I severely disagree on the point of shooting a j frame being considered work. I absolutely love shooting mine. Now granted, this is an opinion and I'm not saying that you're wrong. However I do find my 637 to be an absolute joy. I don't find it as fun as my Glock 19, but I wouldn't consider it a pain to shoot either.
J frame revolvers are great for CCW and server that purpose well. Yes, you must go to the range and shoot productively with this small weapon. You are not going to be putting 100 rounds down range with this revolver. Just too much recoil and pain for the hand, hence the shooting productivity statement. The 642 and 442.are 38+P rated. Shoot regular 38 special rounds predominantly at the range. Less pain and recoil...you can shoot longer. Throw in some +P ammo along the way and you will get a better appreciation for this tool. Scandium revolvers are way too expensive and not worth the extra cost to carry a J frame.
I've had a 438 for 10 years now. It's a great gun, never had any sort of malfunction, and I have to qualify every year for my department. It can start to hurt after 200 rounds though, and I wish the sights were better.
I've had my Taurus 85 for little over a year now and I love it. Can't imagine carrying anything other than a small revolver for CCW. I shoot it as often as I can, even using it at my local club's pistol matches. I've gotten very good with it, though I did not have much experience with handguns before I purchased it. One thing is that it is an all steel gun weighs 22 ounces unloaded. Folks seem to want to jump straight to the LCR or Airweights weigh 15 ounces or less. I think (like you say) that's a mistake. I carry mine all day everyday, usually pocketed in a Desantis Nemesis sometimes IWB and it doesn't bother me at all, and when I shoot it its no problem.
OzarkNick very nice, thanks for the comment. I personally do like the light weighs but I know what's gonna happen when I fire it. I have known people in the past that jump to these light weight wheelies and their first time with it they are scarred for life and hate the thing.
OzarkNick that’s why they’ve been The gunfighter’s choice for years...the snubby “belly gun” loaded with just standard pressure 158 grain lead semiwadcutter hollow points .38 special ain’t no slouch...mine is a Ruger SP101 .357....loaded “old school” style with the .38 special “FBI load” I carry a GP 100 .357 Magnum with a 3 inch barrel in a belt holster most times strong side...with the SP101 in a cross draw support side...as a “New York reload” But most of the time it’s a SP101 inside the waist with a Smith & Wesson Model 442 38 special in the pocket riding back up... You are right...all steel is the way to go and easily carried and comfortable. I used to carry autoloaders all the time...but years of shooting (Military Police, U.S. Army, 12 1/2 years) and fighting has showed me a few things about SELF DEFENSE...and that ten or twelve pound double action only trigger pull and no slide to go out of battery in a belt to belt buckle scuffle adds up to I PULL DELIBERATELY AND GO BANG EVERY TIME 😉...when the other guy may jam because of the excitement of the moment... Because I’m your Huckleberry kind of guy 😎
Great video, sir. I carried a 642 for years at my old department as my backup gun...I've been carrying a Ruger LCP as my backup gun, but I'm thinking of going back to my 642 as a backup...J-frames are great little guns, but as you said, shooting it is like a diet. Not fun, but you're got to do it.
Bought my first carry gun in 1978. I walked into a store, told the guy at the counter I wanted a handgun. He asked “What for?” I said “To carry.” He stuck a Smith 49 Bodyguard in my hand. It was a dream!
I'm 27 years old and carry a 638 almost all the time.Its a little heavier than the other airweights. No chance of snagging the hammer but still have the option of single action for the range and practice. Practice your double action way more but if it was ever needed you have single action. I carry on my hip most of the time being in the south but looking forward to pocket carrying in the future.
I carry a 642 with replacement Crimson Trace. What can I say I love this little weapon. Great for the pocket and have occasionally carried in the boot and a back up in less than desirable locations. Highly recommend it but you must practice practice practice
I have had a J frame model 640 in 357 magnum since they started making them. It’s stainless steel 22 ounces and is way more comfortable to shoot than the air weights. Secondly you can shoot all the hot ass 38’s out there and 357 if it’s all I had.
Couldn't get passed the rambling of J Frames being "a diet". I love my J frame and can easily shoot 100 rounds at a time. I understand new shooters may have trouble with DA trigger (as a life long shooter I don't recall ever having issues but was instilled on trigger squeeze from young age). Also the sight radius can hurt accuracy. But here's the thing. If you get proficient with a DA J Frame then you can accurately shoot anything and all it takes is a little practice. So while there may be a learning curve I find it fun and for a new shooter a .38 snub nose with wadcutters can be a great first handgun for simple operation and great learning tool. Those who start with a light trigger low recoil firearm will find themselves learning to shoot twice if they ever wish to move to DA I frame. Learn it first and the rest us already there.
I just got a 342PD no lock a few weeks ago and now have 300 rounds through it. Coming off of a SP101 this thing felt weird and hurt for the first week, but now it shoots great for me and no pain. Great channel, subbed.
I swear when I bought the smith & Wesson j frame 38 I had to open it back up in the car because it was so light I thought the box was empty! Great nightstand or pocket carry weapon!
I carry a 642 performance center as edc. I am thinking about looking into what used to be called a kit gun. It would be a model 30,or 60 with 3 inch barrel squat button grip and exposed hammer,. I feel that it would be more controllable but still consealable.
I carry and occasionally shoot a J frame. Mine is great to carry, horrible to shoot. It is also a 340 pd. IT BEATS ME UP. I have a houge monogrip on mine, and it is still painful. My S.O. carries a J frame (.38 sp). It is easy to shoot in comparison. Neither are really fun to shoot, or range toys, nor are they good weapons to learn on. They are great EDC guns however. They are small, light, and likely to be carried. In the heat of an attack, sights don’t matter, nor will a heavy trigger pull. Having wrist pain the next day, will be the least of your worries if you have to fire.
I can always count on you for a Saturday morning video. You know me, I'm a huge fan of the 442/642's. Thanks again for sharing. I also enjoy the NG stories. Sorry that it's at someone else's bad experience but a training aid of what not to do. Be safe and shoot straight my friend.
***** LOL - yeah I put them up every WED and SAT, thanks as always my friend! Appreciate it! I have another ND story to come...they are always interesting and yes we learn from other people's mistakes.
If you're new to these little J-frames forget about .357 ammo. In my GP-100 .357 rounds are impressive, but unnecessary. They are less useful in these lightweight snubs and may put you off training. Try low-powered practice ammo if you want to put lots of rounds down range, but whatever you have on hand and want to shoot is fine, so long as you don't develop a flinch. There are a number of low flash and low recoil .38 developments that will do well for you. I have Federal now, but I was doing wad cutters. Wad cutters do well yet seem to have lower perceived recoil, I think. I also have a longer grip to give all my fingers something to grab onto, and I think - for me - that the longer grip (some say longer grips make the gun harder to conceal, but I disagree) gives enough real estate to mitigate the recoil of the ammo.
