Best Revolver for CCW

[stash247]

Originally Posted by FLA2760

I just scored a NIB SW 432PD H&R .32 mag. for the wife's Christmas stocking. This is a 6 shot J frame that is DAO that weighs in at 13.5 oz. She tried my Kel Tec P32 several times at the range but she wanted a revolver. She is recoil sensitive and the .38 was too much for her wrist.
This is a sweet little wheel gun. I may get one to be a BUG to my Glock27.

As far as snubby carry I always favor the J frame Smith's

Surprised to hear such praise, though it is long overdue, for the caliber!
Th .32 S&W Long was the 'darling' of the Handgun Bull's Eye cowd, back when the revolver was the rule; a bit later, and Sig-Hammerli was building a 'wad gun', for the centerfire leg, around it! The .32 is 'all that', on steroids!
In truth, I find the recoil of an 'airweight' .32 J-frame about on a par with a steel framed .38 Spl, but the carry weight is much reduced, and a CHL weapon is carried much more than it is shot, in most cases, so, a valid concern!
My personal 'second gun' is a 'Ti Light' Smith, in .38 Spl; it came in thr fancy S&W 'Gift box', with a trigger lock, etc, but weighs, empty, less than the 'trigger lock' that it came with!
I will allow that firng it is a 'crisper' experience, but the recoil, while sharp, is by no means an issue, but simply the consequence of a light revolver, shooting 'Major Class' ammo.
I have shot for a long time, and accept these things, many newer shooters do not, so rather than crowd the issue, let her 'grow into' the reality of recoil!

[redrick]

S&W M&P 340 , it has a front night sight that is great.

[44spl]

I like the AMT 380 as a carry gun. Not to big and then big enough to get the job done

[justdoug]

I figure ya'll will make the same face that I see every time somebody sees me with what I carry. I don't carry concealed - working on the permit. I have carried concealed but just to get a feel on my new revolver. It started from an American Rifleman article about the Ruger Alaskan. Long story short - I wanted one of these anyway and half way through the article it read "...don't rule this one out for concealed carry either..."
So I have a shoulder holster and everything tucks away real nice. You can certainly feel the slight heft of thus revolver but has yet to be detected. Yeah it's a too much gun but I like to surprise people.

.480 Ruger Alaskan - - Works for Bear or Burglar.

[mk70ss]

I find that the J frame size revolvers are guns you will actually carry.

[Dirtypacman]

S&W 642 - i have been very happy.

[stash247]

Originally Posted by mk70ss

I find that the J frame size revolvers are guns you will actually carry.

A .22 LR mini revolver, in your pocket, trumps the .44 Mag, at home in the closet, every time.
The best darned gun in the world is of no help, anywhere but on your person, should you need it; like AmEx says; "Don't leave home without it!"
I have a variety of light and standard weight J Frame Smiths, the jewel is the 'Airlite Ti'; in heavy clothing, it just seems to disappear!
I know it is there, because I put it in that pocket, but I gotta touch it, to be sure.
Yes, at 10 1/2 ounces, it recoils 'smartly', but it is always around, because it IS so light, and inoccuous, to carry; just because I shove a 1911 Colt Compact into a belt slide, under my coat, does not by any means require the Smith to 'stay home'; you have a spare tire in your car, right?
I think mk70ss is right on the money, here.

[hornblower]

An S&W M&P 340CT .357

[Old Timer]

Pistiolenschutze: When I carry a revolver, which depends primarily on the weather (snubbies fit well in coat pockets), I carry a 5-shot, lightweight snubby. My current favorite is a titanium .357, loaded with .38 SP MagSafes, but any good, lightweight .38 SP will do. Ammo is a critical factor when using a 2-inch barreled handgun. Energy from the short barrel is seriously depleated. Lightweight JHPs that work well out of a 4-inch barrel may not work out of a 2-inch. I have little confidence in lightweight JHPs from the snubby. Most either penetrate and don't expand, or expand and don't penetrate. I've carried bigger and heavier handguns, but not any more, not unless I'm in a war zone and I live in a low threat environment. If my threat level goes up then I'll upgrade my armament. Each individual should consider his or her carry needs (threat level) and balance (trad-offs) size, weight and power. Better a .22 you can shoot than a .45 you can't. I find that the .38 SP, though far from ideal, is about otimum for concealed carry revolvers. They should remember that this is a gun carried much and shot little. Reliability is primary, with comfort and concealment coming in right along with stopping power. If the confrontation is actually self defense odds are it will be up close and dirty. Sights are not all that important. A bit more stopping power at the expense of accuracy is good, but I like a repeat shot capability, so I limit recoil (no .357s in my titanium snubby), just MagSafes and hot .38s. I had, and liked, a Ruger SP101. It is a fine gun and capable of handling .357 loads. It was jsut too heavy at 25 oz for day to day carry. My son has it now, but he is about 6'4", weighs 240 lbs, and has a badge. Concealed means concealed, not semi-concealed. Old Timer

