223 shooter
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I went with a 642 and have no doubts it was the right J-Frame. It is as close to a perfect pocket carry revolver as I can think of.
Looking into S&W J frame
- Thread starter Bel5191
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I went with a 642 and have no doubts it was the right J-Frame. It is as close to a perfect pocket carry revolver as I can think of.
I have a couple of J-frames. All steel model 49 from the early 70s with a shrouded hammer not rated for +P, and a new 642 DAO that came with a S&W factory trigger job.
I had a model 60 back in the mid-80s but didn't much care for it. Miserable trigger pull on the thing.
The 49 and 642 are much better. That factory trigger job was worth the extra cost on the 642.
I love the 642 for pocket carry in a Desantis Nemesis holster. I also have a Remora IWB holster for it but I don't like that one quite so much. I should have gotten the lower profile version of the Remora.
Same holster works for the 49 but it's a heavier chunk of metal.
If I were looking for non-pocket carry I'd get a Bonneville OWB holster from www.ubgholsters.com. I have several of his holsters and love them all. I don't much like IWB carry in general and especially for a revolver. Works for thinner semi-autos for me, though.
For ammo - in the Model 49 I'm carrying Buffalo Bore 158gr standard pressure lead SWC HP. In the 642, the same round in +P. That is a mighty handful in the 642. Another choice if you can find it would be the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P JHP for short barrels. I'm sure the other modern SD rounds would do well for you too (Hornady Critical Defense, Winchester PDX1, etc.)
I had a model 60 back in the mid-80s but didn't much care for it. Miserable trigger pull on the thing.
The 49 and 642 are much better. That factory trigger job was worth the extra cost on the 642.
I love the 642 for pocket carry in a Desantis Nemesis holster. I also have a Remora IWB holster for it but I don't like that one quite so much. I should have gotten the lower profile version of the Remora.
Same holster works for the 49 but it's a heavier chunk of metal.
If I were looking for non-pocket carry I'd get a Bonneville OWB holster from www.ubgholsters.com. I have several of his holsters and love them all. I don't much like IWB carry in general and especially for a revolver. Works for thinner semi-autos for me, though.
For ammo - in the Model 49 I'm carrying Buffalo Bore 158gr standard pressure lead SWC HP. In the 642, the same round in +P. That is a mighty handful in the 642. Another choice if you can find it would be the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P JHP for short barrels. I'm sure the other modern SD rounds would do well for you too (Hornady Critical Defense, Winchester PDX1, etc.)
J-Frame Smiths...like 'em...have owned 4 but now own two...the other two went to family members who liked too and managed to talk me out of 'em. They work well, shoot nicely, and will do all that you probably need doing in a SD situation on the street. Five shots ought to be enough....but...
For strictly pocket use, an Airweight is the answer, shrouded, with grips that you can get a good hold on to do the work that needs to be done in an instant. But for all that, I just have never been able to buy one that didn't have a visible hammer...just didn't look right.
My wife, daughter in law, both sons and I all carry in one manner or another, S&W J-frames. None of the guns is lacking a hammer...but I'll readily agree that a shrouded hammer makes more sense, even from the holster,...where I normally carry mine in the old FBI 4 o'clock position. Mine is that all steel M36 with the 3" tube in the lower photo...too heavy for pocket use, unless you're wearing a leather A-2 Air Force issue flying jacket.
Here are the pics...and don't you agree, that's a good lookin' trio o' Smiths... useful too. That last one is a 5"er, very handy in a Tom Threepersons holster on meadow walks...in .357 too.
Best Regards, but get the shrouded one, in aluminum alloy, for pocket use. Rod
For strictly pocket use, an Airweight is the answer, shrouded, with grips that you can get a good hold on to do the work that needs to be done in an instant. But for all that, I just have never been able to buy one that didn't have a visible hammer...just didn't look right.
