CCW Revolvers

[GunLvrNLearner]

Do you consider 2inch barrels ineffective?? What is idea CCW revolver J frame?2 inch barrel? Do you consider if it is not a S&W or a Ruger it isnt worth having? Or do you think Taurus/Rossi and other lower priced revolves are just fine?

 

[Rmart30]

For what a 2" revolver is intended for there is nothing wrong with it.
True you get better ballistics out of a 4" barrel but a 4" gun will never be the easy to conceal close shot pocket gun a 2" was intended to be. If its uncomfortable to carry you wont carry it.


Ive owned all brands of revolvers and while i prefer the S&W's quality I dont Have to have one I dont feel insecure carrying a taurus or Rossi of mine that has been range tested with no problems.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I own several S&W J frame revolvers and carry one daily. I don't feel under-gunned with a .38 Special +P especially with the current .38 Special +P ammo on the market.

Reliability is very important in a SD gun so you are the only one that can decide whether or not you can trust an inexpensive revolver with your life. If it were me I would buy only a S&W, Ruger or Colt revolver for SD. Many trust a Taurus or Rossi and that's fine for them.

If you aren't concerned with having a very small light revolver and are going to carry on your belt I would suggest a 3" K frame size revolver instead. I think the 3" barrel is the perfect carry size revolver. A 3" Ruger GP100, any of the Ruger Six-Series revolvers or any 3" S&W K frame will serve you well. I own a 2.75" Ruger Police Service-Six that I like a lot. I wouldn't mind having a nice 3" M15 or M65 at all.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I carry a S&W 2 1/2" Mod 19 Combat Magnum. I feel quitewell protected when carrying this revolver mostly because of it's hitting power (1100 fps with 140 grain SJHP) and I shoot it very well.

My wife's is a Mod 10 with a 2" barrel. And as said above. With todays bullet technology and +P ammuntion she is well armed too...

 

[tblt]

I have a taurus mod 85 and I bobed the hammer.It's never failed me and is pretty accurate for a snub w/ double action only.I would say ruger and smith are better but if your on a budget you would be safe to go with a taurus.
I use speeer 135 gr.+p short barrel ammo for SD.

My taurus is in the bottom Left of the picture in this link

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=385756

 

[Drgong]

2''-3'' barrel with a reliable revolver and you will be doing quite well.

Colt, Ruger, and S&W have a good reputation for quality, and i would carry one in good shape without a 2nd thought.

A Rossi or taurus can be a good gun, I personaly would test it before carrying, but there are many who swear by them.

 

[Glockman17366]

I carry a little Taurus most the time. I think a 2" barrel works fine, especially considerng the range would likely be measured in feet...and single digits at that.

As far as reliability...the stainless taurus 85's I have owned were all reliable. The first ultra-light 85 has a problem with light strikes (factory fixed and reliable ever since!). My latest, a Taurus 851 with a shrouded hammer, works quite reliably.

However...any gun I carry or intend to carry goes through a couple hundred rounds before I consider it reliable. This is regardless of the manufacturer (including Ruger...I don't own any S&W's I could use for CCW).

 

[MCgunner]

I've owned 7 Rossis and own a 3 Tauri, one of which is a M85UL Stainless. It is accurate, has a better DA than any Smith J frame I've ever fired or tried in a shop, and is quite handy. No, I don't consider 2" in .38 special "ineffective". A 158 +P is a lot more effective than the .32s and .380s some folks carry. It's plenty of gun with which to defend your life.

My Rossis and my Taurus 2" would/will hold under 4" groups from a rest at 25 yards. The Taurus shoots 3" groups, my 3" Rossi 68 I still have groups about 2" at 25 yards off the bench. How accurate does it have to be? You'll be using it inside 15 yards. At that range off hand I can put it between the BG's eyes. Snubbies are NOT inaccurate. Some of the shooters of snubbies are inaccurate, but don't blame the gun for your own inadequacies and lack of practice. A good DA is helpful with such a short barrel and the Rossis I've owned were less than light in DA, though they work. A J frame would be lighter and perhaps a little smoother. My M85 is a down right pleasure to fire DA, budda smooth and quite light. It's been that way, didn't require any break in to smooth out.

 

[george29]

