Kel Tec PF9 or S&W Snubby

For Self Defense - assuming price is about the same - what would you choose for summer CCW and why?

PF9, because none were available when I got my ccp. I had PF9's on order at three different gunshops. I finally gave up and bought an SP101 that was in stock. Even though I am happy with the Ruger, I still regret not trying the PF9.

S&W........cause the couple of PF9s I've shot (not mine, not limp wristing) had some feeding issues. Never had a S&W revolver give me problems.

PF9 because it has more bullets.

I carry a P-11 more than my S&W model 36 because it carries easier (for me) and it has more bullets.

They say a gunfight only takes, on average, two or three shots before it is over and done with. That said, nothing in my life has been the same as the statistical average. :(

I have both and never carry the PF9. My PF9 required a trip back to the factory, where it sat for three months, before it would work reliably...and I still don't really trust it. Accuracy with the several brands of ammo I tried was not better than adequate. I was initially enthused about how thin and flat it was, but it took only a little carry to realize that it is an awkward gun. It is too long and too tall for pocket carry, but has an inferior trigger, lower capacity, and less powerful cartridge than guns I would carry on my belt.
My blue steel S&W Chiefs Special has ticked along flawlessly since it came out of the box over thirty years ago, no matter what brand or load of .38 spl I feed it. It rides better in a pocket than the PF9, at least for me. Accuracy is rather good. The PF9 wishes it had that little revolver's trigger.
Buy what makes you happy, but my personal experience with the PF9 is that it has nothing to recommend it.

It may not be fair to vs. Keltec and S&W. I had a Taurus snubby that I got rid of to get the pf9. I don't know if I'd have done that with a Smith.

You're looking at a 200 dollar difference in the weapons you listed.

I love my pf9, but I don't carry it either much anymore.

The price difference isn't that much. The KT is 275 (Park Model) vs. the Smith is used for 365. Yes the Smith is more but price isn't influencing my decision on this one.

I carry my pf-9 daily. The trigger is better than any j frame is DA. My wife has a 60 pro I've worked over. And I would much rather carry my KT over any small frame 5 shot revolver.

At 5k rounds it cracked the slide. KT replaced it. Did take them 5 weeks to send me one. :( I also admitted to shooting +P and +P+ reloaded ammo through it. And still do today!

With over 7k rounds through mine, I'm very comfortable with it. :)

It all comes down to which shoots better for you, and if you can't shoot them before buying, at least handle them a bunch a decide which feels more natural in your hands.

I for one can't shoot small autos for crap. I do alright with the little J Frames, though not as good as larger frame revolvers. So the little S&W 642 is only for pocket carry for me, as I find larger, better handling weapons to be not much more difficult to carry and conceal IWB than the little pocket blaster.

The PF9 wishes it had that little revolver's trigger.

The trigger is better than any j frame is DA.

See what I mean? There really is no clear cut answer here to offer anything in general.

When I first got my carry permit, I thought I would carry my SR9 all the time. For the first couple days, I did. Then I started pocket carrying my J-Frame. Why? Because I can't carry at work or at school, and if I had to leave the gun in the car, it was kind of conspicuous to get out, walk to the trunk, unholster, and lock the gun up, instead of just putting it in the glove compartment. What does this have to do with anything? I'm just taking a really long way to say that there's more to the decision of "which gun do I carry" than just how big the gun is, or what calliber its in. If I'm just going to wallmart and I don't need to disarm ever, I'll usually strap on the SR9. If I'm going to work, its the J-Frame. If I'm going bowling, and don't want ANYONE to figure out I'm packing, I'll borrow my dads DB380 and carry that.

As far as PF9 vs S&W goes, I think that the PF9 is a really, really neat gun, but I haven't handled one in a very long time. I really like how easy it is to carry a J-Frame, but lately, I've been looking for something like a PF9 or maybe the DB9, something that I can conceal easily under just a tshirt. For me, it would depend on how large the PF9 is: if its closer in size to an LCP, I'd probably carry the PF9, but if its closer to a PPK/Bersa380, then I'd probably just shove the S&W in a pocket.

Another thing you need to take into acount is which S&W: my mind automaticaly goes to the 642 because thats what I have, but I have no idea what you're looking at. I really like my 642, but you're not me, so I guess that doesn't help very much. Some people say that the J-Frame doesn't have that great of a trigger, and they may ber right, but that heavy trigger means you don't have a secondary thumb safety to flick off. Also, theres a tipping point in the trigger pull: its pretty heavy and then it kindof spikes by about a pound, after that pound, its pretty light and its the solution to not being able to cock the hammer for a SA shot since its DAO.

assuming price is about the same - what would you choose for summer CCW and why?