My wife, daughter in law, both sons and I all carry in one manner or another, S&W J-frames. None of the guns is lacking a hammer...but I'll readily agree that a shrouded hammer makes more sense, even from the holster,...where I normally carry mine in the old FBI 4 o'clock position. Mine is that all steel M36 with the 3" tube in the lower photo...too heavy for pocket use, unless you're wearing a leather A-2 Air Force issue flying jacket.
Here are the pics...and don't you agree, that's a good lookin' trio o' Smiths... useful too. That last one is a 5"er, very handy in a Tom Threepersons holster on meadow walks...in .357 too.
Best Regards, but get the shrouded one, in aluminum alloy, for pocket use. Rod
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It sounds like your leaning toward a hammerless model,which I guess are fine.
I have seven snubbies. 3 J frames, 3 K frames,and a Colt Detective Special,and they all have exposed hammers.
I've tried for the life of me to snag one pulling it from my pocket,but it just doesnt happen,but maybe that's just me.
I guess one day I'll buy a hammerless one if I run across a deal on one,but in the mean time I'll stick with the ones with exposed hammers.
They are easy to carry, and fun to shoot.
I have seven snubbies. 3 J frames, 3 K frames,and a Colt Detective Special,and they all have exposed hammers.
I've tried for the life of me to snag one pulling it from my pocket,but it just doesnt happen,but maybe that's just me.
I guess one day I'll buy a hammerless one if I run across a deal on one,but in the mean time I'll stick with the ones with exposed hammers.
They are easy to carry, and fun to shoot.
Redhawk5.5+P+
New member
Me uses/CCW 638.
claimbuster
New member
Have, and carry a M640 & M640-3. The 640-3 in 357 used to be my EDC for several years. Also have a 3" M60 with adjustable sights that is a nice trail gun. Mrs. CB has a M640 and a M36 3". She learned to shoot handgun with the M36.
Spur hammer on a pocket gun is not logical. The shape of a DA revolver is designed specifically for DA shooting and is somewhat awkward for thumb cocking (compare the manipulation with a true SA revolver and see.) DA is best for self-defense in a close-up situation. If the threat is not close-up, then your motivation for shooting can be brought into question. Those who want to maintain the ability of thumb cocking the gun to shoot single action seem oblivious to that fact. In what possible scenario would you, 1. Have the need to thumb cock. 2. Thumb cocking would be better than double action?
Consider the statement: "I have a spur on the hammer of my pocket gun and it never caught on anything." Begs two questions: Does that absolutely ensure that it never will? How often has that gun (with a spur), been drawn in an actual life-threatening situation?
Spurless self-defense pocket-carry revolvers:
S&W M36
Taurus M85
Consider the statement: "I have a spur on the hammer of my pocket gun and it never caught on anything." Begs two questions: Does that absolutely ensure that it never will? How often has that gun (with a spur), been drawn in an actual life-threatening situation?
Spurless self-defense pocket-carry revolvers:
S&W M36
Taurus M85
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RedBowTies88
New member
What if the BG grabbed a hostage and precision shooting was needed? What is you were undisclosed to the BG and wanted to have the best change for good shot placement on the intaial shot?
Sure most of the time DA would have to be used exclusively...but there are cases where SA would be useful. Plus as I said.. I've never had my model 37 snag on my pocket (usung a posket holster greatly reduces the chance of a snag IMHO) with hundreds of draw and fire drills. Not even once
Sure most of the time DA would have to be used exclusively...but there are cases where SA would be useful. Plus as I said.. I've never had my model 37 snag on my pocket (usung a posket holster greatly reduces the chance of a snag IMHO) with hundreds of draw and fire drills. Not even once
Bang! Whoops! I shot the hostage right through the head. Now, how the hell am I going to explain this to the police? Where in the different States Concealed Carry laws does it give the right for a private citizen to shoot at a perpetrator holding a hostage?
Just what cases are those? Please, not fantasy instances, but real-life, verifiable instances.
How many times have you drawn it in a life-threatening situation? The only way you can say a hammer spur will not catch in the fabric of your pocket is if your gun does not have one.
