Carry permit should be coming in about 2 weeks. I have decided that revolver is the simplest and most reliable gun for me. I want weight at under 20 oz. and 38+P is OK. Obviously the 642 is a popular choice, but is there reliability at a cheaper price? This will not be a primary range gun or a collector but simply something that must work if it is ever needed. Taurus, Rossi, Charter Arms; are there light weight models in DAO that are recommended by the experienced shooters here? One more question is if I get the 642 or similiar Smith is the locking feature a problem I must be concerned with. My older 65 has no such feature.
Carry revolver
- Thread starter edhaus
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Heck
Member
I have family that carriers both the charter arms and the S&W. the S&W feels nicer but can't say it shoots better. Here is a review on the Charter
http://madogre.com/PowerHouse/Charter Arms - George Hill - Jan 08.pdf
http://madogre.com/PowerHouse/Charter Arms - George Hill - Jan 08.pdf
wnycollector
Member
I picked up a 1964 S&W M36 for $225 last spring. I would rather have a used S&W than a new charter arms.
I admit to having checked out the 6 shot rossi .357 snub on more than one occasion
That extra round would be nice to have on some occasions!
I admit to having checked out the 6 shot rossi .357 snub on more than one occasion
That extra round would be nice to have on some occasions!Ditto here. Don't bet your life on a sub-par weapon!
I'd recommend a nice, used S&W revolver. They can be found quite easily and many look about brand new because their owner was a middle aged man when it was bought decades ago . . . and it was his nightstand gun. The widows sell 'em every day to the pawn shops and gun stores all across America!
Here are three revolvers I use a lot for concealed carry and/or "car guns" when on the road. Each has a specific specialty, and all will get most jobs done well anyway.
The top one, made in 1980, is a chopped barrel S&W .45ACP revolver that uses .45 automatic cartridges in moon clips. All rounds go in, and all come out together still attached to the clip. Incredibly fast and easy to reload. It is my main car gun. If trouble ever comes my way, this is the gun I want in my hand, over all my other ones. I've won a lot of handgun matches with this incredible revolver.
I'll enclose also a photo of the little carrier I use with it to carry various types of .45ACP ammo for car use. Some rounds are good penetrating glass and car bodies, others are best for self defense, etc. I'm confident with this gun out to 100 yards . . . all ya have to know is how high to aim to drop the bullet on into the target! This comes with practice.
At about 38 oz. though, it is much too heavy for your stated goals, but I wanted to show you a good "car gun" that has big, easy to see sights and enough heft to help when you don't have to carry it on your person all day.
The second gun down is a steel framed little J-frame snubbie that I got last year. It is a 1964 Model 36 in .38 special. It is a great little gun that is extremely accurate. It is a good concealed carry gun, and also a good, accurate self defense gun! At about 23 oz., it is on the high side of your weight goal. Then again, the weight reduces felt recoil . . . allowing faster follow up shots under stress . . . and making it a whole lot more fun when you are practicing vs. the lightweight guns!!!
The bottom gun is another J-frame, a blued aluminum "Airweight" Model 37. Only 15 ounces, it is the ultimate weight and size for a "pocket carry" CCW firearm. It is my "always gun . . . usually in my front pocket in a pocket holster. I got it this year . . . from a widow. She outlived three husbands and the gun was husband #2's nightstand gun. I don't think he ever shot a box of ammo out of in. It was made in 1971.
Being a lightweight revolver, it does kick . . . though you will never feel the kick if you are ever firing it under the stress of self defense!
In any event, invest in a good used S&W. It will only appreciate in value in upcoming years . . . and last you your entire life if you take care of it!
T.
I'd recommend a nice, used S&W revolver. They can be found quite easily and many look about brand new because their owner was a middle aged man when it was bought decades ago . . . and it was his nightstand gun. The widows sell 'em every day to the pawn shops and gun stores all across America!
Here are three revolvers I use a lot for concealed carry and/or "car guns" when on the road. Each has a specific specialty, and all will get most jobs done well anyway.
The top one, made in 1980, is a chopped barrel S&W .45ACP revolver that uses .45 automatic cartridges in moon clips. All rounds go in, and all come out together still attached to the clip. Incredibly fast and easy to reload. It is my main car gun. If trouble ever comes my way, this is the gun I want in my hand, over all my other ones. I've won a lot of handgun matches with this incredible revolver.
