Shield or j frame

[WestKentucky]

I have a glock 42 and several other small autos. I'm a revolver guy though, and a 442 is on the Christmas list. Honestly, if your looking for a carry gun there are better choices than a shield, you already found one and you would be well served to consider others. Don't get stuck on S&W, they make good guns but other companies that specialize in pistols make better pistols. My two cents say to avoid the S&W pistols altogether and hold close to their revolvers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

cc-hangfire was referring to the chambered round. The one that keeps getting put right back into the chamber every time you unload / reload the handgun unless you avoid this as he wisely suggests.

My mistake, I re-read the post and I see that now.

 

[azrocks]

As popular as J-Frames are, they require a higher level of practice to be, and remain, proficient. This means more than putting a few rounds through a static target every couple of months. Mas Ayoob once said that snubs are experts only weapons; if they are your choice, the lives you seek to defend will require your practical commitment to a high degree. If you're willing to pay that price, great.

Very well said. This is the reason I always cringe anytime anyone mentions a j-frame for a carry gun. They actually require (much) more practice to acquire & maintain combat proficiency with, but because of their very nature, most people put in far less time with them than anything else they own. They're severely handicapped from the start by small grips, a short sight radius, lousy sights, and a painfully long & heavy DA trigger pull (assuming no action work done). Then you add in the lack of any real practice and what you're really carrying around is a 'feel-good' tool that - if ever deployed - probably won't be doing the job.

Steel frame models make shooting more pleasant, but pretty much negate the only real advantage a j-frame has over other better options. LW models like the air-light are a dream to carry, but shooting them even with standard loads creates abusive recoil, and the LW guns simply don't hold up well to a lot of practice. Which is a non-issue because 99.9% of folks who own them don't practice with them anyway due to the aforementioned reasons.

 

[ThomasT]

I just made my choice with a used model 637-2 I started a thread about in the revolver forum.

Azrocks makes excellent point about a snub being hard to shoot accurately. And they do take practice. But you should practice with anything you are keeping for defense. And I never recommend a snub as a primary HD gun. For the home get a full size gun. They are much easier to shoot plus they make a better club when out of ammo.

The lightweight snubbies are much more pleasant to shoot when loaded with lighter bullets. I will keep mine loaded with 110-125gr jacketed and practice with lead loads in the same weight range.

I have some 124 round nose 9mm lead bullets that I have shot from other 38 snubs and they are pussycats to shoot with mild loads. And I believe they would be every bit as effective as a 22lr from the same platform.

 

[Kendal Black]

Shooting the snub revolver calls for application of the basics, only more so. DA trigger control is made harder by the gun's small size, short sight radius and small grip. But the problem is essentially the same as in firing a big revolver, don't let it go anyplace while you're stroking back the trigger. It takes practice, which you may use as an excuse to go shooting.

 

[Jsg81]

Although I do keep a loaded SP 101 within reach at night I consider the shotgun my primary HD choice.

Once again I have been looking for a warm weather carry gun which was the reason for my post.

I appreciate all of the feedback which has been on topic and well thought out.

I have decided on the 442 for my purchase which will most likely be next week sometime. As some have noticed I do like revolvers but some here have reminded me of its limitations other than just being harder to be accurate with which is some of the knowledge I came here to get.

Thank you all as I have enjoyed all of the information and opinions you have shared.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[coyotehitman]

Light J frames are hard to shoot accurately without a lot of practice. They are "snappy" with +P ammo can be "not fun" range guns for some.

This plus the sights are worse than the Shield IMO.

 

[jim8115]

Many people have told you what they favor; it's immaterial.

I would suggest that if you shoot the Shield well, it is going to be your better choice.

As popular as J-Frames are, they require a higher level of practice to be, and remain, proficient. This means more than putting a few rounds through a static target every couple of months. Mas Ayoob once said that snubs are experts only weapons; if they are your choice, the lives you seek to defend will require your practical commitment to a high degree. If you're willing to pay that price, great.

But, pick which one you shoot well; go to a range that rents, and shoot them both. I would also reccomend, no matter how long you've been around weapons, or shooting, that you get professional training. And, please don't take that adivce as a comment on your skills; your new family may thank you one day.

Stay safe.

I spend a lot of time at the range, and have j frames, as well as full size autos and revolvers, and compact autos. In the hands of someone who doesnt practice, a shield is no better than a J frame. All those small guns require practice to master. I regularly outshoot people at 25 and 50 yards with a J frame, when they are shooting even full size autos, though that is a moot point for most Sd stuations anyway.Point is, get what you can carry the easiest, and learn to use it. For what it is worth, I carry both full size XD40, as well as a 642. But when dress dictates, I carry the 642

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Although I do keep a loaded SP 101 within reach at night I consider the shotgun my primary HD choice.

Once again I have been looking for a warm weather carry gun which was the reason for my post.

I appreciate all of the feedback which has been on topic and well thought out.

I have decided on the 442 for my purchase which will most likely be next week sometime. As some have noticed I do like revolvers but some here have reminded me of its limitations other than just being harder to be accurate with which is some of the knowledge I came here to get.

Thank you all as I have enjoyed all of the information and opinions you have shared.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To become proficient with a revolvers DA trigger I highly recommend dry firing with snap caps. Several hundred trigger pulls a night will help you a lot. Without the recoil you will quickly find any flaws in your trigger pull and be able to fix them. Add the fact you will end up with a smother trigger in the end, it's an all win situation.

I still dry fire my M442 to keep in practice especially during the winter when it's sometimes hard to get to the range.

 

[springer99]

Although I do keep a loaded SP 101 within reach at night I consider the shotgun my primary HD choice.

Once again I have been looking for a warm weather carry gun which was the reason for my post.

I appreciate all of the feedback which has been on topic and well thought out.

I have decided on the 442 for my purchase which will most likely be next week sometime. As some have noticed I do like revolvers but some here have reminded me of its limitations other than just being harder to be accurate with which is some of the knowledge I came here to get.

Thank you all as I have enjoyed all of the information and opinions you have shared.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good choice on that 442 Smith. I bet that you'll find that it slips in and out of a pocket like goose grease. The factory grips aren't the best for shooting comfort, but then a snubby isn't intended to be a range gun. CT makes a few styles of laser grips and, IMHO, are the best accessory you can add to these guns. The extra padding over the backstrap make a world of difference in shooting comfort and that laser sight is a great aid in training and actual use.

Enjoy!!