How many prefer the Hammerless SW J-frames?

[fowler]

Can,t beat them for snagfree draw and keeping crud out of the action. The most popular my guess would be the 642,442. Then for those who like the lite Sc 340pd and those who like stainless ,more weight and controll the 640. Any will work ,but what works best for you? What in Ammo38 +P for the 642,442 and in 357mag for the 340pd,640 do you favor?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[zxd9]

I like the 642 for the reasons you mentioned. Keeps the action free of lint and no hammer to snag on stray strings in the pocket. Also, I would imagine that when it comes down to needing to use the firearm, you're not going to have time to go to SA anyway so why bother with the hammer.

I use the Gold Dot +P for short barrels.

[srfl]

The Centennial line are great wheelguns....I need to get me one!

[pistola]

I have a 640. It serves as a BUG,or at times when the Combat Commander is not practical. I roll my own ammo.

[enigmaone]

It's not listed, but my every day carry is a S&W638, Corbon 38+ps.

[Barry in IN]

I like most J-frames anyway, but like the Centennials for carry. I have a well-worn 442 in my pocket right now, and a spare in case that one ever gives out.
The 442 is my choice now, but I have a 640 that saw a lot of use.

In short, the 442 is light enough, but heavy enough.

It's only been about a year since I semi-retired the 442. I got a Kahr 9mm that worked well, and since I could shoot it a lot better than any J-frame I ever had, the Kahr took over the main pocket gun role. But notice I said "semi-retired"- the 442 only moved to another pocket.

Here is the 442 that I use most:


I carry it in this pocket holster:


Looks purty, doesn't it?

[ccw9mm]

Can,t beat them for snag-free draw and keeping crud out of the action.

Had a 442 for years, up until a year ago when I went semi-auto exclusively. (Well, that is until this morning's Ruger Alaskan .44m purchase, for the field when with the Marlin .44m carbine.)

Definitely liked the low weight, but that weight (15.8oz) and snubbie format meant it was fairly harsh on the hands when shooting. I'm far more accurate with a hot .380 in the KelTec P3AT or a hot 9mm in a friend's KelTec P11. Uncertain why, since both are lighter and shorter. Go figure. Still, there's something straightforward and simple about a S&W J-frame revolver. It plain works. It's small, so it conceals well. It works. It holds its resale value over time, due to the quality and reliability. It works.

[RB]

Looks purty, doesn't it?

Looks great to me! I hope my S&W looks that good after so much carry.

[whw]

I carry the 642 as a bug most of the time and as my primary when going to the mail box. Speer makes a great round for the shorter barrel revolvers. What a great gun.

whw

[spacecoastguy]

+1 on the S&W 638

[fed_wif_a_sig]

Model 36 with the hammer bobbed and CTC laser grips was my backup for many a moon and still rides with me occasionally when off duty.

[lowflyer]

642 for me too. I love that little gun. Way fun to shoot. Easy to carry. Inexpensive and totally reliable.

[NY27]

I have a 60 that I don't carry anymore. I have a 640 in .38 that I carry in a ballistic vest holster as a BUG while working. I also have a 340PD that I carry sometimes as a BUG while off-duty.

I carry Speer Gold Dot 135gr +p .38s in all of the j frames. Sometimes I put larger grips on the 340PD and carry 125 gr 357 mags.

The S&W j frames are great little guns and I prefer the DAO models. No snag on the draw or you could fire them from inside your jacket pocket.

The 60 (with hammer) was the first firearm I ever purchased so I cannot part with it even though I don't carry it anymore.

[NY27]

I like most J-frames anyway, but like the Centennials for carry. I have a well-worn 442 in my pocket right now, and a spare in case that one ever gives out.
The 442 is my choice now, but I have a 640 that saw a lot of use.

In short, the 442 is light enough, but heavy enough.

It's only been about a year since I semi-retired the 442. I got a Kahr 9mm that worked well, and since I could shoot it a lot better than any J-frame I ever had, the Kahr took over the main pocket gun role. But notice I said "semi-retired"- the 442 only moved to another pocket.

Here is the 442 that I use most:


I carry it in this pocket holster:


Looks purty, doesn't it?

That gun looks awesome. Having some of the finish worn off gives that gun a lot of character. My oldest is stainless, so it doesn't show its age.

[PeterCartwright]

+1 on the Centennials. The 642 is "just right" (not too heavy...not too light). I also treasure a 3"/60 that I sometimes carry as a light car gun (in a DeSanti shoulder holster). The extra sighting radius of the 3" barrel makes the little gun feel bigger. Short barrel GD's in both.