Using Speedloaders with J-frame?

[JFootin]

Wow!
My 640-1 is 8.5 lbs and the smith told me that's as good as it gets.
He's a conservative guy though.
And he did fit, smooth, round and polish my custom stainless steel combat trigger for me.

It's glassy smooth and I'm very happy too.
Just thinking about porting now though.
She till kicks like a mule! Both my J-frames do.

Yeah. I got mine ported and Duracoated Gloss Black. Haven't even shot it, yet. In fact, I've never shot a revolver. It has spent most of its short life in gunsmith shops. So I am looking forward to getting to know my gun at my private shooting range as soon as weather permits. My hands and wrists are crippled, partially paralyzed. So I am hoping that the porting and using not too hot ammo will make the recoil tolerable. I am not too recoil sensitive, so we'll see.

[jg rider]

I bought 2 Safariland Comp-1 speedloaders to use with my new S&W 638. I got this brand because they automatically release the bullets as soon as you get them all the way in, without having to twist the knob. Well, the standard Uncle Mike's Boot Grip interferes with the speedloader. I have to jiggle and force it for a minute or more to get it to straiten up and get the rest of the way in there where it will release the bullets, and it is scarring up the grip.

I don't understand this. Surely S&W, Uncle Mike's and Safariland should have these designs compatible with each other. But about every accessory grip I look at, whether plastic, rubber or wood, is shaped exactly the same in that area, extending just a few mm too far into the space needed to allign the speedloader and insert it.

Why is this?

Why are the grips—all of them—not relieved more in that area?

And why does Safariland sell a product that they know damn well won't work with the gun it is made for?

Does this happen with HKS speedloaders, too? Are they a bit more compact or something?

The only thing it looks like I can do is use a Dremmel-like-tool to relieve the left grip panel where needed. Or get a set of the small classic grips.

But won't I remove the finish if I try to relieve that area on a wood grip?

I'm perplexed. J-frame owners, please help me.

JFootin:
I use the comp I loaders. The only grips that I found for fast use with them was the Pachmeyer Compacs or this Uncle Mikes / Butler Creek banana shaped grip. The HKS loaders are a little thinner.

Like everyone else concealability is a main criteria, the Pachmeyers don't do it for us. The second criteria for us is fast reloads, and the last is an almost natural wrist position point, not the downward bend that a revolver requires.
The below modified grip does it all. I think the natural pointing is because the rubber build up at the top of the back strap or just the the whole shape of the back strap. Plus the rubber back strap helps cushion recoil.

I've competed in concealed carry matches with mandatory reloads, with people using speed loaders and speed strips. Guess who had the best times. Try using a speed strip in dim light or when the clock is ticking.
Every thing the wife and I practice or test is for defense/immediate survival, against the clock to try to simulate adrenalin dump.

This is the Uncle Mike's grip before mod




This grip also protects the outside of my middle finger from taking a beating frrom the groove in the trigger gaurd






Here's 1 of 5 reliable ballistic test result using non +P and little felt recoil out of the Smith Titanium

[JFootin]

JG, now I see. You posted the pics before and I thought it was of two different grips. Duh! Now I see that you cut the bottom off to make it more like a boot grip. I'll have to look about getting some and modifying them like that.

I was about to get some of the Pachmayr Compac grips, like this:



They cover the backstrap similar to the others and are extremely popular. What about these doesn't do it for you regarding concealability?

[jg rider]

He has been refining a trigger job to get the DA pull down where I want it. He said he now has the DA pull on my 638 down to 4.25 pounds! Said he's already done almost a dozen trigger jobs on J-frames this year, but this one is the best he's ever done! Took it out to his range and shot 5 rounds. Went BANG 5 times. Said the dimples on the primers looked just as deep as a stock gun.

