all around handgun?

[old fart]

i have a friend here in kentucky that got his conceal license and is looking for an all around carry gun. he is on a fixed income and has been saving and has $650 right now, he wants a gun he can carry concealed but also a gun he can use open carry in the woods hiking and camping. i knew most everyone on here would know more than me on a handgun, he also only wants a revolver, thanks for any help.

 

[John_R]

His ability to conceal it isn't enough info, some people can conceal a S&W 500, some can't conceal an LCP. But if he wants a revolver, just about any S&W can be found used for $650 if he shops around. 3" barrel or less, J or K frame ought to do the trick.

 

[.308 Norma]

But if he wants a revolver, just about any S&W can be found used for $650 if he shops around. 3" barrel or less, J or K frame ought to do the trick.

Yeppers, and one of the old Ruger "Security Six" revolver line might work well too. The only drawback there is that I heard Ruger quit maintaining a parts supply for their "Security Six" line. Too bad - they were my favorite .357 DA revolvers.

 

[AZAndy]

I'd be looking at a Ruger SP101 with 3" barrel in that situation. Not hard to conceal, and there's enough gun there to allow for shooting major-league .357.

 

[muzzleblast...]

As stated, for $650 he should be able to find a nice used S&W, or Ruger revolver. I have long been fond of the S&W M-65 3" bbl., round butt .357. Yesterday, I was in the LGS and fondled a new S&W 686 .357 with 3" barrel and 7-shot cylinder. It was hard to put it back. The sticker price on it was just a bit more than your friend has saved.

 

[John_R]

I didn't mean to imply that a used 3" K frame was $650, as they're about double that. But the new 66-8 can be found for roughly $700. Speed Sixes are pricey. How about a Ruger LCR?

 

[bassjam]

I know your friend wants a dual purpose gun, but every time I buy a tool that's dual purpose I just end up getting frustrated and buy 2 tools for the right job later down the road and never use that dual purpose tool again.

But to answer your question for a true dual purpose revolver, I think the Ruger SP101 or a S&W 60 with a 3" barrel would do ok, or a LCRx with 3" barrel if he wants to save some of that money.

Personally, I'd spend $350-400 right now on a S&W 642 or Ruger LCR with a 1-7/8" barrel for concealed carry, and save up for a S&W K frame with a 4" barrel for the woods.

 

[RPZ]

I would go .357 S&W K frame 3". For now get a similar cheaper like Taurus. Or perhaps even a Weihrauch "Windicator" by EAA. And save. When there's enough in the piggy bank, trade in or sell the Taurus/EAA and get the S&W.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sometimes the difference between concealed carry and open carry is a cover garment. How does he want to carry? How small does he want to go? A used S&W K frame in 3" or 4" barrel will probably be his best bet.

He can start with a smaller revolver for pocket it IWB carry and open carry the same gun with a belt holster when in the woods. Depending on the critters in your parts a .38 Special or .357 Magnum would he a good choice especially since the ammo is reasonable on a fixed income.

 

[MonRiver]

Hard question. I agree with bassjam that dual purpose can be frustrating.

If I had to pick one, and only one, handgun right now... I'd probably buy a Ruger LCRx .38 Special +P in a 3" barrel.

Thee added length of the barrel from a 2 inch isn't going to change the conceal ability, it only weighs 2.5 ounces more than the LCR, the .38 +P packs a wallop, and the external hammer (albeit a snag hazard for concealment) allows for single action for those times at the range and woods where you want that trigger lightened.

Now, I have to go look at an LCRx, I may have talked myself into one....

 

[GRIZ22]

A 3" or 4" k frame size 357. Taurus, Ruger, or Smith. Big enough to shoot well, wide variety of power loadings, not too big to conceal.

Unless your friend is experienced with revolvers I wouldn't suggest anything smaller. Much harder to shoot well.

 

[WrongHanded]

As has been mentioned, it sounds like he's really after two guns that fit different rolls. However, if going with just one for both purposes, here's yet another opinion.

He should get a revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. It can be carried with .38 Special +P for urban CC, if he wishes. But it should be large and heavy enough that he can shoot full house Magnum loads out of it. So we're looking at full steel frame. Ruger or S&W with a 3" or 4" barrel.

My compromise choices would be:

1) Ruger SP101, 3" barrel, fixed sight (to be replaced later with fiber optic, gold dot, or tritium dot), hogue combat grip.

2) Ruger GP100, 3" barrel, fixed sights (to be replaced later, as above), either a Hogue monogrip sans finger grooves or the Ruger compact rubber/wood panel grips.

