The end of the J-frame era

Different strokes for different Folks.............I have and carry both........One can "justify" their personal decision all they want...........You'll never change my mind.
 
"Making the gun bigger with larger grips, sorta defeats the purpose of a smaller gun".

Still small enough to conceal in a front pocket, so what difference does it make?
 
J-Bar said:
3 firearms went to the indoor range today:

A S&W 14, an S&W 17 and a model 60
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Did you hit anything with those God awful revolver triggers? I bet your target look like it you were shooting birdshot.
 
I don’t have any J frame Smiths, but I do have a nice Ruger SP-101 chambered in .357 Magnum. Shooting heavy magnum loads is not that much fun, but .38 Spec. +P is quite comfortable and controllable. The downside is that while reasonably compact and concealable, it weighs half a pound more than my Glock 48 with half the number of rounds on tap. Even my Glock 19, with 15 rounds in the magazine weighs about the same as the loaded all steel wheel gun. I rarely carry the SP-101, but still enjoy having it available. The way our state keeps passing unconstitutional laws, it may well be the 5 round revolver might be the last legal firearm law abiding citizens are allowed to carry or possess. 😡
 
Old Dog said:
1) they're not that fun to shoot; (2) I don't shoot them all that well (granted, I rarely practiced with any of 'em); (3) I just have never bonded with any of them (beyond the 63, which is splendid fun) and (4) I rarely carried any of them since the advent of the tiny reliable, concealable pistols in .380 ACP and 9mm.

I came to feel that a small autoloader with a bigger payload and far superior sights (especially given the great night sights available now), that pointed better, shot faster (better triggers, superior muzzle velocity), and concealed better was the direction in which I needed to go.
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This mirrors the reasons I don't own one Old Dog. J frames are fun to look at but that’s where it ends for me.
 
I shoot 9mm out of a SAA, K-frame, and J-frame regularly for practice. It doesn't bother me. I have 32's ready for when 9mm and 38 special are too much.

My shooting buddy and I are both in our 50's. When we're shooting at the range, informally from 7-10 yards or whatever, we both shoot revolvers and autos with about the same accuracy. Maybe because we've both shot revolvers so much over the years. Which particular revolver or semiauto we're shooting seems to matter more than which of the two varieties it is. Something like a Match Champion or a K22 will outshoot pretty much any service semiauto. Likewise, a Mark II or a Sig P-series will outshoot a fixed-sight service revolver.

My Model 36 is a "rescue". :)

Model 36 underway

Model 36 underway

 
Old Dog said:
I finally did it.

Sold off my last (non-.22LR) J-frame (a cherry 442).

Over the past few years, I'd already divested myself of an unfired Model 37, a minty Model 36, a sweet Model 60, a (post-lock w/MIM) 637, a 3" Model 36, and a beat-up 642 (post-lock w/MIM and peeling finish).

I kept my 4" Model 63; it's a 6-shooter and I don't really think of it as a J-frame, since it's not a snubby, it's a six-shooter and it's not in .38 SPL.

After being an owner of at least a couple J-frame snubs at any given time for the past 40-odd years, I came to a few realizations: (1) they're not that fun to shoot; (2) I don't shoot them all that well (granted, I rarely practiced with any of 'em); (3) I just have never bonded with any of them (beyond the 63, which is splendid fun) and (4) I rarely carried any of them since the advent of the tiny reliable, concealable pistols in .380 ACP and 9mm.

I came to feel that a small autoloader with a bigger payload and far superior sights (especially given the great night sights available now), that pointed better, shot faster (better triggers, superior muzzle velocity), and concealed better was the direction in which I needed to go. Plus, there was always that nagging capacity issue and the slowness of the reload.

I hung on to my J-frames for many years out of pure sentimentality.

So my question is: Is there anyone else out there who's given up owning and/or carrying J-frames for the same or similar reasons?

If you still like your J-frames, why? Sentiment? As collectibles? Primary carry? BUG?
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I still have mine….442, 340PD, 49, Colt Agent and three DS in minty condition. No plans to divest myself. But I would consider replacing them as daily drivers..

What small auto did you go with? I admit to drawing the (personal) line at the G19 (size-wise). It’s as big as my J frames (overlay).
 
PavelSJ said:
The only option to that are Rugers LCR, LCRx, S&W does not offer light weight J-frame 9mm. They can make 14oz .357 but not 12oz-14oz 9mm Luger🤪
I don't bother with snub revolvers because XTP .38 bullets will not expand at .38 Special velocities. I am going to buy 3" or 4" .357 so I can use 125gr and 158gr XTP ammo. That can be used for both city and wilderness protection, therefore, ammo selection confusion can be avoided. Hornady XTP ammo is significantly less expensive than HST, Golden Saber, Gold Dot or PDX loaded ammo.
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I run wadcutters as defensive rounds in all my snubbies. Have never looked back or felt under gunned. YMMV.
 
