More than 70 years after Smith & Wesson introduced their first lightweight hammerless snub nose revolver, they've finally released a version with modern sights, excellent grips, and a decent trigger. They're offering it in .38 Special and (the criminally underrated) .32 H&R Magnum and it's called the Ultimate Carry J-Frame. Let's find out if it's any good.
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Chris should fist fight yankee marshall.
What did that clown do this time?
Lofl!
Yankee does not like 32 Cal revolvers.
@@joelmclamore1898 yank this eh....
Never mind fist fight, let them debate.
Just have to say, Lucky Gunner is the best gun channel on KZhead bar none . My dad was a gunsmith, so I grew up in a house of guns and I’ve been behind a gun for 35 years, this is the most informative REAL gun channel I have ever come across on KZhead. Thanks Chris, you are a breath of fresh air in a gun world full of misinformation 🙏👍
I like Paul Harrell’s channel better. But even Paul Harrell liked Lucky Gunner. It’s one of the rare channels he called out by name as authoritative.
@@EricDaMAJThat's all in the past now. Hate to admit it. Don't even like to say it. Either way, these are opinions. Both are subjective.
Thanks for the kind words, John. We work hard to deliver reliable information and it's always appreciated when people notice
@@LuckyGunner It’s definitely noticed. Ya’ll are my top fav gun channel, among many really excellent ones. Thanks so much for everything ya’ll do!!!
They are good but there are several out there that are just as good but just different. I like to watch different sources and hear different opinions even if those opinions are shilling or ones I don't agree with. Gives me a broader perspective to form my own opinions with.
Great video. I was so looking forward to Chris reviewing this revolver. The specs made a lot of sense when they talked about it at the beginning of the year. I value Chris’s experience.
Comin in with the heavy glaze tonight wise guy !
It appears that SW used the barrel sleeve method again on this model like they did on their Model 19 "Classic" which didn't have that "feature". Is it an improvement? That is debatable.
Always good to see some revolver support.
Brings back memories. A very long time ago working midnights patrol a hammerless J frame in the pocket of your tuffy jacket was a comforting friend. It was your only back-up in over 225 square miles on those 0300 traffic stops and other various encounters. It would fire and function through your pocket, yes your jacket was toast but you were not. It would fire the same round as your service weapon the .38 plus P, that we were informed “would handle any threat we might encounter”. Semi-autos are the only way to go, but they won’t do it all. Like being reliable in a pocket. Nice to have your hand on the gun and a smile on your face as needed in some circumstances when it might go either way.
Best friend in your pocket
So semi-autos are in fact not the only way to go. Got it old timer.
@@mattmarzula young guys rock revolvers
"Semi-autos are the only way to go, but they won’t do it all." You realize you contradicted yourself there
Exactly. It was a great back up gun to the S&W MP 10. Good pocket gun.
I’m currently carrying a 2” LCRx in 327 Federal. Very happy with the performance to recoil. Feels like 38SPL+P, but with that sixth round.
I got my stainless 32 HR magnum a few weeks ago, the 32 magnum is a great load for EDC carry.
A J-Frame is so easy to carry. I bought one for fun and ended up loving it.
I bought two. One for my mother and one because her's shot better than my Kimber 6S. Which has been loaned out to a buddy for three years now and I didn't think about until this very moment.
The best grab and go gun.
I always appreciate Chris’s interest in snubby revolvers, as I share that as well. I love how excited he was in this video. Clearly was a fun video to make for him. Great job, Chris!
