Pocketable/extreme concealed carry....small 9mm vs. snubnose 357..

Status
Not open for further replies.
saturno_v said:
[Is there] really any practical reason to consider a small 357 revolver to replace or complement my P-11 for pocket duty??
Click to expand...

No. By your own statements, they're equivalent. For everyone else, they're really not, and the 9mm has the edge.

I'd argue your statement claiming the "concealability" for a snubby .357mag and a micro 9mm isn't correct for most people. Personally, I can conceal my LC9 far more easily than my LCR. I frequently carry a 642, SP101, or LCR, but the flatter LC9 and 938 make my concealment options easier. I'd AGREE with your assertion on reliability - I've had as many revolvers seize from powder under the extractor as I've ever had pistols jam, after the pistols were tuned to the ammo. Read that to mean I can FIX reliability issues with a pistol, but I can't prevent a revolver from seizing due to powder infiltration. Crimp jump in an ultralight will seize a revolver as well - neither are infallible... Reload speed for either doesn't really matter, since reloads aren't statistically a reality for defensive use; guys will tout speedloaders can be almost as fast as mags, but in reality, it's a lot easier to be good at fast pistol reloads than revolver speed loads. Weight is equivalent, difference in power negligible since either is more than sufficient... Ammo capacity is a round or two deeper for the semiauto, typically...

At best, it's a dead heat, but in reality, the semiauto has some specific minor advantages... In most sports, the score is the score, and a tie is a tie - in many shooting sports, the X ring is used as a tie breaker - if we say a semiauto and a revolver really did have the same score, then the pistol has a lot more X's on the card than the revolver...

So what are the real-world differences between the two? Well, you own the slightly advantaged one, and you have to pay more money for the other slightly disadvantaged one... That math is simple for me...
 
bgw45 said:
My small revolvers print much more obviously than my Kahr CM 9. The cylinder makes it obvious. May be me but I'm sticking to it.
Click to expand...

That probably has as much to do with the holster as anything. I have a DeSantis Nemesis for my LCP which is essentially rubber coated nylon, and in jeans you can clearly see the full outline of the LCP and it's very obvious (to me) that there's a gun in my pocket. But my holster for my j-frame is pretty rigid, so while it looks like there's something bulky in my pocket, all you can make out is the outline of the grip which doesn't necessarily scream "GUN" to a lay person.
 
bassjam said:
That probably has as much to do with the holster as anything. I have a DeSantis Nemesis for my LCP which is essentially rubber coated nylon, and in jeans you can clearly see the full outline of the LCP and it's very obvious (to me) that there's a gun in my pocket. But my holster for my j-frame is pretty rigid, so while it looks like there's something bulky in my pocket, all you can make out is the outline of the grip which doesn't necessarily scream "GUN" to a lay person.
Click to expand...
A squared off kydex holster will make the print off the LCP appear more wallet like.

I kind of grin when people talk about shooting out of their pants pocket. Brings to mind the kids rhyme, "liar, liar, pants on fire..." A smoldering or aflame pocket would be a little too close for comfort. lol
 
bgw45 said:
My small revolvers print much more obviously than my Kahr CM 9. The cylinder makes it obvious. May be me but I'm sticking to it.
Click to expand...

To be fair, in a proper pocket holster the more irregular shape of a revolver will print in a more "concealed" way compared to a semi auto...meaning it will seems that you have few things in your pocket but not a solid, squared chunk of something....
 
Varminterror said:
I'd argue your statement claiming the "concealability" for a snubby .357mag and a micro 9mm isn't correct for most people. Personally, I can conceal my LC9 far more easily than my LCR.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree with you on this one - I found my 642 to be amazingly easy to carry concealed in a pocket holster. (Robert Mika holster) My LC9 is too big for pocket carry and I find it to be more of a pia to conceal the LC9 iwb than the 642 in my front jeans pocket.
 
bassjam said:
Not sure which ones you mean. I have a SIG P938 which is too large for pocket carry. I've also played with and shot an LC9 and Kahr CM9 and found both of those too large. On paper they don't seem any larger than a snub revolver, but I notice a huge difference in real life. The only semi's I'd consider are the small .380's like my LCP.
Click to expand...