I own two j Frames and I find the best loads for them are handloads (particularly for the 357 magnum) with which I practice quite a bit. Good grips and proper load choice as well as a few DIY mods make shooting them much nicer. Once properly prepared J Frame revolvers are superbly reliable defense weapons in the right hands of course. :)
The first handgun I ever fired was a 637. For the first ten rounds, I went single action and found that I was flinching and jerking the trigger. After that, I stuck with the double action pull and I did much better because I had more manual control over the firearm's trigger. If you learn to use that long-double action pull, on a good Smith you won't even notice the 'heavy' trigger pull. By the time I was done that day, I was shooting nearly as well as the person the gun owned to and had been firing it for years and had carried it concealed in the past. Of course the sights aren't as accessible to beginner shooters as an automatic or even a larger framed revolver, but if you start with a J-Frame and practice, you will learn to master it. It turns out I'm a rather intuitive revolvers shooter but i think that if people give the J-Frame a serious chance, revolvers could make a bit of a comeback when it comes to concealed carry. It's a shame that revolvers get such a bad rap for being 'low capacity'. I've always said that if you can't finish what you started with 5 rounds of .38, you need to rethink what you're doing in life. Love 1911s and S&W M&Ps, but revolvers are just smooth.
Sedan57Chevy I need to touch on the topic of DA trigger. It seems some people are afraid of the DA trig on a revolver. Its kinda interesting. I will be doing more vids on the topic of revolvers (might have one more coming into the stable soon) as its a very popular request. Most people don't do vids on revolvers or more specifically "combat revolver" so I'll do my best and try to get some guests if I can that are "experts" with revolvers. You won't find any "Combat Revolver" classes. Which is a shame. I think there are 2 major schools out there that still offer this but locally none. I know of one "expert revolver" shooter in his late 50s who conducts ccw classes and I asked him if he would do a "combat revolver" class. He said yes but the prob is he'd have only 1 person show up (me), LOL. He attempted to set up a class that would be 100% on combat revolver and no one signed up. Aw well. He carries a 325 Night Guard as a primary and has done so for the past 5yrs. He also has a 325TR (which I am interested in) set up for home defense and he shoots IDPA with his 625 JM. So as you can see he favors 45acp wheelies and is really good with all 3 of them. He is also a huge 1911 fan and carries a 340M&P as a back up or as a primary at times. Anyway thanks for the comment!
I look forward to your future videos! It's incredibly refreshing to see someone taking revolvers seriously as a viable defensive option. So many 'gun' people just ignore them and I really want to say thank you for providing a good source of information to the public.
As far as I know you can send a gun to the s&w performance center , ruger also has a specialty shops and both do fantastic work. There are also many great gunsmith that can do the job. But either way you can get a quote for the work you want to have done and get in line with the rest of us. Remember it is not for everyone and it will be done over a period of time so don't worry or rush them.
I have recently purchased a Taurus 605 357 magnum. I’m up for a challenge. I’m a new shooter and this is my second hand gun. So long as I practice and train I think I’ll be alright. Great video though I’ve learned a lot.
Over complication... My wife picked up her 642 and at 25 feet put all 5 rounds on the paper first time and every time since. It is nit a target/group gun. It is what it is and is good at what it is.
Hey Ol1911 great video!! That 340pd looks mean! I've been looking at the S&W M&P340 again.. I recently sold my LCR .357 magnum to a family member that really wanted a Ruger LCR. So I have been looking to replace it with another LCR .357 or a .357 magnum S&W J-frame. - Young Beretta
Gave my 642 to my wife cause I got hooked on S&W's 638 that won't snag with pocket carry and still have choice to cock & shoot SA or shoot as is DA. Thanks for another good video.
Thanks for making the video, great job! I'm a new shooter and hear everyone say how easy J-frames are to carry, but recoil is tough. My local gun shop has 442/642 on sale for $340. So I'm thinking about getting it and spending some quality time with it.
I've carried one j-frame or another as a BUG for the better part of 20 years. They are wonderful in that role for the experienced. In my estimation, the 3-series scandium guns are great to carry, not as fun to shoot. The Centennial (internal hammer) guns are nice to carry and shoot in double action but there are times when cocking the hammer might be nice. In my humble opinion, the (original) "Bodyguard" model j-frame (sometimes referred to as "humpback" model) give the best of both worlds: concealed carry quick draw, double action firing with the ability to cock the hammer if desired. If I could ever get S&W to listen, a 3-series model "338" 357 scandium Bodyguard would be just about perfect.
You sir are entitled to your opinion . ....... mine is this ... the J frame is a 20 foot gun .. it's only use is Close Quarters combat . .. It not a target gun . If you can put all 5 in a paper plate at 20 ft or less , that's all you need or can expect ........... as far as it being loud or uncomfortable I can see your point .. but it's better than being dead .
I have a S&W 642 and a 442 I have been going to the range twice a month shooting 20 rounds each in both guns.10 rtounds each with 38-P.I have arthiritis in my hands that is all i can do at the range.My friend wants me to do some single hand shooting next time we go.but i still need plenty of practice with these revolvers.Thanks I gave you a shout-out the other day.
my mother and grandmother seemed to shoot these small revolvers very well, however they were aluminum framed 642's and LCR's. They still had potent rounds, just not the extreme and hot rounds. I definitely see where you're coming from with a scandium frame and very hot loads of .357 magnum.
I carry a 340PD as my EDC, but I’ve been carrying & shooting these small guns for almost 50 years and practice w/it often. I was a cop for 30 years and used my issued Colt Detective Special, about the same size as the J frame, in a gunfight w/armed robbers in ‘74. I’m still around, one of them died of his wounds the next day, one was arrested at the scene and the third guy was arrested the next day @ a hospital ER seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. These little guns work fine but you have to put work in at the range on a regular basis.
excellent amount of information, thank you so much man, I came here because I bought me a 637-2 S&W .38 SPL +P j-frame and over this weekend , I was disappointed. at 7 yards or so, I could not hit a spray paint can in single or double action. I pulled out my glock 19 and first shot I hit the can. I am thinking it might be the rounds I bought, but I blame my wallet for convincing me to buy the cheaper Monarch SP SJHP .38 Special 158-Grain rounds. I will buy better ammo and give it another 100 rounds or so before I decide what I will do with the j-frame Much more practice to come
I shot a 642 with the stock wooden grips and injured my hand. It took a whole month to heal. I have since replaced the grips with Hogue Tamer grips. Problem solved! Now that little J frame has become a "shooter"!
Actually the J-Frame Smith is an excellent carry weapon for everyday use I would also suggest the model 36 or even better the model 60 in Stainless, the one inherent issue with the J-Frame is trigger pull which can be easily remedied with a Wilson Combat or the Mcarbo J-Frame Spring Kits and a little polishing and the trigger pull will be reduced by about 3 to 4 pounds and smooth, as far as defensive ammo Federal Hydra Shoks in +P is extremely effective and since most encounters are 7 to 10 feet there should be no issue, a pair of combat grips and it will impress you.
Still relevant today especially with so many new gun owners....good advice on this not being a beginners gun and the lighter weight ones like airweights and scandium being even more so a weapon for someone who already understands and shoots the J frame or other snub nose well. The stainless ones like the 649 or even a model 60 might be better for someone newer with the added weight helping the recoil if carrying the added weight still fits the purpose. Good discussion on ammo and with so many new plain .38 special loads today they can be effective for simple self defense and keeping within the usual envelope of use for defense with a snubbie of 3-7 or 10 yards. Thanks OL1911.....are you still carrying you 1911s nowadays?