Chris sold me on the .32 snubbie years ago. Pay attention to local laws and to who is training you for your concealed weapon permit. Texas used to limit licenses to .38 caliber and higher. When I obtained my Nevada CFP twenty years ago, the instructor refused to certify any caliber less than .38 Special or .380 ACP. The defensive handgun mission isn't gunfighting and if my NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home course was correct, 98% of the time that the defensive pistol is deployed, no shot are fired. No less a gunfighter than Bill Jordan expressed a wish for an air weight .22 WMR revolver in his "No Second Place Winner. The .22 WMR from a two-inch revolver barrel develops about the same muzzle energy as a .22 LR from a 4-3/4" semiautomatic pistol barrel--the .32 S&W Long produces 115 to 135 foot-pounds muzzle energy with lead wadcutter or round nose lead projectiles and the .32 H&R Magnum is up there with .38 Special loads (Chris pointed this out in the video). Chronographs were rare back in the Sixties and the standards for bullet test media have changed. The .32 is easy to shoot well. The self-defense mission is very limited and performance requirements are also limited--no need to lug around a pair of Smith and Wesson Model 29 revolvers with 6.5-inch barrels and bear-busting magnum loads all of the time. Ranges seldom reach 25 yards and are mostly under 25 FEET. One, two or three attackers are far more common than a dozen or twenty, with around 2/3rds of reported assaults being carried out solo. Playing the odds, a .32 H&R Magnum's 225 foot-pounds muzzle energy is going to work most of the time; "work" means that the attacker stops attacking, either by falling down and not moving or running away (shot, not shot, doesn't matter as long as the monster goes away). One reason for that 98% no-shots-fired figure is that robbers rely on intimidation to dominate and control the victim. When the victim demonstrates ability, intent and opportunity to really HURT the aggressor, Plan B is aggressor runs away. I had an interesting encounter with a dog pack over 40 years ago. I had gone for a desert hike and had misjudged my time. It was after dark, and a dog pack began stalking me. I stopped under a streetlight and commanded the dogs to go away. They charged. I had a .22 Ruger semiautomatic pistol with just one nine-shot magazine and accepted that I was going to be mauled, so I dropped to one knee as I drew my pistol, aimed and snicked off the safety and I was pressing my trigger when the dog I was going to shoot turned tail and ran away--followed by the rest of the pack. No shots fired. There were about six dogs. First rule of gunfighting is having a gun. I knelt for maximum headshot accuracy--a high-speed .22 LR from a pistol produces 85 foot-pounds energy at the muzzle. My popgun 22 was superior to the .45 I didn't have with me. At the time, I was out of .45 ammo. That's a second drawback to the .32 H&R -- ammo supply. Given the advantages over .38 Special, the extra effort to source .32 H&R or at least have a box or two of .32 S&W Long on hand is worthwhile. Gee, Chris, can you recommend a good source of .32 revolver ammunition?
I agree mostly, but I was in a self defense situation with my j frame 442 with 158gn Buffalo bore hard cast hollow points and two guys with larger duty sized pistols tried to rob me at work. I remembered really hoping that my 5 shots were going to be enough because I’m about have two way gunfire. No shots ended up being fired and me having the gun bought me the seconds I needed to escape but that fear of dying while making good hits lives with me. My little anecdote proves your point as much as it brings up another. I’m in a very high crime inner city all day all week for the last 23 years and mostly pepper spray and a j frame is enough but it gets nerve wracking at times
@@anonymousbosch9265 You did well--and you don't need my approval. Surviving is its own reward. The reason you carried a J-frame and pepper spray is that you didn't have room in your pocket for a squad of fully-armed paratroopers.
@@alancranford3398 all true
Elmer Fudd has spoken. You could not be more wrong in current day 2024
If they offered this same gun in .22WMR with 7 rounds would you carry that? Or would you still pick the .32H&R mag?
So glad to see you as always, Chris !
I was waiting for you video on this gun! It looked right up your alley.
The Taurus 856 UL is a 6 shot .38 special for less than half the price. You can get 2in or 3in barrels. Optics ready models too. It’s been my go to carry for a while now - it’s so comfortable and conceals nicely.
Too bad it’s got a hammer tho
I always love any revolver content. I saw these advertised at shot show and haven’t seen any in the wild yet. I’m a 38 guy and reload light loads and wadcutters for range sessions. Chris you have put out some extra good stuff on carry options for revolvers. Thanks.
I really like a j frame. I’ve carried one for 20 years, it’s the gun I take when I don’t take anything else.
ive been waiting for you to review this! Thank you!
Been waiting for you to review this!
Now I feel better about my carry choice. I have many to choose from, but I find myself carrying my 38 J frame the most.
They're so dam carry-able
They sell millions of them still for a reason.
I'm a 442 guy. I just never needed anyone's validation.
