[twoblink]

Looks like 2011 will be the year I go get my CCW.. Will probably carry my SP101. But was wondering if there was anybody out there that use to carry a semi-auto as their ccw and then switched to a revolver?

If so, what were the reasons, and after some digestion time, what do you feel about your decision?

[HelterSkelter]

revolver is 100% reliable unless there is some catastrophic failure. autos jam, fail to eject, if ammo misfires you have to cock the slide again, they take forever to reload the clip. a revolver will never jam, a misfire is solved with another pull of the trigger and there are no clips to bother with.

[Sig88]

Aren't you suppose to train for failures, jams and reloading? Nothing is 100% perfect so just assuming that something is not going to fail because something else may fail more often is just stupid. Nothing is flawless.

To the OP, I mainly carry semi-autos. I like slender pistols and and semi's usually fit that bill. I also think its easier to carry extra ammo in magazines than on speed-loaders but that is personal preference. That being said, I still carry a S&W 442 on occasion. It is extremely comfortable to carry and I am able to get a good handle on the grips.

[george d dennis]

years ago i carried a security six in a shoulder holster. for the past 35yrs i
carried a semi auto. im thinking of going back to a revolver. i dont need to
carry alot of rounds with me. im not getting into some big gun battle.
all the years i have carried, not once did i take it out of its holster.and i hope
it stays that way. maybe im getting a little older now. i have a choice what to
carry. and i dont need a m-60 machinegun.

[XTrooper]

I started my police career when the revolver was king and carried a revolver on and off duty for more than half of it. After my retirement in 1991, I carried one or another autoloader for the next twenty years and never thought I'd carry a revolver as my primary EDC again.

Recently things changed when I bought a Smith & Wesson Performance Center 627 8-shot .357 Magnum with 2 5/8" bbl. With its eight shot capacity and its ability to be quickly reloaded with either its supplied 8-shot moonclips or 8-shot speedloaders from 5 Star Firearms, it affords parity to those carrying revolvers and I don't feel the least bit undergunned with it on my hip.

http://xtrooper.net/SW_627_PC_4.jpg

http://xtrooper.net/SW_627_PC_5.jpg

[Daveboone]

I went back to a Chiefs Special after carrying 9mm for a # of years. Regardless of TRAINING for missfeeds, failure to ejects, etc. (none of which I ever had with my Beretta) proper and common sense planning dictates carrying what you know works. Nothing works better, or gave me better confidence than my old model 36. If I am not practiced enough to solve my problems in the first bang or two, I shouldnt be carrying.

[calaverasslim]

I am almost 68 years young and have been taught to carry what your used to. I carried a 45 auto for 21 years in the Army, but enjoyed shoot the revolver also. Now Iown both and carried the 9 for a long time. Then a friend, retired LEO, sold me a Charter Arms 44 special, Bulldog. One of the early ones. I shot it about 500 rounds and realized it never burped, stalled, jammed, Failed to feed, failed to fire, dropped the cylinder, anything.

Been carring it ever since

[Stainz]

XTrooper,

Are those Ahrends rounded with fg's in Zebrawood or Bocote on your UDR? I bought a second UDR late last year - even with properly fitting OEM Eagle boots, I don't care for them - your's look great! The PC627 UDR is fantastic!

Eight years ago, I still carried a pocket-holstered AMT DAO 'Backup' in .45 ACP - heavy little beast. I had bought it a 'backup' - another identical one - when they were on closeout. One day - at the range - I tried my pocketed protector - oops. I got it's sibling from the range bag - bang - jam - stovepipe! The first one had pocket lint - the second one would stovepipe 1 of 5 rounds - I had polished the little feedramp! Cleaned, with their boxes, They got me $400 of a $439 regular price new 696-1. I added a 296 for a new CCW - $349 on closeout! I carried it spottingly - until I found Mika's pocket holsters. He made one for the 296 and one for a 642, which I subsequently bought. It's a 24/7 EDC CCW; the 296 fits half or more of my pants. Keepers both! Never a problem with either.

Stainz

[DAdams]

I have a feeling this is about to turn into a 627 love fest.:D

To the question I carry one or the other depending on a number of variables.

Sometimes a S&W M&P 340 with CT Grips but more often than not a Seecamp .380. I would say 75% Seecamp and 25% 340 and 340 more in the winter with heavier garb.

I have a Kahr PM9 I would like to carry more but need to look into some holsters since right now all I have is a pocket type.