3) S&W Model 66, either 3" or 4" barrel, adjustable sights. No upgrades except possibly removing the infamous internal lock (which is a subject of contention).

ETA: This is not an order of preference. Just the order I thought of the guns.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm no fan of the SP101. The trigger is terrible and it's too big for what it is. The GP100 is a much nicer revolver with the Ruger Six-Series being even better. The K frames would still be my first choice.

 

[Spug]

If your friend has a largish build and is prepared to conceal a pretty heavy gun, and can truly only get one and needs it to fill both roles, my vote is for the three inch SP101. It is one of my favorite guns, that I could hardly bear parting with. I put a lighter spring set from Wolff and very lightly honed a couple trigger parts after researching it online. After these modifications and shooting it hundreds and hundreds of of times and dry-firing it hundreds of times, it has a wonderful trigger. I recently put a tritium front sight on, which was very easy to do. It just has a great balance and weight for soaking up some of the recoil of full-power loads and is fun to shoot!

But I agree with others who say that a small frame pocketable hammerless like the competing Ruger and S&W models in .38 Special would be the way to go, with an eye to acquiring a medium-frame belt gun for woods use when funds allowed at a later date. Assuming we're talking .38 or .357 revolvers, I like my -Six series and wonder if the GP100 might be a bit big and heavy for a first gun. I've concealed my SP101 but couldn't do it in light summer clothes. Getting a truly lightweight concealable gun like the 642 or 442 or the LCR is probably the way to go. I'd stick with .38 Special myself if he goes with a lightweight pocket carry piece.

 

[WrongHanded]

I carry my 3" GP100 with compact rubber and wood panel grips, in a Simply Rugged pancake holster under a T-shirt all summer. No big deal. But different strokes...

 

[murf]

an old model 10 smith and wesson. good all-around gun.

murf

p.s. for $650 i would upgrade to the model 15 to get the adjustable sights. might have to do some digging, though. not as many of those around.

 

[Mn Fats]

S&W 66 combat magnum comes to mind. Bassjam's post is a good one. Dual purpose, a lot of times, means a compromise in one way or another in each intended purpose.

 

[2ndtimer]

My recommendation for a general purpose handgun is still a Glock 19. Decent practice ammo is half the cost of .357 Magnum, and has twice to three times the firepower on hand if needed. If he HAS to have a revolver, I would say to look for the best deal he can find on a Ruger GP-100 in 3" or 4" barrel, or a Ruger SP-101 with 3" or 4" barrel, whichever one feels best to him. Seriously, though, consider the Glock. (I have all three, and the Glock goes with me).

 

[bearman49709]

2 1/2" or 3" S&W 66, 4" is to long for most people to sit down while iwb carry.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

My Security Six spends more time at home then my Glock 19. This is not because the Glock is better or I like it more. The truth is I love my short barrel wheel gun, but it just doesn't pack enough ammo.
I would tell your friend to pick up something in a double stack mid size auto like the Glock 19, S&W M&P compact, or the Springfield XD compact.

 

[commygun]

SP101 in a revolver, given the carry requirement. But yeah, a Glock 19 or a Sig P239 would be more versatile as an all arounder.

 

[BSA1]

an old model 10 smith and wesson. good all-around gun.

murf

The O.P. isn't providing enough information about how much effort his friend is willing to put into concealing a carry gun. My primary edc is the Beretta 92FS but most folks are not willing to invest in a high quality belt and holster to carry one.

All in all I agree with choosing a older S&W Model 10 without the internal lock. They can be had with round butt grip for easier conceal carry or the grip can be modified from square butt to round butt with a hacksaw, file and wet/dry sandpaper. I did this to several when I was younger.

Strangely enough (or maybe not to true revolver die-hards) my Model 10-6 is one of the last (If not the last) handgun I will ever part with. It is well balanced, right size for the 38 Special cartridge and is designed for rough service by LEO's.

 

[bannockburn]

Bassjam nailed it; multi-purpose guns usually turn out to be a compromise when it comes to using them in a number of different applications. My choice would be to get a S&W J frame in .38 Special for concealed carry and a used S&W K frame or a new Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel for carrying in the woods.

 

[Alte Schule]

Agree with the LCRx "3 inch. Great pistol although I haven't found a decent thumb snap holster for it but I'm kind of picky. Also agree with any Ruger or S&W in .38 Special or .357. May also consider about the LCR or SP 101 in .327 Federal Magnum. It will also shoot .32 shorts and longs, which are great to practice with, and .32 H&R magnums.

 

[John_R]

The "a good belt and holster solves everything" concept may be true for some people, but it hasn't worked for me. I still have an upper limit on what I can comfortably carry all day.