642 guy here, I also have a few carry options. But I always reach for the j frame first. That little gun has been everywhere. The smokies to Memphis, somewhere in butthole Indiana to orange beach. From the trout stream to my wedding day. The stories that little thing could tell.
Thanks for posting... You've "given me something to consider"!
Fantastic video Chris. I never get tired of revolvers, and this video is another great addition to your carry series. I recently picked up two 32 S&W long revolvers, and man I love them
I'm looking forward to having a longer-barreled revolver someday!
I absolutely love your revolver content. Keep it up!
For those of us who ARE familiar with 32 HR MAG, you slighted us by not addressing why S&W chose not to chamber it in 327 FED MAG. Maybe it was to save weight? Maybe so the cylinder is a fuzz shorter? Surely they had specific reasons since you can shoot 32 HR in a 327 chambered gun.
It was a weight saving choice. These guns are optimized for pocket and ankle carry as well as belt carry
Perhaps this may help. The chamber pressure of a .38 Special is 17,500 psi. .38 Special +P is 20,000 psi. .357 Magnum is 35,000 psi. .357 Magnum also has a scandium cylinder, which boosts the MSRP considerably ($300 or so, IIRC). .32 H&R Magnum has chamber pressures close to, if not equal to, the .38 Special +P. .327 Federal Magnum has chamber pressures of close to 45,000 psi. Almost 30% more than .357 Magnum, and that has a scandium cylinder. If this UC were to be in .327 Federal Magnum, it would have to be a scandium cylinder … and the price point would be way more than $750. Yes, Ruger does chamber the LCR in .327 Federal Magnum, but the specs are a LOT closer to the .357 Magnum version than the .38 Special (+P) version.
@@erikwaters238thank you.
I'm sure it was to save a few ounces, same reason it isn't offered in 357 magnum. Personally I'll take the few extra ounces for a 327 federal magnum. Its the best small revolver cartridge out there today. I like my LCR, but it should really have dovetail sights like this one has. Frame cutouts for "sights" are just stupid, there is no legitimate argument for not having some kind of real sight on a handgun anymore.
@@erikwaters238 Thanks for the good info. I didn't know 327 was putting out that kind of pressure
Great review as always, haven't tried it yet but i do love my ruger lcr .327
Great vid. Keep ‘em coming Chris
I’ve had my 442UC for a couple of months, 300+ rounds. Sight picture, grip, trigger, and fit and finish are exceptional straight out of the box. I have 6 other J frames and have spent a boatload of gunsmith dollars trying, without success, to achieve what the UC provides. Thanks to Lipsey’s.
That's sad that you gave other people all that money to make not one but six quality revolvers designed to do exactly what they do do something else without success. Just an out and out waste. So sad. You wouldn't happen to have a Mustang GT that doesn't run sitting in the garage that you paid three mechanics to swap a V6 automatic into do you?
@@mattmarzula 🤣🤣not that sad. I’m 78 and purchased my first J frame, a 49 flat latch over 50 years ago. Then a 36, a 640, a 637, a 642 and a 43. Spent some money on all but the 43, but none are as nice as the UC. Oh, and I’m a Chevy guy that doesn’t pay much attention to dipshits
Chris pretty much sold me on the benefits of .32 after his 2019 video, and I also carry a S&W 43C - in no small part thanks to this channel's coverage of different carry options. Soooo I suppose that means I'm also in the target market for the 632UC. It's too bad I can't currently afford it, but it's on my radar!
This is Tim. I carried a 30-1 S & W in 32 (3" RB, yes, with pearl handle grips) for 35+ years as a backup/off duty. I still do but now use BB hard cast.
What's the recoil like on the BB hardcasts? I just got that same revolver for my mom from a pawn shop so she could have a low recoil snub.
Dude been in love with the 32 mag since I was a kid
Very informative evaluation. Thanks for posting this content.
Yes! I've been waiting for this review
Thank you. Good explanation and perspective.
Just ordered another case of ammo from you guys. It was only $10 more than the cheapest I could find. A small price to pay to thank you for your quality content. I'll keep buying. You keep making great content.👍👊
Great review. Keep up the good work.
Very informative.
