I have several semi-autos for carry but almost always carry my Detective Special or Cobra - because I'm so accurate with them. I would actually prefer to carry a semi but will take accuracy over firepower. If I were more accurate with a semi then that is what I would carry.
Article on Revolvers for Everyday Carry
- Thread starter ScotchMan
- Start date
DannyB1954
New member
I was carrying a Ruger SR9C until a neighbor said he could see it from behind. Now I carry a Ruger SP101 or a S&W 38 bodyguard. The curved handles print less, and anymore than 5 misses and I might hit something I didn't want to.
This is with me every time I leave the house. It usually rides between the seat and center seat in my truck in a pocket holster where I can easily draw it if need be. If not there then on a belt holster.
The speed loaders usually stay in the truck but on occasion I grab one and put in my pocket. I don't really ever foresee having to reload in a self defense shooting. I figure after five shots of .357 Magnum if one of us ain't down then I'm getting out of dodge.
The speed loaders usually stay in the truck but on occasion I grab one and put in my pocket. I don't really ever foresee having to reload in a self defense shooting. I figure after five shots of .357 Magnum if one of us ain't down then I'm getting out of dodge.
ch47gunner
New member
I'll stick to the revolver also - always had one, that's what I'm used to.
My 649nd is an older model, no magnums or +P stuff just 158gn. JHP's.
The way I see it, if five (plus speedloader) won't do it then, I should have ran.
Mind you - the J frame is not my nightstand gun. That would be a CZ75 P01.
My 649nd is an older model, no magnums or +P stuff just 158gn. JHP's.
The way I see it, if five (plus speedloader) won't do it then, I should have ran.
Mind you - the J frame is not my nightstand gun. That would be a CZ75 P01.
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
Nice article! Interestingly or sadly one of the major instructors who taught a great snubby class is giving it up for lack of interest.
You see lots of snubbies at shows and stores but I think they are bought by folk who just drop them into pocket or purse and don't worry about training.
On the other hand, snubby competitions are springing up in some locales.
You see lots of snubbies at shows and stores but I think they are bought by folk who just drop them into pocket or purse and don't worry about training.
On the other hand, snubby competitions are springing up in some locales.
Mike_Fontenot
New member
Jeager106 said:
I've got that same model ... very nice gun. I've recently bought (after a close, eye-to-eye bear encounter) its big brother ... a S&W69 4-1/4" 5-shot L-Frame .44mag ... it looks pretty much like a scaled-up S&W60-15 Pro, although it's quite a bit bigger than I expected it to be. Surprisingly, I've found that I can conceal-carry it pretty well in a homemade under-the-shirt vertical shoulder holster (like I've used for several years with my 10mm 1911), although the longer grip bulges my shirt a bit more than my 1911, and requires a lot of junk in my shirt pocket to disguise the bulge (but I'd be carrying all that stuff anyway, so no real penalty for me).
trigger643
New member
Ed Lovett wrote a thoughtful and well researched book on self defense titled The Snubby Revolver: The ECQ, Backup, and Concealed Carry Standard
have you not read it, I highly recommend you obtain a copy. It echos much of what is said in the article in the OP.
I obtained my first concealed weapons permit from Washington State 25 years ago and have carried a variety of handguns over the years, both revolvers and automatics.
Yet, my preference has been and remains the snubby .357, with the .340pd my every day carry for about the last decade.
Desk, Truck, Pocket:
1952 Centennial. 60 years perfecting personal defense.
have you not read it, I highly recommend you obtain a copy. It echos much of what is said in the article in the OP.
I obtained my first concealed weapons permit from Washington State 25 years ago and have carried a variety of handguns over the years, both revolvers and automatics.
Yet, my preference has been and remains the snubby .357, with the .340pd my every day carry for about the last decade.
Desk, Truck, Pocket:
1952 Centennial. 60 years perfecting personal defense.
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What about K-Frames?
I've been lurking this post for a bit. I'm a wheelgun guy.
The one thing that digs at me just a bit is whenever there's talk of carry revolvers, the discussion always fixates on 5-shot J-frames and the like (LCR, etc.). I don't care for them. I've owned a Smith Model 60 for 30 years and have never learned how to shoot it well. And I'm a pretty good shot, modesty aside. Further, although I don't see a lot of need for massive firepower for CCW, there's something about having only 5 shots that doesn't set well with me. A sixth round makes a big difference in my mind (I know, it's psychological).
