narrowed it down to 4 pocket handguns.

Just a thought, but have you actually placed any of those guns in your pocket?

I'm not sure that any of those work for me as a pocket gun and they may or may not work for you.
 
I think the Speer Good Dot +P Short Barrel round has narrowed the gap between the 38 Special and 357 Magnum snubbie significantly. Now If I can only find a box or two to try. 13 3/4 inches of penetration with a fully expanded hollow point, and intact bullet is pretty impressive.

Speer Good Dot Short Barrel 135 gr 38 Spcl +P
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=khazbS9pWjE&desktop_uri=/watch?v=khazbS9pWjE

Winchester PDX-1 125 gr 357 Magnum
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=khazbS9pWjE&desktop_uri=/watch?v=khazbS9pWjE
 
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"Glock 26 and Glock 27 are pocket carry"

You must have a MUCH bigger pocket than me. ;)

IMHO anything with a double stack mag is a no-go for pocket carry.
 
Don't forget that a revolver gives you the option of firing from inside the pocket.

I loved my .357 LCR, I agree with others here that if you get an LCR, go for the .357. It gives you more options, and the weight difference for carry is negligible.

Plus I just don't like aluminum in guns. For no explainable reason really.

Ivan
 
MLeake, you are tougher than I am. I have owned two Airweights, and they were classics, but noticeably more punishing than the LCR .357 with the same loads.

I guess that big laser grip might help, but I'm happy now with the LCR.

The LCR for me is bulky enough that not using a holster helps it fit in some pockets, you can then "spin" it down in so no one can see it down there. Maybe not the best tactically, but helps with concealment.
 
Something that I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that revolvers are inherently less finicky about what ammo you put through them. some of the tiny semi autos do not like the big hollow point rounds all that much. I had a friend offer me a shield after his first trip to the range and he could not get it to feed the large mouthed HPs. I gave him a few of my hornadys and the gun did not jam once. My LCR has yet to jam or misfeed so I carry it almost exclusively.
 
Cheapshooter, you said
I think the Speer Good Dot +P Short Barrel round has narrowed the gap between the 38 Special and 357 Magnum snubbie significantly.
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I love that round but it seems to me that if the Speer 135 grain .38 Special +P at 860 fps from a 2 inch barrel has narrowed the gap, the Speer 135 grain .357 at 990 fps from a 2 inch barrel is even better.
 
Of your choices I would go with the Shield. I prefer the Kahr but it may get replaced by a Springer XDs 9 when they are available.
 
I love that round but it seems to me that if the Speer 135 grain .38 Special +P at 860 fps from a 2 inch barrel has narrowed the gap, the Speer 135 grain .357 at 990 fps from a 2 inch barrel is even better.
Click to expand...

But is more really better. At 13 3/4 inches of penetration for the Gold Dot vs 13 1/2 for the PDX-1, would another 135 fps from the Speer magnum round produce unwanted over penetration?
There is another video also done by ScubaOz of the 158 gr Gold Dot load from Underwood that completely passed through 20 inches of ballistic gel, one milk mug of watter, and stopped in the second. Way too much penetration, and a possibility of hitting an unintended target.
Sometimes more is not better. With the Speer Short Barrel 38+P exceeding the 12 inch standard I think would be a completely competent round for self defense in the 38+P LCR.
 
Don't forget that a revolver gives you the option of firing from inside the pocket.
Click to expand...
:eek::eek::eek: No comment!

The LCR for me is bulky enough that not using a holster helps it fit in some pockets, you can then "spin" it down in so no one can see it down there.
Click to expand...

My LCR carries inconspicuously , and safely in a DeSantis Nemisis pocket holster in most pants pockets. In those that it doesn't, only my Elsie Pea is truly concealable.
 
Cheapshooter, why the alarmed reaction?

I doubt craZivn was recommending shooting from the pocket. I think he meant if you get jumped, and are unable to draw because the BG is all over you, a revolver in the jacket pocket could still be fired multiple times, where most semis would jam after the first shot.

On a similar note, the revolver won't get pushed out of battery if you are nose to nose and shove the muzzle into the BG.

Personally, I prefer autos (1911, P7, P01) for belt carry, but use a 442 for pocket.
 
For pocket carry, I use a 642 - in a Desantis - and it blends in better than any bottom feeder, even my Kahr CM-9. The human body has no square or flat surfaces, like a semi so the roundness of a revolver just disappears better in cargo pocket shorts or similar. I don't like firing 357 from ym K frame, no way would I want to shoot a light snub - isn't worth the extra cost, no real benefit ballistically
 
Touching on just the two LCRs, if you are going to carry 38s regardless, I'd recommend getting the .38 version. I had both, and I really felt the extra weight of the .357 LCR in my Docker-style pockets. The .38 LCR felt truly light.

