S&W J frame input

[Anokamnman]

So I will be going out and buying a J frame in the next week. I have read a lot about them. Rented a few of them to practice with. This will be used as a carry gun for my wife and once in a while I might carry when she doesn't. My question to you is which set up do you like better? The internal hammer, shrouded hammer or external hammer? And why do you like it best?

[cobb]

For carry I prefer the internal hammer. When carrying a J frame size I am usually carrying in a pocket, with an external hammer I would be concerned that it could catch on pocket stitching when drawing. As far as a shrouded like a S&W 638 would be an option, but I see no advantage of a shroud on a pocket carry gun.

[bstrawse]

I also carry the internal hammer - for the same reasons that Cobb outlined above
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[westhope]

This will be used as a carry gun for my wife

Again, let your wife choose the gun she wants. Not the one you think she needs.

I have at least 6 J-frames. My primary carry gun. Great guns, tough to shoot, but they can be shot very accurately with practice.

Internal hammer, Double Action Only. (642 / 442 in 38 Special) External hammer can catch on things when drawn. You can buy different grips if you want.

[Anokamnman]

Thanks. I was leaning more towards the shrouded hammer for the SA/DA. But I am open to the idea of the internal hammer. At least with the internal I don't have to worry about pocket lint or other misc pocket junk getting in. Still have to make up my mind. The shouted hammer set up like the 649 is pretty nice but haven't seen one at any of the local gun shops for sale. Going to stop at frontiersman today and see what they have and check pricing

[Anokamnman]

The wife is in the same boat as me. She is leaning towards shrouded hammer. She has decided she wants the crimson trace LG-305 grips on it since they are the most comfortable to her.

[cobb]

This will be used as a carry gun for my wife

Again, let your wife choose the gun she wants. Not the one you think she needs.

Very true, see it many times. Husband buys nice compact handgun for wife, but wife doesn't like to shoot it and the husband is perplexed. The reason is, these light weight compact revolvers have very substantial recoil compared to a 4" steel six shooter. Even if the wife will shoot it, she can be so intimidated by it's recoil that she yanks the trigger and can't even hit the target backer at 21 feet.

[Anokamnman]

She has fired about 200 rounds through a couple different j frames. She was hitting the paper right away. But was all over the paper. As she practiced she was doing much better. I personally would rather see her carry a 1911. This was her call.

[westhope]

The problems I have always had with the shrouded hammer versions are: They are hard to manually cock the hammer to shoot single action. Not much to grab on to to cock the hammer. The other problem I have is: How do you lower a cocked hammer safely. If your finger slips off the shrouded hammer as you are pulling the trigger to lower the hammer, it will fire. They also look like a place to collect lint since my main method of carry is pocket carry.

For these reasons, I do not like shrouded hammer. I go with internal hammer, DOA versions or external hammer on the 22 LR J-frame I have.

[rugersol]

Thanks. I was leaning more towards the shrouded hammer for the SA/DA. But I am open to the idea of the internal hammer. At least with the internal I don't have to worry about pocket lint or other misc pocket junk getting in. Still have to make up my mind. The shouted hammer set up like the 649 is pretty nice but haven't seen one at any of the local gun shops for sale. Going to stop at frontiersman today and see what they have and check pricing

I've had lint get in by the trigger. .. jest as bad, if not worse. .. get a pocket-holster!

[Countryfried Frank]

The problems I have always had with the shrouded hammer versions are: They are hard to manually cock the hammer to shoot single action. Not much to grab on to to cock the hammer. The other problem I have is: How do you lower a cocked hammer safely. If your finger slips off the shrouded hammer as you are pulling the trigger to lower the hammer, it will fire. They also look like a place to collect lint since my main method of carry is pocket carry.

For these reasons, I do not like shrouded hammer. I go with internal hammer, DOA versions or external hammer on the 22 LR J-frame I have.

Agreed about the shroud but my preference is exposed hammer in an IWB or shoulder rig. If you go with the internal hammer have her try the LCR if she hasn't already. I am an S&W snob but I have to admit I like the DA pull on the Ruger.

[Drizzle]

I carried a 642 for a while, and someone here sold me a 638 with a 2.5inch barrel. Coupled with some slightly larger rubber grips, giving my pinkie finger purchase instead of wrapping around the bottom of the grip, and I shoot the 638 better than the 642 now, so I switched for carry. Don't notice the larger grip as a problem in my jeans pocket, and with either version, once you find the flat spot where you are just a hair from dropping the hammer after almost pulling the trigger the whole way, you'll never worry about cocking it. i was working on this and Benny showed me I was on the right track, you have time to pull, resight, and pull the rest of the way; it's almost like cocking a hammer. Really slick. Lots of dry fire practice for this, but once you've got it, you'll never shoot a snub any other way.

[TooTech]

As already mentioned, the recoil of the .38 Spcl. in the aluminum-framed Smithies gets tiresome after a few cylinders. This is a gun that requires practice but getting that practice is no fun.

My solution was to buy a S&W 432PD in .32 H&R Magnum. Lower recoil, good performance cartridge, and a pleasure to shoot. You even get a 6th round in the cylinder. It also chambers the 32 S&W Long cartridge for even lower recoil.

I see that S&W is now making a J-frame in .327 Federal. Another option, although a rather expensive one.

[Pezhead]

I carry an internal hammer J frame and my dad has the external hammer. He likes the option of being able to manually cock it.
My wife likes the M&P 9mm but she also said she might like the Bodyguard .38 we looked at this weekend. The choice will be hers. Neither of us has shot the Bodyguard yet. We have shot the LCR though.

[plblark]

I prefer the internal hammer for the reasons Cobb stated. Well, that and trying to de-cock a SA revolver under stress is, while possible, worrisome at best. The nice thing about J-frames with internal hammers is the trigger pull is always the same. The bad thing is it's always long and hard. But you can overcome that with practice and between a good pocket holster and the right grips there are tons of options out there to make the gun fit you.