My 442 is my most carried weapon system. It's soooo convenient. Carried in my pocket but when hiking or bumming around the woods--my sp 101 357 snub rides on the hip
I’ve been shooting and carrying j frames (60, 640, 638, & 642). And I do consider shooing one FUN. I love light weight snobbiest. Bob the hammer on your 637. Use mostly standard velocity 158 grain lead.
What small revolver actually fits in a regular front Jean pocket? Iv tried a few and grips on lcr they stick out of pocket......my dad tells me to get airweight, wood grips,aluminum spacers on front of grips .? Any opinions????
Any of the non-exposed or shrouded hammer J-frames with 1.875" to 2.125" barrels are essentially the same size and can be pocket carried with a pocket holster. (Stick w/non-exposed hammer versions and just get good with double action tho') Arguably an alloy frame version (Alluminum or $candium) would ride appreciably lighter. Those old sCOOL grips your father is describing are (look) neat (with a "Tyler T-grip" insert added), but I'd suspect there's more of a nostalgic pull going into that recommendation. Modern/New J frames rubber grip *small* versions are actually just fine. But what's commonly called boot grips, like the VZ/G-10 Bantams (my settled on choice after *much* trial and error), or the Altamont Bateleur slicks are FAR better fitting/filling in the hand and imparting of good shooting grasp while still being small enough for pockets. The Houge rubber Bantam one piece "pinch on" is the same cut/style but is a smidge smaller still and is very grippy and would be a good pocket choice, and it only costs about $22 (It's probably a little _too_ grippy/sticky to be utilzed inside the waistband though). The G-10 material grips can be sanded/shaped readily and finishing the modification with very fine grit paper restores the finish to a factory like appearance easily - That's harder to do with wood (I always sand off/thin out much of the high reaching part of the left sided grip so as to give more clearance for a speed loader, and a "shelf" for the right thumb to press on, regardless of what type of grip is on them). For concealability AIWB carry in a good kydex holster with a torque claw (Dara, Philster City Slicker, etc-etc) and your J-frame is beyond concealed, it's more like -disappeared- . Also a 5 round speed strip for a spare reload fits/hides perfectly in Blue Jeans little watch pockets (or obviously in regular pockets as well). Shoot safe!
@@ED-2.0.9. thanks @ed. I ended up getting 2 Jay frame Smith's. A trade in model 37 and a 60 . I did get the g-10 grips for both. I like the airweight in my pocket. The 60 iwb. Kind of want a hammerless model now but live and learn.
@@tomr3074 Outstanding! And yep, that's an all too familiar road. We'd settled on a tritium 360PD (w/Houge Bantam Rubber pinch on grip) for my my wife's CCW early on (after fussing with a few different automatics that she always found too heavy and kept "forgetting" to carry) and she soon saw the light and began agitating me into the Revlover [sic] fold (I was a piddle footing around with .32acp's and .380's at the time - "Bond, _James_ Bond", haha). I started with a Model 60 myself, +action job and tritium install, went thru a half do$en plus different grips and got fed up with the hammer spur snag-o-matic (pocket/shirt tail/opposite arms wrist cuff - crazy) *AND* with it chewing holes in *ALL* my clothing (IWB). That led me to the S&W 49's/649's (IWB & still primary CCW now) and 38's/638's for pocket carry. THAT said (and for the benefit of any reader that stumbles upon this thread), years into it now, and after even more trial and error; *_Anyone_* contemplating getting into Wheelgun CCW carry, especially for IWB and/or pocket carry, the exposed hammers snag/chew up _everything_ and the "shrouded" hammer variants also have a deep recessed area that is a "belly button lint magnet" which will in turn see a lot migrating into the internal actions. Please Note/Consider: Virtually any and almost all conceivable defensive actions are going to see the wielder producing and using their firearm in double action mode, so take it from someone who has wasted a whole lot of time and a whole lot'a more money, for all the above reasons, *start* with wholly enclosed hammer variants ala S&W 640/642/442, Kimber K6, Ruger LCR's (likely the smartest bet now tbh, with their amazing triggers - and that's from a S&W aficionado), or the new .38 Spl Bodyguard, or even/possibly some 2" Chiappa's. Personally I have long regretted not having just simply short-circuited the whole _painful_ learning evolution and not having initially gone with a S&W 640Pro or the like, and I now catch myself frequently/wistfully surfing Gunbr*ker . c*m for the likes of S&W 342's, Model 40 Centennial's, and 640Pro's. Also just *start* with VZ/G-10 grips and don't look back. (That, and Sarariland Comp Series speedloaders). Cats meow. Y'all stay/shoot safe!
66-2 2.5 OWB Garrett industries STX w snaps. Had 642airweight shrowe'd hammer (638?) anyhow shocked me ...sold it .FF 8 yrs. good w SS kframe ,confident enough to go back to j.more than likely feed off your experience & copy you .w OWB maybe badgers .GARRETT slim IWB w ulti clip.wish that company with the "flex" (soft airy comfortable IWB ,or,other one w 3/4 trigger wrap retention + airflow & soft. Details.will figure them out & gooo slooow.thx for ammo information.too much to try it all. L8r.PS..360 discreetly a lot.
Great video. A lot of good info for someone planning to get a small-frame revolver (like me). I'd already decided on carrying +P rather than .357 for the reasons you described. Are you still planning on carrying the pugnose (since it has an exposed hammer) or are you going to get another shrouded hammer model?
Andrew Hopkins yeah I'm going to carry the pug nose for sure. The exposed hammer is not an issue when its on my hip, but for pocket it has proved challenging for me.
Happy new year pal. I have owned and carried my 642 J frame daily for just under a year now and I love it. I have improved my shooting greatly with it as well and put roughly about 1000 rounds through it. Took me a while to get used to but at 10 yards can now get a pretty good group with it. I actually myself just switched ammo, I too now have the Speer 135 gr+p short barrel. That's the best as it gets for a snub nose. Did you say that your gun here is an allow frame with a titanium cylinder? Not sure how much lighter it truly is but even tho a j frame is challenging to shoot, if I was a dealer and somebody wanted a handgun strictly for defensive purposes only and wasn't gonna shoot much then a small revolver is what I would recommend for them. Reason being is that revolvers unlike auto's really don't require a substantial break in, for the gun as well as the magazines. Just my take. I carry my j frame everyday as a backup weapon via pocket carry along with my Springfield xd 9 subcompact.
aran125 thanks for sharing my friend and glad its working out! Yeah the one I display here is about 11oz or so. Very light weight. Not for everyone. I'll have more vids about that later if I acquire it. True, wheelies really do not need much of a break in. Good stuff! 1 is none - 2 is 1!
