I never wanted a J frame.

[Echo23TC]

When I was just out of high school, I had a know-it-all friend and co-worker who carried a model 36. He was one of those guys who couldn’t ever be wrong about anything, especially guns. Just out of sheer obstinacy, I had to disagree with him about carry guns and that little revolver and all its brethren suffered (in my mind) as a consequence. It got to the point where I wouldn’t even bother looking at them. “If I want a little revolver,†I thought, “I’ll get a detective special and have an extra round. Or get a short barreled K frame. They aren’t that much bigger, and still hold six.†Plus, I’m a bit of an adjustable sight freak. I love them and J frames don’t have them, or at least I hadn’t seen one that did. But then, J frames were NOT on my list of things to look at, much less to buy.

Until the other day.

We had some time on our hands after work Tuesday, so I drug Mrs. Echo into the local sporting goods store. I’ve been on an N frame snubbie kick for a while, which just recently morphed into N and K snubs. “OK, as long as you just LOOK. No buying.†So while she’s looking at western jewelry and clothes, I head for the handgun counters and start my scan. Nothing, nothing, nothing, model 65 ladysmith, nothing, noth… waitaminit. What’s THAT? It turns out THAT was a little model 60, 3 inch, adjustable sights, round butt with laminate grips, 38 special. Ooooh, nice. I like. I really like. Too bad I just emptied the discretionary funds on some leather, or that little 60 would be on layaway!

I never wanted a J frame. But I do now. A stainless, round butt, 3 inch, adjustable sight .38 special, please.

Now I've got to sit down and re-prioritize my "guns to buy" list...

 

[Mike Irwin]

Hum...

Mrs. Echo has forbidden the purchase of a new firearm because the money isn't there....

Is she really using BOTH of her kidneys?

 

[Echo23TC]

Careful there, Mr. Irwin; you're gonna get me in trouble. I know that Mrs. Echo (Cricket) browses this board. She's registered, but rarely posts. Thank God she's got a sense of humor.

Unfortunately, at this point in time she's right. The money ain't there. I'll just have to keep dreaming.

Could anyone give me an objective comparison between a 3" model 60 and a 2.5" model 66? Mostly looking at size, weight, grip length, ease of carry in various IWB positions from crossdraw around to behind the hip.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Well how about you then?

Do you really need your whole liver?

 

[Echo23TC]

Nah, but it wouldn't do anyone else any good.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Wouldn't mind having a 3" w/adjustable sights myself. Excellent balance and slightly longer sight radius. The extra barrel also helps with reducing the blast too. Never ponied up the money though and I have 3 2" J frames (excluding the Model 317 2" Ladysmith in 22 LR).

 

[Mike Irwin]

But it's so tasty with Fava Beans and a nice Chianti....

 

[sm]

kids ?

Model 36 is on of my favorites...the little J fellers are nice.
Mike is onto something...umm..you got kids? Sell one of the kids latest figures I heard in dollars to raise a kid to age 18...well...lots of guns. Save education monies even more guns...paying for weddings...see?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I have a 3" Model 640 (no dash) in .38 Special. Compared with a K-Frame it is still quite a bit smaller, mainly due to the cylinder diameter. I find that even with the 3" tube, I can carry it comfortably in my front pocket if using a pocket holster. Note that this is in cargo pants, not jeans.

 

[Bainx]

frodo527...amen to the cargo pants. Just bought some from Old Navy and found that I can put my J frame in the front pocket quite comfortably. Unlike jeans and dress pants.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

ZM

“OK, as long as you just LOOK. No buying.â€

Are you kidding me?

It is time for you to get your own slush fund. I placed a coffee can under my reloading bench a few months ago to collect all spare change and the odd dollar bill. Now the darn can is almost full and I am ready for another can. I don't know how much money is in there but I do know that I will be getting a new gun at some point in the future and the money doesn't come from household operating expenses. The can says 185gr SWC and never gets a second look.

M36 Smith & Wesson revolvers ain't bad if your into snubbies. There is one that bounces around the family and they all like it.

 

[Standing Wolf]

My first gun was a Smith & Wesson J frame .38 special.

