How Many have Went from a J-Frame to a Semi for CCW Use?

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Nalapombu

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Hey all,

I have my CCW and my primary gun is a Bersa Thunder 380 and a Glock 19. Now that I am in Texas I can't carry right now cause they don't recognize the Ohio license. Now I have to get my Texas license.

I had promised myself that the next CCW handgun I got would be a J. I've wanted one for a while and what's not to love about the J Frames?

I was in Gander Mountain not long ago checking out their guns and I noticed just how many top quality small semi-autos there are to choose from for CCW use. I am not talking about the Glocks and S&W semis. There is so much more available out there.

What I have been thinking of lately is about those that for whatever reason a while back SWORE OFF semi-autos for carry and packed a J or a some other small revolver from then on and vowed to never go back to a semi and now, for whatever the reason, is now going back to the SEMI for Carry.

Does that fit you? If it does I'd like to know what made you come back to the Semi and what are you going to get to carry or are carrying now?

Even though I really like J frames and am going to get one, I will likely still carry a semi auto. Being down here close to Houston when you watch or listen to the news EVERY DAY you just can't believe what happens in the city you have chosen to live. I swear it's like a movie. You don't think it's real, but I assure you that it is. So many people murdered. In a parking lot, during a hold up, in their homes, it's everywhere. This is the only place I have lived that the phrase "WATCH YOUR BACK" really MEANS something.

For the sole reason of my environment I would feel so much more secure if I were carrying a semi auto. Not saying it's going to be my NRM Colt or my Hi Power or Glock 19, I doubt it will. I would like to get something like the SIG P938, which I think is an awesome pistol.

Anyone else out there that are going back to a semi auto?

Thanks

Nalajr
 
I never swore one way or the other, but went through a progression.

Like many new to carry, which I see you are not, I was paranoid about detection.

Started with a Kahr K-9. It was highly problematic. Switched to a Ruger SP-101 IWB.

After a while, it seemed heavy for only five rounds. Switched to a 637, then 642.

I got more comfortable with concealment, went with a Glock 19 daily for a while.

Since I've moved from a big city to a smallish town, I don't carry nearly as often (company policy prohibits me from carrying at my current job). When I do, laziness has sent me back to the 642. Now I pocket carry it, because if I'm going to go to the trouble to actually don a belt holster I'm going with the G19.
 
I don't carry just one firearm all the time. Rather I carry different guns at different times based on factors like the weather, where I'm going, etc. I will say up front that you (the OP) probably have more murders in a month than my state has in a year so no matter where I'm going my realistic threat level is probably relatively low.

I often carry a Ruger LCR; it's not a Smith J-frame but it's about the same size and has similar capabilities. Normally I feel this is plenty but I prefer to carry more gun when I can. In the cooler months I will generally carry an HK P30S, USPf9, USPc or VP9.

Lastly, when it's warmer I will often carry a Beretta Nano. While I do like revolvers the Nano is a little easier to shoot well with the 8 round mag vs the LCR and with the 6 round mag it's not as easy to shoot as the LCR but is slightly easier to conceal.

Long and short I carry either or both.
 
I have pretty much narrowed my CCW choices down to a Kahr PM9 and a S&W Model 638. Practice extensively with both and feel adequately armed with either one of them.
 
Like Phaedrus, I carry different guns based on attire and how mobile I'm gonna be, where I'm going, etc. I don't own any J frames but also rotate a Ruger LCR in .38 Special. I also carry a Beretta Px4 subcompact, G26, G42, or a Colt 1903 in rotation depending on many factors.

I have to agree that there are options galore in small semi autos *but* there is more to selecting the proper carry gun than just availability, size, ergonomic preferences, etc. A lot of these small autos kick like angry mules and are somewhat less than effective in rapid fire for me at my skill and training level. I always suggest shooting one before you lay out the cash.

