Summer Car Travel Carry Option: S&W K-Frame Snubby

roo_ster · Jul 23, 2019

Howdy:

I am usually a 1911 man, but I have found that my favorite pistol to pack while on long road trips is my WIFE's Smith & Wesson Model 64 .38spl with a 2" barrel. I carry it OWB strong side in a thumb snap holster made by Strong Leather or in a pinch a Don Hume JIT Slide.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hLB3gwY3m4Agspd9A

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZHSfcmmrMCMW4tjG7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dwQxg1aHeYfKnyTEA

Her SW64 is a LEO/guard trade-in with a factory DAO fire control system. In addition to dry-firing it 1000+ times, I ordered the Wolff spring packs and mixed & matched to get the lightest trigger that reliably ignites Remington's FBI load and Federal's match wadcutters. A good, but not the best S&W trigger I have experienced. Would require some gunsmith stoning to improve on current state.

Also kitted it out with a Tyler T-grip and mother-of-pearl grips (WIFE's gun that I swipe for trips. WIFE's gun.). The MoP grips are nice in that the MoP is laminated on to wood laminate, in which the brass hardware is embedded. All that so that the MoP does not crack under impact/recoil. And the grips do not grind into me at hour 12 of a 17 hour day. Given it is .38spl out of a K-frame, recoil is no big whoop, even with +P.

My wife prefers shooting Federal Gold Match 148gr tgt wadcutters and cuts the center out of the target with them. I prefer Rem's or Underwood's +P FBI 158gr LSWC-HP load. It is as easy to shoot as a nice K-frame, but as easy to carry as a J-frame snubby OWB on the belt. Hard to beat in the summer, as an untucked polo or button-down shirt conceals it easily.

BSA1 · Jul 23, 2019

So what gun is your wife packing on trips?

My wife finally got around to getting her conceal carry license so I brought a S&W M&P Compact 9mm for her to carry.

roo_ster · Jul 23, 2019

BSA1 said:
So what gun is your wife packing on trips?

My wife finally got around to getting her conceal carry license so I brought a S&W M&P Compact 9mm for her to carry.

On trips? Usually her Kel-Tec P32 or a small frame snubby.

My wife's preferred guns are:
Officer's ACP-sized 1911 in 9mm
SW64 .38spl
Taurus 651SH2 (Total Ti snubby in .357mag)
Kel-Tec P32 .32ACP

Fiv3r · Jul 23, 2019

Nice set up

I too like a good snub nose for travel duty. I have been carrying a Charter Arms .45 acp Pitbull with off duty grips for maximum concealment. Easy to carry owb and with a good bit of power for the size. It's compact and can be tossed in a pocket of a coat or stored in my overnight pack without much issue.

I still carry a compact 9mm for day to day carry on a trip if possible, but for something handy and powerful while driving, a .45 revolver works well.

Tallball · Jul 23, 2019

Nice! I have an old police trade-in Model 10 that I like a lot. J-frame snubbies are nice, but I sure do shoot the K-frame a lot better.

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bannockburn · Jul 23, 2019

roo_ster

Excellent choice and I like the round butt configuration with those grips and the Tyler T-Grip adapter.

On road trips I typically take along a small 9mm. or one of my J frame snubbies.

Jonesy814 · Jul 23, 2019

Last long road trip I took, I pocket carried my model 638 J frame.
I have a nice 2 inch M10 and agree that it would be an easy OWB carry and they shoot like a big gun

Armored farmer · Jul 24, 2019

This is a good topic.
My usual road trip gun is one of my 1911s or my SR9C.

My last road trip was in March 2019. This time I just carried my lcp, but also had a rifle with me in case I found a hog hunt nearby.
It will probably be the lcp in the future, because mrs will be carrying hers also.

MedWheeler · Jul 24, 2019

I took one to WNC and back here ending last week. Intended destinations included some outdoor time as well.

These two guns were the "primaries" of a handful that came along (a Winchester 94 and a couple of other handguns intended as other "in-town-carry" options also rode along, but were never carried.)

The R1S rode on my hip in an OWB holster covered by a shirt pretty much all the time. The old Charter Arms came on during the Remmie's breaks. As you can see, I do like all-steel, and stainless to boot (especially in a wheelgun.)

JR24 · Jul 24, 2019

Since I carry at 2 o'clock and it's both accessable and comfortable while driving, I don't change my carry gun for long trips, or short trips, or no trips.