[oscarmayer]

out-dated ( like me) but a colt D frame is a good choice. the detective special, agents,cobras, and diamondbacks are well made hold 6 rounds rather than 5 drawbacks are, harder to find good gun leather, and the value is so rapidly increasing one might not want to scuff up a colt, most are held hostige as safe queens. for years i packed a diamondback with a 2.5 in bbl and was well satisfied

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by Old Timer

Pistiolenschutze: When I carry a revolver, which depends primarily on the weather (snubbies fit well in coat pockets), I carry a 5-shot, lightweight snubby. My current favorite is a titanium .357, loaded with .38 SP MagSafes, but any good, lightweight .38 SP will do. Ammo is a critical factor when using a 2-inch barreled handgun. Energy from the short barrel is seriously depleated. Lightweight JHPs that work well out of a 4-inch barrel may not work out of a 2-inch. I have little confidence in lightweight JHPs from the snubby. Most either penetrate and don't expand, or expand and don't penetrate. I've carried bigger and heavier handguns, but not any more, not unless I'm in a war zone and I live in a low threat environment. If my threat level goes up then I'll upgrade my armament. Each individual should consider his or her carry needs (threat level) and balance (trad-offs) size, weight and power. Better a .22 you can shoot than a .45 you can't. I find that the .38 SP, though far from ideal, is about otimum for concealed carry revolvers. They should remember that this is a gun carried much and shot little. Reliability is primary, with comfort and concealment coming in right along with stopping power. If the confrontation is actually self defense odds are it will be up close and dirty. Sights are not all that important. A bit more stopping power at the expense of accuracy is good, but I like a repeat shot capability, so I limit recoil (no .357s in my titanium snubby), just MagSafes and hot .38s. I had, and liked, a Ruger SP101. It is a fine gun and capable of handling .357 loads. It was jsut too heavy at 25 oz for day to day carry. My son has it now, but he is about 6'4", weighs 240 lbs, and has a badge. Concealed means concealed, not semi-concealed. Old Timer

I can't disagree with anything you said, OT. I've always been something of a fence-sitter on the snubbies. I like them because of their light weight and easy concealability under certain carry circumstances. They fit that niche better than just about any other handgun. I will carry a Smith 637 fairly often when I'm just running around town on errands or the like. In a high threat environment, however, I too prefer a bit more firepower. By the way, have you looked at the Speer 135 grain +P Gold Dot ammo for your snubbies? Supposedly, this round was specifically developed by Speer to function reliably in a 2" barrel snubbie revolver. That is what I carry in mine anyway.

[oscarmayer]

as long as you mentioned ammo for a snubbie check out hornadys new critical defense 110gr velocity 1175 energy 337 for non +p the +p stuff is tested at 1270/394

[pricedo]

The Colt Cobra snub nosed revolver teamed with the Galco holster especially built for it is my favorite CCW handgun.

This 6 shot revolver loaded with .38 SPL +P is plenty potent and you can carry it all day in the heat with no discomfort. You'll forget you're carrying a defensive handgun until you need it.

I shoot 158 grain hollow point +P loads in this gun.

I always preferred a revolver because you can readily see if it's loaded or cocked and a misfire won't interrupt your shot string like it does with an automatic. You just keep pulling the trigger in double action mode and the cylinder rotates past the misfired round without the necessity of having to waste precious moments clearing the dud round.

There aren't many crooks who can absorb 6 x 158 grain .38 SPL +P HPs & still remain vertical.

CCW Permits: UT, PA, NH, ME
Life Member: NRA, GOA

[oscarmayer]

while i agree with your choice of a colt cobra ( great carry gun)and also the 158 gr hp in +p i caution you the cobra is a lite weight and you need to limit the +p's you fire out of it. it would be a shame to booger up a timeless classic by continually firing "hot" load out of her.

[pricedo]

Originally Posted by oscarmayer

while i agree with your choice of a colt cobra ( great carry gun)and also the 158 gr hp in +p i caution you the cobra is a lite weight and you need to limit the +p's you fire out of it. it would be a shame to booger up a timeless classic by continually firing "hot" load out of her.

I practise with regular strength .38 SPL loads.

I keep the number of +P loads fired to a minimum.

The alloy frame of the Cobra makes it a dream to carry but won't take constant pounding by +P loads.

I carry the gun with +P ammo loaded.

The .38 SPL is no .44 Magnum to start with & loses a significant amount of horsepower because of the Cobra's short barrel.

It could take everything the gun/ammo combo has to put down a big perp on PCP, mescaline, speed or whatever.

I get a kick out of the guys who pretend that a .45 auto carried inside the waist band in one of those plastic holsters is comfortable (I've seen the big welts in their skin after a days carry) & leave the gun at home or in the car glove box most of the time.

A Cobra in your hand is worth two .45 autos that are somewhere else when the do-do hits the fan & you find yourself facing plural "needy" perps, not taking "no" for an answer at an ATM or in a parking lot.

CCW Permits: UT, PA, NH, ME
Life Member: NRA, GOA