My experience carrying concealed; take into account I am 6'2" and most of my height is from my trunk and not legs.
I have learned that comfort is everything when carrying concealed. I have carried something like 17 handguns in a concealed fashion, from full frame 1911's to the NAA .22 LR. My comfort level was dictated by different scenerios, e.g: as an off-duty LEO, my 1911 / High Power / 686 were usually in some type of pancake holster covered by an open shirt, vest or jacket, printing or becoming exposed was of no concern, my comfort level was different then as well as my need for a powerful weapon as I was expected to always be ready to intervene even when "off-duty."
My model 60 was tiny in an era when there was no mini-guns, but it was too heavy for comfortable all-day pocket carry.
The Glocks are great and tough but they all need to be on the waist or shoulder. Yes I know some people stick stuff on their ankles but I can't, not even a NAA.
Today I am John Q Citizen, I look for no trouble and expect none. It took me 10 years to realize that the odds that I will get into a prolonged gun battle such as the L.A Bank Heist is almost none existant. What I do think is feasable is a home invasion but that's not the issue here, for at home, I first reach for my Mossberg loaded with slugs and buckshot.
Today, for me comfort means ease, I like my life to be easy, not to have to work at the simple stuff like worrying all the time, "Am I printing?" Or "Am I exposed?" I don't like stuff on my waist anymore, not even my cell phone, and as stated before, nothing on my ankle, so for me it's pocket carry, and pocket carry means something that won't make me fidget, or look like I'm constantly rearanging my "packet". So now I do what many others have discovered long ago, I do the 642 for comfort. It is light, it carry's enough authoratative rounds to convince a would-be / wanna-be to find another victim, it doesn't print and I can forget it's there until I need it. I prefer .357, but the price was too high and the difference in ballistics for a .38+p from a 2" to a .357 from a 2" wasn't worth the cost.
For me it's comfort, comfort to know I can get the job done reliably (S&W / Ruger) and do it comfortably.

 

[Loomis]

Very few people shoot 357 ammo in a 2" snubby. 357 ammo performance is so greatly handicapped by shortened barrels that you don't get much additional power over a 38special when shooting a 2" snubby.

If you are dead set on shooting 357mag, then you really should go with a 3" barrel. Ruger makes a very nice stainless 5 shot 357 with a 3" barrel.

Even if you don't plan to shoot 357mag though, it's kinda nice to have a revolver rated for 357mag power. It means you have a sturdier gun that will last a little longer.

Smith and wesson offers the model 60 with a 3" barrel. It's hard to find one that doesn't have target sights though. target sights are crap for concealed carry.

If you are a little worried about the stopping power of ordinary run of the mill 38special ammo, there is another option. 9mm auto ammo outperforms 38special and 9mm+P even outperfroms 357mag in very short barrels.

There are 5 shot revolvers out there that use 9mm ammo on a star clip. that might be the best option. Taurus makes one. s&W used to make one.

 

[wnycollector]

I have .38 and .357 revolvers in barrel lengths from 2" to 5". My 2" J frame .38's are very easy to carry and conceal. Loaded with +P gold dots they will get the job done. Personally I prefer a 2.75 (Ruger security six) or 3" barrelled .357 (S&W m13 or 65) as my CCW. With a good holster (Simply rugged sourdough pancake) I have even carried my 4" N frame. To me I just boils down to what I shoot the best and what problems I anticipate encountering.

As for taurus or rossi...I have seen some good examples and I have seen some bad ones. My step dad carried a taurus 85 back in the early 90's. It wasnt a bad little pistol. I have seen some really nice rossi 68's w/ the 3" barrels that had wonderfull smooth triggers. Every company produces some lemons...as long as you check out your revolver before you purchase it, chances are everything will be fine!

 

[GTSteve03]

I consider my 2.25" DAO SP101 to be an ideal CCW revolver. It's strong enough to carry .357s if I feel like it, has no hammer to snag on the draw, is stainless for ease of cleaning, has fixed sights for durability, and no internal lock to engage at the worst possible time. Plus, it's small enough for me to carry in the appendix position which I find ideal for concealment. All that and I bought it NIB for under $450!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Do you consider 2inch barrels ineffective?? What is idea CCW revolver J frame?2 inch barrel?

You sacrifice some shootability and cartridge performance for concealability.

 

[DKA]

Depending on the type conceal carry that you want to do. I carry an S&W 65-2 in my vehicle and it has a 4" barrel, but I carry a P3AT on me.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Loomis...The difference between .38 Special and .357 magnum ammunition is 750 fps from a 2" barrel and 1100 fps from a 2 1/2" barrel (both are 140 grain SJHP). I don't think that the extra half inch makes any difference, but I do use .357 magnum ammunition in my carry gun and my wife uses .38+P in her carry gun...

And there is a big difference in hitting power between the two...

 

[.380awsome]

Well...i carry a S&W 36 2'' and it works just fine if you practice and learn the sights.

 

[bflobill_69]

Quote: "And there is a big difference in hitting power between the two..."

...understatment

bflobill_69

 

[MCgunner]

Heavier bullets work better in short barrels in .357 magnum. I suspect it's the extra time spent in the barrel with the heavier bullet, more able to take advantage of the pressure curve of the slow powders used. a 140 grain Speer in front of 17.0 grains of 240 clocked 1335 fps or near abouts out of a 2.25" SP101. It was putting up 550 ft lbs. I couldn't get more'n somewhere around 450 ft lbs out of a 125 grain load with the shame powder at 18 grains. I stuck with the 140 grain load in that gun. For reference, a 140 grain +P load in my .38 pushes 270 ft lbs. Still, I think it's enough.

 

[loop]

My 2-inch barreled 1917 Smith & Wesson revolver is incredibly effective. It has a modified Fitz job and is easy to carry and belly gun accurate.

Barrel length is not as relevant as sight radius, however longer barrels equal better sight radius.

Try shooting a few.