If the price is the same, I'd go with the S&W, because you're either getting a pretty good deal on the revolver, or your getting ripped off with the PF9.

I hope this helps.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

the little 9 looks like a cell phone or a wallet in a front pants pocket holster. The revovler looks like you are smuggling potatoes. I'll take the flatter auto, and avoid hassles/risks of having my gun spotted, thanks.

I own and carry both, I find the PF-9 easier to carry IWB and the fact it has more rounds is the reason I carry it slightly more often. I use the J frame with a Don Hume on the belt. In my opinion either one is more than adequate for self defense.

I sold my PF9 to buy a J frame. Horrible trigger, barrel that started losing chunks of rifling, FTFs....PF9, what a piece of crap. It was cheap and I got what I paid for.

If those were the only two guns I had to choose from, I'd go with a snubby. Even a .38. Nothing beats a revolver for reliability. I think even the cheaper .38's are great for self-defense. You got 5 shots, that's probably all you'll need, and nothing is going to go wrong unless you double-clutch it.

I rather carry a Ruger product.

I rather carry a Ruger product.

Well, that's contributing to the OP's question, huh?

I don't own a S&W snub, but I do own two Charter Arms Undercover .38 snubbies. One is from 1987, and has performed very well, serving as a BU/OD gun the first few years I worked in LE. The other is even older, recently inherited from my father, who used it for the same purpose. I've not yet gotten to shot it, but the 'smith I had clean it up (and get the NM dust out of it!) did, and was pleased with it. The targets he sent back to me affirmed what he said.
That being said, I've enjoyed carrying mine but, since I stumbled across a PF-9 a year or so ago while looking for something else, I've carried it instead virtually all the time. I do switch back to the Undercover once a week or so, but more for "nostalgia" than anything else.

It's choice between very reliable vs. less reliable. The choice seems obvious to me.

made my choice and snub 357 is what I like

Or 5 vs 8 rounds. There is more than one angle.

It's been said on other threads, so I'll say it on this one: "Why not both?"

But really, I like the KelTec P11 (though some don't.) Keltecs don't get the final finish like S&W's do. This is why some people may get jamming. Four ought steel wool could do wonders for reliabliity. I wish the folks at Keltec could figure this out. They seem to be neat guns otherwise.

Still, I'd like to get a S&W DAO revolver.

At one time I had both. I could never shoot the PF-9 as well as the j frame so I sold it. In my opinion the PF-9 was bordering on painful to shoot. The J frame(638) on the other hand ,while not the most pleasant gun to shoot, never ripped my hand up like the PF-9. I bought my PF-9 on a whim because it was cheap when I sold it I got my money back so I don't hold a grudge against this gun it just wasn't for me.

I found the subcompact autos I came across were pretty much fine with fmj ammo but were less than perfect with jhp. My snubs don't really care; they work every time, all the time.

I have 4 S&W snubs so I wont be objective. 638 is my current favorite.
I should say that I dont know what a pf9 is but it sounds like a jam o matic.

Some folks have jam-o-matic PF-9's. Or claim to have them. I have shot several PF-9's that the owners claim to be jammers. And they wouldn't fail on me in my hands. There ammo, my ammo, didn't matter.

I spent a small fortune on retail 9mm ammo trying to make my pistol be a jam-o-matic. Couldn't do it. Several thousand reloads of lead, plated, fmj and jhp. No dice.

It's a snappy little gun IMO. But no where brutal as a lot of soft handed people would have one believe.

Yeah. Just like some folks have PF9's that will run any ammo. Or claim to have them.

what would you choose for summer CCW and why?

I own and carry both a PF-9 and a S&W 642. For summertime carry here in Texas, I normally use a KelTec P3AT simply because it's smaller and easier to conceal in light summertime clothing. Summers in Texas are HOT and looooong. Between the PF9 and 642, I carry the PF-9 more often in warm weather though - it's flat enough to be practical given the right clothing.

I find the 642 perfect for the cool months. Fits perfectly in the inside pocket of my light jacket.

