New to the revolver fold -- J Frame

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OhioGuy

New member
Just announcing that I've moved a foot into Revolver Land :)

I've been through two pocket-sized .380s and I just can't handle them well. Too small, too jumpy, too easy to fumble on the draw for me. So I found a used 442 for a great $300 price and I'm looking forward to learning to master the snubbie as a deep concealment gun.
 
Welcome to the real world of shooting. You're gonna like that gun. Start saving your Shekels because this won't be your last revolver. Hint: S&W model 15s are about the best 38 Special you can own. And they made lots of them.:D
 
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Congrats.

Suggest practicing keeping the sights on target during the double action trigger pull by dry firing with a coin on the top strap (and/or using laser grips or a bore sight laser).
 
I think that adding some diversity to your arms collection was a good idea. the guy who will never have anything but a dodge isn't doing himself any favors.
 
OhioGuy said:
Just announcing that I've moved a foot into Revolver Land :)

I've been through two pocket-sized .380s and I just can't handle them well. Too small, too jumpy, too easy to fumble on the draw for me. So I found a used 442 for a great $300 price and I'm looking forward to learning to master the snubbie as a deep concealment gun.
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Coolness.

Now start on a search for just the right set of grips.
 
I agree, a nice Model 15 is a thing of beauty. I also have a Model 67 and it's my go to gun. I've been wanting a nice 4" Model 19, but I just recently picked up a Ruger 4" GP100 and am really liking it. The trigger pull while heavy, is smooth and consistent with a crisp let off. It is getting better with dry firing and I have a Wolf spring kit on the way. Once I get the trigger lightened up it may just well become one of my favorites. While I'm not a fan of full under lug barrels and have always been a Smith guy, I'm excited about the Ruger and glad I tried one out.
 
Haha, real shooting huh? :) As someone who routinely shoots semi-autos with red dot sights, I'm clearly not in Kansas anymore.

I picked up the J frame last night and put 50 inaugural rounds through it. I already shoot it much better than any pocket .380. Between the short grip, stiff trigger and tiny sights I have a definite tendency to hit high with it, obviously my wrist is breaking as I'm completing the pull. Was much worse toward the end and I could tell my finger was getting tired! Even with some orange paint, the sights don't qualify as sights vs. what I'm used to.

I've read that the Crimson Trace laser grips are kinda chintzy feeling plastic.

I've held the Hogue grips before, super comfortable but much larger and seem to negate the super concealability of the small revolver. I would be open to lightening the trigger pull.

I will definitely put a coin on the top rail and practice the trigger squeeze.

I will also have to learn how to draw and present without automatically taking a semi-auto support hand position, as I really don't want to burn my hand!
 
If you want to have a truly accurate reading of what your trigger pull performance will be, tape a very small laser pointer either along the barrel or on the butt. It doesn't matter if it is aimed properly, you just want to see the movement. Set up a target and dry fire using the target and whatever sighting system you plan on using.

Set up your phone, tablet, whatever you own, to record a half hour or so of dry firing with the laser showing exactly what your trigger pull is doing to your point of aim all the way through the sequence. If there is a spot when you yank your gun off of point of aim by a few degrees, you will now know exactly what is happening.
 
While in the store, I held and marveled at a $900 Kimber K6 stainless revolver. Wow. That was a thing of beauty. I will say, something about a solid steel weapon with a cylinder on it feels more "real" than all the plastic guns I'm used to.

That said, my plastic gun carries almost 3x the rounds and is still lighter than the K6 revolver, so there's that...
 
OhioGuy said:
Haha, real shooting huh? :) As someone who routinely shoots semi-autos with red dot sights, I'm clearly not in Kansas anymore.

I picked up the J frame last night and put 50 inaugural rounds through it. I already shoot it much better than any pocket .380.
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That was my experience too. I actually picked up my first snub earlier, shot reasonably well with it. Then bought an LCP. Found that just wasn't as much fun to shoot, decided I'd rather have 5 of .38 than 6 of .380, and went back to the Taurus 605.

I've read that the Crimson Trace laser grips are kinda chintzy feeling plastic.
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I have 2, both larger grips, one for the Taurus small frame and one for the j-frame. Both acquired in the last 6 months. Love them. Maybe the smallest size boot grip is plasticy. These are not. Rubber, quite pleasant to use, even without the laser. And using the laser, I can make good hits quite a bit further out than with the iron sights.

Ignoring color differences in the grip and laser, CT has, I think, 4 different j-frame options.

Your Mileage May Vary. I have pretty big hands.

I've held the Hogue grips before, super comfortable but much larger and seem to negate the super concealability of the small revolver.
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I like larger grips, but never cared much for the Hogue rubber grips. Just always found something else I like better. Right now, the above mentioned Crimson Trace grips.

I would be open to lightening the trigger pull.
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Shoot it a bunch, dry fire the crap out of it, before you muck with the trigger.

will definitely put a coin on the top rail and practice the trigger squeeze.
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"Meh." (Lasergrip helps a lot with this. Just keep the dot steady.)

I will also have to learn how to draw and present without automatically taking a semi-auto support hand position, as I really don't want to burn my hand!
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You'll get used to it.
 
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Congrats. After you shoot well with a double action revolver, you are going to have to keep yourself from scoffing at people who jump on purchasing the newest semi-auto with a marginally "better" trigger, saying that the last trigger "sucks".

Crimson trace grips - I have a set on a j frame, the boot grip style that extends no further than the revolver's frame. It's thinner than a lot of grips, so not a lot of meat. I don't feel the plastic is cheap. I filed a tiny bit of a sharp edge off where the plastic lets the backstrap protrude through the grip, before the grip transitions up to the rubber cushion in back. The plastic feels solid, has a fine matte texture, and doesn't have a greasy feeling like worn police trade-in Gen 3 Glock starts to have. Crimson trace can be had in different styles. There's a full 3 finger grip that accommodates your pinky if you want or the small boot grip style. Even if you do get it, I'd practice with and without laser on.
 
With a gun that size, going to grips you like will probably negate the conceal-ability. Since it is not a target gun, maybe just learning to shoot it as-is at close range, point and shoot, is the way to think of it. Ergonomics comes more into play with that Model 10 someone mentioned, but it is not easy to conceal without controlling what you wear, let alone to put it in a pocket.
 
The guy I bought from included three speed loaders with it. They seem to get hung up on the grip and aren't easy to actually use. What am I doing wrong?
 
When you're practicing, load four instead of five. Spin the chamber and then close it without looking.

When the gun doesn't move when you pull the trigger on the empty chamber, you know you're on the right track.

It's an old Indian trick my friend from Bombay taught me.
 
There are a number of Crimson Trace models that fit J-frames. Some are hard plastic, some are soft rubber. Some are full length, some are shorter lengths.

Personally, I like Crimson Trace grips. Am not familiar with other brands.

Very good for dry firing and trigger squeeze control.

ETA: the one (or more) empty cylinder technique is also very good for exposing your deficiencies, such as recoil anticipation.
 
Good choice but think carefully about the words "deep Concealment" My theory is, if you don't have it in hand, you better be able to draw in under two seconds.
 
Highly recommend "The Snubby Revolver" by Ed Lovette. Paperback, good and easy read, lots of accurate and useful info. Paladin Press.
 
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