can't choose my new carry wheelgun...need your help.

New CC revolver

  • Total voters
    144
  • Poll closed .
How do you see your everyday carry? Belt or pocket?

A 642 or LCR would be fine pocket guns.

Forget the Taurus models you suggest. Much better choices than those.
 
For your application I would go with the LCR 357.

It is light enough for pocket carry, Barely. I do notice it is heavier than my 638, but not enough to be a problem.
It weighs enough along with the Hogue Tamer grips to really soak up recoil.
It will also belt carry just fine.
You can add an XS 24/7 Tritium Front Night Sight to it yourself in about 10 minutes. The pinned on front sight is easy to change. Not sure if the LCR 357 comes in an XS version from the factory. I added mine.
It has a pretty fair factory trigger. To match it a J Frame will be needing some Apex parts.
You can later pick up an LCR 22 to go with it as a Practice/Training gun. Get a few Tuff Products Model 1022 Quick Strips in Orange, and stage either 5 or 6 rounds in pairs OOXOOXOOXX for reloading practice, along with trigger time.

The SP101 was brought up several times above. Great gun. It like my 2-1/2" S&W 66 is a belt carry only handgun. Great for belt carry, to heavy for pocket carry.

For concealed carry I like having a gun that I can belt carry, and I also need a handgun I can pocket carry. Add 357 Magnum Fire Power. And add a front night sight. We are pretty much down to two choices:
The LCR 357 with XS 24/7 front sight.
The S&W 340 M&P also with XS 24/7 front sight.

Now have a look inside your billfold, and the LCR 357 while not as good looking as a 340 M&P is a much better buy.

My 2 Cents

Bob
 
If the rather weighty Taurus Model 445 is still in serious contention, you might want to consider the equally weighty (though Taurus also made a lighter weight, alloy version of this revolver) Model 415: a s/s, five-shot, .41 Magnum with a 2 1/2" ported barrel (as opposed to the 2", non-ported barrel of the Model 445). Mine is the all steel version and I have no trouble controlling this revolver when firing quick, repeat shots. However, I would imagine that the recoil of the light-weight variant would be much more difficult to manage.
 
Code: 
if you have any other suggestions i'm open to anything

I'd personally suggest looking at the SP101 3 inch barrel. I also carry a Taurus 605 2 inch in my pocket on occasion. I love both these revolvers! :D
 
It may not be light weight exactly but I would like to recommend a 3" S&W model 65. With the right ammo it is quite the protector.
 
Was not sure if you meant S&W or Taurus either. As far as the Judge I don't know how good a gun it is all I know to me it is butt ugly. Other choices might be any revolver that is hammer-less or ( drool ) The Chippa Rhino.
Click to expand...
This is either sarcasm or extreme irony. The Rhino is one of he ugliest guns to ever (dis)grace the planet.
 
Turus Judge is far from small, even with a 2" barrel. I presume you need this to be small enough that you can throw it in a pocket and go.

The LCR has a GREAT trigger, but is pretty darn snappy (not uncomfortable though) even with .38s. Anylight weight is going to have that issue though.

I have no experience with the other Taurus on your list, so I won't comment.

I carry a Ruger SP101 on a regular basis. Put a meprolight sight on the front of it, and I don't think you could do any better.
 
The LCR is a really great option for concealed carry, it is light and easily concealable. It has a great trigger pull, better than the Smith J frames I tried out so that is why I chose it. Like all small light guns you do notice the recoil but it's not bad with the Hogue Tamer grips.
 
Smith 642 or LCR.

I own a Taurus Ultrallight Model 85,I am very happy with but will likely be buying a 642 in the near future.

Just a bit smaller and fits my hand perfectly plus it's double action only and when you are attacked,you'll need that quickness of fire.

Forget thumbing back the hammer,there won't be time.

Plus the 642's lock action is sealed.

Protected from pocket dirt and lint better then most revolvers.

Plus it's incredibly accurate for the platform and reliable.

The LCR looks like it may be just as good,it's simply not been out as long yet.

And both the 642 and the LCR have very smooth contours where the hammer is located so pulling them out of a pocket is a nearly no snag deal.

Very reassuring when your life (and those right next to you) is on the line.
 
Last edited:
I just picked up a slightly used S&W 642 at a gun show Saturday and I'm very impressed with it's lightness and how it shoots.

Yesterday, I took it apart and did a trigger/action job, cutting a couple of coils off the trigger return spring and lightly smoothing most moving parts, using India and Arkansas stones, then buffing compound on a Dremel wheel. I was surprised to see blued steel internal parts, which will wear better than most stainless, as long as the hardening isn't cut through. I like it better than stainless parts coated with hard chrome or other metal. Most of the parts were pretty smooth as it came, but there was a burr on the forward portion of the trigger where it engages the locking bolt.

The trigger pull increases in weight for about 2/3rds of the travel, then levels off and has a very smooth let-off. It's one of the nicest double-action pulls I've found in small handguns.
 
SW Airlite Ti

Of the three I would go with the LCR. Shoot 38 +p 125gr loads and the recoil should be easy to ontology. But, the SW airlites are much better IMHO and again, 38+p only. If you want to spend less, I would get a Charter Arms Bulldog (44spl) or a Pitbull (40 sw). Get a new one - some older models were really rough.

Wayne
 
Shooting a 357 in a light snubbie to me is really painful. But what is really interesting about 357 snubbies and I can't say is true to all, but the ejector rod is a bit longer and does a better lob of kicking out 38 special fired cases.
 
Out of those options, I'd go with the Ruger LCR. However, you also owe it to yourself to look at the Ruger SP series as well as the S&W Airweight line of snubs.

I'd steer clear of Taurus. They are too hit or miss in the QA and customer service department.
 
For me the ultimate carry revolver is a S&W 640. I carry one almost every day. Just got an engraved on with no lock... All is right in the universe...:cool:
 
Another vote for the Ruger SP101, which really needs to be on your voting list instead of that silly Taurus Judge!

I have the 2.25in version with the bobbed hammer and a nice bootgrip on it and it's fantastic. Definately couldn't pocket carry it in my jeans, and is better in a belt holster, but I have pocket carried it in my leather jacket and hoody.

Read up on the SP101, it's generally very well regarded, even by some Smith worshipers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top