So I went with the PF9. For the following reasons.
1. Easier for me to conceal than the revolver. I really like the slim dimensions of the PF9.
2. Weight - It's significantly lighter and easier to carry under light clothing.
3. Trigger - The trigger on the Smith is everything it's supposed to be but for me the trigger on the PF9 is significantly smother and lighter.
4. Sights - I really like the big dot on the PF9.
5. Capacity - Lower on the list of factors but a + for the PF9.
6. Price - a little less cash.

Last thing I will say is that I haven't shot it yet and I don't know if it will have reliability issues. But for 300 dollars out the door I'm willing to risk it. If it doesn't work correctly it will go back to KT and all indications are that they will make it right.

All other things being equal, I'd definitely take the J Frame. Great little CCW gun. Reliable, fun to shoot, and you can up the power by getting plus P ammo for it.

lol. Just saw that you went for the other gun. I WAS TOO LATE!!!!!!

Again - lol. Regardless of my late advice -- Enjoy your purchase!

I usually carry a S&W 340. Every once in a while I get bit by the CCW bug, and buy another sub-compact firearm to replace the S&W. That lasts for about 2 weeks before I go back to the S&W, because it is so comfortable to carry and it is so reliable.

Nuff said.

I had little DAO only S&W 37-2 for almost entire month. Great little five-shooter of which I can say nothing bad about.;)

I've seen the PF9 slide fail to charge into battery, just slid forward and stopped. It was pretty dirty. It also slaps my fingers pretty good to shoot, a bit painful.
I'd still get one though.

As you can see in these pictures the PF-9 is pretty compact. It's not that much bigger than the LCP and can actually fit in a pocket.

PF9 is a superior pocket carry platform. It's reliable, it's accurate, it's flat and light. Only revolver that can match its 12 ounces is Scandium and costs a LOT more. The PF9 costs under 300. You're not going to find a NEW light snubby for that price range. The premis here is equal pricing, right? The 9 has considerably more power than the +P .38 special. The PF9 carries more rounds and is easier to reload. I love revolvers, but I am also pragmatic about such questions.

True perhaps the thread should read "PF9 like gun vs Jframe sized snub"

Due to my experience with a friend's PF9, I would opt for the SR9.

But this Feb. I had the same situation, Spring/Summer carry, and ended up with a Smith 438. It goes with me everywhere.

The PF9 type pistol may be more fun at the range, but it's too finicky for me to trust. Plus I bought some Hogue wrap arounds today and it feels awesome, hope it makes it more fun to shoot longer.

I have never met a pocket-auto that was 100% reliable. Reliability is something that a SD weapon must absolutely be...and revolvers excel at that. When I carry a CCW, I carry a snubbie revolver exclusively.

I haven't fired many through my Radom P64, less than 1K, but no problems so far even with cheap Monarch steel hulls. My Kel Tec P11 has NEVER had a problem and it's been eating over 11K rounds since I got it in 1996. I also like revolvers, but I'm better aremed..IMHO...with my P11 shooting 9x19 +P 115 grain JHP Hornady XTPs loaded to 1263 fps. Very accurate, shoot to POA, and 100 percent reliable. Most of the stuff I've fired in that P11 is standard pressure, but it's eaten probably 300 rounds of the carry stuff over the years. Mostly my cast 105SWCs, but some WWB and equivalent factory loads, too.

I will say, I will trust NO auto until I've gotten five or six 50 round boxes down range with no problems. They can be picky of ammo. My KT doesn't like 147 grain stuff. That process can be expensive for factory carry stuff. I test a revolver only for accuracy and POI. Don't have to worry about feeding reliability.

I'm a revolver guy and have both in my carry rotation. I'm currently carrying my little Taurus 85SSUL. I might get in an auto mood next week, never know. :D I don't think it's really a big deal, just decide for yourself. You can and will be well armed with either if you practice.

If both cost the same money and both worked equally well ...
The semi. Because I find concealing a flat semi easier than hiding a revolver cylinder in a cargo pocket. 8)

If you're a small person like me the PF9 is much easier to conceal and it's lighter also. I used to carry a snub .357 but it was so bulky and heavy I didn't carry it as much as I'd like. I own a PF9 now but don't feel 100% confident with it yet. Have fired 400 or 500 rounds through it but had a few ftf in the first 100 rounds. I still carry it but use ball ammo only for reliability. Also plan on doing a fluff and buff with it. I should add that I shoot revolvers exclusively and don't trust any auto 100%.