Here in California, CCW holders may put three specific guns on their permit. One of mine is an L-frame 686 3" bbl. My other two are semi-autos, but I am most confident carrying my revolver. It is, however, large. I really wish Smith made a six-shot 357 just like my L-frame, except in a K-frame. Or to phrase it another way: a model 66 with a full underlug 3" bbl. That would be sweet. It'd be a little smaller than what I carry now, yet still still have just enough bulk to absorb some recoil. It would fill the void between the J-frame (which I can't shoot worth a darn) and the lumbering L-frame.
I feel better now
I've been lurking this post for a bit. I'm a wheelgun guy.
The one thing that digs at me just a bit is whenever there's talk of carry revolvers, the discussion always fixates on 5-shot J-frames and the like (LCR, etc.). I don't care for them. I've owned a Smith Model 60 for 30 years and have never learned how to shoot it well. And I'm a pretty good shot, modesty aside. Further, although I don't see a lot of need for massive firepower for CCW, there's something about having only 5 shots that doesn't set well with me. A sixth round makes a big difference in my mind (I know, it's psychological).
Here in California, CCW holders may put three specific guns on their permit. One of mine is an L-frame 686 3" bbl. My other two are semi-autos, but I am most confident carrying my revolver. It is, however, large. I really wish Smith made a six-shot 357 just like my L-frame, except in a K-frame. Or to phrase it another way: a model 66 with a full underlug 3" bbl. That would be sweet. It'd be a little smaller than what I carry now, yet still still have just enough bulk to absorb some recoil. It would fill the void between the J-frame (which I can't shoot worth a darn) and the lumbering L-frame.
I feel better now
Colorado Redneck
New member
I couldn't master the J Frame either
If six rounds in a snub is your wish, the Ruger SP101 in 327 Fed Mag is an interesting option. The recoil is snappy, but not unmanageable. 327 FM ammo is pretty hot, and even though there are detractors of the round, it would be hard to prove the Speer 115 gr. Gold Dot wouldn't be as effective as a 357 125 gr. hollow point.
If six rounds in a snub is your wish, the Ruger SP101 in 327 Fed Mag is an interesting option. The recoil is snappy, but not unmanageable. 327 FM ammo is pretty hot, and even though there are detractors of the round, it would be hard to prove the Speer 115 gr. Gold Dot wouldn't be as effective as a 357 125 gr. hollow point.
Revolvers work period
I have autos heck I even have a .44 Automag but one of the guns that I carry the most is my hundred year old Ivar Johnson in .38 S&W. I hand load so I have no worries about my SD ammo not working. I find it offensive that so many people think the techno crap will save their butt instead of plain ol practice.
I have autos heck I even have a .44 Automag but one of the guns that I carry the most is my hundred year old Ivar Johnson in .38 S&W. I hand load so I have no worries about my SD ammo not working. I find it offensive that so many people think the techno crap will save their butt instead of plain ol practice.
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trigger643
New member
Nick,
I once owned a 66, round butt, 2.5". They are common. There are a number of them on GB at this moment, both NIB and used.
I once owned a 66, round butt, 2.5". They are common. There are a number of them on GB at this moment, both NIB and used.
Obambulate
New member
There is also the fixed-sight Model 65, which was widely available with a 3" barrel. Prices are rising on these.
The LadySmith version of the 3" M65 has a full underlug and a light, smooth action. I'd take this girl anywhere, if I had one:
The LadySmith version of the 3" M65 has a full underlug and a light, smooth action. I'd take this girl anywhere, if I had one:
I'd say it's more like, they have more capacity and can be reloaded much more quickly (assuming you have a full mag waiting at the ready to swap in), despite the fact that they are much more complicated and less reliable.
That's especially true when you have to take them apart to clean them, and can lose or damage small parts. Lugers are a good example, famously susceptible to dirt in the mechanisms and losing small parts, yet they were used by many military and police forces for 40+ years - can't be because they were reliable. And since the parts are numbered, you can tell when parts were replaced because the originals were lost - it's unusual to find one now with matching numbers.I would too. That's a sweet piece.
The problem Obambulate (and trigger643), is that I live in California. So the only way I can legally purchase one these is if it's a private party, California resident seller. None are allowed to come in from out of the state.
I actually like carrying my L-frame. I don't mind the weight or bulkiness. It's just that I need an extra layer of clothing to conceal it, and here in sunny California, that means that I can realistically carry it only a few months a year.
Mike_Fontenot
New member
Nick_C_S said:
I carry my L-Frame .44mag M69 full-time under a light, short-sleeve shirt this time of year (and the rest of the year also, under heavier flannel shirts) ... see my previous post. But concealment DOES require carrying some stuff in my left shirt pocket, to disguise the bulge from the butt of the grip ... that would probably be a show-stopper for many (most?) people. My 1911 creates less of a bulge, but still needs the pocket bulge for good concealment.