4.25 pounds D.A. pull?
I'm curious as how he got it down that low.
FYI 7-8 pounds is the norm that world renowned pistolsmiths will take a D.A. pull on a Smith and still have reliable ignition and trigger return. I've done enough Smith trigger work to know what I'm talking about.

On a J frame there are 2 springs. one is the main/hammer coil spring, and the other is the trigger return spring. If he says you have factory firing pin hits, then he messed with the trigger spring. You can polish all you want and never get a 4.25 pound D.A. trigger pull. And you can't change angles of the hammer/trigger hooks without causing you grief.

Here's what's normally done:
Polish rubbing parts
Never polish the hammer or trigger S.A. engagement surfaces.
Cut the most 1 1/2 coils off trigger return spring

Or buy a J frame reduced power spring kit.

For this guy to have gotten you such a low trigger pull and not effect ignition is to have cut lots of coils off the trigger return spring. And hopefully he didn't screw with the hammer / trigger S.A. hooks.

Here's things you should check:
Dry fire the gun D.A. and hold the trigger back. Very slowly release the trigger and see if it resets. If it doesn't then he took too many coils off the trigger spring. Not a good thing for a S.D. gun
While the trigger is pulled back the hammer will be fully forward. As you slowly release the trigger the hammer should be moving back a bit.
Most people won't notice if the trigger resets when shooting because the recoil can jar it into place.
Last is to check if he messed with the S.A. hooks. Cock he gun. With you finger off the trigger push the hammer forward. If it drops, he owes you a new hammer and trigger.

Think about this:
Your Kahr has an about 7 pound pull.
All trigger jobs for a S.A. 1911 trigger pull for S.D. is about 4 lbs. Less and an adrenalin dump could cause you grief in court. I never did a S.D. 1911 pull less than 4 1/4 lbs

[jg rider]

JG, now I see. You posted the pics before and I thought it was of two different grips. Duh! Now I see that you cut the bottom off to make it more like a boot grip. I'll have to look about getting some and modifying them like that.

I was about to get some of the Pachmayr Compac grips, like this:



They cover the backstrap similar to the others and are extremely popular. What about these doesn't do it for you regarding concealability?

They're a little too long and fat at the heel for concealment, but really comfortable in the hand.

[Barth]

Pachmayr Compac grips

I have them on my 640 and pocket carry daily in a DeSantis Nemesis.
They are big, and the gun is really too heavy, for pocket carry.
But in cargo pockets with a good belt?
Monday through Friday that's what's in my pocket.
Dress slacks it's time for the 342 with boot grips - LOL!
But some Dockers and a Galco SB1? No Problemo
But in a belt holster it disappears and is my most comfortable belt gun.

[jg rider]

I have them on my 640 and pocket carry daily in a DeSantis Nemesis?
They are big and the gun is really too heavy for pocket carry.
But in cargo pockets with a good belt?
Monday through Friday that's what's in my pocket.
Dress slacks it's time for the 342 with boot grips - LOL!
But some Dockers? No Problemo

A 342 you can carry in your shirt pocket

[Barth]

A 342 you can carry in your shirt pocket

Not in any shirt I own - LOL!

It's the ultimate ankle carry gun IMHO.
But it's just too hot here in Tampa Fl to carry like that for me.

I actually like having the 640-1/357 on a belt - cross draw.
And the 342 in a DeSantis in my right front pocket as backup.
Along with two speed strips with 357 PDX1 rounds in my pockets
and a 2x2x2 Galco pouch on my belt.

I'll go Magnum Force 5 to start.
And then NY re-load with a draw and fire of the 342 ti.
I can draw an fire a second gun faster than I can reload.
Even with a speed loader.

[jg rider]

Not in any shirt I own - LOL!

It's the ultimate ankle carry gun IMHO.
But it's just too hot here in Tampa Fl to carry like that for me.

I actually like having the 640-1/357 on a belt - cross draw.
And the 342 in a DeSantis in my right front pocket as backup.
Along with two speed strips with 357 PDX1 rounds in my pockets
and a 2x2x2 Galco pouch on my belt.

