Thinking about a new carry revolver

There have now been a couple S&W Nightguard suggestions. Those guns look very interesting, though I'm thinking they may be a tad too expensive. I'm looking to buy/replace guns in three different categories (a new pocket gun in 9mm, this revolver, and I'm starting to miss having a mid-sized .40S&W) so I don't want to spend too much on any of them right now. Of course, I could put one or more off if I decide I really want the Nightguard. I am definitely a fan of S&W scandium guns since my 1911SC has been such a great pistol. I think a 2.5" barrel may be enough more than a 2" (especially with the larger frame) that I'd get suitably better performance (practical accuracy/sight radius and controlability). I like that they are lightweight without being too light (24oz for the .38spl K-frame 315 and L-frame 386 through 27-29oz for the N-frame versions).

If I went this way I'm not sure which sub-model I'd go with. I love .45ACP and .41mag but an N-frame, even being a lightweight scandium revolver with a 2.5" barrel, is still a big gun (far from suitable or comfortable for IWB carry). An L-frame with a 2.5" barrel and 24oz scandium frame might work (and 7 rounds of .357mag in the 386 would be quite nice), but a 24oz 2.5" .38 (the 315) might be fine as well (and it appears to be about $100 less than the others).

Anyway, since there are nice guns for less money, I probably won't go this way. But, they do appear to be very interesting possibilities and I certainly will consider them.

The more I look at it, the more interesting the S&W Nightguard series looks. I could put off the mid-sized .40S&W, if I trade my Bersa for a Kel-tec I can get the pocket pistol for only a small cash outlay (trade my NAA Guardian too and I may even end up with cash back), I'm not a big fan of my Bennelli Nova and have been thinking about selling it for a while so selling that and my Taurus 85CH should allow me to get the expensive Nightguard without too much extra money (while still adding a more powerful pocket pistol).

So, while some of my other options are still possibilities (I may simply balk at spending so much money, MSRP on these is just under $1K for the 315 and just over $1K for the rest), the main question now is which Nightguard should I choose to go this way. All are right where I want to be with weight. So, the new question is bulk (remember, I prefer IWB carry). Maybe I should just buy a cheap Uncle Mike's IWB for a full-sized revolver (I haven't checked to see if this exists) to see how the bulk of my 625 Mountain Gun works IWB- if it does, the N-framed Nightguards should be fine (and certainly the L-frame 386 or 396 should be fine). I will also rethink whether I'm OK with switching to OWB.

I like the sights on these, a 2.5" barrel should mostly give me what I'm looking for in sight radius and ballistic improvements over a 2", the weight is nice (it is the weight more than size, and a bad back, keeping me from being able to carry my K-frame S&W 65LS while also carrying a pocket gun), and they are interesting revolvers.

A few of the N-frames would interest me. I love .45ACP so the 325 would be nice, though an N-frame, even a lightweight one, is a bit big for 6 rounds of .45ACP (my S&W 1911SC is smaller, easily carries IWB, and holds 8+1 rounds of .45ACP). The 327 with 8 rounds of .357mag would be nice if the cylinder isn't too wide to easily conceal (and thus, defeat the purpose). The 310 would also be interesting- I don't shoot 10mm (though the ability to get into it would be nice), but I do love .40S&W (though the 6 shot N-frame 310 is much larger than my 10 shot Taurus PT140 M. Pro).

The K-frame 315 would be a possibility, but I think the L-frames would be most likely if I go with a Nightguard. The 315 is a little cheaper, but if I go with a 6 shot .38spl for right now I'll probably spend about half the money and lose 1/2" of barrel length and get a Taurus 856 (even sending it off to a smith to put in similar sites would still save a couple hundred bucks over the S&W). The 386 with 7 rounds of .357mag would be very nice. However, I do like big-bore calibers and 5 rounds of .44spl (the 396) would be nice as well (yeah, it's one or two fewer rounds, but being .44spl helps make up for that). So, most likely, if I go with a Nightguard (a good possibility) it is probably between the 396, 386 and possibly (but less likely) a 327.

Hmm, right after posting how great the Nightguard series looks I feel a little silly, but I'm not so sure about it now. I did a quick search and it seems not everyone who has bought them is all that happy. I need to do a more full search tomorrow when I'm more awake (right now I'm up with insomnia because I'm sick) to see how much is the same one or two people or if it is broader than that here, and to see if people on other boards have similar complaints.

Oh, well.

So, how about the Rossi 461? It is still only a 2" gun, but it holds 6 rounds of .357mag, it is good old fashioned steel (no new tech that can be done wrong here), and it weighs just 26oz (good carry weight, while heavier than most small framed snubs so it should absorb .357mag recoil acceptably). I prefer wood grips, and I don't see a lot of aftermarket stuff for Rossi, but in this case, the big, handfilling rubber grips may be a good thing (they can help tame the .357mag recoil). It appears to be J-frame size with an extra round in the cylinder, though I guess I could be wrong and it could be a bit bigger than I think.

I think this may replace the Taurus 856 on my list (both are 6 round guns on a small frame, but the Rossi is 6 rounds of .357mag).

LBS,

I like my 442 for pocket carry. For the pocket I'm willing to go with 5 rounds of .38spl. At 15oz it is great. The one thing about the magnesium 856 that worries me is that it isn't +P rated, though I doubt an occasional cylinder will hurt it so mostly practicing with regular .38spl, 10-15 rounds of +P a year and carrying +P for defense may be OK (though it may not). So, for my pocket I'm keeping my 442 (if not for the +P I'd seriously consider the magnesium 856 too- heck, forget the word "consider," I'd have already bought it).