After it was stolen, I replaced it with a Colt Detective Special, which I liked considerably better. I didn't think I'd ever develop an interest in buying another J frame until I looked over a pre-agreement model 60 in .357 magnum.

I'd still rather carry a bigger gun, but this is as much as I can carry concealed comfortably.

 

[Jim K]

I carried a Model 36, 3" barrel and square butt (steel), for many years as a deputy sheriff, and never felt unarmed, though I did carry a Model 19 at times, and even a Model 1911A1. Fortunately, I never got into a gunfight, so I never had to actually fire any of the guns though I thought I might have to a couple of times. Of course, those were different days and perhaps today I would want a TSMG with a 50 round drum, but I could shoot that J frame pretty well, and I think would have hit what I needed to hit.

Jim

 

[MikeJ]

I agree with 4v50 Gary that having an extra barrel really helps. Just funnin' with ya. Mike

 

[Brian Williams]

I have a nice S&W 60-4 with a 3" barrel and adj sights. It is one of the favorites around the House. Gus Dddysgrl and Swordsmith3 2 of my kids and another who does not like guns all have said that they want the 60 when they leave.

It is a great gun and carries very well. When I go hiking aor canoeing it is the gun to have. I carry a 18 round pack in my back pocket with 6 snake loads, 6 Win 125 grs Self defence loads and 6 158grs LSWC loaded out the wazoo at +p+ levels for the last resort. The cylinder is loaded with 2 snake loads 2 win self D loads and 1 158 LSWC the will blow your socks off.

I shoot alot of 158 LSWC and it is accurate past 25 yds.

 

[jrobb45]

Zeke's got the right idea; SLUSH FUND. I work a part time job, about 10-12 hrs. per week. ALL that money goes for guns and gun stuff. Last week I bought a new S&W 642 and I still have $1100 bucks left in the can.
jrobb

 

[valnar]

My first J-frame was a model 60 with round butt and 3" barrel too. 'Looks like a minature model 65/66 which is why I like it.

It's still my only one for now.

-Robert

 

[Echo23TC]

I DO have a slush fund. Unfortunately, it's been severely depleted this year; we built a 2 car garage with a 12x24 shop attached to it. I also bought a nice 625-4 earlier this year, and just recently finished it off with some nice leather from El Paso Saddlery. Now I have to start building it up again.

As to part time jobs, I've got one of those, too. My National Guard duties bring in plenty of extra, but the garage ate most of that. Sometime next year, if I'm careful, I'll have enough built up to pick up another pistol.

Until then, I'll just keep dreaming and saving pictures - Thanks Bill, those are going in the drool folder.

hmm. Just what is the going rate for kids? I've got two almost NIB with plenty of tools and accessories. They are a little picky about what you feed them, though...

 

[racenutz]

I picked up a 3" 60 today for the wife but it's a .357 Mag. She has the smallest hands of any adult I've ever known (she has to buy kids size golves) & out of all the guns she looked at, this one fit her the best.

 

[Cricket]

Look you people...he still hasn't bought me my new range that goes toward the debt he owes me for working on "his" garage half the summer...AND roofing it over while he was on active duty at fire fighting camp.

He gets to buy plenty of guns and I get to blow his mind often by letting him....what he does with his slush fund is his business...as long as I get to test shoot what he buys!

 

[10-Ring]

Glad you've seen the light! The j-frames are really nice little guns

 

[Torpedo]

Might consider sellin' a couple a pints of blood. Not sure what they give these days, but if ya are a- or ab- you should be able to have that lil' pistola pretty quick. Hey, it's just a thought. Right?

 

[JohnBT]

"...he still hasn't bought me my new range..."

Wow, you're lucky. I've always wanted a new shooting range.

John

 

[BigG]

I think the j-frames are the ultimate tool for point and click interfacing, especially in hammerless configuration. They really lend themselves to accurate double action work and I really don't like the snaggy hammer in my pocket. Other than that, the Mod 60 is the same as the old Mod 36 except in stainless flavor. You can't do no better for what it is.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

I am not real impressed with most handguns these days, the model 60 with a 3" barrell, adjustable sights on the other hand impresses the heck out of me.