sm
member
Yep.
Folks sure have.
Some choose not to post, then again a search will turn up some replies.
Firearms run from .22 caliber rim-fire and up, btw.
Is the J-Frame "enough gun"?
- Thread starter MikePGS
- Start date
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Yep.
Folks sure have.
Some choose not to post, then again a search will turn up some replies.
Firearms run from .22 caliber rim-fire and up, btw.
MassMark
Member
Yes, but didn't need to squeeze the trigger....The Colt Defender coming out of my back pocket instead of my wallet sent him scrambling for his life....Though friends say I should have "blown him away", (none of them carry by the way), I am grateful to this moment that it didn't come to it, but with the hammer back and finger on the trigger - it was ultimately his choice to make....
crebralfix
member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,356
As for MassMark's comment on range: it's right on.
These things develop quickly and you may be behind the curve. How many people walk by you within five feet everyday? This is where a combined skill set is needed. Know how to do combatives and knifing to handle the common situation.
These things develop quickly and you may be behind the curve. How many people walk by you within five feet everyday? This is where a combined skill set is needed. Know how to do combatives and knifing to handle the common situation.
Cosmoline
Member
I've owned four Model 36's, P&R'd. All shot dead on point of aim. Maybe they're not making them like they used to. If you want six shots, the Detective Special is an option. These wheelguns have put more people under earth than all the GLOCKS put together. Loaded with SWCHP's or souped up wadcutters I wouldn't hesitate to use them.
I have thankfully never had to shoot anybody, but one self defense shooting near here involved a snub nose .38. And in one recent series of scary encounters, I was extremely happy to have a wheelgun in my coat pocket ready to go.
LOL This old song again. To each his own I guess, but it still boggles my mind.
A J-frame is perfectly adequate, until it isn't. A 1911 is perfectly adequate, until it isn't. An FN FAL is perfectly adequate, until it isn't. There will always be situations for which any given weapon will be inadequate. In well-trained hands, a J will handle most short-range defensive events. I like the greater heft of the Ruger SP101, and almost never carry anything less. That is my personal minimum comfort level, and I usually carry another weapon in addition to the 24/7 SP101. I feel better if one of my weapons is something more like a 4" Speed Six or GP100, but I do not worry if my most powerful available weapon is a snubby SP101. The 4" barrel just gives me more options in one of those less-than-once-in-a-lifetime long-range events. I carry a truly excellent double-stack autoloading duty pistol at work, but prefer a sixgun/fivegun on my own time; revolvers are neither antiquated nor obsolete!
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[email protected]
Member
Of course the J-frame is enough...
...except for when its not.
The sooner you understand the logic behind that statement, the sooner you'll understand the problem.
DanO
...except for when its not.
The sooner you understand the logic behind that statement, the sooner you'll understand the problem.
DanO
arctictom
Member
J frame is nice , a 3" barrel IMHO is about right for the 357 for ccw , and it is a handful with full boat loads.
Guns are tools some times you need a finish hammer and some times you need a sledge hammer.
I carry a 44 mag loaded with 300 grain solids alternating with 300 grain soft points, so each to his own , social work or environmental protection.
Guns are tools some times you need a finish hammer and some times you need a sledge hammer.
I carry a 44 mag loaded with 300 grain solids alternating with 300 grain soft points, so each to his own , social work or environmental protection.
samtechlan
Member
You could always carry two j frames at the same time. I believe that Massad Ayoob has said that he has done this from time to time. I am considering carrying my S & W637 as a backup to my 642 with the CT grips.
DavidVS
Member
Heh. I was about to humorously quip, "It must be a safe purchase, because if you live in such a dangerous place that it's not 'enough gun' as your only gun it would serve well as 'enough gun' for your back-up gun."
But your comment sort of beat me to that.
I'm sorry I did not read through this one but for me my S&W m-36 is very accurate at 7yrds and it point shoots very well. What you shoot in the J-frame will make all the difference. For me the J-frame is one of my favorite conceal carry guns.
but for me my S&W m-36 is very accurate at 7yrds and it point shoots very well. What you shoot in the J-frame will make all the difference. For me the J-frame is one of my favorite conceal carry guns.When I got a self-defense J-frame, I was preparing for an assailant who would be standing quite close to me. If I had in mind someone further away I might have considered pistols more. Even so, I have a laser grip on my J-frame that assists accuracy. Also, I don't have a large build and can't conceal a pistol very easily. Then too, I was heavily persuaded by the argument that others have mentioned about the revolver's reliability, less likely to jam, etc. I read a book I can't remember the title of, where a cop was killed because his pistol jammed at the wrong time. I have never been in a life-threatening situation, but as I think through it, psychologically I anticipate it is very demanding. Therefore the gun I choose to protect myself should be as simple as possible, which a revolver is, and fired as quickly as possible, which a J-frame is, as it can be fired directly through a coat pocket if needed.