If you think about a small revolver doesn't need any break in. While they are tough to shoot, the real reason they are made is for up and close defensive purposes, not a duty gun or a target pistol. I'm saying for the old man that owns a liquor store and he got robber and now wants a gun but doesn't plan on shooting much. Perhaps he's not a gun person at all. A j frame is what I would recommend to him. I'm basing this exactly on what a dealer told an older guy who came into a shop. He basically asked him. Are you going to take the gun to the range and shoot it? Or is this just a gun you want for your nightstand or to have with you in the store. ? He said if you aren't gonna shoot it at the range get a revolver. Any auto loader that hasn't had at least 500-1000 rounds through it is considered "new" and them being mechanical devices they are subject to failure. A wheel gun will 99.9% of the time ALWAYS go bang when you need it to and an inexperienced firearm handler won't freak out should they get a type 1, or type 2 malfunction. Just keep pulling the trigger. You can have a j frame loaded with the same ammo for 25 years and I guarantee you you can pull it out and fire it one day and it will go bang. My dad has one and I'm gonna try that soon hopefully. Revolvers are great firearms for people who don't wish to spend a lot of money and want a gun simply for protection, and nothing else.
Random thoughts: Trigger pull on S&W J frames out of the box is terrible. Consider having an Apex Trigger Kit installed by a professional. Replace wood grips with Hogue rubber grips. Do not use +P rated ammo to break in the gun or try to shoot hundreds of round at the range. Use Winchester white box ammo to get used to the gun. For a defensive round Remington Ultimate Defense Compact Handgun Ammunition 38 Special +P 125 Grain Brass Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20. Practice Practice Practice and clean your gun regularly...
After all this time since you posted this, the video is still entirely useful for people considering the mighty J-Frame. While tough to master and only holding five rounds, the J-Frame makes an excellent pocket pistol for CCW if you are willing to put the time in to become proficient with it. Action jobs don't hurt either, provided the main spring is not so reduced as to cause light primer strikes on defense ammunition.
I'm a fat guy and my clothes usually don't dit right to begin with, so concealing in my wasteband isn't realistic, and semi auto project like crazy in a pocket so I'm looking to get a j fame in .357
amacro11 ehhhhhh - it think its more marketing than anything else? Its a nice j-frame and it has a little extra but I don't think its something I'd go out of my way to get? I mean if I was a fan of the show Gunsmoke or there was something that really striked my fancy with it I'd pay the extra for it, otherwise I'd stick to the standards.
I purchased one of those back in 2014 and replaced the grips with some cheap rosewood/rubber hybrid grips, as I carry in a holster and would rather benefit from the comfort and secure hold versus the hard plastic. However, the original grips were very much functional as a less cumbersome method of carry. The gun is attractive yet not too flashy, and the trigger pull is so smooth. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a "special" .38, though it's up to you if it's worth the extra money. With a different set of grips it really does look unique.
I never understood why you left revolvers and went for semi autos. Would you still have and use the M&P 340 if it wasn't for the cylinder issue? I am soon getting a J frame but am still unsure on getting an M&P 340 over a 442. I'm simply not sure if it;'s worth it since you once had the M&P 340 and got a 442 later on. Thanks in advance!
F8H Yes, the 340 M&P is a fine j-frame. I bought that used so who knows what the previous owner(s) did to it. I did put a ton of .357mag through that j-frame so... If funds allow I would get the 340M&P over the 442. But I'd probably still only shoot 38spl+p through it. Even the 357mag short barrel 135gr is snappy in a j-frame but not as violent as a standard 125gr mag. The one I show here in the vid is the 340PD and I will probably acquire it at some point.
***** Thanks for the reply! I do plan on shooting only 38 and 38 +P through it anyways and I like the M&P better than the PD because of the sights and because I am not limited to what grains I can shoot. Why not get another 340? You should make a video on what exactly made you go back to semis. I myself am about to go into the conversion of semis to revolvers. :) Keep it up with the great videos!
Lawrence Wald no prob - I hate it when I see someone get one of these and then they shoot it for the first time and trade it in the next day or so and lose all that money - if they had some knowledge maybe they wouldn't have bought one in the first place or would stick to it....
I think the shrouded hammers are ugly. I carry mine a lot. I just put my thumb over the hammer when I pull it out. There are some good non +p ammo out there.
i disagree on it being a bad 1st jframe. I had a 360pd as my 1st. I never should have sold it but i needed the money and it was not my primary. Shooting 38 in it is not much of a problem. My brothers 90lb girl friend had no problem shooting it and hitting a soup can at 10feet with every shot. Shooting 357 is another matter. I can do 20rounds and my arm will hurt for a week but if you ever need to use it you will not feel the recoil. I say practice with 38 and carry 357. You also should not shoot under a 120g bullet. it says so right on the barrel. I currently have a 1970 Model 37. The 1st aluminum J frame. Do not fire +p in a 37. it will crack.
Shooting my 340 today. Once a month i shoot half a box . I carry my air weights 98% of time . pocket or appendix. I haven't found a belt carry holster that I care for.
I love the j frame. Always come back to the 642/442. But it is absolute horse shit that to upgrade to a j frame with replaceable sights, you have to spend over 2X the 642/442 price. In this aspect, ruger is the way
90% of people carrying firearms should be carrying a revolver if you’re not gonna train every week you should be carrying a revolver Do you agree or disagree
I LOVE my little J-Frames. I own several. Love em!
I severely disagree on the point of shooting a j frame being considered work. I absolutely love shooting mine. Now granted, this is an opinion and I'm not saying that you're wrong. However I do find my 637 to be an absolute joy. I don't find it as fun as my Glock 19, but I wouldn't consider it a pain to shoot either.
I completely disagree i have a smith and Wesson 642 it is my first gun and it is super fun to shoot. Haven't experienced what your talking about
J frame revolvers are great for CCW and server that purpose well. Yes, you must go to the range and shoot productively with this small weapon. You are not going to be putting 100 rounds down range with this revolver. Just too much recoil and pain for the hand, hence the shooting productivity statement. The 642 and 442.are 38+P rated. Shoot regular 38 special rounds predominantly at the range. Less pain and recoil...you can shoot longer. Throw in some +P ammo along the way and you will get a better appreciation for this tool. Scandium revolvers are way too expensive and not worth the extra cost to carry a J frame.
I've had a 438 for 10 years now. It's a great gun, never had any sort of malfunction, and I have to qualify every year for my department. It can start to hurt after 200 rounds though, and I wish the sights were better.
I've had my Taurus 85 for little over a year now and I love it. Can't imagine carrying anything other than a small revolver for CCW. I shoot it as often as I can, even using it at my local club's pistol matches. I've gotten very good with it, though I did not have much experience with handguns before I purchased it.
One thing is that it is an all steel gun weighs 22 ounces unloaded. Folks seem to want to jump straight to the LCR or Airweights weigh 15 ounces or less. I think (like you say) that's a mistake. I carry mine all day everyday, usually pocketed in a Desantis Nemesis sometimes IWB and it doesn't bother me at all, and when I shoot it its no problem.
OzarkNick very nice, thanks for the comment. I personally do like the light weighs but I know what's gonna happen when I fire it. I have known people in the past that jump to these light weight wheelies and their first time with it they are scarred for life and hate the thing.
