Lightest and smallest .38+P revolver for concealed carry?

P

Para Bellum

New member
The tactical range for the specific situation is 3yds, no more. The person to carry is at high personal risk but can't shoot. So speedrock drills will be all he might learn quickly enough.

The title says the rest. Please share your opinion with me.
Thanks a lot and stay safe.
 
On 11 May 2005, I started carrying a Smith and Wesson 642. It weighs 15 oz., disappears in your front pants pocket, and can come into play very quickly. Granted, I am biased towards hammerless snubbies, but I think this one is the best CCW handgun.

Regards,
fiVe
 
You can shave a couple more ounces of weight by getting the Sc Ti version, but it's gonna cost you a few extra hundred.

The S&W 642 is a good compromise between size, cost, power.

642_2r.jpg


Good Luck...

Joe
 
The S&W 442/642 is the perfect balance point between the 640 (which is too heavy for pocket carry) and the 340 (which is too light for serious practice with defensive loads).
 
If you really want the lightest and smallest, there is only one answer: The now-discontinued S&W 342 and 342PD weigh in at 11 oz. There may be other choices, and the 642 is one to consider, but the lightest and smallest, by a considerable percentage, is the 342.

Clemson
 
I couldn't get a Bersa Thunder to work for summer carry so 2 1/2 months ago I purchased a Taurus 85 Ultra-Lite, .38Spl.+p, 15oz's, 2" Brl...Here tis...
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I second the 642. I just recently bought it myself and I am very happy with it. For Concield carry, I think a concield hammer is a must. I think the 642 is a good compromise between weight and price.
 
bear in mind, that the lighter the gun, the more the felt recoil will be. so this may be an issue with a very inexperianced shooter HIGHLY recommend the owner try to do as much practice as possible with it (which is always good advice for anyone and thier HD/ccw gun) to get competant and comfortable. just my 2 cents though...
 
642. I just ordered Crimson Trace laser grips for mine after reading mostly positives about them. That's big coming from a guy not big on lasers. I think the snub was made for them. I'll confirm that soon I'm sure.
 
What a lot of folks don't get, is that weight is really the factor with carry guns. Sure, bulk is an issue, but it's WEIGHT that will make you decide to leave that pocket pistol at home. Light may be harder to shoot. It may be more likely to shake apart from range use. But it gets carried. Go as light as you can.


...but dear Gawd, don't get some bling-bling pimp gun like Bullrock showed! :D
 
A 342pd is the elegant answer. Unfortunately, as Clemson notes, it's now discontinued. I traded my 442 for one of the last ones held by my friendly local gun shop, and the more I carry it and shoot it, the more I appreciate what a remarkable revolver it is.
 
Hey Long Path

but it's WEIGHT that will make you decide to leave that pocket pistol at home. Light may be harder to shoot. It may be more likely to shake apart from range use. But it gets carried. Go as light as you can.
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I couldn't agree with you more...It's funny, I don't mind strapping on 30 oz's or so in the winter. But in the summer, if I didn't have that little pimp gun, I might not carry as much...Incidentally that is a good shooting little gun, and it comes in average normal colors as well. As with all little guns, it barks and jumps, and may not be for a beginner... :)
 
Sorry Jonathan, I forgot to fill the hole with monkey sh*t and paint over it. I'll try and be more considerate next time... ;)
 
I've shot the Sc and Ti guns and I'd go for the 642.

Another comment - the person can't shoot but will have to do the speed rock at 3 yards because of personal risk. This sound just a touch contrived to me. Sorry, if I misread some serious situation but I find it hard to believe that even in threat, there is not better situational awareness and time to get to the range. If the threat is so great - just get out of dodge. Call the law.

I don't get it.
 
Glenn:

there is a guy who stabbed the endangered person in the head several times with a folding knife until the folding knife broke. The victim is rather short, light, +50yrs old and neither strong nor has he any fighthing background at all. The opposite: He used to be a pacifist.

The bad guy was captured, certified insane and locked up in a mental institution. Once the shrinks find him healed, he'll be out again. I estamate that to happen in 2-3 years. The bad guy might repeat his attack.

The victim despises guns and violence. Shooting means no fun for him just as soccer or basketball bore me to pieces. So, there is no chance to make him like or enjoy guns. IPSC, IDPA or any other gun sport/practice are not his interest.

So: His situation is the bad guy comes again, enters his room attacks. Our pacifist has no warrior-mindset and won't even realize the threat before he ist at least 3yds close. Most likely he will only react after the first blow to himself. So he needs no advanced shooting skills and practice. All he has to make sure is to hit a guy already physically attacking him and by no means hit anybody else accidentally.

He will never ever aqcuire the skills to fight an opponent who attacks him with a gun. But he could stop a knive-wielding weirdo with a proper handgun at hand-to-hand combat distance IMO. Probper handgun for that purpose (Glock 26, 27 or: a .38+P snub).

Please do correct me if you find my description and analasys wrong. Any good advice is crucial to us. We work in the same office. I however am not a pacifist...
 
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