As others on this thread have said, a J-frame is easily carried in a pocket and therefore, especially if it's relatively lightweight, is more likely to be carried more often. ONe good argument I heard was, "If it's too heavy you'll just leave it at home." I used to carry an all steel J-frame but am preparing to switch to the alloy airweight, even though it may hurt a bit to shoot, just because if it's light I won't leave it at home as much.
I am considering getting a pistol now ( see my questions on other forums: I don't know much about pistols) , but would not use it for concealed carry.
I also think there's an element of personal preference that's important. I think if you pick a gun you like, you'll be able to get good at it and enjoy carrying it, versus having less commitment to one you don't really like as much.
As others on this thread have said, a J-frame is easily carried in a pocket and therefore, especially if it's relatively lightweight, is more likely to be carried more often. ONe good argument I heard was, "If it's too heavy you'll just leave it at home." I used to carry an all steel J-frame but am preparing to switch to the alloy airweight, even though it may hurt a bit to shoot, just because if it's light I won't leave it at home as much.
I am considering getting a pistol now ( see my questions on other forums: I don't know much about pistols) , but would not use it for concealed carry.
I also think there's an element of personal preference that's important. I think if you pick a gun you like, you'll be able to get good at it and enjoy carrying it, versus having less commitment to one you don't really like as much.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Riverblue,
A 15 oz. J frame Airweight, even with .38 +P ammo isn't painful to shoot. It's stout but not painful. Now, a 12 oz. Aitlite firing .357 Magnum rounds may be a totally different story.
I have a S&W Model 638 and I carry that gun most of the time. Loaded with Speer 135 gr. Short Barrel .38 +P ammo makes it a good SD gun. With a little practice you will be accurate out to 50 feet or more.
A 15 oz. J frame Airweight, even with .38 +P ammo isn't painful to shoot. It's stout but not painful. Now, a 12 oz. Aitlite firing .357 Magnum rounds may be a totally different story.
I have a S&W Model 638 and I carry that gun most of the time. Loaded with Speer 135 gr. Short Barrel .38 +P ammo makes it a good SD gun. With a little practice you will be accurate out to 50 feet or more.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
YES.
It depends on what you are preparing for. Preparing for 1 badguy is one thing. Preparing for 5 gangbangers with 5 Glocks that each have 15-17 rounds is another.
I started off preparing for a 1on1. I went with a S&W 638 and carried it for about a year before I decided I wanted to prepare for more. For me it came down to reloads. I am incredibly slow at reloading the revolver and carrying a speed loader is more cumbersome than a magazine.
Preparing for more isn't a Rambo or Die Hard mentallity like some have mentioned. Are your chances good against 5 armed guys? No they are not. So why make them worse by limiting yourself to a 5 shot pocket revolver?
Autoloaders hold more rounds, have faster reloads, and have less recoil. They are just better combat firearms.
Decide what you want to prepare for and go from there. No matter what you decide I would recommend finding yourself some good training.
I started off preparing for a 1on1. I went with a S&W 638 and carried it for about a year before I decided I wanted to prepare for more. For me it came down to reloads. I am incredibly slow at reloading the revolver and carrying a speed loader is more cumbersome than a magazine.
Preparing for more isn't a Rambo or Die Hard mentallity like some have mentioned. Are your chances good against 5 armed guys? No they are not. So why make them worse by limiting yourself to a 5 shot pocket revolver?
Autoloaders hold more rounds, have faster reloads, and have less recoil. They are just better combat firearms.
Decide what you want to prepare for and go from there. No matter what you decide I would recommend finding yourself some good training.
cslinger
Member
Yes.
1-You will likely always have it with you. What is that primary rule of gunfights again?
2-If you learn to shoot a Jframe well you can learn to shoot anything well.
3-There are LOTS of ammo choices.
4-The largest thread I have ever seen is the 642 club, that says something.
I do put my money where my mouth is by the way.
1-You will likely always have it with you. What is that primary rule of gunfights again?
2-If you learn to shoot a Jframe well you can learn to shoot anything well.
