Looking for a good hangun 2 conceal....
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TOADMAN
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S&w 642....
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.38 S&w
I shot a friends .38 Special S&W 36? with a 2" barrel at the range a few weeks back. I put 4 out of 5 shots in the bullseye HANDHELD. He then handed me a beautiful .357, lot heavier S&W, his pride and joy. Neither of us know where the bullets went. They did Not go in the bullseye.
I shot a friends .38 Special S&W 36? with a 2" barrel at the range a few weeks back. I put 4 out of 5 shots in the bullseye HANDHELD. He then handed me a beautiful .357, lot heavier S&W, his pride and joy. Neither of us know where the bullets went. They did Not go in the bullseye.
Haycreek
Member
Looking for a good gun to conceal
Look for a S&W 3953.
Look for a S&W 3953.
I've tried several concealed carry guns from a Colt Mustang .380, a Baretta 21, and a Detective model FM Hi-Power. Being small of stature, I've always found the Smith & Wesson Chiefs Special and it's ilk to be my favorites, and this Friday I purchased what I feel is MY ultimate concealed carry gun, a S&W 640-3 Centenial .357 in stainless with Houge grips and a pocket holster.
should have done it first
should have done it first
I would advise you to go to a gun show or a shop with an excellent selection. Hold a few both Semi-auto, and revolver, make a list of what really felt good to your hand and had the features that are important to you. Take the list and do an THR search on each model looking for user reviews, problems, strengths. Narrow the list down to a very few and see if you can rent one at a range. See what you actually shoot the best. Then buy. If you are like most you will still end up buying at least 2 or 3 more in the endless search for the "perfect piece". There is no such thing, but its fun looking for it. After the endless search, I am settled to carrying a Wilson KZ-45 compact, Glock G19, or Kimber Ultra Carry depending on my mood, threat level and activity. The Glock is for rough activity where it might get dinged around, The KZ is for serious business, the Kimber is slim and light for the long haul. Good luck!
MachIVshooter
Member
Ala Dan said:Hello~! If money is NO object, why not a Smith & Wesson 340PD in .357
magnum?
The 340 PD is a great gun, but down-right brutal with mag loads. Anyone who is even moderately recoil-sensitive should probably pass on this one. .357 mag in a 12 ounce gun= hard and fast recoil.
U
Universal
Guest
I have carried a GLOCK 22, 27 and 19 concealed. I now carry a Smith & Wesson 640 and I love it. I find it much more comfortable to carry around all day either in a pocket holster or in a OWB holster. I agree that the .38 Special is a good caliber for the majority of armed encounters the average American might encounter.
chuck pullen
Member
Ditto the 642. Can't be beat for its intended purpose.
Jackal...
I did a load of research, shot many guns, and held many guns before buying my first "all-around" carry piece. I ended up with a Glock 19. It turned out to be a great choice. I shoot it very well, and it is an excellent combination of firepower, concealability, durability, and RELIABILITY (the most important factor when choosing a carry piece).
Recently I decided to pick up a snub .38 as a BUG and for days when I'm in light clothing and need less weight or more concealability. I love my Taurus 85 ultra-light, and picked it up for $290 (Taurus snubs have improved dramatically in terms of quality over the last few years - they are a great buy). However, if I had to pick one carry piece for the rest of my life - I wouldn't hesitate to go with my G-19 - even though I don't consider Glocks to be attractive weapons at first sight (they grow on you). Shoot it all you want, +P or not, drop it, scratch it, heck, leave it out in the snow - it will still do its job like a veteran. And if you decide down the road that Glocks aren't for you, you'll be able to trade it off with very little loss of value.
Good luck on your selection - shoot as many as you can before deciding, and figure out what factors (include reliability at the top of that list) are important to you.
PS - also, take a look at CZ's compacts including the PO-1. It is beautiful, reliable, holds 15 or 16 rounds with the right mags, and shoots like a dream. Just not a tough as my G-19 by any stretch.
I did a load of research, shot many guns, and held many guns before buying my first "all-around" carry piece. I ended up with a Glock 19. It turned out to be a great choice. I shoot it very well, and it is an excellent combination of firepower, concealability, durability, and RELIABILITY (the most important factor when choosing a carry piece).
Recently I decided to pick up a snub .38 as a BUG and for days when I'm in light clothing and need less weight or more concealability. I love my Taurus 85 ultra-light, and picked it up for $290 (Taurus snubs have improved dramatically in terms of quality over the last few years - they are a great buy). However, if I had to pick one carry piece for the rest of my life - I wouldn't hesitate to go with my G-19 - even though I don't consider Glocks to be attractive weapons at first sight (they grow on you). Shoot it all you want, +P or not, drop it, scratch it, heck, leave it out in the snow - it will still do its job like a veteran. And if you decide down the road that Glocks aren't for you, you'll be able to trade it off with very little loss of value.
Good luck on your selection - shoot as many as you can before deciding, and figure out what factors (include reliability at the top of that list) are important to you.
PS - also, take a look at CZ's compacts including the PO-1. It is beautiful, reliable, holds 15 or 16 rounds with the right mags, and shoots like a dream. Just not a tough as my G-19 by any stretch.