For IWB at this point I'm leaning towards the Rossi 461/462 (6 shots, 26oz, basically J-frame sized, .357mag). It is a 2" barrel, but it has everything else I'm looking for, it is very inexpensive (yet a decent revolver) and should make a great IWB defensive gun. About the only practical differences between the Rossi and the Taurus 856 are .357mag v. 38spl and a few ounces of weight. I'll probably usually carry .38+P so I still may easily go with the Taurus depending upon what I see out there on the gunshop shelves (and their prices), but I do like the ability to carry magnums when I want to (probably not when I'm going to spend a significant amount of time indoors though).

OK, so I made up my mind and I bought (drum roll)...a Rossi 461.

I like Taurus revolvers and this is made by Taurus so I'm confident it should be a decent gun. The trigger in the store wasn't bad (typical new J-frame feel, in other words, OK but not great). Finish is a bit utilitarian (I went with the blue) but this isn't meant to be a flashy gun. I'm not usually a big fan of rubber grips on revolvers, but these grips seem pretty nice and fill my hand pretty well. I really like the 26oz weight (light enough for easy IWB carry, but heavy enough that it will probably handle .357mag decently) and 6 shot capacity in a small J-frame sized frame. The best part, it was only $349 (MD gun prices are usually pretty high, and for a brand new gun $349 is pretty nice).

MD has a waiting period so I couldn't take it home right away. I'll probably pick it up in about 2 weeks. I'll try to get some pictures up when I get it.

Interesting Chaim (nice to see you again btw), I'm actually switching from an XD .45 to a .357 revolver. I'd been looking hard at the K-frame equivalents, with a 3" 65 being the front runner. You find the 65 to be burdensome to carry in general, or just with a 442 pocketed at the same time? What rig do you usually pack that 65 in?

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My back is getting pretty bad so I'm trying to minimize the weight on the belt. I'm fine with the 65 when it is alone, but when paired with something else it is a bit heavy. I like 2 J-frames for 10 rounds (or now 11) better than just 6 rounds when possible (though I'm fine with the 5 round compromise for pocket carry when all I can bring is my 442). Now a good carry rig might help, but finding something for a 3" K-frame isn't always so easy, and it will only help by so much. Right now all I have for it is an Uncle Mike's (hard to find IWBs for them, I'll probably buy a nice OWB just so I can get a better holster).

For the price, I opted for the Taurus M85 SS 3 inch. Better sight radius and while not heavy, it handles the +P loads very well.

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The dealer had several 3" M85s and at least one 3" Ruger SP101. The Taurus 85s were only about $30 more than the Rossi (the Ruger was around $150-200 more). Both the SP101 and the Taurus 85s were pretty tempting but in the end I decided that 6 shots of .357mag trumped the 3" barrel and 5 shots of .38+P (5 shots of .357 with the 3" might have won out if the SP101 was about $50 cheaper). Still, down the road, after I'm out of the apartment and have more storage space, I will probably also add a 3" S&W 60 or Taurus 85. I just love the way a 3" gun handles, I like the extra velocity and sight radius from the longer barrel, and frankly, 3" guns in this size just look great (dress it up with some nice wood or stag boot grips and that is one nice gun).

BTW- Tracker fans, they had a few Trackers there (around $550- wow gun prices have jumped). They are definitely nice looking guns. The frame really does look pretty small next to a K-frame or Taurus 82/66, and not that big next to a J-frame (the cylinder looked a bit big next to the J-frames, but the 7 shot Tracker cylinder looked very similar to the 6 shot K-frame/Taurus medium frame cylinders when eyeballing it). By getting the Rossi I'm in a similar situation for holsters (not many made for it, and it doesn't neatly match a more common gun's size- I think Colt DS holsters will work fine though). The biggest thing is that porting and I really do want a shorter gun for this. However, down the road, as a camping gun with the ports, or cut to a 3" barrel for a defensive gun, a Tracker is in my future.

ECS, sorry it took so long to respond.

I do like the idea of the Taurus 415 (the 2.5" .41mag). It's only 5 shots, but the extra power of .41mag makes up for it. The drawbacks for me are the ports and the caliber. It is just too hard to find .41mag, components can sometimes be hard to find, it is expensive to shoot, and I don't really have time to reload much at all, let alone adding more calibers to reload. Heck, .41mag is my favorite caliber, my S&W 57 may have been my favorite gun (it was definitely my favorite revolver), yet due to the disadvantages of .41mag I sold it. I may buy another .41mag in the future, but when I'm out of the apartment and I have more space and can better justify having a gun I rarely use.

That said, the Tracker in .41mag would make a great camping gun. Powerful caliber, yet lightweight and smallish for carry.

As for the 817UL, I did consider the 617, but not the 817 or the UL version. With the 7 round cylinder I think it would just be a tad bulky for pocket carry. With pocket carry out of the equation, and the "heavy" steel version still being plenty light for IWB or OWB carry, I wanted the extra weight for easier practice and quicker follow up shots. I also just looked at the .357mag since in the steel versions they are heavy enough for fairly comfortable use with magnums so I wanted that capability.

In the end, I decided on the slightly smaller Rossi. Capacity was part of the decision with 6 shots over the typical small framed snub's 5. Of course the .357mag chambering was part of it (and why I went with the 6 shot Rossi over the 6 shot .38spl Taurus 856). Last, hopefully (being more or less the size of a Colt DS) it should be a bit easier than the 617 or Tracker to find holsters for.