What is a J-Frame's recoil like?

[indiandave]

I shoot my 642 a lot. I shoot mostly 148gr wadcutters. They are very easy to shoot. I shoot just a cylinder or two of my carry ammunition at the end of a range trip. This works out well for me.

As for grips I did not like the Uncle Mike's Boot Grips that came with the gun. They were replaced with Uncle Mike's combat grips. They cover the backstrap and make shooting the little gun a pleasure to me. I also have Crimson Trace Laser Grips. They also cover the backstrap and are a great learning tool.

It dosn't have to be a painful experience to shoot an Airweight.

 

[Clarence]

I can shoot 50 rounds of 38 +P out of my 642 with no problem.

I can shoot 38+P out of my M-60 all day long and 50 rounds of .357 Mag with no problem.

YMMV

 

[Resto Guy]

I posted this on the 642 Club thread on Saturday. The following day I shot another 75 rounds. My hand is fine, no soreness at all. But I work with hand tools all day, so my hands may be tougher than some.




First day at the range!

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Hi Guys. I found this site after recently purchasing my 642. I've read practically everything posted in "the 642 Club", and it has made me feel confident about my decision to get this handgun. Today I had a chance to try out my 642. After 500 dry-fires, I finally got to run some lead through it. I used 158 gr. Lawman target ammo, 130 gr. Winchester White Box (WWB) FMJ target ammo, some Winchester 110 gr. Silver Tip HP's and a box of +P Speer Gold Dot HP 135's. Total rounds fired was 198.
During the day I also switched grips from the Pacmayr Compacs to the Hogue Monogrip. I never tried the original equip. Uncle Mike's.
There was an immediate improvement in accuracy (and comfort) after switching to the Hogues. My best results today were with the SPG 135 Gold Dots, followed by the WWB 130. They had similar groupings. I fought with the Speer Lawman 158's that wanted to go high and left.
Just thought I'd post my thoughts....
Attached Thumbnails

 

[2nd 41]

i used to have an airweight 38 spl. it was not pleasant to shoot with +p loads. but then again, it wasn't meant to be

My 37 was not intolerable to shoot.......just that it's not the kind of gun you want to go target shooting with.

 

[AKElroy]

I have a Scandium 340, fired TWO 158 gr full house loads through it, now I know what it feels like to get shot. Tried 125 gr "reduced recoil" loads, still left a grip shaped bruise in the palm of my hand. Managed 5 rounds. It now stays full of 125 gr .38 +P's. A 12 oz gun IS RIDICULOUS for a .357.

 

[Poor East Texan]

I'd have to agree that a S&W snubby with wood factory grips SUCKS with 158gr.

I put what I think are Pachmayr oversize rubber grips and it feels WAY better.

I say think because it is in my Dads house and not in front of me.

 

[chriske]

My only snub -so far- is a stainless steel 2" barreled S&W 640.
I replaced the tiny slick wooden grip panels with rubber Pachmayr Compac grips . It is very comfortable with all non- +P 38 Spl. loads.
+P loads feel about like standard .380 ACP's from my PPK Walther : a bit less pleasant but certainly manageable for a dozen or so rounds (actually 15 shots, 3 cylinderfuls).

 

[BlindJustice]

Warning will robinson...

I read a gun test of a S&W J-frame with the scandium frame and
Ti cylinder in .357 Mag. The author states that S&W recommends a
max bullet weight of 125 gr. HD/SD loads because of cylinder
strength concerns.

A friend at a range, said he observed in a similar gun to the type
described above with 158 gr. full house loads another shooter at the
range experienced a bulged cylinder.

Another reason I went with the all stell 60.

Randall

 

[JWF III]

I read a gun test of a S&W J-frame with the scandium frame and
Ti cylinder in .357 Mag. The author states that S&W recommends a
max bullet weight of 125 gr. HD/SD loads because of cylinder
strength concerns.

A friend at a range, said he observed in a similar gun to the type
described above with 158 gr. full house loads another shooter at the
range experienced a bulged cylinder.

I recently bought the 360PD Chiefs Special. Mine is the model with the stainless cylinder. I too heard sismilar things about S&W recomended loads, so I searched the manual. I did find the recommendation to shoot heavier than 120 gr. magnum loads, to eliminate frame cutting by the hot gases.

If the qoute above is correct about the Ti cylinders. That sure is a small margin for bullet weight. 120 gr.-125 gr.

BTW to answer the OP's question. I LOVE mine. Recoil is managable to me. I've owned it just over a week and have about 250 thru it to date. 50 of which were full house 158 gr. magnums.

My guess if you kept track of this thread with each shooter's grip type. With very few exceptions, you could draw a line down the middle between the stock wood grips and the stock/aftermarket Hogue (rubber) grips.

Wyman

 

[raveneap]

My SW 637 J frame, 38+P, is easy to shoot; perceived recoil is light.

 

[coach22]

After much experimenting, My J's are loaded with:
49 & 442 Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158's.
640 (38) First 2 are BB Standard Pressure 158's
and next 3 are BB 158 +P's.
Gives me a fast first 2 and warms me up for next 3.
340 PD Buffalo Bore 125 38 +P's.
Don't have to worry about crimp with a jacketed bullet.
Prior to BB's all were loaded with Corbon DPX 38 +P's.
For me, the DPX is an easy load to shoot in all my J's.
The BB's give me a little more power, albeit with
a little more recoil, but certainly able to control.
P.S. All 4 have Pachmayr Compacs.

 

[wrs840]

like brin747 said:

I have a 642 Airweight with stock grips on it. I regularly run 38+p through it and don't find the recoil to be a problem at all. In fact, I love that little kick and usually end up running through a full box of ammo on each range trip.

+1. My thoughts exactly regarding my 442.

Les