What is a good .38?

Ankle carry sucks !

When you hear "Hands up !" your gun is as far away from your hand as possible. This doesn't make for a very fast draw.....

.

Pocket carry is a better way to go. My preference is a Mod. 10 with a bobbed hammer. This model has a capacity of six, instead of five.

Taurus makes a Model 85 with a concealed hammer in Titanium (13.5 oz) that might interest you. Product number is 85CHULT.

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=316&category=Revolver

I like mine... It's really light and goes boom everytime I pull the trigger. Recoil is not bad either.

Cancelled

Here's my favorite. It doesn't hang on clothes and gives the ability to cock the hammer for single action fire.

A "J" frame 38 special rated for +P with a 2" or 3" barrel, S&W, of course.

Welcome Phillyglock!

What is a good .38?

Click to expand...

IMHO - For daily carry you just can't beat a lightweight j-frame in the front pocket. Search for the 642 Club here on this forum for a ton of info.

rd

No frame holes, please. 642 is a nice gun, though, and affordable. I have a Taurus 85 Ultra Lite that I really like and the lock is where at least it doesn't bother me. Pocket 9s make more sense for carry, though, IMHO. More compact, more powerful, more firepower, easier to carry a reload. I do carry the revolver now and then, though, for certain reasons and just when I'm in a mood.

My dad has has problems with his airweight 642 - the black one with the lightweight alloy cylinder and barrel. Didn't work out of the box. I have the 638 and it's pretty flawless.

I agree. You can't beat a J frame Smith. IMO the only thing that ever came close were the D frame Colts. Too bad they don't make them anymore... Anyway at least the Smith J framess are still readily availiable and cheap.

I carry my Smith M36 everyday.



If you can find one in good condition, a Colt D frame (Cobra/DS/Agent) isn't a bad choice either.

My 1972 Cobra which I gave this to my dad for Christmas.


My 1959 Cobra. Just the occasional range gun/historical keeper.


Will

I agree it is hard to beat a J-frame in your front pocket. Just sent my Crimson Trace grips from my 442 in for service and had to go back to my CDP and I sure miss my little buddy.

I also carry a couple of Glocks and have added a couple of J Frames to the mix.

Try a S&W 637. Light, but not too light. Great fun to shoot.

The best .38 . . .

. . . is one that shoots 357 mag

Give yourself a choice. We're talking about a fraction of an inch on cylinder length. Model 60 S&W, Taurus 617 (7 rounder) . . . The Taurus comes in Total Titanium which weighs in at ~19.5 oz. Wanna carry .38 +P . . . carry .38 +P . . . wanna carry 357 mag . . . do so. Buy a gun that shoots just 38 Special . . . come on? Concealed Carry is a practical duty, 38s are a romantic notion . . . love'm . . . but you're looking for performance here. Options and design!

Pocket 9s make more sense for carry, though, IMHO. More compact, more powerful, more firepower, easier to carry a reload.

Click to expand...

I've carried my Kimber Ultra CDP before, but I'm a mean A$$#0le that's fired prolly 100,000+ rounds downrange. There are concerns in carrying semi-autos . . . get spooked and limp-wrist it, hangup . . . no second shot . . . get hit yourself, now spooked even more and limp-wrist it . . . no second shot and no easy way to clear the malfunction . . . or hell, the round just hangs up for no apparent reason. Semis only have more firepower if they load bring to battery subsequent rounds. DA Revolvers are pretty much going to fire when you pull the trigger, at least 5 times. The revolver may be old tech, but IMHO, revolvers are still a little more reliable for PD carry . . . and lighter in general. I realize that scenarios can be laid out for revolver malfuntion, too. It's just something to consider.

I carry a Ruger SP101 in .357 mag on my ankle and its only slightly larger than a S&W J-frame. Its backup for a strong side Glock G22.

The S&W 642 is great, I have one. Also, if recoil is an issue, try the SP101 .38, being heavier.

I really do like my S&W J frames. I carry at least one daily...

M642 .38 Special wearing Badger Boot Grips in Rosewood:


M640 .357 Magnum wearing Badger Combat Grips in Rosewood:


A 1975 M38 wearing stock Dymondwood Checkered Service grips:


M638 wearing Eagle Secret Service Grips:

Korbin,

Your Dad's 642 really had problems if it was black with a lite weight alloy cylinder and barrel. The 642 is actually silver with a SS barrel and cylinder. The 442 is a black alloy frame version of the 642 with both a CS barrel and cylinder. What 'didn't work' out of the box?

The 642 & 442, IMHO, make great pocketable carry defenders. I feel the safest practice for any CCW is to fire DA-only, so a cocking hammer has no value to me. Plus, it's one more way for lint to enter your CCW - or something else, in the case of a fully exposed hammer, to catch on your clothing. Holster guns - no problem with a hammer, shrouded or not. YMMV.

Stainz