Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. No sharp edges — anywhere. A few goodies help to make loading and unloading the clips easier — “mooning” and “de-mooning” as they say. Photo: Roy Huntington regardless of barrel length, can hit a man-sized target at 100 yards, can defend themselves if needed and can rely on these little guns to deliver when called upon. The specifics of what we learned will be covered in a later article, but some points need to be explained. The little Smiths are interesting in that most handgunners own one, or something like them, but don’t like to actually admit it’s more than likely their daily carry gun. I asked for the attendees to show, with a raise of their hands, if they had a J-frame in their pocket somewhere right then. The majority of those in attendance (mostly cops and gunindustry people) admitted they had one tucked away. From ankle rigs to pocket holsters to “bags” of all sorts, there was a passel of .38s in the room. Then I asked the important question: “And when was the last time you shot it?” There was silence, dead silence. Some even admitted they shot theirs a cylinder-full or two when they bought it and hadn’t fired it since — I won’t name any names. But before you judge here, honestly, when was the last time you fired yours, much less actually trained with it? See. The porting helped tame muzzle flip. Here is the “before” and “after” of the shot using a full-bore 158-gr. .357 Magnum load and one hand. Very controllable. So we learned we needed to train with them more. We also learned the tiny 2" (more like 17/8") barrel can be challenging at times. They are, admittedly hard to hold steady, hard to hit with and sort of “fumbly” as one fellow said. They are plenty accurate, and most would easily keep head shots at 25 if you took your time, but that short sight radius works against you unless you are steely-nerved when it comes to trigger control. The idea then? Go to a 2.25" or even 3" barrel, keeping the round butt in place. It Works So we did — and it worked. The 3" guns were markedly easier to hit with and one 2.5" version on-hand was about as good. But, I found the 3" guns a bit “un-handy” in a pocket holster or ankle rig. I had to keep that in mind later. This led me on a quest for an “ultimate” J-frame. Nothing can be “the ultimate,” but I would be happy to settle for something somewhere in the “ultimate” category at least. I’d want it accurate, reliable, easy to conceal, easy to train with, a “real” fighting gun — as opposed to something simply easy to carry. As Clint Matt DelFatti’s moon-clip holder is elegant simplicity and works great. Photo: Roy Huntington Photo: Roy Huntington Photo: Roy Huntington 44 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2009