I've never seen so many machine marks left on a gun like this before. The marks can be polished out though. Using a Dremel and some 1200 grit sandpaper mine is now done. My opinion is these guns should be sold as "unfinished." I'd been considering getting a P 3at but Sunday bought the Ruger LCP instead for a summer gun. They were the same price and the Ruger is better quality. We'll see how reliable the Ruger is this afternoon. That said I do like my PF9 and would buy another. Customer service is reportedly outstanding. If I were a large person I'd definitely carry a .357 revolver instead.

I have both and carry the PF9 more because it's easier to hide and reloads faster and holds more ammo. I carry the 147 grain Speer Gold Dots. A PF9 is a lot thinner than the cylinder of a J-frame. However when I can get away with it (usually in the wintertime) I carry the snub, because the 357 cartridge has more wallop than the 9mm even with good defensive hollowpoints.

For Self Defense - assuming price is about the same - what would you choose for summer CCW and why?

Although a PF9 IS on my wish list, so is a J-Frame snubbie, I think the snub would be the first buy for me. Just looks at them....There awesome!

Although the PF-9 is lighter and flatter, I think my 442 pockets better because it's more rounded vs. the squareness of the PF-9. I also think the PF-9 should lose the accessory rail. Having said that My PF-9 was 100% reliable and possessed a lot more fire power than the 442. I sold the PF-9 because I carried my 442 more with no regrets. For serious concealment I love my P-32.

I have a S&W 442 and would not trade it for a PF9. I went with a Kahr PM9 & Rohrbaugh R9 for my compact 9mm needs. The Kel-Tec just did not feel good in my hand.

PF9 because i'm an auto guy and the slim profile makes for easy concealment. But, put the gun through its paces to be sure it is reliable with the SD ammo you decide to carry it with. Most owners report high reliability however mine was finicky with ammo so i upgraded to the Ruger LC9.

Have both. I carry the 642 every day, and I dont remember the last time I carried the PF-9. My PF-9 has been reliable, however it just feels like a cheap piece of junk, and that isnt very confidence inspiring. I carry the 642.

CTGunner: I see where you went with the PF9. The pic showing the PF9 with the LCP is a useful comparison.

I don't really care for J-Frame in pocket, yes, I've done it. Thing is, my P3AT is reliable, the ammunition is roughly comparable in terms of KE (about 140# KE v. 165# KE; my 38 is Mag-Na-Ported and that's standard pressure 38 ammo, but I'm not sticking Cor-Bon in the P3AT either, point is it's not an earthshaking difference) and the P3AT holds 7 rounds total.
I had a Kahr PM9 that worked fine and I pocket carried it, but it just didn't win out over the P3AT in pocket, I got rid of the PM9 (after 7 years).
The PF9 interest me, lighter than the PM9, holds one more round at the price of height.
The pocket holster for the PM9 is same size as listed for the PF9.
I like the P3AT, so I'm willing to give the PF9 a try. I will stick to standard pressure ammo (Hydra-Shok, Silvertip), I know you can use +p in the PF9, but I do not like the "limited use" clause, too vague.

Anyway I agree with your choice. :)

S&W Model 19

http://www.mrkruk.com/images/newgripsL.jpg

The S&W 19 plus Filson Tin Coat with deep pockets would make wonderful cold and rainy weather combo.

from another thread...

I am a revolver shooter from way back, my primary carry gun is a S&W 325PD, an N-frame 2.75" 45acp. I normally carry at least one other revolver as a BUG, quite often on the opposite hip in a crossdraw holster. For pocket carry however I have been using a Kel-Tec PF-9 for over 3 years now. After giving the idea a good amount of thought I have decided to give a J-frame 642 a shot at front pocket duty. Despite zero function problems from my PF-9 there are some things I like about the revolver. During colder weather I can pre-stage the gun from pants pocket to holding it in my hand inside a jacket pocket for example and if needed can even fire it from inside the pocket. The 642 also shaves a few ounces of the weight of the PF-9 and fits a bit better in the pocket, easier to draw as well.

Fortunately for me getting my hands on a 642 was as simple as driving over to my Father's house and borrowing one of his (leaving him with 2 still on hand). I borrowed a right hand Milt Sparks pocket holster as well and have been carrying it for a couple days now. I have discovered the following...

