Concealing a snub-nose vs. sub-compact

Straight edges seem to print more obviously than rounded ones, IME.

IMO: Baby Glocks and such with the barrels chamber area (SIG type) acting as the barrel / slide lock-up are very thick compared to older pistol designs with integral barrel locking lugs inside the slide.
That makes the whole slide thick no matter what length it is.

For instance, a Glock 9mm slide is nearly 1/10" thicker then a 1911 Colt .45 slide.

A snubby revolver may be as thick or probably even thicker, but only through the cylinder area.
The rest of the barrel, frame, and grip is not nearly as thick and kind of blends in when pocket carried.

Whereas a Glock or other SIG type chamber-locked small auto looks and feels like you have a small brick in your pocket.

rc

And 80% of the frame is thinner than almost any auto

I like the snubby revolver for CCW.

In the summer I carry my light weight Colt Agent IWB holster. In the cooler months , which is about 8 months of the year, I carry the Colt magnum carry 357 magnum IWB. I have several pistols in 9mm and 45 ACP but prefer the revolver to them for my daily carry gun. To each his own.

Abbrevations and such

I don't know what the abbrevations are, but a revolver in a handy size equiped with a Birami Hip-Grip and a Tyler grip adapter is just about the most handy, concealable system available.

That said, a Commander size 1911 Pattern is on my hip and a NAA mousegun is in my shaving kit.

Those three fit my life style, vocation, and avocations.

I'm pretty much a boots, jeans, and two pocket shirt guy.

It wasn't always that way, stuff changes. Fortunately, there are a LOTS of options. You will work it out.

Your perceptions and needs, as you see them, just might be different.

salty

That Said, I like the Ruger LCR.

My wife has one and she carries it often. I agree with what has been said about carrying the small-light weight snubby in the pocket. It breaks up the "gun shape" very well there. I have on many days depending on how I am dressed , carried the Agent in the pocket and find it easy to do so discreetly.

LCR's thichest proportion is the cylinder ; it doesnt print badly in an Uncle Mikes FOR ME. The weight isnt bad (357)either.

I used to carry my 642's as a back up, and have since retired them to the safe for the most part. Theyve been replaced with Glock 26's.

Both are/were carried in the same two places, mainly in an ankle holster, but also a Galco Executive shoulder holster (generally in colder weather). Sometimes, I just stick them in my waistband.

I really see no difference carrying or concealing either, and the Glock makes a lot more sense as a back up, as it carries double the ammo of the 642's, is a lot easier to shoot well with, and can use my 17's mags.

skribs How about a kahr , the cm9 can be pocket carried along with the lcr and many other ulralight revolers And for a slightly larger kahr ,the cw9. All of these carry in a IWB holster in a apendix position. Thekahrs are single stacks but the lcr is only 5 shoots. Just carry an extra mags. Both kahrs can be bought around 410 dollars .

Taurus pt145

Both are/were carried in the same two places, mainly in an ankle holster, but also a Galco Executive shoulder holster (generally in colder weather). Sometimes, I just stick them in my waistband.

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Ankle carry with a Glock? Yeessh, makes my lower back hurt just thinking about it. More power to you if you can do it though! As for a shoulder holster, I agree that it really doesn't take much more effort to carry a larger weapon, though shoulder holsters aren't for me either. If they were, I could see that carrying my 5.5" Redhawk wouldn't be much harder than my 2" S&W Model 15.

Guns like the LCR and x42 really shine as pocket guns, IMO. Sometimes when I'm just hanging out in the house on a rainy dreary day, the little 642 makes a nice companion (along with a 20 round mag in my weak side pocket for the AR carbine hidden in the closet ). Assuming you can shoot them decently of course. Once you start talking about positions like OWB/IWB, larger guns can be carried without too much more effort.

Those few times that I do conceal, I usually make it a Taurus PT111 9mm with my hand loaded XTP's or Gold Dots.

But for the most part, I have a S&W 66 on my hip, also loaded to the hilt with XTP's or Gold Dots. And in some instances, such as when I'm traveling I'll have a back up in addition to my OC weapon.

Ankle carry with a Glock?

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Its really no worse than the 642 or my P230. I balked at it at first too, and then I tried it.

Im not real big on shoulder holsters either, and normally dont use them, but that Executive is something else. Its very minimal, and basically a small leather pocket with a strap. No retention straps either. You can easily hide it under a light shirt. A sweatshirt or fleece is a breeze.

5 shot .357 with a barrel not longer than 3 inches conceals the best.

Physical properties of materials? The revolver will be more compact than the semi due to less material used to make the weapon.

LCR is one neat little wheelgun. My only problems is, I have held the .357 and .38........of course the .38 is lighter, but I like the idea of having the .357 if need be (I reload a ton of .357, no .38). You can tell a big difference in your front pocket between the 2 of them. One day I will make my mind up, until then my SP101 in .357 does just fine (holstered).

The revolver will be more compact than the semi due to less material used to make the weapon.

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A Glock 26 weighs 21.5 oz empty.
A S&W J-Frame Model 60 weighs 22.6 oz empty.

rc

I meant different materials used. A pound of bricks vs a pound of feathers. They weigh the same but one is more compact due to materials used.

Also you would have 5 more bullets to store somewhere.

I carry a Ruger SP101 in a 2.25 inch barrel and it conceals IMO perfectly for me.

You just said what I said in my question. My question was "why"? What makes a 5-shot .357 with a 3" barrel conceal better than a 10-shot 9mm with a 4" barrel?

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It is all in the outline. How many perfectly straight or flat areas of your body do you have? Now how many curved areas do you have? The curved shape of revolvers make it a little easier to conceal with light clothing. With a jacket or coat it doesn't make a difference. But with jeans and a t-shirt the outline of the revolver will be less apparent with more places to carry because of the curved areas of your body.

Physical properties of materials? The revolver will be more compact than the semi due to less material used to make the weapon.

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Amount of Materials used has nothing to do with compactness. It is the design that matters. Two pieces of steel of the exact same weight can be designed in different ways. Some more compact that others even if it is the same amount and type of steel.

Skribs said:

What makes a 5-shot .357 with a 3" barrel conceal better than a 10-shot 9mm with a 4" barrel?

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The length and thickness of the grip (which is the part that protrudes from the pants the most).

And 80% of the frame is thinner than almost any auto

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Nice idea.

The cylinder is still larger, and the largest part is what is hardest to conceal.