Rejoining the club - 637 or 642?

[Mulliga]

Well, after a brief fling with pocket autos, I've decided to pick up a J-Frame again for pocket carry (sold a 642 - d'oh!).

Has anyone ever had a J-frame hammer snag on their pocket? I liked my 642, but I find myself questioning the assertion that a 637's hammer will make the draw out of a pocket any slower - admittedly, I've never drawn a hammered J-frame out of a pocket.

 

[Iggy]

When you have the time and everything goes just right, there is no problem, but when the flying hits the revolving things seem to happen that weren't planned. .
I have a 36 and I bought a spare hammer and bobbed it. Cost me a whopping $15.00.

Now I have both options.

I also have a Centennial model and really like it.

 

[Pramunitus]

I have a M640 Centennial as well, and it's my everyday carry. It is a bit heavy for pocket carry, though. I'd lean to the 642. Hammerless is one less thing to worry about when you're worried about everything.

 

[cortez kid]

I don't have my CCW yet, but when I'm running around the homestead, I have a mod 60 in my pocket. I originally worried about the hammer when pocket carried. If you put your thumb over the hammer, there is no problem. That being said, I think I will get a hammer-less for carry. I like the stainless. The extra weight doesn't bother me. Also have a 637. A little lite. Hammer will catch more often then not, and having to draw with intent will probably always result in a snag. But after drawn, I feel quite confident with the 60, lock and all. Shot placement. I'm going to place 4 rnds of +p in the upper chest cavity. After that the BG can do what he wants.
kid

 

[MikeJ]

I had a 37 and sold it go get a 442. The hammer on the 37 definitely caught more times than not when I tried to draw it quickly from my pocket.

 

[Mulliga]

Guess I made the right choice - went with a 642. Thanks all!

 

[bubbygator]

Good choice. I have a 442 & bought a 637 just for range single-action shooting for fun. It seemed to have a slightly different spacing between the grip & the trigger-guard... I was always banging my middle finger in recoil. Sold it.

 

[lbmii]

Just get in the habit of having your thumb over hammer at all times when drawing out a revolver. Make it so you do it without thinking.

I like the option of single action.

 

[Bob79]

Don't forget the model 638 "bodyguard". Maybe a little uglier, but it won't snag, and you can also fire it single action.

But in my opinion, regular hammers don't belong on CCW revolvers.

 

[fiVe]

Mulliga: I think you made the right choice, but I own a 642 so that makes me quite biased.

 

[Think]

don't forget the 638

...best of both worlds in my opinion. I almost always cock the gun before shooting, wife never does. I almost always throw it in a pocket, only occasionally using IWH. No danger of snagging the shrouded nub of a hammer, and it can be cocked. It is different from a regular hammer, decocking especially, but you get used to it and at least its there if you need it.

 

[Fat_46]

I own the 637 (with factory Crimson Trace grips). What sold me was:
I like a hammer. I like to choose SA or DA in a revolver.
The round - I already have a .45 ACP and a .44 Magnum. I wanted a lightweight carry gun that would go bang every time, in a caliber that I believe to be effective for personal defense.

Lastly, it fit my hand.

My $.02 = go with what feels good in your hand and gives you peace of mind.

 

[Ala Dan]

I've never carried a S&W J-frame (with a hammer) inside of a pocket~!

 

[StrikeEagle]

Why The Switch Back?

Well, after a brief fling with pocket autos, I've decided to pick up a J-Frame again for pocket carry

642 is my choice.

But I'm curious why you're coming back to J-Frames? I agree with the decision, but what was it that prompted you to make it?

StrikeEagle

 

[Mulliga]

But I'm curious why you're coming back to J-Frames? I agree with the decision, but what was it that prompted you to make it?

I tried a P3AT. Great gun...at first. After a couple hundred rounds, started getting chronic FTExtracts. I sent it back to Kel-Tec, but the repair took nearly a month - a far cry from the S&W service I'm used to, so I picked up a new 642 (very tight lockup, accurate, decent trigger for a 642, but cylinder gap is too big for my taste). I just got the P3AT back and haven't tried it yet.