You're Gettin' a J Frame....38 or 357...Your Pick??

[Nevada Ed]

The 642 38 comes in at 15 oz.
the 60 357 weighs in at 22.6 oz. +/-

For 38 +P loads the extra frame and 7.6 oz. are nice to calm the recoil down a little more than the lite model.......
but for all day carry the 15oz. is also a very nice to have. (The newer style has a mag J frame)

Depends on where and how you plan to carry it..........

Some shoot the full load but most of us believe the +P is plenty if you get good with it.

The 38 special is perfect for paper and tin cans or putting other stuff on the ground if needed.

Good luck.

 

[rmw]

I'd skip over the .357 in a J, due to the fact that I had a steel frame 640 and recoil was bloody hard. And I mean that literally. My perfect J would be (and I have a 642) a 638, no lock with +P's.

 

[PRM1]

Neither would be a deal breaker for me as far as caliber. I own both. My Model 60-9 is a .357, however, I have never fired a single .357 through it. Not crazy about the hot round in a snub. The sturdier frame and barrel length work great with everything else.

My Model 649 is a first year production .38 Special. Does everything I need and is a real keeper. Very accurate and carries "like a boss."

 

[heeter3]

442/38 special for me,easy to carry easier to shoot and with the right round very efficient.

 

[Nalapombu]

Good points on the reloading of the Semis with one hand.

With a 1911 you can insert the mag and if the slide is in battery and the gun is empty, you can simply find a small enough edge or corner and push the guide rod spring cap that's under the barrel against it hard enough until the slide comes back and strips a round and then simply let it go forward and you're ready to go. Of course if you have a 1911 with the FULL LENGTH GUIDE ROD this won't be possible.

I've kinda thought that if I am in a situation where the weapon I am using is shot dry and the threat is still trying to kill me, I'm in BIG TROUBLE. Kinda the same thing I tell people that are discussing HD shotguns and how they carry a shotgun that has 8+1, a sidesaddle of 7 and a bandolier of 15 more. I tell them that if my shotgun goes dry and the threat isn't neutralized after I have shot 8 or 9 rounds of 12 Gauge American Goodness at it, the next thing I'm grabbing for isn't going to be more ammo, it'll be my BIBLE. Cause the threat or I are getting ready to go to our reward.

Nalajr


Nalajr

 

[Lew Archer]

One other thought, comparing the relative virtues of the semi auto and revolver when limited to the use of one hand in a gunfight (sorry for the thread drift):

How to clear malfunctions?

The usual recourse with a semi auto pistol is a "tap, rack, ready", aka "tap, rack, shoot" drill: firmly tap the magazine floor plate, to ensure it is seated properly, then vigorously rack the slide, then present the weapon to the threat and act accordingly. Hard to do one handed---hard to vigorously cycle the slide, even if you can hook the rear sights on something and push against it.

In the event of a double feed jam, the usual remedy is to lock the slide to the rear, rip out the magazine, discard it, vigorously cycle the slide and reload with a fresh magazine (and at that point the slide is likely in battery, unless one takes care to lock it open prior to inserting the new magazine). Very, very hard to accomplish all that in a gunfight. Even with two hands, this is something ideally done from behind cover.

The general simplicity of the revolver is one of its greatest virtues. In the event a round does not discharge when the trigger is pulled, the remedy is...pull the trigger again. If the issue was a defective round (hard primer, whatever), simply pulling the trigger again solves the problem (provided their are live rounds left!). Obviously, the "pull the trigger again" procedure is not affected by a shooter who only has the use of one hand.

Solution:

Carry a semi auto AND a revolver! The J frame, .357 or .38, is natural back up gun. If injured, the .38 is easier to control, get hits with and win the fight.

There, the thread is back on track!

 

[icemn]

I've had, have or have considered the 340pd, 340, 442 and 442 pro series.
My current choice- 442 pro series, no lock works the best for me. For up close and personal, and at a reasonable cost, I'd recommend it.

 

[rwsmith]

.357

I'd carry my loads. Low end .357 rounds.

 

[BC38]

FWIW I have an M36 (.38 spl only) and am looking at buying an M60 (.357). While I will likely only load the M60 with .38 +P for carrying, I like the idea of having the option of using the .357 rounds (or at least the brass) if .38s aren't available.

 

[madstabber]

I have a 642 with a trigger job and crimson trace grips and it is the perfect CCW. But now I've seen the 640 pro and I have to have it, real sights and there night sights, moon clip ready, full sized ejector rod, nice grips that cover the backstrap to handle the .357, and it's super cool looking to boot. So like jays potato chips you can't have just one. Oh yea and no internal lock on either gun for a cherry on top.

 

[Rking1960]

I bought/traded for the 637-2 last week. It's a .38sp. If I want to fire .357's I'll use my SP-101 but it's rather heavy to carry. The 637 got a IL flag removal today. I'm just waiting on my plug to get here now.

 

[wheelyfun66]

I love the 340M&P (no lock) for it's sights, tough finish, lightweight, and yes....357 magnum capability.

