Smith J-Frames....637,638 or 442

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Bill2e

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I am considering a J-Frame. Was gonna get a .357/.38, but really why spend the extra $$$$. I have not intention of shooting .357 out of a j-frame. That's what the bigger revolers are for.

Now the question is which one. all three are on sale right now for the same price. The 638 (bodygaurd) may be the best of both worlds, but I think they are hidious looking.

I would rather have the exposed hammer of the 637 for trips to the range, but the 442 sames to make more sense If I where to pocket carry.

The real question is does the exposed hammer interfer with pocket carry?


Thanks
Bill
 
I shot both the 642 and 640. I opted for the heavier 640 because, even though I do not plan to shoot .357 mag out of it, it makes shooting .38 spl+P so much more pleasant. The 642 is 15 oz unloaded, and the 640 is 23 oz. That extra 8 oz won't make any difference in whether or not I carry it, but it makes a big difference in how much i practice with it. It may also make a difference in how fast a follow up shot can be fired.
 
The 642 is the most popular of the J-frames.
The 442 looks great new, but IMO, surface wear will be more visible in time. Not a bad thing, if you're into guns with character.
You could bob the hammer for the 637 -- or get a second hammer and have the original, too.

FWIW, in order of preference:
642 (which I carry)
442
638
637
 
AB, so your saying the the 12oz 340PD will hurt like heck to take to the range.

Never could imagine shooting a .357 mag out of that thing.
 
When I shoot my 637 at the range, with standard pressure 158gr SWCs, first I tape the web between my thumb and forefinger to prevent creating -- and popping -- a blister. And the trigger really beats my trigger finger up. Fifty rounds is all I can handle. Airweights are not very pleasant to shoot, though from what I have read Airlites are worse.
Cordially, Jack
 
I consider the 642/442 to be the best design of the three for carry. I have a 642 and an older 60 in .38 special. The 60 has a hammer, so it's very uncomfortable to carry IWB in either the crossdraw or appendix positions. With a Mika pocket holster, however, I have no trouble drawing it from a pants pocket. I'm not saying the hammer couldn't snag, just that it hasn't yet.

I don't shoot single action and therefore prefer the DAO design. I got a good deal on the 60, so I bought it for a backup in case the 642 has to go to the shop.

I'd get the 642 and dry-fire the heck out of it for practice.
 
Generally, this is my answer to the "which J frame?" question:

637: Good old Chief's Special. However, the hammer can indeed snag at the worst times.
638: Eliminates the possibility of snag while retaining single action capability (useful to see where a load prints in relation to the sights)
442/642: Eliminates any possibility of lint or anything else gumming up the works, but loses single action capability (which is probably not useful for self defense).

I have a 642. At the time, the 638 was a bit more, and I do kinda feel like I should have gotten it- at the same price I would have. If you plan on pocket carry I'd probably skip the 637 in favor of the 638 or 442/642. Between those two, it is only a question of whether you want single action capability.
 
jaydubya said:

...first I tape the web between my thumb and forefinger to prevent creating -- and popping -- a blister. And the trigger really beats my trigger finger up.
Click to expand...

That's why, in addition to putting heavy-duty fabric bandages on the web of my hand, I also wrap several around the first joint and a half or so of my trigger finger. It works wonders in reducing/eliminating the horrible pinching and slap that otherwise turn my finger into a painful, throbbing wreck within 50 rounds (with an Airlite).

I estimate that the bandage trick permits me to comfortably shoot almost twice the number of rounds that I'd shoot if I didn't use the bandages.

It's a cheap and easy way to substantially raise your "round threshold" with these little guns. And I've found that the bandages don't negatively affect shooting control or my feel for the trigger.
 
I want to say a few more things about these J-frames and pocket carry.

I do not find .38 Special J-frames fun to shoot. I shot +P ammo at the beginning and could handle it, although it was about like shooting .357s from an SP-101. One-handed? No way. There's too much jump, and it's too hard to hang on to.

Accuracy was difficult to achieve with such a heavy trigger on such a light and small gun. Accuracy with one-handed shooting was much worse. I bought the old, hard plastic CTC laser grips, which are very useful for aiming, but unfortunately made my 642 unshootable due to a total lack of recoil absorption.

So I'm back to stock grips on my 642, and have also downgraded to regular-pressure .38 Special ammo. I use Aguila 158-grain hollowpoints, and I think they're just the thing for this gun. It's a heavy, lead hollowpoint bullet, and it's much easier to control than any of the various +P ammo I've tried.

Pocket carry with the 642? I've heard others say it's like pocketing an orange, and I know what they mean. It's a significant bulge than can interfere with normal movement. It's not terribly comfortable, but it's very convenient. A lot depends on the size of your pockets and how loosely your pants fit you. It's not perfect for me, but It's still the best option most of the time. I also carry IWB and use a fanny pack designed for the purpose. A 642 is very versatile.
 