But I suggest that for small frame revolvers as well....the small .38 and .357 mag revolvers are no peach either with defensive ammunition and while I really like my revolvers I find that folks of limited training have a pretty hard time hitting with them. Statistically the small snubbie revolvers are among the hardest platforms to master for beginners or folks who get less training/range time.

VooDoo
 
I've gone back and forth, but i generally find a snub nose .357 to be a fair compromise between being easily concealed and still packing a punch. I give up some rounds, but when I stoke it with 158gr, it's surprisingly accurate.

I still carry a semi from time to time, but i usually just grab the SP101 and go.
 
I carry a 1982 nickel plated S&W Model 37 rather than a small automatic. When I need more gun/higher capacity, I add my 3 inch Model 13.
 
Tried most of the small semi's and went through the glock thing. I'm back to revolvers. Colt cobra and s&w m-37. Reliability under all conditions is #1 for me and a snub nose revolver beats pocket autos in that department. My opinion.
 
IMO additional capacity is a good thing but concealability and comfort are too. I try to balance that against where I'm going and what I could run into. Carry a G19 in a vest when riding and often just the J in a pocket holster when out and about. IME, snubbies are accurate but I needed to practice a lot to get reasonably proficient. For that, recommend laser grips.

A solution is to pack two Js... But then you'd have to buy another!
 
I never swore off anything, but I prefer revolvers in general. I shoot full size revolvers better than any other guns so far.

I had a J-frame for a year. Carried it in my pocket. Shot it fine. I never really liked it much though. It was a 642 scandium framed Airweight. The grip was way too small for me. However, I didn't want to put a bigger grip on it because that would defet the purpose of a pocket gun. When the XDs came out, it fit my hand a lot better, and I bought one. As a result of having a gun that fit my hand better, I shoot the gun more accurately and faster. It just works better for me. And with a slimmer profile, I am able to carry it in a IWB hybrid holster even in summer, and under tighter clothing. I don't really care if I print a little bit.

J-frames are nice, but the XDs just works better for me. If things are as bad as you say, I'd be carrying a full size gun.
 
I went from a .38 snub to a Bersa Thunder, acquiring the latter fairly quickly after getting my carry license (years ago, when I was in LE, I carried the same .38 off duty with only a badge as a license.)

Later, I went from the Thunder to a Kel-Tec PF9, though I still own the Bersa (and the .38, a Charter Arms Undercover purchased in 1987.)
 
I have tried carrying a semi-auto many times but always come back to my favorite J frame. I like J frames, I shoot them well and they fit comfortably in my front pocket. I doubt I will ever switch from a J frame to a semi-auto...
 
I started with a G-19 almost ten years ago.
Went through several J-frames (and a bunch of other things) before ending up with a Kahr PM9. I carried it every day for about 3.5 years, before moving to a Kahr P45, and then a 1911.
These days, with my back as it is, I actually bought a 637 a year or so back to give the J another chance. Carried it for a while, but I'm back to the PM9. I shoot the Kahr better, it is smaller, and it is every bit as reliable as the J-frame.
 
i carry a j frame with a large houge grip on it a lot. i also have a XDS. usually i carry one of those. i dont really pocket carry the jframe although cargo shorts are nomal clothes down here in the south about 90% of the year since we dont really get too cold in south georgia a jframe fits fine in a pocket.
 
I have several J-frames in my safe which I often use whenever I don't feel like belting on one of my larger 9's, .40's or .45's (or one of my larger revolvers from earlier days ;) ). For many years my 'minimum default' caliber for off-duty (and then retirement) was a .38 Spl.

Then, a couple years ago, after having had the opportunity to observe a couple of the newer diminutive .380's being used, I picked up a Ruger LCP. I did so for those times when I consider the .380 ACP to be an acceptable compromise for my risk assessment, and when one of my J-frames either won't fit into a tighter/shorter pants pocket, or won't be as easily & effectively concealed.