Current favorite is a CCO 1911 in 9mm. Light and handy, very accurate, reliable.

I will sometimes pull the spare mags from the belt pouch or back pocket and put them in the cupholder on long trips though.

roo_ster · Jul 24, 2019

bannockburn said:
View attachment 851674

Sweet!

I love the looks of the 649 in general and yours in particular. All-steel J-frame snubby is one of the "holes" in my arsenal. I jump from alloy J-frame to steel K-frame snubbies.

Jonesy814 said:
Last long road trip I took, I pocket carried my model 638 J frame.
I have a nice 2 inch M10 and agree that it would be an easy OWB carry and they shoot like a big gun

I like my SW638, too, and spend time keeping competent with it. But your last sentence, gets at the heart of it:

JR24 said:
Since I carry at 2 o'clock and it's both accessable and comfortable while driving, I don't change my carry gun for long trips, or short trips, or no trips.

Current favorite is a CCO 1911 in 9mm. Light and handy, very accurate, reliable.

I will sometimes pull the spare mags from the belt pouch or back pocket and put them in the cupholder on long trips though.

I must say that I am warming to 1911s in 9mm, after starting my son in IDPA, (took a 10+ year hiatus from the gun games). 1911s in 9mm are cheap to feed and recoil is very mild.

medic68 · Jul 24, 2019

I usually carry my Colt New Agent .45 ACP or a Smith and Wesson 638

JR24 · Jul 24, 2019

roo_ster said:
I must say that I am warming to 1911s in 9mm, after starting my son in IDPA, (took a 10+ year hiatus from the gun games). 1911s in 9mm are cheap to feed and recoil is very mild.

I was a "1911 must be in .45!" Advocate for years before this Valkyrie kinda fell in my lap in a trade I couldn't say no to. I had been intending on getting a .38 super barrel for it.

But, man, I love the 1911 in 9mm now. Such a sweet gun to shoot.

golden · Jul 28, 2019

I have gone through several car guns, always finding fault of one kind or another. Recently, I found a S&W model 19-3 with a 4 inch barrel and square butt grip frame. The previous owner had the gun Teflon plated after a trigger slick and then added ROPER grips. I do not like wood grips, but have been very impressed with these. The gun shoots very well with REMINGTON .38 Special 125 grain +P sjhp and I think this will be my new car gun as I like the protective Teflon finish. It is a very easy shooter.
I would have gone with stainless steel for this role, but now do not see the need for it.

Jim

loose noose · Aug 1, 2019

OK let the flaming begin, a Bond Arms Defender derringer with the extended grip with 3" barrel and two Winchester Super X triple ought buck shot with 3 projectiles per cartridge in a cross draw holster which is very accessible with the seatbelt in place. However, in the console either my 9MM Ruger EC9s or my Sig .45 Ultra Compact 1911 on long trips with the motor home. Hopefully I'll never need either of those arms, but if the occasion should arise, I do believe I'll be prepared. Granted when I'm out of the vehicle and enjoying my vacation the Sig is my arm of choice.

HighRoadRover · Aug 8, 2019

An overlooked advantage while traveling or at home of a small revolver - J or K frame snubby - is that they are obviously defensive handguns. Anyone (e.g., the police) who determines that you have one probably will perceive it is not a gun of choice for mass murderers or dedicated criminals; it is a gun for self-defense. You are therefore less likely to be lumped into the category of a threat to society, someone armed to the teeth looking for trouble, etc. Maybe you are just a dude or dudette looking to defend yourself if forced to do so.

Revolver aficionados know the J and K frame snubbies can work quite well in the self-defense role, and have some distinct advantages (ability to conceal, reliability, ability to put into use quickly, ammo selection, ability to shoot through a jacket pocket, etc.).

SeanSw · Aug 9, 2019

K frame snub in DAO is an ideal car carry gun. I prefer my Ruger LCR for this purpose and carry a boutique standard pressure version of the 158gr swchp. The recoil of that load is no different to me than the S&B 158gr FMJ load that I like to practice with. I don't use a chrono but the sting in my hand tells me the S&B load has more power than any other standard load, and possibly some +P loads too!

Nothing wrong being caught with pearl grips. I like pearl buttons on my dress shirts, and a real man wears whatever he wants.

Summer Car Travel Carry Option: S&W K-Frame Snubby

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