As I have asked those who do not believe in bobbing the hammer, just exactly what scenario can you envision that you would need to thumb-cock a double action?
2damnold4this
New member
I like a hammer spur on a kit gun. It's easier to shoot a rattlesnake in the head with the lighter trigger in single action mode. But I carry a 642 and if I stay in practice, I can hit a snake head in DAO. Having no hammer spur is a better choice for me on a concealed carry gun.
Most states allow for the use of deadly force to protect others in certain circumstances. Georgia, for example states: A person is justified in using threats or force to the degree they reasonably believe it is necessary to stop another person's imminent use of unlawful force. A person is justified in using deadly force which may harm or kill only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or herself or a third person or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony...
Most states allow for the use of deadly force to protect others in certain circumstances. Georgia, for example states: A person is justified in using threats or force to the degree they reasonably believe it is necessary to stop another person's imminent use of unlawful force. A person is justified in using deadly force which may harm or kill only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or herself or a third person or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony...
It is legitimate argument to say that a person holding a hostage is not likely going to harm that person, they are using the threat of harm, harm itself is not imenent...Hostages are usually used for leverage in a negotiation. If I were a hostage I certainly would not want some cowboy shooting at the perpetrator with me in the approximate line of fire...and neither would you. Keep it real people. In the real world, police would not start with lethal force because it is almost impossible to go back to negotiation once the shooting starts. And neither should the cowboys among us take it upon themselves to decide that they should take a "make me a hero shot", rather than let the police do what they are trained to do...negotiate, and try to solve the issue without blood letting first. Concealed weapons are for self-defense and as such, thumb-cocking for the dubious need for a long shot is more of an exercise in self-delusion than a possible reality.
In a hostage situation taking a shot may be dubious at best - what about where someone is already shooting anybody in range? If you were there and could shoot you would what to do what you could to make it count. SA would up your chances, especially with something like a shorter barrell revolver.
1. How frequently does that happen compared to just a face to face short range situation? 2. What is more likely to happen, snagging a hammer spur in the top of your pocket, or someone already shooting at long distance? 3. If you would actually practice until you master double-action shooting, how much difference would it make to your shooting? 3. How often does it happen in real life where a nut-job shoots random people at long range compared to randomly shooting them at short range? Seems like with a few exceptions, mass shootings are usually short range, well within double action capabilities.
Double actions are designed to be double action. However, it is a common situation where people will buy a double action revolver and do most of their shooting single action and never attain any proficiency with double action shooting. If single actions were all that superior for defense, we would all be carrying Colt Model P's.
Whirlwind06
New member
I play some gun games with my revolvers. Every once in while we have the "hit the small gold star on the plate" and get 5 seconds taken off.
First time we had one those I went to SA thinking that would be ticket. Well for me it wasn't, I missed.
Couple months later we had another one and did my regular old DA pull (the one I practice all of the time) and got the gold star.
So I guess the point I'm trying to make is, unless you are practicing that SA revolver trigger pull. Don't count hitting anything with it.
YMMV
First time we had one those I went to SA thinking that would be ticket. Well for me it wasn't, I missed.
Couple months later we had another one and did my regular old DA pull (the one I practice all of the time) and got the gold star.
So I guess the point I'm trying to make is, unless you are practicing that SA revolver trigger pull. Don't count hitting anything with it.
YMMV
Personally when I draw my snubby from my pocket, my thumb automatically goes on the hammer. Thus no snag. I like the option of having a hammer to cock if I have a need or desire to do so.
Thats my preference and may or may not work for someone else.
Also with my snubby if I get a fail to fire all I have to do is pull the trigger again, with a semi auto I would have to clear the round which takes more time than simply pulling the trigger again.
Thats my preference and may or may not work for someone else.
Also with my snubby if I get a fail to fire all I have to do is pull the trigger again, with a semi auto I would have to clear the round which takes more time than simply pulling the trigger again.