I just got my 632 and have put about 150 rounds through it. Fit and finish were great, and I'm seeming to be even more accurate with it at close distances than my semi autos. Those sights are just awesome and the .32 HR federals shoot much more pleasent than .38s while not feeling wimpy. So stoked to have another great option to my HK P2000 for my EDC. Cheers!
Great one Chris
I'd love to see this concept advanced to a slightly larger gun with a 3 inch barrel, and 6 shot (38) / 7 shot (32).
Great review of a great gun! ❤
Interested in this revolver. Thanks for the thorough review.
Thank you Chris for another outstanding and practical video, especially regarding the 32 H&R Magnum. My thoughts are as follows. The sights on the Lipsey's J frame are nice however I seem to have no sighting issues (at ranges I expect to use the J frame) with my 642 Airweight. Granted both pistols are not going to be used for 25 yd. matches. As far as triggers go, a 13 or 14 # trigger return spring from Wolff Gunsprings will reduce double action pull of the J frame to 9 - 9.5 lbs. The grips on the Lipsey model look really nice however the large Hogue grips that cover the backstrap really softens recoil to the web of the hand. Not having the good fortune to handle the Lipsey model, I shouldn't compare the two. Keep the great videos coming.
Great great review. Thanks for sharing
Chris, your video on .32 helped sell me on a Taurus 327 earlier this year. I've now sworn off .38 snubs and quit carrying my 642. .32 Long and .32 H&R Mag are extremely pleasant to shoot, and even .327 Federal is manageable in the Taurus. Hopefully, I can can acquire one of these new .32 J-Frames at some point in the future.
My 39 year old S&W Chief model 36 is the ultimate carry gun! My first off duty. Usually carry a 9 mm now but the Chief is still a great pocket carry. Made some good pinches with it back in the 80’s. I know guys who still edc their Chief. The old timers had ones made in the 1950’s!
Great review, heard the recent P&S episode about these, may pick one up. You should do some ballistic tests for Underwood / Lehigh 32 rounds - would love to see how they perform compared to traditional FMJ loadings.
Thank you for your work.
*Inserts revolver video directly into my cranium*
Would love to see a review with .22 Magnum 351 PD thrown into the mix versus all of these models! Love your content btw, I appreciate the seemingly unbiased opinions that you have. I never feel like you're trying to sell me something but rather endorse it based on data/facts.
Those Cherry grips though! Damn that’s good looking!
Great review
My daily carry was a ruger lcr in 32. Now you've sold me on yet another 32. Great under appreciated round.
The smith can’t shoot 327 fed however
Excellent as usual
Good video, as usual. I do like this gun quite a bit. The sights are excellent. One of my current most carried guns is a Ruger LCRx .327 Federal with Federal HST’s. I put the XS big dot luminescent front sight on it as XS stated their tritium sights were designed for point of impact for the .38 special and not the .327. I wouldn’t personally trade my LCRx for one of these, but they are a very nice option
Could have been the shortest video of all time: Is this the ultimate carry J-frame? Yes! Thank you for watching. But we are glad you didn't, love this channel...keep the content coming!
You nailed the only reason I didn't get both, .32 ammo is expensive and hard to find
30 April 2024 - Thank you for your comprehensive review. Your information is clearly and completely stated without hesitation or repetition. Your concise well thought out and practical level-headed advice is unparalleled. Again, I thank you!
Just wanted to say I have will sometimes carry my grandfathers Chief Special and am not anywhere near in the market for another revolver. I just clicked the video to give LG a view and a thumbs up. 👍🏻 Good day
As always Chris, fantastic review. My still all around favorite vidio was the End of the Sig P239. Oh, tried to order ammo from u. Massachusetts not authorized.
Move. And the P239 was a great gun. I regret selling mine.
32 magnum is very underrated for a j frame
Good luck finding it. You'll shoot whatever you can get, not what you want.
Do you get reliable hollow point expansion + penetration with it?
@@EclecticBuddhait’s actually kinda the opposite. The companies that make it do it regularly. Most of the options are solid anyways
My local big box store (Scheels) is now carrying .32 H&R Mag critical Defence ammo.