I'll enclose also a photo of the little carrier I use with it to carry various types of .45ACP ammo for car use. Some rounds are good penetrating glass and car bodies, others are best for self defense, etc. I'm confident with this gun out to 100 yards . . . all ya have to know is how high to aim to drop the bullet on into the target! This comes with practice.
At about 38 oz. though, it is much too heavy for your stated goals, but I wanted to show you a good "car gun" that has big, easy to see sights and enough heft to help when you don't have to carry it on your person all day.
The second gun down is a steel framed little J-frame snubbie that I got last year. It is a 1964 Model 36 in .38 special. It is a great little gun that is extremely accurate. It is a good concealed carry gun, and also a good, accurate self defense gun! At about 23 oz., it is on the high side of your weight goal. Then again, the weight reduces felt recoil . . . allowing faster follow up shots under stress . . . and making it a whole lot more fun when you are practicing vs. the lightweight guns!!!
The bottom gun is another J-frame, a blued aluminum "Airweight" Model 37. Only 15 ounces, it is the ultimate weight and size for a "pocket carry" CCW firearm. It is my "always gun . . . usually in my front pocket in a pocket holster. I got it this year . . . from a widow. She outlived three husbands and the gun was husband #2's nightstand gun. I don't think he ever shot a box of ammo out of in. It was made in 1971.
Being a lightweight revolver, it does kick . . . though you will never feel the kick if you are ever firing it under the stress of self defense!
In any event, invest in a good used S&W. It will only appreciate in value in upcoming years . . . and last you your entire life if you take care of it!
T.
bja5006
Member
i carry a Rossi 461 (6-shot .357 mag snubbie). bought it for $300 new. it's heavy, and not DAO, but it works for me. IWB holster and a speed loader, i can go all day without complaining.
"guns should be comforting, not comfortable"
dont tell my Rossi, but i would LOVE an Airweight 5-shot in DAO. i understand the wants and desires, but hey, mine's still lighter than a Glock.
"guns should be comforting, not comfortable"
dont tell my Rossi, but i would LOVE an Airweight 5-shot in DAO. i understand the wants and desires, but hey, mine's still lighter than a Glock.
I just got a 442 and love it. I didn't even look at other makes.
I had an SP101 spurless but got rid of it years ago.
Go with a S&W you won't regret it.
Goodluck and let us know what you get, Willy G.
Oh yeah, S&W has a promo going now, I got a $30 mail in rebate.
I had an SP101 spurless but got rid of it years ago.
Go with a S&W you won't regret it.
Goodluck and let us know what you get, Willy G.
Oh yeah, S&W has a promo going now, I got a $30 mail in rebate.
I went to gun show in Raleigh this morning with the hope of finding a 642, possibly used, and to put my hands on some of the other contenders. There were so many people outside in line it would have taken an hour or 2 to get in and I wasn't willing to wait that long. I have never seen anything like this around here and believe it is indicative of the mood of gun owners at this time stocking up.
Instead I went to a nearby gun shop and looked at their stock. They had no 642's, but had a few 442's, Taursus 605 and some other less interesting. I think the 642 will be the one to purchase for me. Thanks for the feedback all.
Instead I went to a nearby gun shop and looked at their stock. They had no 642's, but had a few 442's, Taursus 605 and some other less interesting. I think the 642 will be the one to purchase for me. Thanks for the feedback all.
Cohibra45
Member
I just picked up a mint S&W model 37 with original box and tools off Gunbroker.com for what I think is a reasonable price ($450). Great little gun and am in the process of getting my CCW permit.
If weight is any concern, then I would look at these little guns first. They will only go up in price so it really is an investment if you ever have to sell. That said, I have only sold two guns and regret one in particular:banghead:.....but that is another story.
If weight is any concern, then I would look at these little guns first. They will only go up in price so it really is an investment if you ever have to sell. That said, I have only sold two guns and regret one in particular
:banghead:.....but that is another story.DarkSoldier
Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2008
- Messages
- 145
S&Wfan,
Great guns. Where did you get the Stag Grips?
Respectfully,
DarkSoldier
Great guns. Where did you get the Stag Grips?
Respectfully,
DarkSoldier
wraco
Member
My two favorites
CDH
Member
Do yourself a favor and have your local dealer order you a brand new 642 from RSR that is the "no lock" model.
For a carry piece, that lock isn't going to help you at all, and it's possible that it can really hurt you.