[Jon Coppenbarger]

have carried a auto most of my life with a revolver once in awhile but not much.
About a month ago I sold my glock 23 with the intensions on buying a new generation 4 one. but after thinking about it I thought I will wait awhile to make a choice. Have other autos to carry but have dug out a 1952 colt detective and have been carrying it for a couple of weeks.
Now I remember how light they are and comfy. in the summer I just most like;ly will carry another auto but will wait and see.

[XTrooper]

Hi, Stainz!

Ahrends Retro Combats. Wood is cordia. ;)

[Walkalong]

I switch back and forth. I am liable to pick up either one.

[shepsan]

Just before the Korean War I became a Navy Air Crewman. They issued me a .38 police special revolver to carry in a shoulder holster and a 1911 to carry on my hip.

I found that even limited practice, I was much more accurate with the revolver. It took more lengthy and concentrated practice to achieve the same degree of accuracy with the 1911.

Of the two sidearms, I truly marveled at the mechanical precision of the 1911. After my service, I purchased a 1911 and over the years collected better and better 1911's. I chose to carry one over a revolver because of its capacity, its concealability and because of my increased accuracy with one.

In recent years, arthritis in both hands have made it more and more difficult for me to rack and perform the functions necessary to disassemble and then reassemble a 1911 for cleaning and lubing.

This past December I replaced my carry 1911 with a S&W 60-15 3" .357 magnum. It is quite concealable, loads powerful ammunition and is very accurate.

What I have had to relearn is the trigger mastery. It is different from the 1911 and has taken concentrated focus on squeezing off that first double action round and then resetting for a second firing.

I am pleased with this revolver. I still consider the 1911 to be my favorite sidearm but am confident that my new 60-15 revolver will meet my needs for CCW self protection.

[XTrooper]

Very nice, shepsan!

[Cosmoline]

I started with a semi, and carried a number of semis over the years. I didn't dislike them, but as a shooting platform I prefer wheelguns. The triggers are almost invariably better and they permit a much wider assortment of bullets and loads. A .357 Sig basically only shoots one load, and can only use a narrow range of bullets. A .357 Magnum can use everything from little high-velocity zippers to 200 grain slugs.

I've also had more jams with semis than with revolvers. Usually nothing too serious, but even stovepipes will stop the firearm from working for a few moments.

[10-96]

From time to time, I'll flip flop between an SA 1911 5" and my S&W 19-3 2". I'm carrying the 19 as of late.

[Camjr]

Went to a 642 with a couple of speed strips 95% of the time about a year ago, and never looked back. Way too easy to carry a potent defense tool.

Just practice practice practice shooting and reloading a snubbie.

cheers!

[MIL-DOT]

Yeah, after being an auto-guy for many years,I've become a big revolver fan in the last couple. I went from a Glock 26, to an SP101, and now to a S&W 642 . It's low volume and weight mean I actually have it on me much more often than I would the heavier pistols, the value of which speaks for itself.

[chicharrones]

I carry both depending on the clothing requirements of the day, but I chose my auto-loaders to be as close to a revolver in function as possible. DA with no manual safety.

[Steve 48]

Yep!! I had one FTF and got my M60 in 357 mag with 2 speed loaders and have never looked back. Sure a semi auto is easier to load, but how many rounds do you need?? Mine goes bang everytime.

[FruitCake]

After about 4 years of autoloaders and jams and other doohickies I've realized that none of my revolvers have ever given me any problems. So as of lately I've been carying my recently acuired SP101 in 357 Magnum and I've been very happy knowing that if I ever have to use it it will go bang everytime. I've finally realized that zombies don't exist.

[roguesam]

XTrooper,
Great minds are thinking alike. I was amused to see a 627PC 2.65", dressed up with cordia grips. I have recently started carrying the same model S&W, and am awaiting delivery of my Ahrend's Retro Combat grips in.......cordia! Fortunately, my retro's are round to square conversions. Will post photos when the grips are mounted.

[aryfrosty]

I go back and forth between a G-27 converted to .357Sig and an older, customized, (slightly), 3" M-64 Smith in a jackass high ride holster. The .38spl is my comfort gun because I have had it long enough to be able to make it sit up and beg biscuits off the table and because bilateral broken wrists 2 years ago still make me uncomfortable with racking the slides on semis at times.

[Sniderman]

Been Carrying a 2 1/4 .357 6 shot H. Weihrauch (German made) for more years than I care to admit to. Works first time, every time. :D

[thunder173]

I have noted the increase in my occasional carry of a Model 36, 3 inch barrel .38 Special instead of the Keltec P-11 more of late. No reason other than it just "feels right".....

