Heavy barrel J frame?

[WestKentucky]

Coworker and I were talking revolvers and how some shooters like the feel of a J frame but that the light weight makes them prone to heavy and unpleasant recoil. Have there been heavy barreled guns made for the purpose of mitigating recoil? Target grade guns even perhaps? Yes I realize that it detracts from the main purpose of most J frames as being lightweight defensive guns, but it seems an interesting proposition. As much as I love my heavy barreled K frame, it seems that I would love a similarly built J frame even more since I prefer the J frame grips. Aside from a couple one-off customs, are there any guns fitting the basic description? Small frame (J Smith, PP Colt, Charter, Small frame Taurus) etc but made to be shot a lot, accurately, and with enough weight to mitigate recoil of something like 38spl?

 

[Speedo66]

I used to carry a J frame model 36 with a 3" barrel that seemed heavier. Still fit nicely in a 2" open bottom holster, thought it was a great gun.

It was a stock cataloged item, not a custom.

 

[Jim Watson]

There are Model 60s with 3" full lug barrels that will be more comfortable.

 

[velocette]

My J frame carry pistol is an S&W 640, .38 spl. 1 7/8" barrel All stainless steel DA only. I use Buffalo Bore standard pressure 158 gr, soft lead (gas checked) SWC hollow point ammo.
It is fitted with Crimson Trace lasergrips. Overall, with that load the pistol is acceptable to shoot, not pleasant nor one that you'd plink away all day with it. Buffalo Bore +P .38 spl 158 gr SWC
HP rounds are painful, just like .357 maggies.
The pistol is heavy enough to be usable and not so bad to practice with - - - - You DO practice regularly with your carry guns don't you????
That 640 is also accurate enough to clang my club's 50 yard silhouette pretty darn consistently too with my reloads. (158 LSWC @ 680 fps)

 

[Charlie98]

I bought this for my mom many years ago... it was just the ticket for her smallish hands. I will say that the grips make a huge difference, the Uncle Mikes that came on it were horrible, but I switched it to some knockoff rubber grips and it made it 10x easier to shoot well.

S&W Model 60-4 in .38SPC, 3" full lug w/adjustable sights.

 

[Monac]

This thread at the S&W Forum addresses this question, with good photos for comparison of the different barrels:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...0142-mod-36-all-3-inch-guns-heavy-barrel.html

 

[BobWright]

Many years ago a friend of mine carried a Model 36 S&W with a 3" heavy barrel.

Bob Wright

 

[MAKster]

If you want to reduce recoil in a J frame buy the steel 357 version with the 2 1/8 barrel and shoot 38 specials.

 

[Rubone]

Heavy Barrel 3" model 36 with target stocks
.

 

[BobWright]

At one time I fancied I'd like to have a J-Frame .38 Special, 3" or 4" full lug barrel with adjustable sights. It just seemed to me loaded with 110 gr. JHP it would make a dandy woods gun.

Bob Wright

 

[SteadyD]

The Kimber K6 target models are j frame sized with heavy barrels.

 

[Monac]

At one time I fancied I'd like to have a J-Frame .38 Special, 3" or 4" full lug barrel with adjustable sights. It just seemed to me loaded with 110 gr. JHP it would make a dandy woods gun.
Bob Wright

Me too. In fact, I would have preferred a 4-inch with adjustable sights. It would have been 38 Special Kit Gun. But they never made it. You had to hunt around for a Rossi or an Astra Cadix if you wanted one of those, and the quality was nowhere close.

 

[WestKentucky]

Well, I may have wasted some money but I found a somewhat heavy barrel blank that should be easy enough to put onto my Charter Undercover and see how I like it. I already had the gun, got a barrel blank cheap enough to justify it, so we will just have to see how it all works out.

 

[Pat Riot]

I was going to ask if you had looked at Ruger SP101s but it looks like you may have your solution.

 

[WestKentucky]

I was going to ask if you had looked at Ruger SP101s but it looks like you may have your solution.

I have shot a few sp101 and as much as I like them, my previous experience with Ruger DA revolvers makes me not want to spend money. Burnt twice makes a man cringe. Also, the Ruger seems frame heavy. As a fun gun to shoot I want weight further forward. Seems to move around better for me. Maybe I’m crazy but balance is a big deal for me.

 

[WestKentucky]

It would have been 38 Special Kit Gun. But they never made it. You had to hunt around for a Rossi or an Astra Cadix if you wanted one of those, and the quality was nowhere close.

I hadn’t even thought about it as a 38spl kit gun but that’s exactly right. I could get down with the Rossi but I never warmed up to the Astra. Always seemed silly to me how few J frames have adjustable sights.

Either way, I will (assuming I can work my magic) have a 4” long 3/4” diameter stainless steel barrel on the Undercover. That should get me really close to where I want to be. Only thing I’m going to be missing is adjustable sights, and if I do my part right in cutting a dovetail I can drift a sight in for windage and file the sight down for elevation.

 

[Rubone]

The bottom one in this pic is a 60-15 .357 J frame with a heavy barrel, full lug, and adjustable sights. What more do you need??

 

[Sistema1927]

Too much recoil in a J-frame? Maybe this is the solution:

.32 S&W Long Model 31-1 Regulation Police

 

[WestKentucky]

Too much recoil in a J-frame? Maybe this is the solution:
View attachment 944413
.32 S&W Long Model 31-1 Regulation Police

Mine is a 30-1 with Altamont Altai grips on it. I wish I had factory grips that pretty.

 

[WestKentucky]

The bottom one in this pic is a 60-15 .357 J frame with a heavy barrel, full lug, and adjustable sights. What more do you need??View attachment 944411

A half price sale that includes that gun! It does fit the criteria of what I want, I’m just not going to pay the price tag to get a “new” gun.

 

[Sistema1927]

Mine is a 30-1 with Altamont Altai grips on it. I wish I had factory grips that pretty.

Before this one arrived I ordered a set of square Target stocks from Jaruwan.p on Ebay. However, these stocks are so nice I am keeping them, and have added a T-grip. The Thai stocks will go on another square butt J-frame once they get here.

 

[cfullgraf]

I also have a Model 60-15 with a 3" barrel. I load 158 SWC 357 Magnum to about 900-950 fps from a four inch barrel and they are pleasant to shoot in the Model 60-15. I would not care to shoot full power 357 Magnum loads in this revolver.

Too much recoil in a J-frame? Maybe this is the solution:
View attachment 944413
.32 S&W Long Model 31-1 Regulation Police

Right.

My Model 30 and Model 31 revolvers are very pleasant to shoot and produce small groups with 32 caliber wadcutter loads. I'd love to have a 32 S&WL revolver with adjustable sights. Maybe someday one will come my way.

 

[goose1]

I carry a model 60 snub. I find the all steel models better with recoil. As others mentioned going to a 3” barrel improves recoil management and velocity but sacrifices most pocket carry.

 

[Charlie98]

I would not care to shoot full power 357 Magnum loads in this revolver.

That was kind of my thought... and always thought that 60-4 in .38SPC was the way to go. I don't see the -15 in .357 being much of a 'target' pistol (given the sights...) with full-house .357's. It just seems brutal to me....

 

[cfullgraf]

That was kind of my thought... and always thought that 60-4 in .38SPC was the way to go. I don't see the -15 in .357 being much of a 'target' pistol (given the sights...) with full-house .357's. It just seems brutal to me....

than dealing with the

In a J-frame sized revolver, I'd agree that 38 Special would be more useful than dealing with the recoil of full power 357 Magnum ammunition.