Pro's
1. A few ounces in the pocket does make a difference.
2. The humpback hammerless design makes for an easier draw than the very square design of the PF-9.
3. The cylinder despite being fatter doesn't print any more that the PF-9.
4. As a revolver guy the gun feels "right" in my hand.
5. Two speed strips are as easy to carry as one magazine in a belt pouch.

Con's
1. Only 5 rounds on board instead of 8 in the PF-9.

I doubt I will be able to talk Dad out of this one so I think I will start looking for a deal on one of my own...most likely a 442 as I am not a fan of shiny guns for SD. I have shot J-Frames a good bit even tho I have never owned one, I do a lot of the testing for my Dad who has been battering his wrists for so long with handguns most of the cartilage is gone. With a total of 15 rounds of DPX when being carried as a BUG I think it will easily do the job of the PF-9.

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

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z271/reloader1959/handguns/pocketbug2.jpg

Hey, guys, in post 26, he says he has made his choice.. (PF9)

Hey, guys, in post 26, he says he has made his choice.. (PF9)

While this is true, it is still helpful for people in a similar situation (like myself) to read these additional replies. The more the merrier, IMO.

I was able to shoot the PF9 and my observations are generally positive. The gun did not have any feeding or extraction related malfunctions. However, I did experience 3 light primer strikes (out of 110 rounds fired). 2 of the light primer strikes happened with American Eagle FMJ rounds and 1 happened with a Spear Gold Dot 124 Gran JHP. The manual says that failure to fire can happen if the trigger isn't completely reset after the previous pull. I have no idea if that was what was happening or not. The primers on the rounds were definitely dimpled and all fired on the second attempt.

Other observations - the gun is pretty accurate for what it is. It is a little painful to shoot a lot. My hand was stinging after about 50 rounds so it's not something I would take for a 'fun' day of shooting.

I'm going to call KT about the lps issue but overall I'm ok with the gun.

CT, you need to remove the firing pin and clean the channel, it takes about 15 minutes. This solved my light strikes.

CTGunner, I got a PF9 too. I shot 250 rounds through mine yesterday. I agree, recoil is noticeable, but tolerable. Prior to shooting, I sprayed some gun scrubber down around the firing pin, then some Break-Free (yes, I know...). Some primers were struck harder than others, but every round fired using Federal & Winchester ammunition. Most of my primer hits were visually okay, but not impressive; I prefer the primer to have the crap knocked out of it. I think primer impact could be related to how quickly the trigger is pulled, in addition to having it clean. My hypothesis is that the lighter strikes could have resulted from slower trigger pulls, like trying to shoot a circle with deliberate spot accuracy; whereas harder strikes resluted from quick pulls when double tapping.

My hypothesis is that the lighter strikes could have resulted from slower trigger pulls, like trying to shoot a circle with deliberate spot accuracy; whereas harder strikes resluted from quick pulls when double tapping.

Unlikely...........

You WILL have light strikes if you don't remove the firing pin and clean the channel. You only have to remove one screw. When mine started to "light strike" I had to almost hammer the firing pin out. I cleaned a lot of junk out of the channel, oiling it will not help.

Okay, I did remove the firing pin & clean it and there was a bunch of metal filings in there.
I rechecked the firing pin strikes; Federal looked hit harder than Winchester before and after the cleaning.
All rounds fired on the first hit, but I'm being picky and prefer a more positive looking impact.
I'm satisfied with the strike I see on Federal. :)

I saw on some past thread where someone rated primer hardness and I tend to agree with the rating (heck I can see it).
Hardest to softest: CCI/Speer, Winchester, Remington, Federal

Edit: here is a picture that shows what I'm talking about

Kel Tec PF9 or S&W Snubby
For Self Defense - assuming price is about the same - what would you choose for summer CCW and why?

Hey, suit yourself. I do. ;)

As long as you're pleased with your choice, what's it matter to anyone else? Really?

I don't make it a practice to talk someone into or out of various handguns lawfully carried for defensive roles. Not my business. I'm an instructor and armorer, not a salesman. (You may see me raise an occasional eyebrow if someone brings a .22 or .25 through a qual course of fire, but I won't take it upon myself to offer unsolicited comment about it.)

As an instructor who has worked with LE & non-LE folks, I've seen some things occur to folks bringing all manner of handguns through range courses of fire.

I remember when I first saw some P11's come through some qual courses. Of the first 5 I can remember, 4 of them couldn't complete the standard course-of-fire without experiencing a stoppage or malfunction which required stopping the line so the owner could resolve it.