[XTrooper]

roguesam: Outstanding! I'm looking forward to seeing them!

[357_]

sp101 ... fits so comfortably on my hip and with a kholster-holster I often forget it's on.

[bubba in ca]

I switched from autos to revolver.
next gun I will switch from double/ single revolver to dao hammerless.

KISS, get in the first good shot.

[jame]

For 10 years, I carried a Glock 23 or a Sig 239, and felt perfectly well armed. Then, one day while running a few practice rounds, I had a problem with a magazine spring on the Sig, and the lack of confidence began to build.

I've always been a big fan of the .32 mag. I cast bullets for it, it reloads easy, and I killed a ton of squirrels with a Ruger SSM .32 back in the 1980's. Then I found out about the Ruger SP101 in .327 Mag.......

Confidence is restored. I added Badger Secret Service grips, a spring kit, a decent holster, and I'm as good as gold.

[twoblink]

Had some kook try to tell me that .357Mag isn't a defense round :banghead:

[Lobo_79]

...But was wondering if there was anybody out there that use to carry a semi-auto as their ccw and then switched to a revolver?...

I like the option to switch to what I'm most current with. In Texas you need to qualify (CHL) with a semi-auto if you want the option of carrying either a revolver or a semi-auto.

Most of the time I carry a PM9 simply because it's a powerful subcompact that is amazingly accurate. But, I'm basically a revolver shooter at heart and I alternate between my PM9, a CZ P01, and my SP101 with the 3" barrel. I have successfully shot bowling pins at 50 yards (read: 3 out of 5 lucky shots?) with the Ruger...I just like the look and pointing feel of the SP101. http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/Lobo_79/Ruger_SS/L1000884.jpg

[451 Detonics]

I have carried both and still do but these days 90% of the time I carry a revolver. My primary is normally a 325PD with a Model 12 carried as a BUG. quite often a PF-9 is in my pocket as well.

I like the reliability of the revolver, the weight (the 325PD is an airweight), the concealabilty of the snubbie, and one last factor, the intimidation factor. Now before I get jumped by everyone saying you don't pull a gun unless you plan to use it the fact is the mere presence of a gun has been well proven to end conflicts without it being fired. Also I am not going to shoot someone with a club or knife unless they close within the distance allocated by the Tueller Drill. There are situations where I would shoot without hesitation but other where I would give a warning first.

But if an attacker was across a counter from me with a knife or club and he had to look at this and see that huge muzzle and can also see what will hurt him (you can't see the bullets in a semi-auto normally, in fact you really can't tell if it is loaded) I bet he will change his mind about bothering me. And no shots fired is always the best possible solution.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z271/reloader1959/handguns/325muzzle.jpg

And please don't jump on me for being in front of the muzzle, not only are those dummies there was quite obviously nothing under the hammer.

[charlie fox]

I love revolvers but just can't bring myself to swap my Glock 19 for a wheelgun. I shoot the Glock better and have three times the ammunition capacity before reloading. I think it boils down to what you shoot best and your situation. Generally I don't believe the average CCW holder is going to need more ammunition than a revolver holds, and I believe that the wheelgun is a great choice for someone just beginning. The day of the revolver is by no means over, but one has to examine the needs versus the wants.

[Sniper X]

I did in a sense when I got my beloved 2.5in Python. I had before bounced back and fourth form 1911 only to a model 10 or security six and then got the Python and it is mainly my daily carry. I also carry a Keltec P3AT with an extra mag as backup as well, which I did even when I did carry one of my 1911s.

[Cocked & Locked]

I have a feeling this is about to turn into a 627 love fest.

Works for me!

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2169/3082611/6259637/389935115.jpg

[harrydog]

I've owned and carried nothing but semi-autos for many years dating back to the early 70's. But I recently became very interested in revolvers and just picked up a Ruger SP101 several months ago.
I really like this little gun and the versatility of being able to shoot the lightest .38 Specials or the heaviest .357 Magnums and everything in between.
I still like my semi-autos but I can see myself carrying a revolver more and more in the future.

[motorcycle-charlie]

I have carried both and still do but these days 90% of the time I carry a revolver. My primary is normally a 325PD with a Model 12 carried as a BUG. quite often a PF-9 is in my pocket as well.