I guess it is all in how you dress. This time of year, I'm in jeans 99% of the time and I totally agree with your assessment for pocket carry. Especially for front pocket carry (cell phone and wallet in the rear pockets). An LCP size gun is about the only think that will cut it. They just don't make a 9mm quite small enough.

In the summer wearing baggy cargo shorts, I can pocket carry my Shield 40 without a problem.
 
ShootingIsFun said:
I have to disagree with you on this one - I found my 642 to be amazingly easy to carry concealed in a pocket holster. (Robert Mika holster) My LC9 is too big for pocket carry and I find it to be more of a pia to conceal the LC9 iwb than the 642 in my front jeans pocket.
Click to expand...

Horses for courses...

It's no secret, and not a wavering trend, there are far fewer folks out there who find revolvers easier to conceal than those who do pistols. That's not opinion or subjective preference, it's statistics. For ever rule, there's an exception, and as I pointed out in my post you chose to refute, you obviously aren't "most people."
 
FWIW, I find my revolver with my manner of dress easier to pocket carry than I have the small autos I've tried.
I wear carpenter jeans 90% of the time. I bobbed the hammer off my .38, and the sweeping shape of that comes out smoothly. Autos need a better grip from the get-go, which makes it slower to remove my hand from my pocket, or the tail portion catches at the edge.
Just in my case. Like most things gun-related, that's personal.
 
Varminterror said:
Horses for courses...

It's no secret, and not a wavering trend, there are far fewer folks out there who find revolvers easier to conceal than those who do pistols. That's not opinion or subjective preference, it's statistics. For ever rule, there's an exception, and as I pointed out in my post you chose to refute, you obviously aren't "most people."
Click to expand...
Well, you know what they say about opinions...
I wouldn't say autoloaders being easier to conceal is a "rule" and I don't think my opinion makes me an "exception"
And I disagreed with you - I didn't refute anything. (And I normally agree with you - this is just a difference of opinion :thumbup:) In my experience I carry autoloaders because they have higher ammo capacity, it's easier to carry a reload + it's faster to reload them - not because they're easier or more comfortable to carry than my 642
 
Last edited:
saturno_v said:
Power: On paper the 357 is a more powerful round but what is the real world power advantage of a 357 round coming out of a sub 2" barrel vs. a 9mm +P out of a 3" pipe?? Does it really matter at the very close range handguns like that are used in SD situations anyway?? Can a small revolver like that, especially with aluminium or polymer frame, eat full power 357 rounds or you have to use the watered down loads?? I would love to hear from someone that has done some tests or had experience with both.

Am I missing something?? There is really any practical reason to consider a small 357 revolver to replace or complement my P-11 for pocket duty?? They aren't cheap....
Click to expand...


Watch Paul Harrell on YouTube for these answers. The short answer is that 357 Even in a snub nose aluminum frame has more energy than a 9mm in a 4.5" barrel.
 
jdh said:
And it will fire five times from inside the the pocket. Try that with a P11.
Click to expand...

Exactly, which means I have the advantage of surprise if I have to shoot and the advantage of keeping the gun on the perp without being charged with brandishing if I don't.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
.357 snubbie or 9mm?
2 3 4
Replies
81
Views
3K
jim goose
J
Levan9X19
  • Locked
Which is more accurate, snubnose revolver or sub-compact semi-auto?
Replies
19
Views
2K
White Horseradish
W
F
  • Locked
$300-$350 price range??
2
Replies
48
Views
2K
tbreed725
T
zdc1775
  • Locked
Which pocket pistol
Replies
21
Views
1K
zdc1775
zdc1775
M
  • Locked
Money to burn--what handgun to buy?
2
Replies
35
Views
1K
TooTech
T
Back
Top