2" or 3" J-frame? For CCW

[Peakbagger46]

I plan on getting another CCW piece for warm weather and I don't need to carry it in the pocket or ankle rig. Would a 3" J-frame make sense for belt carry, or should I get a 2"? Either way, its going to be an all-steel .357.

 

[Otis311]

I like 2" model 60's myself.

 

[savit260]

If you are going to "belt carry", I'd seriously look into a K frame . The difference in size makes A LOT of difference in a pocket, but hardly any on a belt. Plus you have the advantage of a MUCH better trigger, and an extra round.

If you MUST go with a J frame, I'd go with the 3" for belt carry.

 

[wnycollector]

One of the sweetest CCW's that I have run across is a 3" model 37 airweight. A buddy of mine picked a nickel 3" model 37 a few months ago. It is wonderfully light and shoots like a dream, plus the slight bump in velocity is an added benefit.

IMOO if you are going to carry IWB, get the 3" version.

 

[ArmedBear]

I don't believe that S&W makes a 2" J-frame.

I have a 1 7/8" and a 2 1/8".

I also like the 2 1/8" Model 60.

But the answer depends on what you mean by belt carry, how tall you are, and what you like.

 

[S&Wfan]

For belt carry AND in .357, I'd go for a S&W Model 65 with a 3" barrel. The extra weight of the stainless steel frame will not be noticed much on the belt and a hard-kicking .357 round will handle much better . . . and thus give you much better followup accuracy AND faster 2nd round followup times too.



BTW, using the K frame to answer the 2 vs. 3" debate, I much prefer my 3" M65 over my 2 1/2" Model 19. Much easier to hit with . . . as a matter of fact, it will punch one hole groups all day long at ten yards.


I ALWAYS have an M37 snubbie in my pocket no matter what I carry otherwise. It is almost like not having a gun on ya at all . . . except it is ALWAYS there when nothing else is possible or practical!

IF I belt carry a J frame, it is a steel framed, 1964 Model 36. I'm perfectly happy and content carrying my J frames with .38 Special ammo. Two J-frames mean you still have a working gun if something happens to your other gun . . . not a bad combination at all . . . called the "New York Reload!"

BTW, the 3" J-frame Airweight is a great gun too. My wife loves hers and the 3" barrel makes it so easy to shoot well.

 

[JShirley]

I have a 2" (well, okay, 1 7/8" or whatever) J frame for pocket carry, and a 3" K frame for belt carry.

Works for me. Like others have said, the ounces mean a lot more in the pocket than on a belt.

John

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If you are going to "belt carry", I'd seriously look into a K frame . The difference in size makes A LOT of difference in a pocket, but hardly any on a belt. Plus you have the advantage of a MUCH better trigger, and an extra round.

If you MUST go with a J frame, I'd go with the 3" for belt carry.

Agreed.

I don't believe that S&W makes a 2" J-frame.

I have a 1 7/8" and a 2 1/8".

I also like the 2 1/8" Model 60.

Nitpicking.

 

[Marshall]

I carry this Model 60 the following ways, on my belt. It's a 2 1/8".

The 3" version has adjustable sights which would be a drawback, at least to me. I would like to have the newer Model 60 Pro though, cool gun!

 

[thunder173]

I have a pre-lock 3" 36 Chief ,...blued,..all steel,...shoots great,...I often carry IWB,..aometimes just stuff it in my back pocket or jacket. Not as handy as the 2" I'd say,..but I like the extra inch of barrel for the accuracy and sight plane. It's one that won't go away until I do....have carried it since 85ish. IWB/OWB on the belt,..absolute delight to carry.

 

[BossHogg]

If you aren't going to use it for the pocket carry, by all means go with the 3 inch. They are the sweetest shooting of all CCW guns around.The 3 inch model 60 is great with .357 being all steel.

 

[StrawHat]

At one point I had both a 2" and a 3" M36. I still have the 3". As much as I liked the 2", the 3", for me, was the better choice. Carried in a Pancake holster.

 

[JellyJar]

I have never owned a 3" j frame but I understand that one of the benefits of the longer barrel is full length extraction instead of the not quite extraction of the shorter barrels.

 

[sheepdog]

I just swapped my 3" M65 .357...

...for another KP90DC...and turned around and traded into a 3" Ruger GP100...also .357 but I shoot it better than any other revolver I've had.....
...I'd recommend if you're going .357, to get a Ruger SP101---in 3"...the extra barrel length will get you more performance, and the extra weight will get you more control and comfort with .357 loads...it's a 5-shot instead of 6 with a slighly smaller frame than the K....awesome revolver...I'd recommend against a Smith J frame for .357...too light to be comfortable to practice with...and I carry a 2"(it's MY gun, and MY gun can have a 2" barrel instead of an 1 7/8" if I want it to) in .38...I use the FBI load and get about as much performance out of the 2" as can be had...the .357'll beat you up a bit in the J frame size....you won't wear out the SP101 in your lifetime...the lighter Smiths...I'd pass on...

 

[Phydeaux642]

Make mine a 2" snubbie. J-frames just don't look right to me with longer barrels. Now, a 3" barrel on a K-frame (model 13), that's a different story.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Thanks for all the imput. To clarify, I have a 340 M&P, but I want to reserve that for my on-duty BUG and put the crimson trace grips (J-frame) I already own on the new gun. My agency won't allow me to use the laser on-duty, and I REALLY like the laser.