I like the reliability of the revolver, the weight (the 325PD is an airweight), the concealabilty of the snubbie, and one last factor, the intimidation factor. Now before I get jumped by everyone saying you don't pull a gun unless you plan to use it the fact is the mere presence of a gun has been well proven to end conflicts without it being fired. Also I am not going to shoot someone with a club or knife unless they close within the distance allocated by the Tueller Drill. There are situations where I would shoot without hesitation but other where I would give a warning first.

But if an attacker was across a counter from me with a knife or club and he had to look at this and see that huge muzzle and can also see what will hurt him (you can't see the bullets in a semi-auto normally, in fact you really can't tell if it is loaded) I bet he will change his mind about bothering me. And no shots fired is always the best possible solution.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z271/reloader1959/handguns/325muzzle.jpg

And please don't jump on me for being in front of the muzzle, not only are those dummies there was quite obviously nothing under the hammer.
Agreed. nothing says "just turn around and walk (or run) away" like looking at a full cylinder of hollowpoints.

[Bravo2uniform]

I went from a Glock M-27 to a S&W 642.

I found that I carried routinely with the 642 in my pocket than I did trying to conceal the Glock. I figured it was better to carry five rounds and have them when I needed them than have 11 rounds on the dresser at home when I needed them out somewhere.

[dogngun]

but for absolute reliability get a revolver. A .357 magnum is probably the mose versatile handgun you can have...you have the full line of magnum and special loads for nearly any possible use, and ammo is available nearly anywhere and not too extremely priced, even now. It is also easy to reload, and both the Magnum and the Special are proven defense rounds.

Hard to beat that.

mark

(I'm just about to buy a used Rossi 426 .357 magnum Tuesday...)

[451 Detonics]

Agreed. nothing says "just turn around and walk (or run) away" like looking at a full cylinder of hollowpoints.

Especially those big shiny Cor Bon DPX loads in 45...

[PapaG]

When I am out of state and can carry, I normally have had a Kahr cw9 or a LCP. When I am at home or on my farm I normally have a revolver, usually a Security Six or Ruger big bore single action. Around the home, in "almost" ready condition are Dick Specials, Off Dutys, a Diamondback and a 44 bulldog.

I'm moving to a 3" SP101 for carry next trip to FL. Only a hair thicker than the Kahr, a couple hundred fps faster, and more like what I was brought up on. I'm the luddite of the shop.....guns should be walnut and blue, or at least conventional looking. That said, I have an AR, a Glock and a synthetic stocked shotgun. Also, longbow, recurve, crossbow and compound. If it goes bang or twang, it can't be all bad.

[Lobo_79]

[QUOTE=Cocked & Locked;6992279]Works for me!

So when I bought my PC Model 627 with the five inch barrel I convinced myself that I'd never want to carry this thing. Pardon me but your posted photo has driven me a little crazy...I'll get over it eventually. LOL. Great photo; great gun.

Not exactly a carry piece..

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/Lobo_79/Smith_Wesson/627_Nikon_Color_1.jpg

[jambie]

I got tired of lugging the 1911 around, and found that I took it with me less and less. I had purchased a new S&W version of the PPK, and even after the recall, it was plagued with problems. Then I picked up my wife's 642 and stuck it in my pocket (in a DeSantis Nemesis) and off I went...no worries about hot or cold weather clothing, dead simple and reliable, so I bought this special edition model 36, and it's now my EDC. I do have a used SP101 on the way, just for something different. The 1911 will be relegated to a house gun, although I have it up for sale, to be replaced by a P226 in 40 S&W - same operation, basically, as the revolvers...

Cheers,
Tom
http://images57.fotki.com/v512/photos/2/749432/9114433/IMG_0096-vi.jpg

[jambie]

Also, I'm carrying the 36 in a Simply Rugged pancake holster as well, and will get one for the SP101. HIGHLY recommended, and priced right!

[twoblink]

Thinking about going semi-wadcutters instead of hollowpoints for SD?? Thoughts??

[Bubba613]

But was wondering if there was anybody out there that use to carry a semi-auto as their ccw and then switched to a revolver?
I did.
Then I decided there was a reason virtually no LE agency and no military issues revolvers anymore so jumped on the Glock bandwagon. I still carry a 5 shot snub as back up.

[CornCod]

Every time I attend an IDPA match, I see lots of jams with autopistols and terrified, I swear off semi-auto handguns for awhile.