OzarkNick that’s why they’ve been The gunfighter’s choice for years...the snubby “belly gun” loaded with just standard pressure 158 grain lead semiwadcutter hollow points .38 special ain’t no slouch...mine is a Ruger SP101 .357....loaded “old school” style with the .38 special “FBI load”
I carry a GP 100 .357 Magnum with a 3 inch barrel in a belt holster most times strong side...with the SP101 in a cross draw support side...as a “New York reload”
But most of the time it’s a SP101 inside the waist with a Smith & Wesson Model 442 38 special in the pocket riding back up...
You are right...all steel is the way to go and easily carried and comfortable. I used to carry autoloaders all the time...but years of shooting (Military Police, U.S. Army, 12 1/2 years) and fighting has showed me a few things about SELF DEFENSE...and that ten or twelve pound double action only trigger pull and no slide to go out of battery in a belt to belt buckle scuffle adds up to
I PULL DELIBERATELY AND GO BANG EVERY TIME 😉...when the other guy may jam because of the excitement of the moment...
Because I’m your Huckleberry kind of guy 😎
Great video, sir.
I carried a 642 for years at my old department as my backup gun...I've been carrying a Ruger LCP as my backup gun, but I'm thinking of going back to my 642 as a backup...J-frames are great little guns, but as you said, shooting it is like a diet. Not fun, but you're got to do it.
Bought my first carry gun in 1978. I walked into a store, told the guy at the counter I wanted a handgun. He asked “What for?” I said “To carry.” He stuck a Smith 49 Bodyguard in my hand. It was a dream!
I'm 27 years old and carry a 638 almost all the time.Its a little heavier than the other airweights. No chance of snagging the hammer but still have the option of single action for the range and practice. Practice your double action way more but if it was ever needed you have single action. I carry on my hip most of the time being in the south but looking forward to pocket carrying in the future.
I carry a 642 with replacement Crimson Trace. What can I say I love this little weapon. Great for the pocket and have occasionally carried in the boot and a back up in less than desirable locations. Highly recommend it but you must practice practice practice
Really like your revolver videos. Informative. It is like a job when you shoot +p or 357.
I have had a J frame model 640 in 357 magnum since they started making them. It’s stainless steel 22 ounces and is way more comfortable to shoot than the air weights. Secondly you can shoot all the hot ass 38’s out there and 357 if it’s all I had.
Couldn't get passed the rambling of J Frames being "a diet". I love my J frame and can easily shoot 100 rounds at a time. I understand new shooters may have trouble with DA trigger (as a life long shooter I don't recall ever having issues but was instilled on trigger squeeze from young age). Also the sight radius can hurt accuracy. But here's the thing. If you get proficient with a DA J Frame then you can accurately shoot anything and all it takes is a little practice. So while there may be a learning curve I find it fun and for a new shooter a .38 snub nose with wadcutters can be a great first handgun for simple operation and great learning tool. Those who start with a light trigger low recoil firearm will find themselves learning to shoot twice if they ever wish to move to DA I frame. Learn it first and the rest us already there.
I just got a 342PD no lock a few weeks ago and now have 300 rounds through it. Coming off of a SP101 this thing felt weird and hurt for the first week, but now it shoots great for me and no pain. Great channel, subbed.
+Gun Sam good to hear! thanks
I swear when I bought the smith & Wesson j frame 38 I had to open it back up in the car because it was so light I thought the box was empty! Great nightstand or pocket carry weapon!
I carry a 642 performance center as edc. I am thinking about looking into what used to be called a kit gun. It would be a model 30,or 60 with 3 inch barrel squat button grip and exposed hammer,. I feel that it would be more controllable but still consealable.
I carry and occasionally shoot a J frame. Mine is great to carry, horrible to shoot.
It is also a 340 pd. IT BEATS ME UP. I have a houge monogrip on mine, and it is still painful.
My S.O. carries a J frame (.38 sp). It is easy to shoot in comparison.
Neither are really fun to shoot, or range toys, nor are they good weapons to learn on. They are great EDC guns however. They are small, light, and likely to be carried. In the heat of an attack, sights don’t matter, nor will a heavy trigger pull. Having wrist pain the next day, will be the least of your worries if you have to fire.
I can always count on you for a Saturday morning video. You know me, I'm a huge fan of the 442/642's. Thanks again for sharing. I also enjoy the NG stories. Sorry that it's at someone else's bad experience but a training aid of what not to do. Be safe and shoot straight my friend.
***** LOL - yeah I put them up every WED and SAT, thanks as always my friend! Appreciate it! I have another ND story to come...they are always interesting and yes we learn from other people's mistakes.
If you're new to these little J-frames forget about .357 ammo. In my GP-100 .357 rounds are impressive, but unnecessary. They are less useful in these lightweight snubs and may put you off training.
Try low-powered practice ammo if you want to put lots of rounds down range, but whatever you have on hand and want to shoot is fine, so long as you don't develop a flinch. There are a number of low flash and low recoil .38 developments that will do well for you. I have Federal now, but I was doing wad cutters. Wad cutters do well yet seem to have lower perceived recoil, I think. I also have a longer grip to give all my fingers something to grab onto, and I think - for me - that the longer grip (some say longer grips make the gun harder to conceal, but I disagree) gives enough real estate to mitigate the recoil of the ammo.
I own two j Frames and I find the best loads for them are handloads (particularly for the 357 magnum) with which I practice quite a bit. Good grips and proper load choice as well as a few DIY mods make shooting them much nicer. Once properly prepared J Frame revolvers are superbly reliable defense weapons in the right hands of course. :)
The first handgun I ever fired was a 637. For the first ten rounds, I went single action and found that I was flinching and jerking the trigger. After that, I stuck with the double action pull and I did much better because I had more manual control over the firearm's trigger. If you learn to use that long-double action pull, on a good Smith you won't even notice the 'heavy' trigger pull. By the time I was done that day, I was shooting nearly as well as the person the gun owned to and had been firing it for years and had carried it concealed in the past. Of course the sights aren't as accessible to beginner shooters as an automatic or even a larger framed revolver, but if you start with a J-Frame and practice, you will learn to master it. It turns out I'm a rather intuitive revolvers shooter but i think that if people give the J-Frame a serious chance, revolvers could make a bit of a comeback when it comes to concealed carry. It's a shame that revolvers get such a bad rap for being 'low capacity'. I've always said that if you can't finish what you started with 5 rounds of .38, you need to rethink what you're doing in life. Love 1911s and S&W M&Ps, but revolvers are just smooth.
Sedan57Chevy I need to touch on the topic of DA trigger. It seems some people are afraid of the DA trig on a revolver. Its kinda interesting. I will be doing more vids on the topic of revolvers (might have one more coming into the stable soon) as its a very popular request. Most people don't do vids on revolvers or more specifically "combat revolver" so I'll do my best and try to get some guests if I can that are "experts" with revolvers. You won't find any "Combat Revolver" classes. Which is a shame. I think there are 2 major schools out there that still offer this but locally none. I know of one "expert revolver" shooter in his late 50s who conducts ccw classes and I asked him if he would do a "combat revolver" class. He said yes but the prob is he'd have only 1 person show up (me), LOL. He attempted to set up a class that would be 100% on combat revolver and no one signed up. Aw well. He carries a 325 Night Guard as a primary and has done so for the past 5yrs. He also has a 325TR (which I am interested in) set up for home defense and he shoots IDPA with his 625 JM. So as you can see he favors 45acp wheelies and is really good with all 3 of them. He is also a huge 1911 fan and carries a 340M&P as a back up or as a primary at times. Anyway thanks for the comment!
