Revolver recommendation for CCW

IMO the best all around pocket revolver is the S&W 642. I bought a Scandium S&W 340 M&P in 357. It was great in a pocket, but it was a "pain" to shoot. Led me to pick up a 642-1 no lock. The 642 is a good balance of power, tolerable recoil, and ease of carry. Not to mention reliable, and pretty affordable in comparison to most other models. Might also want to consider a Mika pocket holster. Here is a picture if your haven't seen the Mika holsters. They aren't pretty, but they are functional and durable (and cheap). Picture is an old one, but the Mika I use with my 642 is 7 years old, and it's still is decent shape.
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An S&W 640 is very compact, built extremely well, carries and shoots very well, and its in .357. I also have a 642 but never carry it as its just about the same exact size as the 640. Yeah the 640 weighs a little more but its not a tank and very easy to carry ALL DAY EVERYDAY. Its Stainless as well.
 
I just picked up a S&W model 60-14 in my LGS for $485+Tax. I carry the 38+p ammo as 357 in that small of a package is a handfull.

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Personally I am not a big fan of the .357 in the smaller snub revolvers and would stick with the .38, which will be a smaller overall package, and although it is not that much smaller it does make a difference when trying to conceal...
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I've never been able to see the down-side to getting an equivalent revolver chambered in .357 Magnum as opposed to one chambered in .38 Special, especially when the intended use is for self-defense. As everyone knows, you don't have to shoot Magnum loads in a .357 but you can use the lightest .38 Special wadcutter load, all the way up to full-house Magnums and everything in-between-a range of versatility the .38 Special can't equal.
 
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I carry a Smith & Wesson Model 49 Bodyguard in .38 Special. Why? Well it was eleven years ago and the price was right. I purchased it from a retired police officer and he was asking $250.00 for it. I wanted a backup / off-duty revolver and the .357 magnum snubbies were a lot more money. You see I was a rookie officer and I wasn't making as much money. I had recently spent a chunk of change buying a Sig P220 as my primary sidearm. I wanted quality, but I also had to economize. A Smith & Wesson Model 49 in good shape wasn't cutting corners.

I've been very happy with the 49 ever since.
 
Unless you plan to pocket carry I see no real advantage to the airweight which is why I went with all steel for my carry choice.
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But the op apparently does plan to pocket carry and an Airweight or its equivalent affords a significant advantage in this context. I would agree that, because the only advantage that I see in choosing a lighter weight handgun over an otherwise identical steel version is for pocket carry and that because the heavier version is unquestionably easier to shoot well (in terms of recoil and controllability when firing repeat shots), if the op's pocket carry is only an occasional occurrence a steel revolver might well be his best choice.
 
I agree with he others, drop the .357 requirement, up your budget and look at Airweights and LCR's. The .38 +p is a formidable round and nothing to sneeze at.
 
I used to carry an old S&W Model 36 in a pocket holster for years. It's steel and it wasn't a big deal in terms of fatigue or patterning. Why is an airlight needed for pocket carry again?

I'm a big fan of Smith's but all mine have been steel.

If you are sticking to your budget do NOT get a Rossi. I got one as my first pistol ever. It was one of the biggest lemons I ever had - big issues on the timing.
 
I just traded an lc9 in on an lcr357, and shooting +p 38spl ammo out of it is actually fun (the lc9 was like a more painful chore in comparison). So I recommend that, though youre going to have to raise your budget a little.

Look at it this way though, it's something your life and the lives of your loved ones may depend on one day. It's worth spending a little more to know you got the right thing.
 
Why is an airlight needed for pocket carry again?
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Again? Because it weighs less. Being lighter means less sag in the pocket and more ease in carrying it. That's all; nothing more complicated than that.
 
I carry a Taurus Ultralight Blued 38 snub with the hammer tang on it in my pocket everyday.

If you twist the revolver so it's hammer forward in your pocket,you'll never know it's there.

To draw,place thumb over the hammer tang beofre you take it out of the pocket.

Nice thing about a revovler is that it needs no safety lever to be safe.

You'd have to rotate the cylinder fully in your pocket AND pull the trigger to get the thing to go off in your pocket.

Highly unlikely,unlike some ccw semi auto's that have no manual safety on them.

I am in the market for a hammerless 642 Smith though.

That platform is the best in all of pocket carry revolvers in my opinion.

Smith just got it really right there.

But I do love my Taurus 85 and won't ever sell mine.

I'd just give it a Smith 642 sister.
 
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