Now you guys really have me leaning toward the 3". I'm not sure I like the idea of the K-frame because I like the very compact short grips I can put on the J-frame to avoid printing under a t-shirt (I also have no problem shooting well with short stocks).

BTW, how much velocity gain is there with that extra 1" with .357 loads? Before someone says .357 loads are too much for a J-frame, I have no problems shooting them well out of my scandium gun (OK, they do "sting" a bit).

 

[wnycollector]

IMOO I would stick with .38 for the J frame. If you already have a scandium gun and a nickname like Peakbagger46...every oz counts in your world A 2" model 37 weighs 12.5oz, so a 3" should be somewhere ~14.5 oz...in a nice IWB holster it wouldn't feel like you were carrying a revolver on your hip Here is a link to one for sale on GB http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=149119957

 

[StrawHat]

Peakbagger46

Thanks for all the imput. To clarify, I have a 340 M&P, but I want to reserve that for my on-duty BUG and put the crimson trace grips (J-frame) I already own on the new gun. My agency won't allow me to use the laser on-duty, and I REALLY like the laser.

I share the Dept view of laser grips and sights (a gimmic) but if they work for you, don't let the feelings of an old man bother you.

Peakbagger46

Now you guys really have me leaning toward the 3". I'm not sure I like the idea of the K-frame because I like the very compact short grips I can put on the J-frame to avoid printing under a t-shirt (I also have no problem shooting well with short stocks).

There are boot grips available for all sizes of grip frames. I made them for my K, L and N frame S&W. There is a lot of excess wood on the stock grips, just take off what you don't need.

Peakbagger46

BTW, how much velocity gain is there with that extra 1" with .357 loads? Before someone says .357 loads are too much for a J-frame, I have no problems shooting them well out of my scandium gun (OK, they do "sting" a bit).

Out of my ken, someone else may have that information.

 

[johnnylaw53]

As I have stated before I reallly like the J frame 2" (1 7/8) like you peakbagger I don't like carrying on the ankle or in the pockect. But the shorter tube give me that option and I have done it from time to time when nothing eles would work for me. Over the last 30 years I have gotten rid of snubs and then went back to them for the one reason that it is the weapon you can have with you all the time. If I was never going to carry it except on the belt then I think a 3" would be the way to go. while I understand that a lot of people like the 3" K frame I think the weight and over all size would make me wonder why not a auto which give you more rounds.

be safe

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I own a S&W M640 in .357 Magnum which is all Steel and has a 2 1/8" barrel. It's a little heavy for pocket carry but will work well on the belt like you intend to carry it. (that's the Centennial frame) Any of the 2" to 3" J frame revolvers would be fine IMO. If you can shoot well with a 2" barrel that would be my choice.

 

[Warrior108]

I've got a 442 J Frame for pocket carry and when I want something lighter. No longer have my 342 Airlight Ti because it was too light for practicing with regard to recoil (just my opinion). If I'm going to belt carry (weight not being a factor) and want more power and the option to go 38 or 357, the 2" SP101 is as durable as a tank. I also agree with the others' comments to consider a K frame if you want the extra round and smoother action.

 

[bhk]

I have both 2 and 3 inch j-frames for carry. The 3 inch gun is perfect for belt carry. Mine is a Model 60 with a full-lugged barrel and adjustable sights. The one inch extra barrel length and full-lugged barrel making shooting mild .357 loads (like the 135 grain Gold Dots or Remington Golden Sabers) very doable. The gun shoots much more accurately than my 2 inch gun and has become a favorite field carry piece.

BTW, I also have K-frames. I have found the 3" full-lugged barrel, adjustable sighted model 60 fitted with close-backed hand filling grips to be much closer in accuracy and power to the 4" K-frame than it is to a 2" fixed sighted j-frame. And it is much lighter. The K-frames usually stay at home.

 

[NMGonzo]

3 inch would be better, at least in my own mind.

I don't want to be shot with my 2 1/2 snubby anyhow.

 

[fastbolt]

One of the guns I most regret trading away many years ago was a M36 nickel 3" Heavy Barrel. That little wheelgun handled and shot very well indeed.

If you've never had the opportunity to shoot a 3" J-frame it's worth trying to do so. That little bit of extra weight and sight radius seems to be a benefit for some folks. I found I could shoot it just about as well as I did my issued 686 M66 4" (and then later a 686 4"). Handy little gun.

I have a number of 2" J-frames today (okay, 1.87" or 1 7/8", whichever way you want to list it ), so I have enough for pocket-holster carry, but I wouldn't mind picking up another pinned barrel 3" gun like that one I used to own.

I was actually looking for a Ruger SP101 3" (really 3.06", if anyone is fussy ) when I had to settle for the 2.25" model many years ago. I wanted the 3" model for much the same reasons as I enjoyed the 3" M36. Balance, sight radius and a bit more muzzle velocity (to maximize potential for the Magnum load in the little gun). I thought it would make a dandy little field gun for those times when I didn't feel like wearing my Service-Six heavy barrel on my belt. I still wouldn't mind getting a 3" Ruger someday, either, but it's no longer quite as interesting to me as it was back then.

 

[Guillermo]

+1 that the K frame is better for belt carry

+1 that the K frame is difficult for pocket carry

+1 that the K frame's xtra weight is a non factor for belt carry

+1 that the 3inch barrel is superior for a belt carried gun