I look forward to your future videos! It's incredibly refreshing to see someone taking revolvers seriously as a viable defensive option. So many 'gun' people just ignore them and I really want to say thank you for providing a good source of information to the public.
As far as I know you can send a gun to the s&w performance center , ruger also has a specialty shops and both do fantastic work. There are also many great gunsmith that can do the job. But either way you can get a quote for the work you want to have done and get in line with the rest of us. Remember it is not for everyone and it will be done over a period of time so don't worry or rush them.
I have recently purchased a Taurus 605 357 magnum. I’m up for a challenge. I’m a new shooter and this is my second hand gun. So long as I practice and train I think I’ll be alright. Great video though I’ve learned a lot.
I love shooting j frames, i have 637, 442, old 36 love shooting them. Great video 👍
Over complication... My wife picked up her 642 and at 25 feet put all 5 rounds on the paper first time and every time since. It is nit a target/group gun. It is what it is and is good at what it is.
Hey Ol1911 great video!! That 340pd looks mean! I've been looking at the S&W M&P340 again.. I recently sold my LCR .357 magnum to a family member that really wanted a Ruger LCR. So I have been looking to replace it with another LCR .357 or a .357 magnum S&W J-frame. - Young Beretta
***** Hey YoungBer - send me a msg, curious what you are thinking
Gave my 642 to my wife cause I got hooked on S&W's 638 that won't snag with pocket carry and still have choice to cock & shoot SA or shoot as is DA. Thanks for another good video.
Tom Nelson thanks for your comment my friend! I know you are a big fan of the j-frames!
Thanks for making the video, great job! I'm a new shooter and hear everyone say how easy J-frames are to carry, but recoil is tough. My local gun shop has 442/642 on sale for $340. So I'm thinking about getting it and spending some quality time with it.
Ruger LCR or Wilson combat spring kit. Makes using one of these so much easier.
I've carried one j-frame or another as a BUG for the better part of 20 years. They are wonderful in that role for the experienced. In my estimation, the 3-series scandium guns are great to carry, not as fun to shoot. The Centennial (internal hammer) guns are nice to carry and shoot in double action but there are times when cocking the hammer might be nice. In my humble opinion, the (original) "Bodyguard" model j-frame (sometimes referred to as "humpback" model) give the best of both worlds: concealed carry quick draw, double action firing with the ability to cock the hammer if desired. If I could ever get S&W to listen, a 3-series model "338" 357 scandium Bodyguard would be just about perfect.
I would advise that you start with a K frame or larger Ruger. I don't think a steel J frame is too bad to learn on.
You sir are entitled to your opinion . ....... mine is this ... the J frame is a 20 foot gun .. it's only use is Close Quarters combat . .. It not a target gun . If you can put all 5 in a paper plate at 20 ft or less , that's all you need or can expect ........... as far as it being loud or uncomfortable I can see your point .. but it's better than being dead .
I have a S&W 642 and a 442 I have been going to the range twice a month shooting 20 rounds each in both guns.10 rtounds each with 38-P.I have arthiritis in my hands that is all i can do at the range.My friend wants me to do some single hand shooting next time we go.but i still need plenty of practice with these revolvers.Thanks I gave you a shout-out the other day.
thatspapsknife63 that's great! Wow, thanks for the shout! I'll chk it out! Very kind of you sir.
my mother and grandmother seemed to shoot these small revolvers very well, however they were aluminum framed 642's and LCR's. They still had potent rounds, just not the extreme and hot rounds. I definitely see where you're coming from with a scandium frame and very hot loads of .357 magnum.
I carry a 340PD as my EDC, but I’ve been carrying & shooting these small guns for almost 50 years and practice w/it often. I was a cop for 30 years and used my issued Colt Detective Special, about the same size as the J frame, in a gunfight w/armed robbers in ‘74. I’m still around, one of them died of his wounds the next day, one was arrested at the scene and the third guy was arrested the next day @ a hospital ER seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. These little guns work fine but you have to put work in at the range on a regular basis.
excellent amount of information, thank you so much man, I came here because I bought me a 637-2 S&W .38 SPL +P j-frame and over this weekend , I was disappointed. at 7 yards or so, I could not hit a spray paint can in single or double action. I pulled out my glock 19 and first shot I hit the can.
I am thinking it might be the rounds I bought, but I blame my wallet for convincing me to buy the cheaper Monarch SP SJHP .38 Special 158-Grain rounds. I will buy better ammo and give it another 100 rounds or so before I decide what I will do with the j-frame
Much more practice to come
+Louis Mendez (bigdlb12) I don't think it's the ammo. A little practice will take care of it.
S&W makes a J frame in .22WMR-351PD. The 22mag penetrates!! It's seven shot too.
I shot a 642 with the stock wooden grips and injured my hand. It took a whole month to heal. I have since replaced the grips with Hogue Tamer grips. Problem solved! Now that little J frame has become a "shooter"!
Actually the J-Frame Smith is an excellent carry weapon for everyday use I would also suggest the model 36 or even better the model 60 in Stainless, the one inherent issue with the J-Frame is trigger pull which can be easily remedied with a Wilson Combat or the Mcarbo J-Frame Spring Kits and a little polishing and the trigger pull will be reduced by about 3 to 4 pounds and smooth, as far as defensive ammo Federal Hydra Shoks in +P is extremely effective and since most encounters are 7 to 10 feet there should be no issue, a pair of combat grips and it will impress you.
Still relevant today especially with so many new gun owners....good advice on this not being a beginners gun and the lighter weight ones like airweights and scandium being even more so a weapon for someone who already understands and shoots the J frame or other snub nose well. The stainless ones like the 649 or even a model 60 might be better for someone newer with the added weight helping the recoil if carrying the added weight still fits the purpose. Good discussion on ammo and with so many new plain .38 special loads today they can be effective for simple self defense and keeping within the usual envelope of use for defense with a snubbie of 3-7 or 10 yards. Thanks OL1911.....are you still carrying you 1911s nowadays?
regret getting rid of my 638. had the trade bug at the time
My 442 is my most carried weapon system. It's soooo convenient. Carried in my pocket but when hiking or bumming around the woods--my sp 101 357 snub rides on the hip
Patrick Lynch nothing beats a j-frame - just pocket it and you're off. Very convenient!
I’ve been shooting and carrying j frames (60, 640, 638, & 642). And I do consider shooing one FUN. I love light weight snobbiest. Bob the hammer on your 637. Use mostly standard velocity 158 grain lead.
Yeah, I would probably start out with a Smith model 66 or something, some kind of K frame.
agreed j frames are definitely not a beginners gun. I sold my first 340 then on reflection I got a another and really wouldn't mind another one.
What small revolver actually fits in a regular front Jean pocket? Iv tried a few and grips on lcr they stick out of pocket......my dad tells me to get airweight, wood grips,aluminum spacers on front of grips .? Any opinions????
