Good revolver for ankle carry

D

DannyO

New member
I'm thinking of picking up a pistol to carry in an ankle holster. I have no idea where to start as all of my pistols are large frame autos. Does anyone have suggestions for a good light pistol.

Any caliber is ok. Any holster suggestions would be helpful too.

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"Some people spend an entire liftime wondering if they made a difference. Marines don't have that problem."
Semper Fi
 
Danny, If you are not real big, a J frame in .38spec is one popular option. You say any calibre is ok, I say stay away from .25 auto as it might piss somebody off and get you killed. Carried pre sell out mod 36 steel 2" as backup for issue .45 for years. Have a 3" mod 36 now as backup for my 686 now.

Practice a lot with your little one, both hands, either hand, moving targets etc. They are more accurate than they look. I re qualified Navy expert one year with the 2", double action only, using GI hardball.

If you go to ankle rig, I like inside of weak side. If you split the inner seam of trousers and use dressmakers velcro to hold the pants together you will have fast access from kneeling position. Practice trigger finger discipline as you don't want to shoot your foot too many times. Couple of speed strips would go well with ankle rig. Practice using the speed strips as they are a bear to use quickly at first.

Practice a lot with soft loads but try to put a cylinder or two through it with major power stuff each session.

I like the idea of steel in the little ones as they tend to jump a lot with major power loads and I need all the weight I can get.

If you are a big un, consider ankle rig for what you are used to. I had a number three that carried spare issue .45 in ankle rig with no problems. We used him for heavy lifting too, he thought the M60 was a rifle.

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Sam I am, grn egs n packin

Nikita Khrushchev predicted confidently in a speech in Bucharest, Rumania on June 19, 1962 that: " The United States will eventually fly the Communist Red Flag...the American people will hoist it themselves."
 
I realize the subject was asking for revolver suggestions, but I really like my Glock 26 (no extension) in its Galco Ankle Glove.
 
I really like my pre-sell out M442. It seems to be the choice of many who choose this route. It will hold sub-3" @ 25yds if I do my part. Galco Ankle Glove worn inside weak ankle. One spare Speed Strip of 6, in case you fumble one on a reload. :)
 
S&W 442, nickel finish, loaded with Federal Nyclad 125 gr. HP. Carried in an Alessi ankle rig. A combination that is really great, light and reliable. Open top Alessi is very secure.

Kilroy...
...was here
 
I have a S&W 342ti, a S&W 60 .357, and a Walther PPK, all with ankle holsters. The more power you want, the heavier they get. Deciding where in the power to weight ratio you want to be is a matter of preference.
 
I'll join the crowd with the J-frame vote, have carried one this way for 3-4 years. I prefer the aluminum frame 'cause it carries so easily, but would like to try a steel one so I can shoot more comfortably. Get any all weather finish, the ankle guns pick up lots of dust and lint, and moisture if you step in water. I like the enclosed hammer over the Bodyguard style or bobbed hammer, one less hole for gunk to get in, and the gun can be fired in a hastily-obtained and therefore crummy grip. I really like my DeSantis Apache ankle holster (45 bucks or so) but the Alessi rig at a bit over twice the price gets great reviews. If the Apache wears out or next time I buy myself a present, I'm going to get the Alessi. I carried a PPK/S in an ankle rig, didn't take long to figure out this is a revolver's job.

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When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; IT IS that they shall be destroyed forever...Psalms 92.7
 
Without a doubt, a Smith & Wesson model 60
in .38 Special. :)Stainless steel is a must
here in the "deep south".

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I carry a *&* 337 AirLite Titanium in a Galco ankle glove as my new "always" gun. The gun is so light that I can wear it there for twelve hours and forget it's there. The aluminum frame and titanium cylinder are impervious to corrosion, but the gun does pick up a lot of lint in the ankle holster and needs cleaning a bit more often. With five rounds of 125gr. +P GoldDots or Hydrashoks, it beats anything else in the 13oz. class in terms of punch and reliability.

<wipes eye> Damn, I love this gun. :)

Seriously, check out the Titanium snubbies from Taurus and *&*...if you go with the latter, don't order a new one. The Taurus runs around $400 these days, the *&* is in the mid-500s. I found the Taurus to be every bit as good as the Sellout&Weasel.
 
I'll join the crowd echoing...S&W J-frame. Everyone seems to like the airweights, but I carry an all-steel one; I'm no powerlifter, and I don't even notice the weight. Stainless? Absolutely. Get an enclosed, shrouded or bobbed hammer, unless you anticipate cocking it and firing SA. .38 or .357...whichever you like. One important factor:


GET A SECURE ANKLE HOLSTER


Be careful, a lot of strap rigs WILL NOT WORK with a bobbed or enclosed/shrouded hammer...there is simply nothing for the strap to hold against. It might SEEM secure...but run a mile with it. See how secure it is. Opt instead for a tensioning rig. Galco makes a functional one for a decent price.

Also, if the stock grips show up too easily, you can go for lower-profile grips from hogue or pachmyer...just be prepared for the change in gun 'feel.'

Practice!

Mike :)


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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DannyO:
....Any caliber is ok. Any holster suggestions would be helpful too.
[/quote]

My minimum would be the 32 H&R Mag. It offers .38 level performance. That make the $150ish NEF 5 shot revolver an affordable option. Double action, 7 inches, 23 ounces, and a hammer spur that a strap can go around.

I'd be less than confident going down in energy to a .25 auto.

Tom

Old Air Force saying: When you need a parachute, you usually need it pretty bad.
 
the disadvantage of hammer spurs is that they catch on things during the draw. Ankle rigs in particular are prone to catching on the pant cuff if you are not careful. If you practice it should not be an issue, but still...I know I'll never cock my gun...I have a good solid tension holster...Mr. Murphy doesn't like me...that all ads up to 'hammerless.' :)

Mike


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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
I have used Action Direct's holster. Fully adjustible and has strap positioned above the calf to support the vertical weight of the gun in the main portion of the holster. Just don't pull the main strap too tight. You don't need to and if you do you will soon know it is too tight. Just enough is just right. Doesn't take long to find out.

As for what to put in it, I started off with a Tomcat. Worked ok, but it is not a light gun. I then got a Kep-Tec P-32. Sweet! Less than 10 oz fully loaded! Loaded with Fiocchi FMJ, it packs quite a punch. After using it awhile, I got the belt clip and I now carry it either behind the belt buckle or just clockwise behind the cell phone. You will forget it's there! It's so small I don't need the ankle holster much. I have even worn it in a shirt pocket.
 
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