Lipsey’s Ultimate Carry J-Frame

By Joe Berk

Good buddy Paul sent this very recently released video from Lipsey’s to me last night:

The video is just under 10 minutes long and it’s worth watching.  To me, this new J-frame Smith addresses most of the shortcomings I’ve noticed with my concealed carry J-frame revolver.   Here are my thoughts:

• • I like it.
• • The ideal of a .30 caliber 6-shot is intriguing (in addition to the 5-shot .38 Special version Lipsey’s is also offering).  I know most concealed carry handgun encounters are settled in less than two shots, but having an extra round (one over the standard 5 shots) makes sense to me.
• • I notice the grips don’t go below the bottom of the grip frame, which would be a problem for me.  Getting my little finger caught under the grip frame is what makes shooting a J-frame revolver uncomfortable (in fact, it’s downright painful after a shot or two).  I do like the G10 material grips, though.  I have those on my Sig Scorpion 226 and it is the best grip material ever, in my opinion.  I would like a set of G10 grips that extend lower than the bottom of the grip frame, like the Altamont grips I put on my J-frame.  These would be very comfortable.
• • The sights are a much-needed upgrade.  The stock Model 60 and other J-frame sights are a joke.
  • The aluminum frame means light weight, which I guess is good for carrying the gun all day, but those little J-frames can have fierce recoil.  My stainless steel Model 60 packs a punch; the aluminum version recoil will be worse.  I suppose the assumption for most is that the gun will be carried more than it is shot, and that makes sense.  But, still, that’s going to be a lot of recoil.
• • The J-frame endurance package is sorely needed.  I shot the hell out of my Model 60 doing rapid fire at 7 yards and it quickly went seriously out of time.  That was an expensive fix.  Mine also had excessive headshake.  I was able to address it with a shim kit, but it should not have been necessary.

It will be interesting to see what this new Lipsey’s/Smith and Wesson J-frame revolver costs and if it gets approved in California.  My prediction is that Lipsey’s will later release a .357 Magnum version (not that anyone would need it, but it would probably sell well).  I also predict a 9mm version.  9mm is the most popular centerfire handgun cartridge in the world, and I believe a 9mm version would sell well, too.

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