Even Lucky Gunner only has a single type of .32 mag ammo in stock right now, and its $1.50/shot wadcutter match ammo
Shit, only extremes of the bell curve use Snubbies? Well I ain't no expert, so I guess I'm on the bad end of that extreme 😂
Sorry you had to find out like this.
@@gebeme11Oh no. Not me too
I have a 632UC and put an APEX kit in it. I felt like it was better stock and actually felt like it crept up slightly in pull weight. Caveat: I do not own a trigger pull scale so that is just my subjective opinion. Overall - I love mine and it has replaced my M&P340PD as my daily BUG at work and lawn mowing / grocery store run gun on days off. Happy to see someone listen to customers and make a gun people have been asking for.
I have a 432PD j-frame in 32H&R Magnum that my father bought about 30 years ago. I bought the 38 at the same time. I traded the 38 for a small boat, trailer & motor. My dad passed away in 2012, and I have the 32H&R Magnum now. I will never let it go! I currently carry a Glock 32c in 357Sig, backed up by my J-frame.
My birthday is next week. Love it. Thanks Chris.
Sounds like you know what to buy yourself as a treat!
Nice review. I might have to check one out. That said, I've always been a D frame guy. Still carrying my Third Issue Colt Detective Special.
Excellent, thanks
Great video, thanks. I have a old Tiger I frame in .32 and its a tiny gun, accurate and fun to shoot. .32 is more popular in Europe as its a target cartridge, or used to be. That's why you can still get Euro target grade ammo in .32 Long.
Had the pleasure of handling a 432UC when I picked up my wife's Dan Wesson Specialist OR .45ACP. To be fair, the Ultimate Carry was already on my list of acquisitions. So two days later I decided to go back and grab it. Unfortunately, the gentleman in front of me had _literally_ purchased the revolver a few minutes before I had arrived. Needless to say, we both had a good laugh. Smith & Wesson clearly has a winner here with this new Ultimate Carry J-Frame. I surmise they will be in short supply for quite some time. Thereby driving up demand for more [affordable] .32 H&R Magnum ammo. Nevertheless, I hope this new offering from Smith & Wesson prompts the ammo manufacturers to consider producing .32 H&R Magnum in higher quantities. Side note Chris - You forgot to mention the fact that these new Ultimate Carry revolvers have deleted the Internal Lock System [IE - Hillary Hole] we all despise. Perhaps one of _thee_ biggest selling points for this new series of Ultimate Carry J-Frame Revolvers. As always... Stay classy my friend.
It’s on my list in 32 H&R magnum but my wife who is a marine and also a skilled shooter has a bit of a face on about adding a new ammo type to the house. She unfairly hates my .38 air weight and just won’t be reasonable about a smaller caliber in the same package and she said I bought a glock 43x last week (which serves a totally different purpose) and made promises about a new RV but I don’t think I actually “promised” anything and we’re too young to give up tent camping anyway. *this comment is so absurd because I’m speaking it out loud as I’m writing it laying next to her in bed
For those of us who can only "pocket carry", I fear that the raised rear sight with its point, might catch on the pocket holster of choice, making that move a bit sloppy, having to unholster the gun once drawn from the pocket. (it once was taught to thumb away the pocket holster upon draw.)
The Alabama Holster fits perfectly and has a thumb area to release the revolver.
I agree with murrayjimm, get an Alabama kydex holster, your fears will be put to rest. I've been using Alabama holsters for over 11-12 years now, they work.
Pocket draw is always sloppy. That sight won't get in the way anywhere near as much as your own knuckles.
I was never a j frame fan until I bought one ; short version....now I have seen the light. For around town casual carry, it is my go-to. This version is whispering my name....
Thanks for the video. I've gone back to carrying revolvers. Always carry 2. 1 of which I can access with either hand. New York reload plus strips.
I have a Performance Center 640 and want to change the grips. Thank you for showing the VZ grips.
Wow what a coincidence, I was on my motorcycle in warm weather today and carried a jframe 3" magnum today.💥💥💥💥💥
Great vid
I’ll be honest this video totally sold me on this gun. Been wanting a snubby in the edc rotation, this might just fit the bill
A lighter trigger, lighter recoil, real sights, and an extra round - all in the same shape, size, and weight as my easiest-to-carry pocket canon (S&W 640) are all I need to know. I'll be ordering one in .32 H&R Magnum... black. Sure wish the price was a tad lower, but it's a lifetime item AND the one I've been hoping to find since first hearing about the "better" caliber here. Thanks Chris!
