Looking for a new ccw, opinions

[possom813]

I'm in the market for a new ccw, and I'm not sure exactly what I want.

The only thing I'm set on is that it has to be stainless.

I like compact semi-autos because they're small and light and generally have 7-10 shots.

On the other hand, I like revolvers because no worries about fte/ftf/etc...

It needs to be small and light enough to pocket carry, and also carry iwb(depending on the wardrobe that day)

I'd really like it in .357 for a revolver or .45 for a semi auto and easily concealable in summer wear.

Currently, I carry a snub .38 or a taurus pt22, I'd like something with a bit more thump.(I usually carry the .22 on hot days because it's stainless, the snub .38 is blued)

I'd like at least 6 shots with whichever.

 

[hartcreek]

So go to Cabellas and pick something out. This tread aint gonna go no place.

 

[Hometeached1]

You're going to be hard pressed to find a .45 other than maybe the XDs that you can pocket carry let alone that's ss. I'd say the Ruger SP101 in .357 would be nice, but it is on the bigger side of pocket carry and only holds five rounds.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

It ain't stainless but go fondle a new Glock 42 if you can find one. Shoot one if you can. I didn't even want a .380 in the house but got one for my Wife.

We might need another depending on how the hand loading comes out.

VooDoo

 

[Strahley]

I don't think there's anything out there that fits what you want, mainly because of your pocket carry requirement. I would suggest getting a dedicated pocket carry and go with something bigger for IWB. Can't play a round of golf with just a putter

 

[Haywood]

It's not stainless but, I carry a Ruger LCR357 in my pocket every day. Self Defence 357 such as Corbon isn't too bad to shoot and 38+P is not bad at all. This gun backs up my SP101 or my Taurus 7 shot 357 caried IWB.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Unfortunately threads like this only yield what the poster likes, not what is good for you. Only you can know if something fits well in your hand or is comfortable for carry.

I personally like a S&W Airweight J frame. I pocket carry a M442 daily. That doesn't mean you will like that revolver or want to pocket carry one.

 

[ugaarguy]

The only thing I'm set on is that it has to be stainless.

I'd really like it in .357 for a revolver or .45 for a semi auto and easily concealable in summer wear.

It needs to be small and light enough to pocket carry, and also carry iwb(depending on the wardrobe that day)

Unless by stainless you mean stainless slide or cylinder on a poly or aluminum frame gun, you're going to have to drop one of those three requirements. You can get an all stainless gun like a Seecamp or NAA Guardian that you can pocket carry, but those max out at .380 ACP. You can get all stainless steel pistols like the Kahr MK40 and MK9, but they're heavy. Likewise, you can get an all stainless steel revolver like the S&W 640 in .357 mag that will fit in your pocket, but it's also heavy.

Alternatively, you can get a revolver like a S&W 642 in .38 spl that's much lighter than the 640, but it has an aluminum frame holding the stainless steel bbl and cylinder. In a semi auto you could get a Kahr CM45 / PM45 in .45 ACP, but the stainless steel slides rides on a polymer frame. There are many offerings from competitors that are similar to these when you eliminate the all stainless steel requirement.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Insisting on SS for a CCW is really like tying one hand behind your back in an arm wrestling contest: you still have a chance of winning but you are handicapping yourself with less leverage. Why must you have SS? Is it because you fear corrosion? With the type of finishes and CLPs today that should not be a problem even in a marine environment. If you insist on SS you really limit if not eliminate your options.

Get yourself a sub-20 ounce loaded weight revolver in .38Spec or a semiauto in .380 or 9mm. Anything heavier or bulkier and you will not want to carry it in your pocket. I used to carry a blued steel/anodized aluminum S&W M38 Bodyguard for years and never had a problem with corrosion.

 

[Manny]

It's not stainless but, I carry a Ruger LCR357 in my pocket every day. Self Defence 357 such as Corbon isn't too bad to shoot and 38+P is not bad at all. This gun backs up my SP101 or my Taurus 7 shot 357 caried IWB.

The Ruger KLCR .357 frame, cylinder & barrel (not including shroud) ARE stainless. I assume the OP wants stainless for corrosion resistance, and the KLCR is the revolver equivalent to a Glock in that respect. It pocket carries wonderfully, has a very smooth trigger action and is, IMHO, the ultimate CCW in existence. Especially when fitted with the Crimson Trace grip and a tritium front sight.

 

[Nom de Forum]

The Ruger KLCR .357 frame, cylinder & barrel (not including shroud) ARE stainless. I assume the OP wants stainless for corrosion resistance, and the KLCR is the revolver equivalent to a Glock in that respect. It pocket carries wonderfully, has a very smooth trigger action and is, IMHO, the ultimate CCW in existence. Especially when fitted with the Crimson Trace grip and a tritium front sight.

Manny I just took a look at those and I agree that is a good choice for the O.P. I think I would go with the .38 version to reduce the weight in my pocket by 20% but the .357 should still be at or less than 20 ounces loaded weight. Great suggestion Manny!

 

[Ed Ames]

It used to be you could get a Taurus PT-145 that pretty much met those requirements. Polymer + stainlesss .45 ACP, 10+1 capacity, DeSantis made a Nemesis pocket holster that fit it and it worked in jeans or shorts. At about 30oz loaded it was not the lightest thing you could have in your pocket, and it wasn't the smallest either, but doable.

