J frame--pocket carry--steel or airweight?

Well lets see if we can make it at least 2 pages...:D
I carried a Taurus CIA, Stainless J frame and SP101 front pocket carry....they were all close to the same weight....Id say it really depends on the pants/belt/body style you have......I would forget the SP was there.....I also used a great pocket holster......which you should use regardless of the guns weight...IMHO.
Shoot well......
You could compromise and get a 16-17 OZ gun....heavy enough to shoot and light enough to carry well....just a thought.
 
I curently have a S&W Model 38 and a Colt Agent. The steel frame "j's" that I had have been sold down the river. I found the steel guns to be a pain in "my" pockets. I usually wear khakis and my Model .38 dissapears inside and is never a problem.

The Colt Agent is just a tad larger to cover the 6 round cylinder and the weight a hair heavier. It does not go out with me at all. The Airweight J frame is my one and only choice for snub nosed pocket carry.
 
:confused:

I'd suggest trying each one before buying. Unless you can justify buying one of each, which is the best :).. I don't normally do pants pocket carry, but offer the following:

For me, the difference in recoil is a lot more noticable than the difference in weight. I bought a 640-1, and it is about perfect as an always gun.

To be honest, I keep myself honest by remembering what one well known author wrote about saving ounces in a mountain rifle years ago. Something about replacing a perfectly good paid for rifle to save maybe a pound, when the bathroom scale suggests a healthier and cheaper way to get rid of much more weight. He thought this was a better way to make hiking easier.

I remember this and then kind of grin at myself. I hope it helps to keep my head on straight. I still want that new gun though :)..
 
I carry a 442 as my "all-the-time".
I've tried all steel J-frames and find them too heavy for front pocket carry (my usual carry for the 442). In a Renegade ankle holster, I notice the difference in weight, but don't think that it is significant. On the belt, I don't even notice the extra 6 ounces or so.
 
I've carried a steel(sometimes ss) J-frame most of My adult life and only a few years ago decided on a dedicated alloy pocket revolver.I settled on a 642.In the past the few alloys were usually mod 37s,38s or 12s.I still carry My 649 daily except for when attire dictates pocket carry.That's when the 642 really shines.tom.:D
 
I own both a 36 and two 37's on the 37's one has a pachmeyer gripper the other has the small S&W grips the one with the small grips always seems to find it's way into my front pocket in a Galco pocket holster.Never even notice it's there,easiest gun I've ever carried.I can shoot the 37's as accurate as the 36 no problem.
 
Go with Colt

Check the used gun market for a Colt Agent or Colt Cobra revolver. The Colt Agent will probably be better for your needs as it has smaller grips.
 
I suspect the Ideal Situation would be:

3 S&W J frames, one alloy frame, one steel frame and one in .22LR for practice. Great reason to spend money.

Geoff
Who missed his chance to buy a 3" Model 60 in .22LR. Sigh.. :cool:
 
There's no comparison between my old 649 and my 340SC, the "beast". The 12/13 ounce difference is very significant, especially in pocket carry.

Of course, the recoil difference is also significant,

John
 
After careful consideration of this very point, and lots of shooting at a rental range and at our club's pistol fun nights, I decided to go with steel.

I carry eveyday with a nemisis pocket holster. The only weight problem I find is when wearing drawstring waist shorts. I reall have to tie the string tight to keep them up.

I had been worried that the extra few ounces would weight my pockets down in regulat shorts and pants, but it has not made any difference.

There is a huge difference when shooting +P between the regular and light weights.
 
I find that in a pocket-carried J-frame, the steel guns are so heavy that they drag the pocket, the Ti guns are too light to practice much with +P's, and the Airweights are just right.

I have a 36, a 640, a 49, a 37, a 38, and a 442. I tote the 442.
 
My two leading pocket carry guns are a 342 and a 940. The 342 is easier to carry, certainly, but if the pants and belt are right the 940 is no problem. See Mike Irwin's post above. There's no single correct answer. The steel J-frames can definitely be carried in a pocket without any disadvantage. The question you need to work on is whether it'll work for you.
 
Airweight. I ran out to the store once for some smokes with a Model 60 in my dockers shorts and no belt. In the store, I felt like a rapper holding my pants up.
ML
 
Airweight, particularly a 642-1, gets the nod for pocket carry for MY use ... but the carbon steel 442 is an excellent little gun, too.

I disliked titanium cyinders on the Airlite Ti guns ... just ME ... and the savings in "weight" wasn't sufficient to justify the increased cost, again, to ME. I also preferred ammunition (lead bullets) not recommended for the Airlite Ti guns.

I prefer aluminum frames, steel (stainless or carbon) cylinders and barrels. Nice balance of strength and weight in the current Airweight guns rated for +P ammunition.

I dislike shooting 125gr .357 Magnum through the Airlite Sc guns, and the extra cost is just more than I care to pay for another .38 snub gun. I'd bet the Sc aluminum frames would withstand a lifetime of shooting .38 ammunition, though ...

My older 649 Bodyguard is just heavier "enough" that I found myself not choosing to consider it for general pocket carry. The exceptions were large insulated vest pockets, and heavy jacket & raincoat pockets. Of course, even my 2.25" SP-101 DAO .357 worked for "pocket carry" in those "exception" circumstances.

I'd rather shoot .357 Magnum through my SP101 than an Airlite Sc 340. I'm sure the Airlite Sc gun will last a lifetime, but the extra mass of the Ruger will allow my hand a better chance to last my lifetime, using .357 Magnum ammunition, too. ;)

These sorts of issues are why folks who prefer J-frames often find themselves owning more than one of them ...

The compact size makes them convenient, and the newer designs have really increased their versatility.

The very things that make them convenient and versatile also tend to make them more difficult to shoot for many folks, though, and they generally require more frequent and dedicated practice in order to shoot accurately and controllably.

There's enough different models available nowadays that there's probably one to suit most anyone needing a snubnosed wheelgun.

Did I mention I prefer the "plain" Airweight? Nice compromise. ;)
 
Airweight

I carry a S&W M442 in my pocket, or tucket in my waistband strong side. I've tried it with a heavier handgun, and while not impossible or totally uncomfortable, the lightweight is much better. I'm also an Animal Control Officer and just picked up a M317 snubby for putting down sick animals. It rides in my back pocket all the time and does so very comfortably.

Again, I don't have anything against the steel or SS snubbies, but I much prefer the lightweight for carry.
 
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