I have a no dash model 60 that I carried forever but suddenly as a result of peer pressure & running into a good deal, I picked up a 442 and couldn't be happier
And yes -- I like guns w/ character :D
 
The 638 (bodygaurd) may be the best of both worlds, but I think they are hidious looking.
Click to expand...

Let's see DAO? Or, DA and SA?

638 by far.

Define hidious.

I think they look cool, and everybody at the range loves my 638.
 
I just don't like that shape of the shrowd (you know the pointy thing on your shoulder that goes up :), sorry couldn,t resist)

However I have read that the shrowd alows the gun to sit erfectly square in your pocket. I guess I have to go to the gun shop & check them all out. Thanks for all the advice.

Bill
 
I most often carry a 340pd with CT grips. But you will also find me carrying my model 49 quite often and occasionally the model 36. Since this photo was taken, I traded the model 40 for something more practical (a Model 41).


DSC00088.gif
 
I have both the 642 and 638. I had to re radius the back of the grip frame on the 642 to keep it from biting my hand, the 638 never had that problem. I think the DA 642 is the better carry gun.
 
I would get the 442. I particularly like the centennial style, and I think black is best for pocket carry (bottom of the grip is/can be exposed at just the right angle, even in relatively deep pockets).
 
The real question is does the exposed hammer interfer with pocket carry?
Click to expand...
Not in my experience. I've only been carrying my model 37 for a couple of weeks, but if you have a holster that covers the hammer spur, it doesn't seem to be a problem, at least for me. However, I don't really see the point of 'range' shooting SA with this gun... you won't be shooting it SA when you need it. I'd prefer mine didn't have it... but I don't want to bugger it up by sawing it off.

I like the centennial models... the look has grown on me like a pleasant mold. :D
 
I like the centennial models... the look has grown on me like a pleasant mold.
Click to expand...

+1.

When I first saw the centennial models I thought they were such an akward-looking mutant. It's in their usefulness that I have grown to really appreciate their good looks!
 
I took a 642 to the range last night. It was surprisingly accurate, and the DAO trigger is smooth, pleasant and fun to shoot.

Shot 2-hand, right hand, left hand. I no longer miss the exposed hammer. I've got a SAA if I want to shoot single-action. The 642 will put them all in the middle of the center-mass oval, no problem, and it's fun. Goes through ammo almost like a semiauto, though, when you're at the range.:)
 
Armedbear, you said more accurate than you would have thought I am wondering if you will elaborate more.
 
camsdaddy, i'm not ArmedBear, but the phrase "It was surprisingly accurate" describes my recent experiences exactly. When i first purchased my 442 I would have probably been more accurate with it if i had thrown it at a target rather than shoot at the target. To me it had a very heavy trigger pull and rough. I bought snap caps and sat at my house working on trigger control, grip, sight picture, etc and also just sat there cycling the trigger on occasion. Whether real or my perception, the trigger does seem to have gotten smoother, maybe a little lighter, don't know (i don't have a trigger scale).

Anyway, after the "dry firing" exercises, my groups have tightenend up subsatially. my last two cylinders shooting, i put 10 shots within a 2 inch spread. basically 3 samall clusters in the 2 inches. (this was at 7 yrds). Can i do this all the time? no. Is it possible to pull a bullet into the group just as easy as it is to pull one out? I'd say pretty darn close. I just have to say i was surprised. However, the 10 shot group was about 3 inches high and about 2 inches to the left of my point of aim. (I was shooting winchester white box of 100, can't recall the weight off the top of my head) I also have to add, that i have a glitch in my shooting technique that i haven't been able to fix yet, i shoot all my revolvers to the left from .22 to .44....... but rarely high. For some reason i shoot pistols, quite a bit more centered, slightly low and toward 5 o'clock.

When i first shot the 442, i wouldn't have recomended it to anybody, however with some time and effort spent with it, i'm growing pleased with my purchase.

just my 2 cents,
c.r.a.
 
I'd get the hammerless. You don't need SA capability with a 2" CCW gun. Up to 15 yards you won't find much difference between SA and DA if you do some practice in DA. That practice should include dryfiring with snap-caps at home to get used to the trigger pull. Try to target something in the next room and keep the sights on that target as the trigger breaks. Some of us actually find that DA is more accurate than SA in a small gun because the extra tension in the hand helps to stabilize it. You really cannot go wrong with either the 638 or 642 since neither have a hammer spur which I think should never be on a SD gun unless you have a disability which makes using DA impossible. I just think the edge goes to the 642.
 
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