Go to RSR at: http://www.rsrgroup.com/cgi-bin/cgirpcux/WTM-002O
and enter the search term as: SW103810FC
That's the part number for the NO Lock model 642.
williamthedog
Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2006
- Messages
- 97
ruger sp-101 .357 w/ crimson trace.
Please tell me where you find 2 1/2in 19s for under $400. Current price on anything in any kind of condition is well over $450. More like $500 and up.
I carry a nickel version every day and love it. It isn't much of a pocket gun though. For that, the 442/642/638 family is ideal. Buy one, you'll never regret it.
New pocket revolver 442
Got my carry permit and a no lock 442. Shot 150 rounds this weekend, mainly 148 gr. wadcutters and a few Speer gold dots. This gun is a snap to carry in pocket (Blackhawk pocket holster), but is going to take some practice to become accurate with. Maybe I need more finger on the trigger but shots go right and high. I'm a lefty. I think the high is a matter of getting used to the sight lineup. It's not an easy gun to shoot or very smooth in cylinder rotation. Maybe the model 60 would have been a better choice. We'll see.
Got my carry permit and a no lock 442. Shot 150 rounds this weekend, mainly 148 gr. wadcutters and a few Speer gold dots. This gun is a snap to carry in pocket (Blackhawk pocket holster), but is going to take some practice to become accurate with. Maybe I need more finger on the trigger but shots go right and high. I'm a lefty. I think the high is a matter of getting used to the sight lineup. It's not an easy gun to shoot or very smooth in cylinder rotation. Maybe the model 60 would have been a better choice. We'll see.
rdrancher
Member
Congrats on the purchase.
This is a RH chart, so for a lefty it looks as though you may be "Pushing, Anticipating Recoil." Understandable your first time out. Dry fire a bunch while concentrating on the front sight. It will help you "see" what you're doing wrong when pulling the trigger. Also - Practice close, ten feet or so until you're confident, then back up from there.
The trigger will get better with dry fire, and you'll get the hang of placing good hits with practice and patience.
rd
This is a RH chart, so for a lefty it looks as though you may be "Pushing, Anticipating Recoil." Understandable your first time out. Dry fire a bunch while concentrating on the front sight. It will help you "see" what you're doing wrong when pulling the trigger. Also - Practice close, ten feet or so until you're confident, then back up from there.
The trigger will get better with dry fire, and you'll get the hang of placing good hits with practice and patience.
rd
Order a nice lock free 642. They are readily available. 442's without the lock are easily ordered as well.
I would not carry a revolver with an internal lock. An internal lock is useless additional parts in my revolver, eliminating it's simplicity, and compromising its reliability. If I wanted a complicated handgun, with dubious reliability.......I'd get a Kimber
I would not carry a revolver with an internal lock. An internal lock is useless additional parts in my revolver, eliminating it's simplicity, and compromising its reliability. If I wanted a complicated handgun, with dubious reliability.......I'd get a Kimber
bps3040
Member
Dry fire a bunch. I used snap caps.....after a couple thousand dry fired "shots" the trigger breaks in ncely.... you will be amazed how much this helps. I love my 642. I carry it daily....easy to conceal and accurate..love it.
If you really want to see how your trigger pull affects the sight picture, get a CT lazer...you will see every bad trigger pull, lol. Aim it at a safe wall and watch it move..at first. Good luck.
If you really want to see how your trigger pull affects the sight picture, get a CT lazer...you will see every bad trigger pull, lol. Aim it at a safe wall and watch it move..at first. Good luck.
If at all possible, go to a range where they rent guns and shoot some. Everyone falls in love with the little airweights and how easy they are to carry. "They are not my range guns, only to be used in life or death situations" so they don't think they have to practice with them.
Then everything changes when they actually touch one off and find out that they are little beasts to shoot and never want to shoot them again. Obviously it's not this way for everyone but it is this way for the majority I've talked to. They either end up selling them or carrying them without the proper practice (really bad idea).
I'd much rather (and do) use an IWB holster and carry a S&W 60 or Ruger SP-101. Easier to shoot which means more practice and you will actually enjoy taking them to the range.
Just my 2 cents.
Then everything changes when they actually touch one off and find out that they are little beasts to shoot and never want to shoot them again. Obviously it's not this way for everyone but it is this way for the majority I've talked to. They either end up selling them or carrying them without the proper practice (really bad idea).
I'd much rather (and do) use an IWB holster and carry a S&W 60 or Ruger SP-101. Easier to shoot which means more practice and you will actually enjoy taking them to the range.
Just my 2 cents.
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