Excellent and Outstanding!!!
Just got the 432 uc black, 32 h&r love it!!!
Thanks for the review. Likey my SW642 with Hogue grips.
Thanks Chris for the review. I will stick with LCR and SP101. You did make me want to look at 32.
Dang, I wish i could afford one of these right now, but I can't so I guess I'll be holding on to my (much heavier) five shot NEF model R73 H&R .32 magnum. It's in awesome condition and I only paid 20% of what the 432UC costs. Thanks for posting Chris...bang up job :) as usual.
I have carried a 642 for some time now and have always found it perfect to carry in the pocket. I picked up a kahr cm9 recently to try it as another pocket carry option and for the same size and weight as my 642 I’m getting 6+1 9mm with a flush mag and a much faster 7 round reload from a spare mag. Kahr has a very similar double action trigger feel to my broken in 642 as well. I feel like recoil is also mild on the kahr compared to the 642. It would be cool to see a comparison video to get your take. Thanks for the content.
Hello Chis Baker! I like my 638 well enough. I shoot it well. Thanks for the share!!
Thank you!
Great stuff, Chris. Cheers!
I was really curious to see what you guys were gonna think about this one. I've been eagerly awaiting for my local gun shops to get the 32 version in either finish. So far- no dice.
I put a big dot front on my 649. Shrouded hammer so you can shoot single action if you need to, but it won’t snag. Yes, it’s about 24oz loaded, but you can shoot 357 comfortably. I remember some poor sod at the range that was having trouble knocking down 6” plates at 20yds with a full size semi. He kept giving me sideways glances as I’d drop 5, reload, reset, and do it again and again. I’d never seen anyone rage quit target shooting before. One of my favorites.
I've seen plenty of that. Hits count. Practice adds up. That guy should stay home.
I reload for and really enjoy 32acp pocket autos. This video makes me really tempted to try a 32 revolver. Ammo availability argument lost merit when we had the covid driven ammo shortage. Better approach is to order ammo online and stock enough to take care of basic needs.
Chris Baker, my first ever handgun was a Smith K-frame because of your first series on revolvers and how much you talked about your 3" 66 as the greatest American something
Excellent. Are you enjoying it?
I have carried J frame, concealed hammer revolvers for 51 years. As an off duty revolver and now as a retired police officer as a concealed carry choice. I own Model 40, 640 and 642 revolvers, (all in .38 Special and .38 Special +P) and I bought a Model 332 Airlite/Ti .32 H&R Magnum for my wife in the early 2000's (2002 or so). S&W dropped the cartridge and the revolvers have become extremely expensive on the used market. Hers is not for sale. IMO the sights and trigger job of the Lipsey's models are designed to separate you from your $$$ and have -0- benefit for close range self defense purposes except in someone's vivid imagination. The option of the .32 H&R Magnum is THE BEST feature of this revolver and I hope it indicates a return of this cartridge to the S&W lineup. For close range self defense the .32 H&R is just as useful as anything in the .38 Special chambering and gives you 1 extra round. Anyone choosing to buy this revolver and NOT getting it in .32 H&R Magnum is making a mistake. Going from 5 to 6 shots is a MUCH more useful increase in capacity than going from 8 shots to 11 or 12. The only drawback to mere mortals is the ammunition availability. I am a handloader and don't give it a consideration as I use all handloaded ammo for practice shooting. My wife uses wadcutter handloads loaded in .32 S&W Long cases for practice. This revolver, in .38 Special, offers NO useful advantage over any other J frame in .38 Special, but it is the lowest cost way to get a J frame in .32 H&R Magnum at present.
I use the same grips on my LCR .38 & a 442. No clothing snag & they really don’t hurt too bad with a high grip.
Preach on Chris! Now, when are you going to review the Charter Professional in 32H&R?
Or Charter's Undercoverette Off-Duty snubbie - 6 rounds, shrouded hammer. Great trigger on mine.