I've seen a lot of S&W J-frames come through qual courses, and a small number of them did, indeed, exhibit issues, some of which prevented the guns from completing the courses of fire without problem. I can think of a couple which were so fouled and rusted that they couldn't be fired. Another one was missing the roll pin from the barrel's locking bolt pin hole, as well as the locking bolt, itself. :scrutiny: It fired fine while the owner was shooting it, but it naturally required replacement to restore it to normal condition. (How it could go missing without the owner noticing it is a subject for another topic.) Another fellow was using some budget imported lead RN ammo which was jumping the crimp a disturbing number of times (and it was standard pressure ammo in an all-steel M36, too), locking the cylinder from turning between many attempts to shoot. :uhoh:

Now, some folks can shoot 5-shot .38's well enough to make effective use of them as defensive weapons ... and some can't shoot them well at all. Even some long time shooters of larger revolvers experience difficulties with the little wheelguns. The very attributes which make the little J's so attractive and useful as carry weapons can also make them harder to shoot quickly, accurately & effectively. It can become a study in compromise.

Personally, I prefered the J-frame as my smallest off-duty weapon, and still do as my most common CCW/retirement weapon. I'm a long time revolver shooter and I shoot them quite a bit, though. If I couldn't max out the various courses-of-fire with the ones I own and use, I wouldn't carry them.

The smallest pistols I prefer to carry are chambered in either 9mm, .40 S&W or .45 ACP, with the smallest of them probably being a CS9 (based upon overall slide size).

Folks ought to be able to suit themselves, as I said in the beginning ...

Bear in mind that various combinations of guns, ammunition, shooters, owner level maintenance and the general environmental conditions & circumstances in which the weapons may be used may offer variable experiences for different folks, though.

It pays to be familiar with how a given gun & ammunition selection functions in your hands, when you're doing the shooting, after you've been carrying it, using your carry method and maintaining it as you normally do ...

Gang - how do I get the firing pin out?

Lookie here! (http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1287183163)

I have a P11. I had some issues early on but it is reliable now. In hindsight some of my problems were actually caused by me but Kel Tec customer service is very good if you need it (they will also send you parts if you don't want to send your gun in & wait a couple of months). www.ktog.org that stanmo linked is a great resource for these guns, the people there are very knowledgeable & helpful. My P11 has a blued finish. Kel Tecs bluing leaves a lot to be desired but a good coat of Johnson's Paste wax has done a good job of preventing rust for me.

Out of those two I would go for the pf-9 just because I like the 9mm cartridge better, now if the revolver was a Taurus 905 different story. I think you made the right choice though who am I to say what anyone should get, as others have said get made you want and feel comfortable with.

my answer is related to ccw only and not a range fun gun

I am of the train of thought that if you are going to pocket carry then a snubbie is going to work great. I carry a Ruger LCR in .38 as a bug to my glock 30 - I do not leave the house without two firearms and the LCR is always in my front pocket.

I could have gone with a semi - I almost bought another g23 (because the mrs wont reliquish hers) and a g27 as bug - but decided that a revolver would best suite my needs.

dao revolvers are idiot proof - and at close range when shtf - idiot proof is a godsend. with +p ammo I feel 100% confident that I have stopping power in a platform that will always go bang, if in the event my g30 fails.

Quick update on the PF9 is that it's now running flawlessly. No more light strikes. It works.

I have 2 J frames I have a PF-9 on me at present time . This is KT #5 in family and all have worked right out of box It loaded with Corbon HP and I trust it to work If needed. .

For Self Defense - assuming price is about the same - what would you choose for summer CCW and why?
PF9.

Arguably a better cartrige for SD. Lighter and slimmer for IWB and pocket carry (which IMO is key for summer carry). More rounds per loading.

That said, the S&W snubbie is a very nice gun that you can't really go wrong with, either.

if it where me, id opt for the revolver

I carry a hammerless S&W 340PD .357 incredibly light and small and tho it only has 5 shots IF I have to use it its gonna be very up close and personal so there is no way ill miss, so there is no need for more ammo IMO.

I prefer the revolvers because I feel more safe having all cylinders loaded and just a stiff trigger pull, then I do with a pistol with one in the chamber and/or having to potentially work a safety switch upon draw.

that and I know ill get all 5 shots with out any chance of a FTF FTE.

and its a 357