I think they had a lot of trouble with them. They are no longer on the market. I suspect at least part of the trouble was that they were a handful to shoot.

I think pocket carry of a semi-auto in anything beyond 9mm or maybe .40 is unrealistic.

 

[tomrkba]

The S&W M&P 45 Compact, SIG P220 Compact, Glock 36 and Springfield XD 45 Compact are of similar size to the Glock 19. They are about as compact as you can get except for the Springfield XDs 45. Other options are the Glock 38 and 39 in 45 GAP. The Glock 39 is a wider Glock 26 that holds 6+1 rounds. The new Glock 30S features a more narrow slide but still has a wide grip that you have to hide.

 

[JRWhit]

Revolver: seak out a ruger sp101 in 327 fed magnum.It affords six shots, Comes in stainless, and carries more thump than your 38.




I really wish Ruger would come out with a six shot LCR in 327.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

S&W 640 Pro deserves a mention...

Chambered in .357 magnum; stock tritium 3-dot rear and front sight; SS body; no internal lock; slides right in a pocket with a Mika's pocket holster - or carry it IWB if you like; cut for moonclips; prints less than an SP101 or a KLCR; beautiful re-imagination of a classic design.

 

[Nom de Forum]

The O.P. in the 1st post specifically mentioned the need to pocket carry. The guns mentioned in the last three posts are very heavy to be carried in most pockets. They are also a bit bulky. When you've got a big bump and heavy lump in your pocket it practically screams gun to anyone who sees you. It also frequently results in not carrying the gun because it is uncomfortable for pocket carry.

 

[Blue Duck]

Lots of really good choices, but I really like my Ruger LCRX.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

In a pair of jeans with a belt, a pair of khakis, dress shorts, or a suit, the 640 pro shouldn't be printing any more in the pocket than a 442...

 

[gbran]

Kahr MK40, 40 cal SS, 6+1, true pocket carry.

 

[Hometeached1]

In a pair of jeans with a belt, a pair of khakis, dress shorts, or a suit, the 640 pro shouldn't be printing any more in the pocket than a 442...

I agree, but I can see how some people can find it bother some. I had one pair of jeans with deep pockets, the way the jeans were cut a LCP would print when I sat down.
BTW very nice 640. A shop near me has the standard 640, if it was a pro, something of mine would be gone. Bet it kicks with those wood stocks.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

Well I am a hypocrite because as much as I liked it, the one I had was a lemon and so I got it repaired by S&W twice and made sure it checked out before trading it ;p

 

[mdauben]

I'm in the market for a new ccw, and I'm not sure exactly what I want.

I think its going to hard or impossible to find anything that meets all your criteria.

The only thing I'm set on is that it has to be stainless.

There are certainly some good, small SD guns in stainless available, but not that meet all of your other criteria.

I like compact semi-autos because they're small and light and generally have 7-10 shots.

Most of the innovation in small semi-autos these days are in polymer or at least alloy. You could look at a stainless PPK or PPK/S although they are limited to .380 cal and is considered marginal for pocket carry (too large/heavy). There is also the Sig P238, stainless pocket .380 cal pistol, although some people don't like the "cocked-n-locked" single action carry. If those don't work for you, the other options is a true mouse gun in .25 or .32 cal. which many people (including myself) consider to be below optimal performance for a SD gun.

On the other hand, I like revolvers because no worries about fte/ftf/etc...

This opens a few more options, as stainless revolvers are still quite popular.

It needs to be small and light enough to pocket carry, and also carry iwb(depending on the wardrobe that day)

While some people do pocket carry stainless revolvers, most people seem to feel they are too heavy for that method. Pocket carry is dominated by lightweight alloy and polymer pistols and revolvers.

I'd really like it in .357 for a revolver or .45 for a semi auto and easily concealable in summer wear.

For .357 cal the two main stainless choices are the Ruger SP101 or the S&W Model 60. Both are stainless, both are quality reliable weapons, but both are heavier than most people want to pocket carry. Ruger makes their polymer LCR in .357 which is quite popular, and S&W makes a several small, alloy frame revolvers in .357 cal, but obviously these are not stainless.

The only "pocketable" .45 I know of might be the old AMT Backup. I admit I don't know much about it, but I think its been OOP for a while and I don't know how reliable it was. Other small .45 cal guns are only compact relative to full sized service pistols. Unless you have big pockets and are exceptionally tollerant of bulky, heavy loads in those pockets, then compact .45s like the Glock 36 or Kahr PM45 are unlikely to work for you (and of course both have polymer frames).

I'd like at least 6 shots with whichever.

The only "small" 6 shot revolver I know of is the OOP Colt Detective, which is a fine gun but AFAIK was never made in stainless, only blued stee. The small revolvers from Ruger and S&W are all 5-shots.

 

[MCgunner]

I've got one of these on back order. I have complete confidence in my .38, just this will be a new belt carry if I like it.

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=779&category=Revolver&toggle=tr&breadcrumbseries=PR2

 

[MCgunner]

I notice you want six shots...hmmm...only thing I can think of is the little Rossi. As small as it is, it's a little hefty for a pocket revolver.

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details.cfm?id=139&category=1&toggle=rv&breadcrumbseries=R357

 

[Nom de Forum]

possum813,

Many great gun have been mentioned by posters but most I think you will find too heavy (loaded weight greater than 20oz) for comfortable pocket carry. To have the "more thump" you are looking for it will probably have to be a 5-shot .357 or very small 9mm.