[doc2rn]

I'm a convert! My first was a Ruger Standard in 1982 when I was 11, and still have it. The military issued me a M9 Beretta, and after getting out I immediately bought a Taurus M9 look alike that fell apart (literally) as I shot the first mag through it. The only thing I could then afford to replace it was a 1962 S&W Mod 10-4 bull barrel. Love that gun! Now that I sport all Snake named Colts, I want my old 10-4 back. You just dont get over your first great shooter.

[SW45]

My primary CCW is a S&W 642, but in the fall/winter I will usually switch to an OWB. Over the past 15 years that has typically meant either a 1911-type pistol or a 3rd Gen. S&W semiauto.

Since the 642 is DAO I have given up on 1911s and gone to DAO Smith 3rd Gen. autos, but even that has changed in the past month with my purchase of a Model 65 Ladysmith. The last few times I have gone out with belt carry it is the M65 in a Don Hume OWB.

I like the similarity of trigger pull with the 642 (M65 is waaay better!) and the stone cold reliability of the revolver. No limp wristing, no feed ramp angles, no spring wear, no ejector tuning, no tap-rack-bang drills. Draw and shoot.

I believe statistics show gunfights will be 5-10 feet, 3 rounds, in poor light, using point shooting. I no longer fear smokestacks, double feeds, not enough/too much lube or bad magazine springs.

Short answer: yes, I have recently switched my winter OWB carry from semiauto to .357 Magnum 3" stainless steel S&W revolver. I don't feel undergunned.

[ColtPythonElite]

I've had a SP 101 in .357 ever since they came out. They are great in a holster, but too heavy for pocket carry for me. For a pocket, I prefer a Colt Agent or Cobra in .38. They are 6 shooters that weight half what a SP101 does because they have aluminum frames.

[Nick5182]

i like my auto's too much lol, plus idon't currently own a wheelgun. my dad, however, ccw's a s&w 625 in .45 colt daily. he loves it.

[Old John]

After carrying a Colt Commander 1991A1, ,45acp, for about a half dozen years, I decided to switch to a Ruger SP101, .357 Magnum.....about 8 years ago.
It's lighter, easier to carry all day.

[Haywood]

I like revolvers better but, I carry both.

[Rexster]

I have switched several times since the mid-1980's. The first time I switched was because my employer, a PD, that had mandated flap holsters when in uniform, switched to issuing open-topped retention holsters for sixguns, while autos still had to be carried in flap holsters. I preferred the open-topped holster at work, and preferred to carry the same weapon system off the clock as on, so I went back to sixguns, from the HK P7, in 1985. When finances got tight, I divested myself of autos for a while.

My default duty/carry handgun from 1985 to perhaps as late as 1991 was an S&W Model 58 sixgun. I still have it, but it is a bit loose, and needs some gunsmith attention if I want to shoot it much, or carry it again.

Sometimes, I switched when an auto that had worked well, started malfunctioning. I think this happened two or three times. A couple of Colt Commanders come to mind. One time, it was not really the pistol's fault, but a design characteristic that clashed with the carry method: the heel-clip magazine of the early P220 would catch the fabric of car seat backs, causing a partial dump of the magazine. This time, I went to a GP100 I had already owned a while, but not regularly carried concealed.

One time, I simply decided the pistol, a .40 Browning High-Power, while a good, reliable pistol, was just not my cup of tea. I went back to sixguns, but elected to go with the lighter S&W K-frames, rather than the heavier GP100.

In 2002, I had to semi-voluntarily give up carrying my 1911s on duty, and go with one of four approved .40 double-stack autos. I went with the G22, which was a real challenge to conceal, compared to 1911s and medium-frame sixguns. From 2002 to 2007, I tended to carry revolvers concealed, mostly SP101s, sometimes with a GP100 or Speed Six, while toting autos at work, a break from my prior tendency to carry the same "primary" weapon all the time.

In 2007, I started carrying a P229 concealed. (I had switched to the P229 for police duty in 2004.) Since then, I have carried a mix of the two when off the clock. I find the P229, at least in my hands, to point the same as my revolvers, and the DAK trigger system so very close in reach and stroke length, that practice with either system benefits my performance with the other.

For the last few months, I have carried a P229 less on my own time, largely because I acquired another 4" S&W Model 19, after being without a K-frame .357 since 1997. It took being without such an excellent sixgun to make me realize how perfect it is for a combination of concealed carry and shootability.

My first handgun, purchased in 1982 or 1983, was a 1911. I considered revolvers, at that time, to be on the way to obsolescence. In late 1983 and into '84, however, I attended a police academy, and learned to really appreciate revolvers. I could live with only one or the other system, but why?