[PawDaddy]

Which gun is it and how do you carry?

I have a Taurus 85 that is my current carry gun, but have been contemplating something else. I have been looking at the smaller 9mm's, such as the Kel-Tec, Taurus Millenium, etc. But I have always wanted a .44 Special, .45 LC, or .45 ACP.

Which do you recomend, and why? I do not reload.

[popbang]

I carry One of two revolvers a S&W 696 in 44 Special or Ruger Bird's head Vaquero in 45 Colt. I have IWB and OWB holsters for each and either will conceal under an untucked polo shirt or untucked button up shirt. The key is a high and tight holster.

If I did not handload and wanted a bigger revovler it would be a .45 ACP. The reason being there is a better selection of loads and better self defence loads than the other two easily available.

[Majic]

.45acp in a good IWB or high ride belt holster. There is a vast selection of loads. In pistol form it is flat and very concealable.

[PawDaddy]

Majic,

I am talking about revolvers. I would love a 1911, but really can't afford one unless I go with a RIA, CD, Llama, Firestorm, etc. I am looking mainly at the Taurus revolvers in the calibers I mentioned above.

[Majic]

Sorry, I mentioned pistols as you had comtemplated a Kel-Tec.
In a revolver it will be a large frame so a good high ride belt holster would be more comfortable. I would still stick to the .45acp for the load selection.
I do carry a 3" Smith 24-3 in a Don Hume Double Nine, but it is a .44sp and the load selection is much smaller in that caliber.

[Standing Wolf]

In your situation, I'd be partial to the .44 special, if only because with the right hand loads, it's an absolute tack driver cartridge. It may take awhile to develop the right load for your individual gun; once you find it, however, you'll have a friend for life.

[Gewehr98]

What are some of the better IWB or high-ride belt holsters? I'm looking for something decent and comfortable for my 3" 696.

[popbang]

I use a Don Hume H721-OT for my 696. It holds good and is comfortable.

[PawDaddy]

Standing Wolf,

I do not handload.

The .45acp looks to be the least expensive and most available ammo(in my area) than the other two.

[glockten]

A Rossi 720 .44 Special in a Galco Speedmaster. In cooler weather I sometimes carry a S&W 629 4" or 625 .45 Colt Mountain Gun, in a Galco Silhouette.

[czechmate]

Well, just my two cents worth but maybe a .357 wouldn't be such a bad choice. You can really shoot a variety of loads all the way down to mild .38 specials. Their are alot of good pistol choices from S&W and Taurus in this caliber. If I were a badguy it would definitely make me fear for my life.

[Stainz]

I carry a S&W 296 now, loaded with CCI Blazer 200gr GDJHP (~800 fps), in a closeout $12 'Old World Leather' #33473 owb belt slide. Really nice Italian leather, too. It will also take my 696 - and, with a little push (I have a spare... another $12!), either my 625 or 629 Mountain Guns. That 296 is 'perfect' with those Blazers - and the grips from the 696 really help it as well (The 696 has new S&W squared UM grips.).

I feel a big and slow round is best for personal protection. My previous CCW, for many years, was an AMT DA Backup in .45ACP. Follow-up shots were problematic due to the pocket carry/lint problems. Additionally, you needed suspenders to keep your breeches up as you walked! The 296 is a better solution. A small lightweight five shot revolver in .45 ACP would be nice - and when/if S&W or Ruger makes one, I'll buy it!

Stainz

[Hutch]

A Smith 629 3" in a Don Hume 721. Not in this weather, tho'.

[PawDaddy]

Czechmate,

I used to have a Rossi 877, but I traded it on the Taurus 85. I would consider a .357 since I already own a Ruger GP100 and like the round. I traded the Rossi partly because I wanted a better quality gun. I carried it concealed, but it was harder than carrying the 85.

I noticed that in the Taurus "compact" framed line that you can get a seven shot .357. How would this gun compare in size with the Rossi 877? If it is about the same size I might consider one of these. I think that it would be a little better than the small framed guns as far as recoil goes.

[Poohgyrr]

I have a Sparks Versa Max 2 that works well with either a 3" Smith 629 or a 4" M24, both loaded with Specials. Some folks count .357's, and a Sparks SS2 works well with a 3" M65LS.