I'll go Magnum Force 5 to start.
And then NY re-load with a draw and fire of the 342 ti.
I can draw an fire a second gun faster than I can reload.
Even with a speed loader.

You can legally conceal carry two guns?

[Barth]

You can legally conceal carry two guns?

In Florida there is no specific verbiage I know of stating you can or can't.
I believe it's totally legal.
Here it's a concealed weapon or firearm license.
I can legally carry any weapon(s) I can legally own, as long as it's concealed.
Including a shot gun and a Samurai Sword!

I've carried four guns at one time just for fun - LOL!
But mostly like two guns when I'm carrying 5 shot revolvers.
For obvious reasons.

Sometimes I'll backup the 640 cross draw with my MK40 on my hip.

Now If I cross state lines the rules change.
Even with a reciprocity agreement,
I'm bound by the carry laws of the state I'm standing in.

Here in Florida we don't register guns.
Nor are any specific guns, or weapons, connected to, or named with, the license.

I feel like breaking out in song now - LOL!

[jg rider]

In Florida there is no specific verbiage I know of stating you can or can't.
I believe it's totally legal.
Here it's a weapons, not gun, permit.
I can legally carry any weapon(s) I can legally own, as long as it's concealed.
Including a shot gun and a Samurai Sword!

I've carried four guns at one time just for fun - LOL!
But mostly like two guns when I'm carrying 5 shot revolvers.
For obvious reasons.

Sometimes I'll backup the 640 cross draw with my MK40 on my hip.

Now If I cross state lines the rules change.
Even with a reciprocity agreement,
I'm bound by the carry laws of the state I'm standing in.

Here in Florida we don't register guns.
Nor are any specific guns connected to, or named with, the permit.

I feel like breaking out in song now - LOL!

Here in Oregon it states "concealed handgun license", so only one gun. We also have Utah permits, it says "concealed firearm permit" both singular. No gun registration and no specific guns connected to, or named on the permits in either state.

[Barth]

Here in Oregon it states "concealed handgun license", so only one gun. We also have Utah permits, it says "concealed firearm permit" both singular. No gun registration and no specific guns connected to, or named on the permits in either state.

I'm not knowledgeable with the laws of those states.
Nor am I a lawyer.
Did specifically asked my instructor and he didn't know one way or the other.

The actual verbiage and language of the law,
not the title on the permit,
is the issue IMHO.
I've read every line and Florida doesn't appear to directly address multiple guns.
There is certainly nothing that specifically forbids it.

Mine, the title literally is "Concealed Weapon or Firearm License".
But most everyone literally carries a gun AND a knife at the very least.

Far as I'm concerned it's don't ask don't tell.
And multiple weapons are implied.

[Barth]

For what it's worth.... And I'm still singing by the way - LOL!

http://www.***********/forums/ccw-tal...ls-oregon.html
Here is the response I got from Oregon Firearms Federation this morning:

> In a recent conversation, it was debated that the Oregon CHL only allows a person to carry 1 handgun at a time. In other words, the Oregon CHL does not allow for the carry of a backup handgun. Is this correct?
>
> Thank you, KB


This is not correct. You can carry as many of whatever you like as you like.

Kevin S.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[jg rider]

http://www.***********/forums/ccw-tal...ls-oregon.html
Here is the response I got from Oregon Firearms Federation this morning:
bout until you mentioned it
> In a recent conversation, it was debated that the Oregon CHL only allows a person to carry 1 handgun at a time. In other words, the Oregon CHL does not allow for the carry of a backup handgun. Is this correct?
>
> Thank you, KB



This is not correct. You can carry as many of whatever you like as you like.

Kevin S.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for this info. It's not something I thought about until you mentioned it

[Barth]

Are you talking about the guns or the girls? LOL

Yup, people don't talk about that much....

Have a great night and Easter holiday!