3-There are LOTS of ammo choices.
4-The largest thread I have ever seen is the 642 club, that says something.
I do put my money where my mouth is by the way.
MikePGS
Member
Nice. What model is that cslinger?
AStone
Member
I'm guessing the top one is a 442.
I've thought about trading my 642 for one.
So black, so beautiful.
I've thought about trading my 642 for one.
So black, so beautiful.
Amen, and ... amen.
AStone
Member
... so then, I asked myself, "Self, given where you hang out, and your habits,
what's the probability that you're going to run up against 5 armed guys?"
And self answered, "Umm, about 0.000001."
"But", I doggedly pursued the questioning, "if you did get tangled up with 5 armed guys,
would you really be 'better off' with a faster reloading, high cap semi-auto?"
Self thought for a second, then answered:
"Naw, 'cause my last name is not Earp."
After that conversation, I still feel ok with my 642.
jad0110
Member
Nem, you sum up my thought so much more simply and eloquently than I!
AStone
Member
Gee, Jad. Thanks for the kind words.
We all have our moments, I guess.
We all have our moments, I guess.
cslinger
Member
Top gun is a 442, bottom is a 638.
PigPen
Member
There are several good responses here. And they make strong arguements. I would just like to add a couple of things.
Nothing is going to be adequate in every situation. You carry a J frame 38; they carry a K frame 357. You carry a K 357 They carry a .44; at the miami bank robbery we all saw the robbers carry AK-47s. Just going this far, being armed superiorly is more than most of us want to be burdened.
I think, for me, that a J frame .38 is fine for everyday street carry. Is a J frame 38 the baddest pistol out there? No! Do I think that BG can afford to ignore it? No! Would it intimidate me if you pointed it at me? You damn right! Would I be willing to dismiss it's presents? NO! Is it a lethal weapon? yes! Are you any deader if shot with a larger caliber? NO! Are you less likely to be armed at all if you have only a large heavy caliber? Yes! Is the probability that you will be accosted at all very high? Not in my neighborhood!
Here are the questions for the crux of the issue.
1. Are you likely to be accosted? Answer, NO; Not where I go daily.
2. If you are accosted, will it lead to armed confrontation. Answer, NO; Not where I go daily.
3. If your opponent learned that you were armed with a J frame 38, would that serve as a deterent to armed confrontation. Answer, probably so.
4. Are you carrying when this confrontation occurrs or did you leave the boat anchor at home today? answer: Well the odds are better with a lighter carry piece.
5. Are you practiced with a J frame such that you can hit what you shoot at? Answer: Well the odds seem better with a 38 special. Cheaper to practice with, more comfortable to shoot, etc.
6. Are you as heavily armed with a J frame as with a 454? No and the guy with a 454 is not as well armed as the one with the MG. You will find it impractical to try and buy a gun for all seasons and all circumstances.
Get the 38 and don't look back!
Nothing is going to be adequate in every situation. You carry a J frame 38; they carry a K frame 357. You carry a K 357 They carry a .44; at the miami bank robbery we all saw the robbers carry AK-47s. Just going this far, being armed superiorly is more than most of us want to be burdened.
I think, for me, that a J frame .38 is fine for everyday street carry. Is a J frame 38 the baddest pistol out there? No! Do I think that BG can afford to ignore it? No! Would it intimidate me if you pointed it at me? You damn right! Would I be willing to dismiss it's presents? NO! Is it a lethal weapon? yes! Are you any deader if shot with a larger caliber? NO! Are you less likely to be armed at all if you have only a large heavy caliber? Yes! Is the probability that you will be accosted at all very high? Not in my neighborhood!
Here are the questions for the crux of the issue.
1. Are you likely to be accosted? Answer, NO; Not where I go daily.
2. If you are accosted, will it lead to armed confrontation. Answer, NO; Not where I go daily.
3. If your opponent learned that you were armed with a J frame 38, would that serve as a deterent to armed confrontation. Answer, probably so.
4. Are you carrying when this confrontation occurrs or did you leave the boat anchor at home today? answer: Well the odds are better with a lighter carry piece.
5. Are you practiced with a J frame such that you can hit what you shoot at? Answer: Well the odds seem better with a 38 special. Cheaper to practice with, more comfortable to shoot, etc.
6. Are you as heavily armed with a J frame as with a 454? No and the guy with a 454 is not as well armed as the one with the MG. You will find it impractical to try and buy a gun for all seasons and all circumstances.
Get the 38 and don't look back!
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