Any of the non-exposed or shrouded hammer J-frames with 1.875" to 2.125" barrels are essentially the same size and can be pocket carried with a pocket holster. (Stick w/non-exposed hammer versions and just get good with double action tho') Arguably an alloy frame version (Alluminum or $candium) would ride appreciably lighter. Those old sCOOL grips your father is describing are (look) neat (with a "Tyler T-grip" insert added), but I'd suspect there's more of a nostalgic pull going into that recommendation. Modern/New J frames rubber grip *small* versions are actually just fine. But what's commonly called boot grips, like the VZ/G-10 Bantams (my settled on choice after *much* trial and error), or the Altamont Bateleur slicks are FAR better fitting/filling in the hand and imparting of good shooting grasp while still being small enough for pockets. The Houge rubber Bantam one piece "pinch on" is the same cut/style but is a smidge smaller still and is very grippy and would be a good pocket choice, and it only costs about $22 (It's probably a little _too_ grippy/sticky to be utilzed inside the waistband though). The G-10 material grips can be sanded/shaped readily and finishing the modification with very fine grit paper restores the finish to a factory like appearance easily - That's harder to do with wood (I always sand off/thin out much of the high reaching part of the left sided grip so as to give more clearance for a speed loader, and a "shelf" for the right thumb to press on, regardless of what type of grip is on them). For concealability AIWB carry in a good kydex holster with a torque claw (Dara, Philster City Slicker, etc-etc) and your J-frame is beyond concealed, it's more like -disappeared- . Also a 5 round speed strip for a spare reload fits/hides perfectly in Blue Jeans little watch pockets (or obviously in regular pockets as well). Shoot safe!
@@ED-2.0.9. thanks @ed. I ended up getting 2 Jay frame Smith's. A trade in model 37 and a 60 . I did get the g-10 grips for both. I like the airweight in my pocket. The 60 iwb.
Kind of want a hammerless model now but live and learn.
@@tomr3074 Outstanding! And yep, that's an all too familiar road. We'd settled on a tritium 360PD (w/Houge Bantam Rubber pinch on grip) for my my wife's CCW early on (after fussing with a few different automatics that she always found too heavy and kept "forgetting" to carry) and she soon saw the light and began agitating me into the Revlover [sic] fold (I was a piddle footing around with .32acp's and .380's at the time - "Bond, _James_ Bond", haha). I started with a Model 60 myself, +action job and tritium install, went thru a half do$en plus different grips and got fed up with the hammer spur snag-o-matic (pocket/shirt tail/opposite arms wrist cuff - crazy) *AND* with it chewing holes in *ALL* my clothing (IWB). That led me to the S&W 49's/649's (IWB & still primary CCW now) and 38's/638's for pocket carry. THAT said (and for the benefit of any reader that stumbles upon this thread), years into it now, and after even more trial and error; *_Anyone_* contemplating getting into Wheelgun CCW carry, especially for IWB and/or pocket carry, the exposed hammers snag/chew up _everything_ and the "shrouded" hammer variants also have a deep recessed area that is a "belly button lint magnet" which will in turn see a lot migrating into the internal actions. Please Note/Consider: Virtually any and almost all conceivable defensive actions are going to see the wielder producing and using their firearm in double action mode, so take it from someone who has wasted a whole lot of time and a whole lot'a more money, for all the above reasons, *start* with wholly enclosed hammer variants ala S&W 640/642/442, Kimber K6, Ruger LCR's (likely the smartest bet now tbh, with their amazing triggers - and that's from a S&W aficionado), or the new .38 Spl Bodyguard, or even/possibly some 2" Chiappa's. Personally I have long regretted not having just simply short-circuited the whole _painful_ learning evolution and not having initially gone with a S&W 640Pro or the like, and I now catch myself frequently/wistfully surfing Gunbr*ker . c*m for the likes of S&W 342's, Model 40 Centennial's, and 640Pro's. Also just *start* with VZ/G-10 grips and don't look back. (That, and Sarariland Comp Series speedloaders). Cats meow. Y'all stay/shoot safe!
Love the S&W 38
How do the J frames compare to the LCR .357? Are they lighter in weight than LCR. 357 or do they have a nice trigger pull feel like the LCR has?
66-2 2.5 OWB Garrett industries STX w snaps. Had 642airweight shrowe'd hammer (638?) anyhow shocked me ...sold it .FF 8 yrs. good w SS kframe ,confident enough to go back to j.more than likely feed off your experience & copy you .w OWB maybe badgers .GARRETT slim IWB w ulti clip.wish that company with the "flex" (soft airy comfortable IWB ,or,other one w 3/4 trigger wrap retention + airflow & soft. Details.will figure them out & gooo slooow.thx for ammo information.too much to try it all. L8r.PS..360 discreetly a lot.
I practice with .357 mag and carry.38 +P.
nice video . as always . used to carry taurus model 85 stainless .awesome gun .
angelo grillasca very nice! thanks
Great video. A lot of good info for someone planning to get a small-frame revolver (like me). I'd already decided on carrying +P rather than .357 for the reasons you described. Are you still planning on carrying the pugnose (since it has an exposed hammer) or are you going to get another shrouded hammer model?
Andrew Hopkins yeah I'm going to carry the pug nose for sure. The exposed hammer is not an issue when its on my hip, but for pocket it has proved challenging for me.
Happy new year pal. I have owned and carried my 642 J frame daily for just under a year now and I love it. I have improved my shooting greatly with it as well and put roughly about 1000 rounds through it. Took me a while to get used to but at 10 yards can now get a pretty good group with it. I actually myself just switched ammo, I too now have the Speer 135 gr+p short barrel. That's the best as it gets for a snub nose. Did you say that your gun here is an allow frame with a titanium cylinder? Not sure how much lighter it truly is but even tho a j frame is challenging to shoot, if I was a dealer and somebody wanted a handgun strictly for defensive purposes only and wasn't gonna shoot much then a small revolver is what I would recommend for them. Reason being is that revolvers unlike auto's really don't require a substantial break in, for the gun as well as the magazines. Just my take. I carry my j frame everyday as a backup weapon via pocket carry along with my Springfield xd 9 subcompact.
aran125 thanks for sharing my friend and glad its working out! Yeah the one I display here is about 11oz or so. Very light weight. Not for everyone. I'll have more vids about that later if I acquire it. True, wheelies really do not need much of a break in. Good stuff! 1 is none - 2 is 1!
If you think about a small revolver doesn't need any break in. While they are tough to shoot, the real reason they are made is for up and close defensive purposes, not a duty gun or a target pistol. I'm saying for the old man that owns a liquor store and he got robber and now wants a gun but doesn't plan on shooting much. Perhaps he's not a gun person at all. A j frame is what I would recommend to him. I'm basing this exactly on what a dealer told an older guy who came into a shop. He basically asked him. Are you going to take the gun to the range and shoot it? Or is this just a gun you want for your nightstand or to have with you in the store. ? He said if you aren't gonna shoot it at the range get a revolver. Any auto loader that hasn't had at least 500-1000 rounds through it is considered "new" and them being mechanical devices they are subject to failure. A wheel gun will 99.9% of the time ALWAYS go bang when you need it to and an inexperienced firearm handler won't freak out should they get a type 1, or type 2 malfunction. Just keep pulling the trigger. You can have a j frame loaded with the same ammo for 25 years and I guarantee you you can pull it out and fire it one day and it will go bang. My dad has one and I'm gonna try that soon hopefully. Revolvers are great firearms for people who don't wish to spend a lot of money and want a gun simply for protection, and nothing else.