When firing 357, I have a routine where I draw it with purpose from under a concealment garment, move "off line" rapidly while engaging the targets.

When I act "with purpose" in firing 357 magnum rounds through this beauty, I feel NO pain.

When I stand in a perfectly comfortable firing stance, aim slowly at my paper bullseye, and squeeze off a round....OUCH!!

 

[LOBO]

I am going to add one more post and I want to ask that you follow up and understand what I am saying.
When you have a small revolver with a short barrel.In this case a 38/357
** The length of the barrel will determine your terminal velocity.
You can not get ANY MORE power out of a 357 bullet in a snub nose revolver than you can a 38 38+P. The differences in power begin when you go to longer barrels,4 /6 /8 inch is where a 357 shines. Put a 357 load in a Henry rifle and look at the statistics. Your jaw would drop.
Most of the power of the bullet is coming out the end of the barrel with a snub nose. With that bit of information,I would say get the 38+P and save the money for ammo or charity.

To each his own, but...

.357 magnum short barrel chronograph info - September 2013 Combat Handguns - EAA Windicator article pages 60-65 and page 93

EAA Windicator .357 magnum 2" barrel

.357 magnum loads

Black Hills 125 gr XTP - 1,254 fps average
Corbon 125 gr DPX - 1,147 fps average
Remington 125 gr SJHP - 1,306 fps average
Winchester 125 gr SJHP - 1,256 fps average
Hornady 140 gr XTP - 1,175 fps average

 

[Kestrel]

Interesting thread. Running out of time this evening so I'll catch up the next chance I get.

My concealed carry revolver is an AirLite Ti .38 loaded with Federal Hydrashok 110's or 125's. That particular revolver is naturally not all that pleasant to train with, which is why I sent close to a thousand rounds downrange this past year with my 60-10 .357 3" bbl (i.e. my backpacking gun). Coincidentally, all of that ammo was much-more-manageable .38 Spl.

The steel J-frames are definitely the ticket for long sessions with any .38 Spl ammo.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I like steel J-Frames in .38 Special best.

For .357 Magnum I'd skip the J-Frame entirely in favor of the much better Models 13/65 3-inch or Models 19/66 2 1/20-inch. The .357 Magnum in the J-Frame mostly amounts to a stunt. Only one opinion.

 

[echo1xg36c]

Me personally for my j frames I feel .38 +p is sufficient.
.357 out of one isn't fun at all. Not saying its horrible but you can acomplish the nesscary results with .38 +p with better shots.

Now .357 out of my k/l frames, different story...

 

[BaaBaa]

I'd like to know which caliber you would pick if your were going to get your first J frame or you were buying one to carry.
If you can manage to decide on caliber (I cannot), how about going ahead and making a pick of model?

I chose a model 640 .357 for my first handgun. I wanted something capable of making a bear (oh no not another bear thread!) turn around that was easier to carry than a shotgun. I also wanted the heaviest gun I could fit in my hand and I'm short female and can't easily conceal anything else.

I shoot primarily 38 special out of it but have shot half a match (local club, uses IDPA rules but allows all sorts of firearms) using .357 (all I had enough ammo for) I finished the match using 38 specials. Biggest difference I see with the .357 is it's louder even with ear protection and has a larger flash.

I don't find that there is much recoil on it at all, certainly nothing I'd worry about. I don't think I'd try that with a lightweight J frame though.

I had to make my choice without ever firing one as there was no place to rent anything locally.

 

[shatnerglass]

357. Don't see where all the horrible recoil is

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

This. Not to mention you can always shoot .38 Special out of a .357.

I have a S&W M&P360 Chief Special that I freaking love. Not cheap, but besides my Colt Python it's one of the nicest triggers, imo. Also, if it matters to you the front sight on the M&P360 is an XS night sight.

Only issue I have with it is that it won't accept speed loaders, so speed strips are your only option for a quick reload. But you can get fast with practice.

I carry a Glock 19 or 26 usually, but if I'm going to a place where I need deep concealment its my J-Frame in a pocket holster with 2 extra speed strips.

 

[Bmlove]

I guess I am strange. I love my .38 special +P new model bodyguard. For SD i use wadcutters, cheap an effective at 21 ft or less. I know, another whole topic. Every once and awhile i will go to my .380 bodyguard just for a change of pace. Then i also have a ruger LC9, but have not carried it yet. Getting use to the trigger. ��. I am comfortable with these guns and that is the key for me. AND I am accurate. I'm sure not everyone will agree. But thats my two cents worth. Lovethis forum. Good people here. Good luck on choosing.

 

[tonyc1726]

lawman still

I have two j frames. A model 37 and a 642. The first C in CCW stands for concealed, as you know. It's difficult to conceal a large framed handgun. Especially here in Florida wearing a minimal amount of outer wear. Both guns fire .38 special but only the 642 can fire +P. I mostly carry my guns only with the .38 special ammo. The reason is because I don't want to use the gun on a bad guy and also shoot the person behind him. In the house as well, I don't want to shoot my neighbor. Of course the choice is yours but in a crowed place you may not be able to defend yourself with a high velocity round. My thoughts!