. Worked fine. No issues. I have heard of the finish having some trouble. I never did with mine.
I currently have a 640 Pro. Awesome gun. Steel though, like your 36. Good stuff. Heavier, yes, but easier to shoot. I am thinking of picking up a lightweight again for times I'm wearing certain clothes that aren't up to the task of toting my 640 in a pocket. Yes, I pocket it.
I have had a 357 LCR. Not bad, just didn't care for it.
I had gotten a S&W Bodyguard at one point from a client (in lieu of a cash payment, new, fired one cylinder) and I'll be honest, I absolutely HATED IT. Recoil I felt was terrible, meh trigger, cylinder release was weird. Sold it for what I was owed and then some. The LCR was nicer, IMO, than the Bodyguard.
So, either stick to reliable steel guns or 442/642 and you'll be good.
Nothing beats a good pocket carry, in my opinion and experience. Especially in a warm/hot state.
Agree living in Arizona, pocket carry is really the best method for my circumstances. A 442 does the trickThe 442/642 are good to go. They can be had without the lock.
I owned a 642 in the past. Worked fine. No issues. I have heard of the finish having some trouble. I never did with mine.
I currently have a 640 Pro. Awesome gun. Steel though, like your 36. Good stuff. Heavier, yes, but easier to shoot. I am thinking of picking up a lightweight again for times I'm wearing certain clothes that aren't up to the task of toting my 640 in a pocket. Yes, I pocket it.
I have had a 357 LCR. Not bad, just didn't care for it.
I had gotten a S&W Bodyguard at one point from a client (in lieu of a cash payment, new, fired one cylinder) and I'll be honest, I absolutely HATED IT. Recoil I felt was terrible, meh trigger, cylinder release was weird. Sold it for what I was owed and then some. The LCR was nicer, IMO, than the Bodyguard.
So, either stick to reliable steel guns or 442/642 and you'll be good.
Nothing beats a good pocket carry, in my opinion and experience. Especially in a warm/hot state.
Grimjaws
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pocket carry too
I have a 637-2 that I did some customizing on. Replaced the hammer with a 642 hammer, grabbed some old j frame grips out of the parts bin and slapped on a grip adapter. Left the lock alone as it has never bothered me. So far has not missed a beat and does pretty good up to 10 yards - I need to practice more at farther distances.
Carry in a Nemesis pocket holster.
Due to some wrist issues I am back carrying my 36 for the extra weight as it doesn’t sting so much at the range. Love the j frames.
I have a 637-2 that I did some customizing on. Replaced the hammer with a 642 hammer, grabbed some old j frame grips out of the parts bin and slapped on a grip adapter. Left the lock alone as it has never bothered me. So far has not missed a beat and does pretty good up to 10 yards - I need to practice more at farther distances.
Carry in a Nemesis pocket holster.
Due to some wrist issues I am back carrying my 36 for the extra weight as it doesn’t sting so much at the range. Love the j frames.
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Been pocket carrying my 642 since 1999. It does have some shiny aluminum spots in places. Does not effect usefulness. Any gun that gets a lot of use will show wear areas. No matter what the finish is.
OP
Major 2
Member
I truly appreciate all the impute.
I've made my mind up, the 642 will be the choice..... and I so ordered at my friendly LGS.
I wear casual fit pleated front Chino Pants, almost exclusively to go out.
These have ample and sufficiently deep front pockets.
I'm um... well some portly, there is a bit too much me already inside the waistband for comfortable carry.
OWB is hard to conceal in tropic clothes.
That leaves the Pocket, and the go too for all these years.
In my activities, chances of a multi-round street fight are low, and simple go bang every time revolver suits my needs for self-defense.
I've made my mind up, the 642 will be the choice..... and I so ordered at my friendly LGS.
I wear casual fit pleated front Chino Pants, almost exclusively to go out.
These have ample and sufficiently deep front pockets.
I'm um... well some portly, there is a bit too much me already inside the waistband for comfortable carry.
OWB is hard to conceal in tropic clothes.
That leaves the Pocket, and the go too for all these years.
In my activities, chances of a multi-round street fight are low, and simple go bang every time revolver suits my needs for self-defense.
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