Random thoughts: Trigger pull on S&W J frames out of the box is terrible. Consider having an Apex Trigger Kit installed by a professional. Replace wood grips with Hogue rubber grips. Do not use +P rated ammo to break in the gun or try to shoot hundreds of round at the range. Use Winchester white box ammo to get used to the gun. For a defensive round Remington Ultimate Defense Compact Handgun Ammunition 38 Special +P 125 Grain Brass Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20. Practice Practice Practice and clean your gun regularly...
Is this FortuneCookie45LC from the hot lead zone?
I love my Smith and Wesson 360! It's not the PD, just 360.
After all this time since you posted this, the video is still entirely useful for people considering the mighty J-Frame. While tough to master and only holding five rounds, the J-Frame makes an excellent pocket pistol for CCW if you are willing to put the time in to become proficient with it. Action jobs don't hurt either, provided the main spring is not so reduced as to cause light primer strikes on defense ammunition.
I'm a fat guy and my clothes usually don't dit right to begin with, so concealing in my wasteband isn't realistic, and semi auto project like crazy in a pocket so I'm looking to get a j fame in .357
would you recommend the 442 or the 642? I've heard of finish problems on both. maybe this has been addressed by smith by now ?
+Jim I like the 442 for its looks...but yes I've heard both have "weak" finish if you carry it religiously...
+TheOl1911 thank you for the response. I'm not one to cry about finish wear but it is nice to get something durable for the money
I've been looking at the "gunsmoke" edition seems like a good deal what are your thoughts about it?
PS good video!
amacro11 ehhhhhh - it think its more marketing than anything else? Its a nice j-frame and it has a little extra but I don't think its something I'd go out of my way to get? I mean if I was a fan of the show Gunsmoke or there was something that really striked my fancy with it I'd pay the extra for it, otherwise I'd stick to the standards.
I purchased one of those back in 2014 and replaced the grips with some cheap rosewood/rubber hybrid grips, as I carry in a holster and would rather benefit from the comfort and secure hold versus the hard plastic. However, the original grips were very much functional as a less cumbersome method of carry. The gun is attractive yet not too flashy, and the trigger pull is so smooth. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a "special" .38, though it's up to you if it's worth the extra money. With a different set of grips it really does look unique.
With practice snubbies are fine handguns. Competence is mandatory for anyone carrying any handgun in my opinion
Great informational video bro. I've never owned a J frame, but now I know! :) Good stuff man, love your vids.
UrbanArmed thanks for the kind words my friend!!! i appreciate that!
I never understood why you left revolvers and went for semi autos. Would you still have and use the M&P 340 if it wasn't for the cylinder issue? I am soon getting a J frame but am still unsure on getting an M&P 340 over a 442. I'm simply not sure if it;'s worth it since you once had the M&P 340 and got a 442 later on. Thanks in advance!
F8H Yes, the 340 M&P is a fine j-frame. I bought that used so who knows what the previous owner(s) did to it. I did put a ton of .357mag through that j-frame so... If funds allow I would get the 340M&P over the 442. But I'd probably still only shoot 38spl+p through it. Even the 357mag short barrel 135gr is snappy in a j-frame but not as violent as a standard 125gr mag. The one I show here in the vid is the 340PD and I will probably acquire it at some point.
***** Thanks for the reply! I do plan on shooting only 38 and 38 +P through it anyways and I like the M&P better than the PD because of the sights and because I am not limited to what grains I can shoot. Why not get another 340?
You should make a video on what exactly made you go back to semis. I myself am about to go into the conversion of semis to revolvers. :) Keep it up with the great videos!
F8H at this time I am carrying a 327 Pug Nose so I have transitioned back to the revolver for carry. I'll think it over as that is a good topic.
Great video and lots of good comments here.
I disagree they are very fun to shoot especially with 38 special
Good review.....thanks for some realistic info re shooting one of these bad boys.
Lawrence Wald no prob - I hate it when I see someone get one of these and then they shoot it for the first time and trade it in the next day or so and lose all that money - if they had some knowledge maybe they wouldn't have bought one in the first place or would stick to it....
I really want to buy a Smith 360pd.
Good info, Thanks for sharing.Just subbed btw...looks like you have some great content.
CWB1863 thanks!!!!
S&W airweight 642 & Ruger LCR in .38spl get high marks in my book. The end.
Great video on the subject.
caddilacjim thanks as always my friend
On my first time at the range shot 100 shots and no problem
I think the shrouded hammers are ugly. I carry mine a lot. I just put my thumb over the hammer when I pull it out.
There are some good non +p ammo out there.
I dig the 637. I've shot it through my pocket a few times (on purpose) I'm a fan
thoughts on a model 60 pro series?
i disagree on it being a bad 1st jframe. I had a 360pd as my 1st. I never should have sold it but i needed the money and it was not my primary. Shooting 38 in it is not much of a problem. My brothers 90lb girl friend had no problem shooting it and hitting a soup can at 10feet with every shot. Shooting 357 is another matter. I can do 20rounds and my arm will hurt for a week but if you ever need to use it you will not feel the recoil. I say practice with 38 and carry 357. You also should not shoot under a 120g bullet. it says so right on the barrel. I currently have a 1970 Model 37. The 1st aluminum J frame. Do not fire +p in a 37. it will crack.
J Cunningham Hi there, what is the reason for not shooting a round under 120g?
my hand took a beating today i put almost 200 rounds through my old model 60 i have blisters to show lol
Don't be a wussy mkay, buy a j frame mkay.
Shooting my S&W 442 j frame never feels like work at the range. Even the defensive 38 special +p isn’t that bad
Shooting my 340 today. Once a month i shoot half a box . I carry my air weights 98% of time . pocket or appendix. I haven't found a belt carry holster that I care for.
For a wad cutter to jump the crimp far enough to jam up the cylinder would be just about impossible!
I don’t like those Smith airlight frames, I’m old school so I went with the model 36 and 640 Pro. I appendix carry so these work best for me.
If this J-frame is not "fun", what revolver would you recommend that is "fun"?
+jsprite123 steel frames
***** cant go wrong on those rugers. I find my j frame (637 performance center) enjoyable to shoot.
a nice fun gun
All you will ever need in this lifetime
Awesome
I love the j frame. Always come back to the 642/442. But it is absolute horse shit that to upgrade to a j frame with replaceable sights, you have to spend over 2X the 642/442 price. In this aspect, ruger is the way
90% of people carrying firearms should be carrying a revolver if you’re not gonna train every week you should be carrying a revolver Do you agree or disagree
highly subjective review
Shooting a j frame is awesome and not hard at all. I agree to each their own and that it’s definitely not for beginners. Good video otherwise.
is rock island m206 a j frame?
I dont know why noone answered you yet.. its a bit bigger than most J frames.
Your full of crap I have a J frame I have shot for years
Get your 637 hammer bobbed.
fire1777 I guess I could... gunsmith locally could do it...