You put out some of the most approachable but interesting revolver content online and I really appreciate it. I know it hasn't really been your thing in the past, but would you consider doing some content on predator defense loads? It's one of those things where documented use is somewhat rare, acceptable penetration standards in grizzly skulls aren't as well established as for normal defensive ammo, etc, and I think people almost always default to either .44 mag or just bringing a rifle, but I think it would just be kind of interesting to explore that. Maybe it's a case where handguns in general are not that useful and it's just a security blanket until you move up to rifle calibers, or maybe it's a case where we assume we need more than we actually do and the faster follow-up shot from a .357 is enough to overcome the disadvantage in muzzle energy and penetration. Likewise, maybe the little .44 snubbies marketed for survival kits are sacrificing too much velocity with the shorter barrel and you really need a 5+ inch barrel to achieve acceptable penetration. I don't know anywhere near enough about this to do any more than speculate, and I live in the northeast where I don't really have to worry about it, but I think it would be interesting and, if a chance for an Alaska hunting trip ever pops up in my future, it might be nice to know
It’s an interesting topic, but not one I’m really qualified to offer an opinion on. The website Ammo Land has done some interesting articles on it. They’ve compiled a list of every documented account of a firearm used in defense against a bear. Long story short, caliber is fairly irrelevant. Turns out bears don’t like being shot, and tend to leave you alone regardless of what you shoot them with as long as you get meaningful center mass hits. Take that with a grain of salt… it’s an informal study and it’s been a few years since I saw any updates, but that’s what I remember from it
Ron Spomer has an interview with an Alaska guide who shot and killed a charging 900 lb brown bear with a 9mm. But, I’ve also seen a picture of a half eaten Alaska hiker who was found with an empty 38. I think prayer 🙏 is always a good thing… It is interesting.
I have 2 J frames, an Airweight 642 model, and a bodyguard. I got both for under 400 apiece and they’re my drop-in-pocket guns. Literally, when I go outside on my property or down the road and don’t feel like putting on my primary carry I feel comfortable dropping a J frame with a heavy double action trigger in a pocket or tucking it in the waistband without a holster. I don’t carry them all day that way, if I’m grabbing one of these instead of my primary carry I’m only going out for a few minutes. Sadly, while I love those J frames part of the selling point was that I got them used for less than 400, I couldn’t see spending 700 on a drop-in-pocket gun.
If I may offer a suggestion: you've probably already heard of them but Sticky Holsters makes a pocket holster that fits J-Frames for 20 or 30 bucks. Really helps increase the safety to have the trigger covered, and hardly any extra bulk or weight.
@@Hugatree4menaw. Let him roll like he does. He's fine. You could tie a cord to that gun and your belt dragging it through the woods over piles of sticks all shaped like fingers and it would be unlikely for it to go off. Plenty safe and the first shot clears all the lint out. Besides, he seems like a smart fella. Only took him two time to explain the same two things he was thinking.
@@mattmarzula I've been down KZhead's negligent discharge rabbit hole before, it's quite a trip. I wonder if there's already a video of what you've described 🤔
@@Hugatree4meHave one and completely agree. Also have a clip that screws to the frame allowing for pocket carry that works well. I find myself carrying the snubby more and more as I age with back and hip issues. I’ll be buying this revolver as soon as I come across one.
@@Kelly-oq9nh I wish you all the best in finding one soon!
LOVE my 640!
Now you have me wanting a 332 Airweight SC (even lighter than the Ti)
Finally, an okay-ish j frame. That they sell any j frames with the standard "sights" is amazing.
Looks as close to ideal as anything I've seen in current production. I'd prefer a spurless hammer or short spurred hammer (no idea what the proper term for that is) to the internal hammer, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. Currently carrying an LCR in 327 based on Chris's well informed Lucky Gunner presentation. Keep up the good work. The next question is 'Where do I get one?'
You might be looking for the term “bobbed hammer”
Thanks for the attention to detail on this revolver, w/out your info, I would've been like "whatever"
Glad to see a new smith with out the lock.
Ive been waiting for this review. I’ve been considering this is as my first j frame
Your video is the only thing that has convinced me this gun actually exists because I'm not sure where the hell you're supposed to buy one. None of my LGS have 'em and everything online lists it as out of stock.