JimCunn said:
"Making the gun bigger with larger grips, sorta defeats the purpose of a smaller gun".

Still small enough to conceal in a front pocket, so what difference does it make?
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My 642 isnt going in any pocket, and that's with the factory Magnas/T Grip on it. Ive already got too much other junk in my pockets and the type of pants I wear, wouldn't allow it anyway.

I would be using that sort of gun as a back up and want deeper concealment. Normally, I use either a Smart Carry, or an ankle holster for that. With the ankle holster, you don't want "bulk" and with the Smart Carry, I can easily carry a Glock 26 or even a 19 in the same place Id be carrying the 642, so why limit myself?

If you have to use grips that make it bigger in order to be able to shoot it, its telling you something, Id get a different gun.

Styx said:
Did you hit anything with those God awful revolver triggers? I bet your target look like it you were shooting birdshot.
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Im gonna go out on a limb here and assume youre "funnin'". 😁


JimCunn said:
You can always lighten the actions.
In my younger days I used a J-frame for hunting squirrels and rabbits. They don't have a problem with accuracy.
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You "can", but its generally not necessary. If you work on your muscle tone a bit, and get things up to DA revolver par, the triggers magically seem to get better all by themselves.


Tallball said:
I shoot 9mm out of a SAA, K-frame, and J-frame regularly for practice. It doesn't bother me. I have 32's ready for when 9mm and 38 special are too much.

My shooting buddy and I are both in our 50's. When we're shooting at the range, informally from 7-10 yards or whatever, we both shoot revolvers and autos with about the same accuracy. Maybe because we've both shot revolvers so much over the years. Which particular revolver or semiauto we're shooting seems to matter more than which of the two varieties it is. Something like a Match Champion or a K22 will outshoot pretty much any service semiauto. Likewise, a Mark II or a Sig P-series will outshoot a fixed-sight service revolver.

My Model 36 is a "rescue". :)

Model 36 underway

Model 36 underway

Click to expand...
When shooting deliberate groups, and shooting guns of a similar use, more often than not, my revolver groups will be a bit tighter than my auto groups. I think its that smooth, steady, DA trigger and focus on holding the sight alignment as you stroke it that makes the difference.

The snubbies really arent any harder to shoot well with than your normal service revolver, but they definitely become a good bit more of a challenge the smaller and lighter you go, and bump up the caliber. The wear and fatigue, and other issues they bring and put on the shooter are a real problem.

My favorite snubbies are my @'-2.5" K frames. They are about perfect in the hand and easy shooters, even with full power loads.
 
Pat Riot said:
What grip is that on the model 60? Not familiar with that one.
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I don't know... some generic knockoff of some sort. They actually made the pistol more shoot-able, at least for me. It came with the Uncle Mikes round butt grips, which were horrible... for me.

zxcWQhtl.jpg
 
The J Frame air weight has a niche to fill, a lady's handbag or purse. For older folks with hand problems the 637 with a hammer, once it is smoothed inside, is very simple for use as a carry piece.
Practice, practice, practice, negates the need for more shots than 5. Truth is, past two shots, you are normally well past caring, in a real gunfight if you have not hit anything before then.
 
edwardware said:
It goes in my pocket.

That's the whole sales pitch. I see no reason to carry a J frame if you're going to put on a holster, and all the other goes-in-my-pocket options are worse (underpowered, tiny controls, tiny grip, etc). The 38Spl J frame is the apex of pocket carry, when a holster isn't practical.
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I haven't found anything that slips out of a pocket like a hammerless J frame. That's the only practical reason.
 
" If you work on your muscle tone a bit,"

I'm 82. My muscle tone is going in the other direction, no matter what I do.
My primary is the lightened 637-2 converted to 9mm. It hurts to shoot, but is a delight to carry, and is plenty accurate.
My BUG is a Browning 1911-380.

I might add; carry guns are tools. Never carry one you have a sentimental attachment to.
 
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JimCunn said:
My primary is the lightened 637-2 converted to 9mm. It hurts to shoot, but is a delight to carry, and is plenty accurate.
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Wait, you can convert an aluminum frame 38 special only into a 9mm?
 
Styx said:
Did you hit anything with those God awful revolver triggers? I bet your target look like it you were shooting birdshot.
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A strange thing happens when I shoot at that indoor range. The spray and pray bottom feeders close to my lane slow down and their groups get smaller. Hard to explain.

1727017788793.gif

I took the same guns yesterday; same thing happened again!
 
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lincen said:
As my hands get older I have sold or traded my J-frames that are 38 special or 357. But my selection of 32’s and 22’s has increased. Most recent purchase was the new 32 magnum Lipsey’s Ultimate Carry. Six rounds in a lightweight pocketable revolver that is comfortable to shoot.
View attachment 1228799
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Nice! They should have made this 30 years ago... single action version for a kit gun would be good too.
 
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