It IS remarkable, and somewhat surprising to me, that it is actually possible to conceal-carry a big, powerful .44mag (with good, not just legal concealment), under a light short-sleeve shirt ... I wasn't counting on being able to do that, when I bought it.
Concealment
For summer carry, my usual attire is a t-shirt with a button up short sleeve over it. With two covering layers, my carry guns pretty much disappear. In this configuration, my L-frame is for the most part, hidden - but, there is some printing.
So it depends on where I'm going in the summer. I'll carry my L-frame if I'm going to my grocery store or my LGS; or any other places that seem a little more firearm friendly. This is California. Things are a little different here. If it's - say - a coffee shop, or a mall, I'm going to go for maximum concealment and carry my compact 9mm that day.
Two weeks ago, I was carrying my 9mm at Pismo Beach - completely hidden, mind you; yet I was still very nervy about it. I don't live there (I live 350 miles away), but the place reeks with a lack of appreciation for one's right to carry, shall I say. It's not difficult to find such an atmosphere here in the once-great Golden State.
The winter is different. I wear a Polo or color t-shirt, with a wind-breaker or coat over. Concealment is thorough at that point.
For summer carry, my usual attire is a t-shirt with a button up short sleeve over it. With two covering layers, my carry guns pretty much disappear. In this configuration, my L-frame is for the most part, hidden - but, there is some printing.
So it depends on where I'm going in the summer. I'll carry my L-frame if I'm going to my grocery store or my LGS; or any other places that seem a little more firearm friendly. This is California. Things are a little different here. If it's - say - a coffee shop, or a mall, I'm going to go for maximum concealment and carry my compact 9mm that day.
Two weeks ago, I was carrying my 9mm at Pismo Beach - completely hidden, mind you; yet I was still very nervy about it. I don't live there (I live 350 miles away), but the place reeks with a lack of appreciation for one's right to carry, shall I say. It's not difficult to find such an atmosphere here in the once-great Golden State.
The winter is different. I wear a Polo or color t-shirt, with a wind-breaker or coat over. Concealment is thorough at that point.
Mike_Fontenot
New member
I'm surprised that you can even get a permit in California at all ... It's been my impression that none of the sheriffs in counties that contain any cities will issue permits (except for the well connected) ... i.e., I thought only rural counties had 2nd-Amendment-respecting sheriffs. Glad to hear it's not as bad as I thought.
(I'm not a lawyer. The proceeding is how I understand the law in California to the best of my knowledge, and is not necessarily accurate.)
In California, CCW permits are issued by the County Sheriff (and I believe, some city police departments have the power too). They must follow the state guidelines; and they also have the discretion to impose their own rules as well (for instance, my Sheriff doesn't allow rimfire guns). The County Sheriff also has the authority to pull any permit for any reason - or no reason at all.
There are - amazingly - a lot of County Sheriff's in Ca who believe in the right to self-protection; particularly here in northern Ca. Scott Brown, the Sacramento County Sheriff, is among them. Sacramento is the capitol city of nearly 500,000 (1.4M in the county). I know several Sac county residents with CCW's. I live in a neighboring county that is particularly conservative - with an excellent Sheriff.
Ironically, in a way, California law is more lax than Texas. If you live in a county of less than 200K residents, and you are in that county at the time, and hold a CCW, you may open carry. Now that's the law as I understand it. In practice, I seriously doubt there is any open carrying going on here in Ca. That's just the wording of the law (which I have read for myself). I understand that Texas is not an open carry state (but is far less restrictive overall, of course).
In California, CCW permits are issued by the County Sheriff (and I believe, some city police departments have the power too). They must follow the state guidelines; and they also have the discretion to impose their own rules as well (for instance, my Sheriff doesn't allow rimfire guns). The County Sheriff also has the authority to pull any permit for any reason - or no reason at all.
There are - amazingly - a lot of County Sheriff's in Ca who believe in the right to self-protection; particularly here in northern Ca. Scott Brown, the Sacramento County Sheriff, is among them. Sacramento is the capitol city of nearly 500,000 (1.4M in the county). I know several Sac county residents with CCW's. I live in a neighboring county that is particularly conservative - with an excellent Sheriff.
Ironically, in a way, California law is more lax than Texas. If you live in a county of less than 200K residents, and you are in that county at the time, and hold a CCW, you may open carry. Now that's the law as I understand it. In practice, I seriously doubt there is any open carrying going on here in Ca. That's just the wording of the law (which I have read for myself). I understand that Texas is not an open carry state (but is far less restrictive overall, of course).