Live Free Or Die
Member
MachIVshooter said:
I'll second that. I don't consider myself overly sensitive to recoil, but shooting the 340 PD is a little scary. The recoil is nearly absurd in its intensity. A local range rents out handguns, and a lot of people try the 340 PD. The range owner indicated that nearly everyone who tries it brings it back to the counter after no more than 1 cylinder of magnum rounds. If they have any remaining .357 ammo left to burn, they usually ask if there are any heavier revolvers they can rent.
MachIVshooter
Member
vko143R said:
Not everyone likes Glocks
. Not everyone likes .40 Short&Weak . And not everyone wants to pack an autoloader.Revolvers (especially hammerless) tend to have more carry-freindy ergonomics and are invariably more reliable than any auto.
That said, I carry a Tanfoglio Witness compact 10mm and wouldn't trade it for the world. And it's a whole lot more attractive than Austrian Tupperware
MachIVshooter said:Not everyone likes Glocks
To each his own, that's why so many different types of guns are made, there is no "one size fits all" handgun. I promise not to put down your choice if you promise the same.
MachIVshooter said:
Can't disagree more and on both points, the thickness of the cylinder compared to the flattness of an autoloader makes the auto superior, at least for me, for concealment purposes. Also, I've seen way to many revolvers fail to function to believe your second arguement. A good autoloader is every bit as reliable as a good revolver, and bad ones of either design are just as prone to failure. Both these arguements are to a great extent subjective and not worth an arguement, get and use what is right for you.
MachIVshooter said:That said, I carry a Tanfoglio Witness compact 10mm and wouldn't trade it for the world. And it's a whole lot more attractive than Austrian Tupperware
The Witness is an attractive piece, but if I draw my gun in a life threatening encounter, the last thing I'll be worried about is if anyone is appreciating how purty my pistol is. For me the best concealed carry gun I've used is the Glock 26, and in 27 years of daily carry I've tried a lot of different ones including 1911s, HiPowers, Sigs and many different revolvers and derringers. At one point I even carried a COP .357 4 barreled derringer. But as I said before, it's a subjective thing and everyone should use what they are the most comfortable with and shoot the best.
gotta agree. A semi-auto is just as reliable as a revolver.
It's pointless bickering... the otherside always has something stupid to say. Revolvers are antiques. Semi-auto always jam. whatever...
Hope nobody tells my HK USP that semi's always jam. It's at 10k rounds and it's never had a problem. My dad's HK USP is at 50k... no jams... Both in .40 Short&Wonderful
Combat tupperware is purpose driven. And it serves it's purpose very very well.
It's pointless bickering... the otherside always has something stupid to say. Revolvers are antiques. Semi-auto always jam. whatever...
Hope nobody tells my HK USP that semi's always jam. It's at 10k rounds and it's never had a problem. My dad's HK USP is at 50k... no jams... Both in .40 Short&Wonderful
Combat tupperware is purpose driven. And it serves it's purpose very very well.
Why not?
I could be wrong, but I can't imagine the polymer finish on the CZ being as tough as Tennifer - and the polymer finish is CZ's toughest finish according to the CZ FAQ on the CZ forum. I work with polymer products, and even the best of polymers which my company uses in our industrial flooring systems couldn't equal the hardness of Tennifer. Now, I'm just talking about durability. The CZ is definitely durable ENOUGH by all means, I just think the Glock has the upper hand in that department. I know the PO-1 is VERY reliable, even under extreme conditions. Its my other "favorite" compact 9mm.
I could be wrong, but I can't imagine the polymer finish on the CZ being as tough as Tennifer - and the polymer finish is CZ's toughest finish according to the CZ FAQ on the CZ forum. I work with polymer products, and even the best of polymers which my company uses in our industrial flooring systems couldn't equal the hardness of Tennifer. Now, I'm just talking about durability. The CZ is definitely durable ENOUGH by all means, I just think the Glock has the upper hand in that department. I know the PO-1 is VERY reliable, even under extreme conditions. Its my other "favorite" compact 9mm.
MachIVshooter
Member
3rdpig said:
You need to read further back before you condemn what I've said. I offered fact (not everyone likes........) and personal opionion (emoticons). Never did I say the Glock is not a good gun.
My post was responding to the condescending and authoritarian manner in which a brand new member more or less stated that the G-27 is the only gun to carry.
Many folks, myself included, find such an arrogant statement offensive. Is the G-27 a viable option? certainly. Is it a good choice for everyone? definitely not.vko143R said:
I love my Witness 10mm, but for me to insinuate it is the perfect carry gun the way was done above concerning the G-27 would be ignorant. For many,the Witness 10mm is too heavy, too thick, too uncontrollable, etc. for CCW. I would never recommend it in such a manner that suggests no other gun will work.
Another vote for the S&W 642. I pocket carry mine and I don't really notice it. Good, solid shooter.
I also pocket carry a Beretta 21A in .25 from time to time. I am very impressed with this little pistol. Although the ammunition is one step above screaming for help .
I also pocket carry a Beretta 21A in .25 from time to time. I am very impressed with this little pistol. Although the ammunition is one step above screaming for help
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