The LCP (or the Bodyguard .380, which was an alternative choice when I was looking at them) fits many more pockets and is more easily carried in many situations where I might be tempted to leave one of my larger retirement weapons, including my J's, at home. (Spare me the comfortable v. comforting response, as I'm somewhat familiar with the premise, having had a badge for 32 years and having been a firearms instructor for 24 years. ;) )

I haven't "swore off" either revolvers of semiauto pistols, but use both for my needs, depending on my daily desires, situations and circumstances. Both see frequent use when I'm working as an instructor and armorer, and running all of my guns through training or practice drills, or qual courses-of-fire.

I'd not necessarily think to recommend a J-frame for a dedicated defensive weapon to someone who isn't a skilled revolver shooter, or who doesn't have the inclination to become one.

The very attributes that make them so handy and attractive for lawful concealed carry also tend to make them harder for most people to shoot accurately, controllably & effectively.

Of course, I watch any number of folks who commonly carry & qualify with larger pistols, without particular problems, often have to work harder to effectively use the smaller .380's in demanding conditions, too.

Personally, I don't consider the .380 ACP to be quite on a par with a 5-shot .38 Spl snub when it comes to versatility and potential effectiveness of the caliber. The venerable .38 Spl offers quite a bit of versatility when it comes to standard pressure & +P pressure loadings, and heavier bullet weights are easily available. Lots of models ranging from ultra-lite models to heavier all-steel models, too.

Just depends.
 
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I have because the small 9mms and .380s are now just as light and much thinner than the alloy J-frame .38s and .357s. I would rather have the capacity advantage of the auto over the slightly more power of a 5-shot difficult to shoot .357. I gave up on the Scandium .357s when the light and lean 9mms became available.
 
I swap what I carry depending on what I'm wearing for the most part. The bobbed hammer model 60 gets carried a lot. It's easy to slide in a pocket, carry OWB or IWB. And so is the Ruger LCP. When the weather is cooler, I carry a Glock 19 a bit more. J-frames are not the easiest handgun to shoot well. Practice.
 
Thanks all for your opinions. I guess I chose the wrong term in "swore off." All GUN NUTS know that we NEVER, EVER swear off ANY firearm.

More pics..

Nalajr
 
I chose my carry gun based on two things:

1) What handgun do i shoot the best?
2) The odds of me ever needing a handgun for SD are slim, but if needed it will be needed very badly.

So I went with a fullsize 1911. I was never a revolver guy because I simply don't shoot them well. I can shoot fast OR accurate, not both.

While many revolvers are indeed concealable, you are limited to six rounds or less, reloads are more cumbersome (unless you're Jerry Miculek) and most autoloaders are thinner.
 
Elm Creek Smith: (post 7) “I carry a 1982 nickel plated S&W Model 37 rather than a small automatic. When I need more gun/higher capacity, I add my 3 inch Model 13.”
Click to expand...

Ditto, almost. My model 37 is a 1977. But, I did carry a 380 for a short while.
 
I just bought a 642 this week, after donating temorarily my 85UL to a friend who is just starting to CCW. Good excuse, I've wanted one for a while. We went out to eat last weekend at a catfish house out in the country, and I carried my Commander-size Kimber. It's August in southern MS, those who are familiar with summer in the Deep South need no explanation, those who aren't, well it was a little on the warm side and very muggy, even in the late afternoon the heat index was well over 100. Attire is best chosen with that in mind. The big pistol was making me sweat under the holster lol, and after carrying a snubbie most of the time in the past few summers I missed it. Realistically the chances of requiring a handgun for defense on a trip like this are just about zero, the restaurant is in a very small (300) town, and many of the places I go are similar. So while I might feel the need for a little more on a trip to the big city, the weight and size of the 642 is much more unobtrusive on a trip like this. I have experimented with a couple of smaller semi's lately, and while I don't see anything wrong with either, LW snubbies are my comfort zone.
 
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