Caliber and size questions

[Bezoar]

I need some verificiation here on if I am loosing my mind.. please be nice as I dont know myself. I only know im confused on these gun questions/topics.

First of all, lots of writers will tell you that a 4 inch barrelled revolver cannot be concealed carry, many others will tell you that it can be carreid concealed but lots of restrictions apply.

But if that 4 inch barrelled revolver is sooooo difficult to conceal, then why do these same people tell us that a 4-5.5 inch barreled semi auto with 17 round magazine is SOOOO EASY to conceal?

And caliber, even on here people agree that the "lesser" calibers of 38 s&w, 32 h&R magnum, 32 acp, 380, and even 38 specials can kill you just as well as a 357, 44 special, 44 mag,and even as well as a .41 magnum if you use the right ammunition.

In that case why do I have to read so many "this caliber {insert favorite caliber here} is soooo much more powerful then the rest" articles and gun reviews? Why cant they just say, "just as good at killing as a 32 magnum, but makes a bigger hole"?

And the modern world of handguns is just amazing. Massive magazines, no issue here, but size and weight is getting out of hand. Sure a 357 that weighs 17 ounces can be used by stronger people, but something i have to ask...
Is there a reason for a snubnosed revolver in .500 S&W that weighs 68 oz or a snubnose that 454 casull that weighs 48 ounces? With those weights why not get a full size glock and carry around 3 extra mags for the same weight?

 

[Geronimo45]

"Is there a reason for a snubnosed revolver in .500 S&W that weighs 68 oz or a snubnose that 454 casull that weighs 48 ounces? With those weights why not get a full size glock and carry around 3 extra mags for the same weight?"

There's always the chance that you'll run into a charging rhino, kodiak bear, or a bull elephant on a bad hair day.
Think they're mainly for hunters in bear country (I think), who want a hand-held howitzer - and for gunshop commandoes who want to brag about CC'ing a hand cannon.
BTW - the Kel-Tec PLR-16 (in essence an AR-15 pistol) weighs in at 51 ounces. Less weight, a lot more capacity.

"First of all, lots of writers will tell you that a 4 inch barrelled revolver cannot be concealed carry, many others will tell you that it can be carreid concealed but lots of restrictions apply.
But if that 4 inch barrelled revolver is sooooo difficult to conceal, then why do these same people tell us that a 4-5.5 inch barreled semi auto with 17 round magazine is SOOOO EASY to conceal?"

That's the fat and long gun versus the slimmer and longer gun comparison. A revolver is fatter than the average autoloader - big ol' cylinder that sticks out. Autoloaders generally have a slimmer and more consistent profile - which helps a bit in concealment versus a revolver. Drop a .38 snubby in one pocket, and a pocket auto in the other. The snubby's more likely to show a bulge in the pocket than the auto, 'cause of the cylinder. Now, I don't think that a Model 10 would be much harder to hide than a fullsize Glock - but I have no experience in CC with sixguns of any size.

"In that case why do I have to read so many "this caliber {insert favorite caliber here} is soooo much more powerful then the rest" articles and gun reviews? Why cant they just say, "just as good at killing as a 32 magnum, but makes a bigger hole"?"

Because a lot of people have a beloved caliber. Be it .45 ACP, 9mm, .454 Casull, etc. Some of 'em want to explain their choice in semi-logical terms (.45 ACP is the most powerful round in the world, can split engine blocks, etc). Me, I like .32 pistols for their size. I like .45s for the nice 'boom' they let off, and the healthy kick they give your hands.

 

[DWARREN123]

Size and weight affect how concealed it will be without a lot of cover, also how easy to shoot. For caliber a lot of things come into play, no correct answer.
You go with what you like and are comfortable with.

 

[coelacanth]

thinking outside the gunshop...

yes, at first glance monster caliber snubbies that weigh close to five pounds when loaded and holstered seem incongruous but when you're standing in an icy salmon stream with a fly rod in hand and a pair of waders up around your chest they can be mighty comforting when the local bear population comes to see what's for dinner. You can't outrun them and you may only be able to get off 1 or perhaps 2 shots at a charging bear and if it's all the same to you I'd prefer those shots to be from something that has a reasonable likelihood of dumping said bruin on his/her furry arse. At that point the last thing you need is another magazine full of annoyance.