auto or revolver for ccw?

B

baddarryl

New member
After seeing the video of the crackheads I have determined I want something small, double action and powerful to carry. Small. 357 revolver or small .45acp. ? Can a revolver be easier to conceal than an auto. 45? Don't care about comfy to shoot as in that scenario it wouldn't matter. Thanks all.
 
Its really just a personal preference... Semi Autos like revolvers come in all sorts of weights and sizes... My suggestion would be to rent some different guns at a range and try them...

For me in general its not that I dont like revolvers but most are double action only and I simply dont like a constant 12 lb trigger pull...

I have plans for a 44 Magnum revolver in the future and yet every pistol I currently own is a semi auto.... again I simply cannot stress enough how important it is to try them in your own hand and see what you think.
 
Glock-36 is a 6+1 45acp small and lightweight or a S&W model 60 3inch barrel .357 5 shot. Both would get the job done.

The Glock -36 with two extra mags will give you 19 rounds of 45 acp. I figure if I need more than that the games over anyway.
 
Don't care about comfy to shoot as in that scenario it wouldn't matter.
Click to expand...
I would concider giving some thought to this as small 357s and small 45s are hard to control and difficult to shoot accuratly. Either round/gun combo will work well given proper shot placement.
 
There are sure lots of options out there, depending on your location, dress style, etc. For me, I find a pocket gun very comfortable and easy to conceal. My preference is revolver, for different reasons, the most important one being that all I have to do is pull the trigger. My first one was a S&W 642 in .38Sp+P, but I didn't shoot it much, as I hated the trigger and felt whipped by the snappy recoil. I then acquired a Ruger LCR, and appreciated a much smoother trigger as well as excellent energy-absorbing grips. But, it was a little bulky. My third pocket gun was a S&W Bodyguard .38 S+P with the integrated laser, primarily for nighttime carry. The smallest and lightest of the three, and fun to shoot.

I recently had a local gunsmith install a Wolff Spring kit in the 642, as well as polishing the action. Add to that a full-size j-frame grip from S&W that provides one more finger, and it is like a new gun- now my favorite. Experiment with what works for you.
 
revolver or auto? coffee or tea, peanut butter or jelly, chevy or ford. there is no one size fits all handgun or caliber. there are no wrong choices. buy what you like and use what you buy, and don't leave home without it.
 
revolver or auto? coffee or tea, peanut butter or jelly, chevy or ford. there is no one size fits all handgun or caliber. there are no wrong choices.
Click to expand...
I like that analagy cause somedays are auto,bologny and coke somedays are revolvers,peanutbutter and Dr pepper.
All days are Ford though. After 35 years of hangin' crap on my Mopar and GM buds I'd never hear the end of it.;)
 
I highly encourage you to go to a range and rent a glock 36 (.45 acp) and a Ruger sp101 (.357 snub) and try and see if you like it.

I have a glock 36 and it kicks like a mule (i changed the magazine floor plate for a better grip, so maybe that will help, but haven't shot since).
I also have a 4" GP100 that has a reasonably hard kick with a .357, now imagine that gun weighs half as much. Something to keep in mind.
 
All a matter of preference. Rent / shoot as many kinds of handguns as you can and see what you like and what you feel confident with. The rest is up to you.
 
I personally prefer a DA revolver as my CCW. I find revolvers to be far more reliable than semi-automatic "bottom feeders".
 
It really is a personal choice. Personally, I would also consider .38 spl +P revolvers and 9mm semi-autos.

The small .45 semi-autos are sometimes finicky, especially for those with no experience shooting them. They require a very firm grip and no "limp-wristing." This is an area where the revolver vs. semi-auto reliability debate still has genuine validity.

Single stack semi-autos would be more concealable than even the small double-stacks but with less rounds in the mag. Research particular models with care.
 
I just do not like revolvers; I cannot really give a sensible answer why, I just prefer a semi-auto. The one reason I do like a revolver is they hold on to the spent cases.
 
If you want something small, it boils down to the smallest gun with the srongest caliber that you can effectifely shoot, and get multiple hits on target while being able to control it. A small, powerful "mouse gun" is no use if it is hard to control for follow up shots. Best thing to do is try different types to see what works best for you. Personally, whether it's revolver or semi-auto, I prefer a heavier gun. But you may find a light weight is OK for you. Look for a range that rents out different guns that you can try, and take it from there.
 
I am and always have been a revolver guy. I shoot my semis in competition, but thats it. My CCW is a S&W 360 .357. Its loaded with Hornady critical defense 38+p. I am very comfortable with it, shoot it reasonably well, and if I need more than a 5th shot, my guess is that I am already dead or the perp is.

-George
 
I recommend they go to a range that has a good selection of handguns and try out as many as they can to see what they like & fits their hand
 
Try them both ... for me there's no question that a semi is a better choice for a number of reasons ... more ammo, less recoil, for me more accurate, a lighter trigger ... I have a Smith 637 and an NAA .22Mag that I occasionally carry while walking my dog in my own peaceful neighborhood (mainly for skunks) but if I'm away from that area, I have at least my Kahr PM9 with me at all times; in cool weather I step up to a Kimber UCII ... I shoot either far better than the 637 ... but of course that's me; there are plenty of folks on here who swear they can shoot the eye out of a gnat at 15 yards with a 10 oz. snubbie ... good on 'em ...
 
If you don't have experience with small 45's or small 357's, you really need to shoot both and determine if the recoil and control issues are something you want to deal with.

Personally, if it comes down to a 5-6 shot 357 revolver or a 6-7 shot small 45 I'd opt for the revolver. I've had more failures with small 45's than I trust in a high stress situation. Small autos can be trouble if you don't have a really good grip. Both will have stout recoil, but the snub 357 is less likely to fail. Revolvers are not picky about grip or contact shooting like autos can be.

Another note about small 45's and 357's, is the loss of velocity can be quite large and sometimes other rounds can be just as effective in small platforms.
 
It's a matter of taste. Whatever you choose, revolver or auto, you want a gun that you shoot well; you want a gun that you can carry comfortably; you want a gun that you believe in. For me, that adds up to a full-size 1911.
 
I should get my CC license in the next couple of weeks and have been eying every auto in sight without considering a revolver. Down to a Sig P238 or a Kahr PM9, Bersa .380 or Para LDA .45. Of those 4 for me it is a coin toss. After watching that vid I realized in some situations there may not even be time to flip the safety off. That crosses the 1911 Sig off the list. The DA/SA action of the Bersa would be ok as that is how I carry my P89 with the hammer down and safety off. The trigger pull on that thing for DA is more than enough of a safety! So that narrows me I guess to the Para or Kahr.

Also I am not a big guy, so I will be opting for smallest platform of whatever caliber I choose.

After watching that vid I thinking of getting a revolver instead for simplicity and reliability. Point and pull the trigger, but I hadn't considered it before this. The question of revolver reliability is a mute point, so I guess what small autos would be considered just as reliable? Haven't ruled out the .380 but am really leaning 9mm at least. I guess anything other than point blank then gun control sure does matter so may end up in 9mm land for that and many other reasons.

There is a range here that rents, but they charge $10 per gun and require you to buy their ammo. That can add up fast. Also a very limited supply of rental guns. I may use this though, because renting from them sure turned me off from ever getting a Kimber (sorry guys).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top