I kept the .357 LCR because I like to carry magnums, but the extra weight in the pocket makes it bounce around a lot more.

As for the Shield, it's larger than my Nano and P290RS, which are already at the limit of size I can comfortably get out of my Docker-style pockets in a reasonably fast motion.

For me, it's how fast I can get it OUT of the pocket, not IN. The LCR does come out nicely, being well contoured and snag free. Especially with the boot grip instead of the Tamer grip.
 
With regard to .357 in snubs, I don't really like it in the SP101, which is a half pound heavier than the LCR, so I have absolutely no desire to shoot .357 from a 15-17oz revolver.

Call me a wimp.

Edit: OTOH, this is what I carry in my 442; I don't mind shooting this at the range, either, in limited amounts (due to cost, not recoil):

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108

Item 20A: 158gr., very soft cast, semi wad cutter, (Keith) hollow cavity, with a gas check. This bullet will mushroom violently on impact and will penetrate roughly 14 inches in human flesh. Again, this bullet is gas checked and will not lead your barrel.

S&W mod. 60, 2 inch- 1040 fps (379 ft. lbs.)
S&W mod. 66, 2.5 inch- 1059 fps (393 ft. lbs.)
Ruger SP101, 3 inch- 1143 fps (458 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch- 1162 fps (474 ft. lbs.)
Click to expand...
 
Yes, but I'd be hard pressed to explain it. It feels to me like the LCR sits lower in the hand and has fewer 'unfriendly surfaces' for lack of a better term. I found it to be one of the easier-shooting 357 snubs I've fired.. but I'm OK with a 2 1/4" SP101 and 200 grain bear loads, too.

An awful lot of this recoil stuff is subjective. I shot two mags of 9x18 ball through a P63 awhile back... bit the inside of my big ol' thumb knuckle hard enough to draw blood. I hated the dang thing.
Click to expand...
I get it. About like me and .380's. I shot a little Llama .380 (scaled down 1911) and a magazine full was all I wanted. Whereas the little Bodyguard .380, which is both smaller and lighter, is one I regularly practice with and find no discomfort at all in shooting it. An Officer's length .45 is fun, that Llama .380 was not!
 
here is my line of thought, im a big guy. not that tall but built like a tank. most bad guys will look at me and move on to a weaker target imo. if they do decide to attack me chances are they will be huge. there are a lot of muscled up bad guys here. jails are full of them.

12 or 13 inches of penetration in the jell isn't enough imo. thats minimum based on average size humans in the country? like i said there are many down here who are well above average. after countless videos i like these for when i get a lcr .357. that is if i can find the gun or ammo. well here is .357 in a snub @ just over 18 inches of penetration and good expansion. good old hydra shok:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16m0jVAhBZ8&list=PL0k8IScA_ejzUgbUHC7hhqRTDbKjqI0a7&index=23

38 spl +p hs can't expand from a snub:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypAptAWZxXo&list=PL0k8IScA_ejzUgbUHC7hhqRTDbKjqI0a7&index=18
 
Speaking of the 158gr LSHCHP FBI load, does anybody have any ballistic information on the discontinued CCI Blazer Aluminum in that loading. I happened on a great deal on a case of it a couple years back, and couldn't turn it down for $6.50/box! Still have most of it, and until I can find the Speer Short Barrel it is what I carry in my LCR when it has been my choice from my CCW rotation. CCI no longer lists this load, nor any velocity information for it, and my chrony is on the fritz.
 
The easiest to conceal will be the LCP. It will probably be the worst to shoot. Not necessarily painful, but certainly tedious as heck with those pimple sights. The 357 LCR actually gives you the advantage of using 38sp in a heavier frame. I am not familiar with the s&w. Of the 3 rugers, I'd go with the 357 LCR.
 
Try to draw quickly while sitting down....... Not happening
(Think car jacking...... Or how much time you are really standing)

Try to draw if the fight is on the ground............ Not happening


If I HAD to pocket carry....... It would be an LCR38

I really wanted my CM9 to be a pocket carry, ...... But after practicing the Tueller drill, I am MUCH faster with a IWB carry, then pocket carry


I have a Shield...... Love it. Its too big for pocket carry

I used to pocket carry, now I 100% IWB....
 
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