Small Revolver for CCW
- Thread starter Taichi56
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DavidVS
Member
The answer to your question depends upon your grip (both hand size and grip strength/stability when shooting). For many people the most lightweight revolvers do not absorb enough recoil to be comparably accurate.
MCgunner
Member
My Taurus 85UL shoots 3" at 25 yards, about as good as I can do with any snub, and it has the stock boot grip on it for concealment. For me, it's a great little revolver. Concealed hammer guns are popular for pocket carry. The 642 Smith is probably the most popular out there. It's under 20 ounces and shoots well if you can shoot DA. It takes practice. I'd cut the hammer spur off my Taurus, but it's too handy for retention when I carry in my UM's ankle rig for back up. Besides, I like SA capable guns.
.38 +P is NO PROBLEM. I can handle 'em in an Ultra Lite. However, I don't like shooting .357s in 12 ounce J frames, nope, not me. I'll stick with .38 and live happy.
.38 +P is NO PROBLEM. I can handle 'em in an Ultra Lite. However, I don't like shooting .357s in 12 ounce J frames, nope, not me. I'll stick with .38 and live happy.
It's hard to beat a S&W 642. I have one, as well. The J-frame revolver is about the smallest quickly usable revolver out there today.
The little NAA mini revolvers are even smaller- in fact, they're tiny. So tiny that they are difficult to shoot fast and well, complicated by being single action only.
Personally, one day I'd love to see something like a double-action .32 Magnum 5 shot or even .22 Magnum.
Welcome to THR, btw.
John
The little NAA mini revolvers are even smaller- in fact, they're tiny. So tiny that they are difficult to shoot fast and well, complicated by being single action only.
Personally, one day I'd love to see something like a double-action .32 Magnum 5 shot or even .22 Magnum.
Welcome to THR, btw.
John
Glock Holiday
Member
The S&W J frame Bodyguards are hard to beat.
I hardly recommend them.
MedWheeler
Member
I've liked my CA Undercover for more than 20 years, now.. it's one of the rarer models, I guess, with the heavier, shrouded barrel. Haven't seen any others since I got this one. My dad has one, too, minus the shroud, and loves his, too. Both of us carried 'em as BUGs and off-dutys (both ex-LEOs)..
Smallest vs. lightest doesn't always jive....the smallest .38 Spl would be a pencil-barrel 1 7/8ths" snubbie/with-hammer aluminum-framed Smith, which tucks into a pocket better than any of their's, or anyone else's shrouded/lighter snubbies with bulky barrels and ejector shrouds....the hammer could be bobbed for smallest possible carry, but be sure to test-fire for reliability after removing hammer mass....
MCgunner
Member
Yeah, John, I was watching that NAA top break project with interest wondering if it'd be small enough or strong enough for the .32 mag, but alas, I guess it wasn't, because they dumped the project, apparently. It was to be SA, but it sure sounded cool.
doc540
Member
fwiw: my choices
Smith M36
Colt Detective Special
The additional weight over a lightweight frame has made them more comfortable and accurate for me to shoot. YMMV
Smith M36
Colt Detective Special
The additional weight over a lightweight frame has made them more comfortable and accurate for me to shoot. YMMV
smirnoff a
Member
another vote for s&w 642 - nice and light. Crimson Trace grips are great.
MC,
I think they said they'd decided there wasn't enough interest. Too bad- I'da bought one quick.
I've been known to carry a larger SA revolver concealed (my BH 9/.357, which I'm selling to get funds towards my "new" CRX). You'd better believe I'd carry a well-made little SA .32.
J
I think they said they'd decided there wasn't enough interest. Too bad- I'da bought one quick.
I've been known to carry a larger SA revolver concealed (my BH 9/.357, which I'm selling to get funds towards my "new" CRX). You'd better believe I'd carry a well-made little SA .32.
J
10-Ring
Member
I like the 442 myself....+p rated, easy to carry & conceal and 100% reliable -- even through a pocket
DawgFvr
Member
S&W 642 for defense
3 inch Barrel Ruger GP100 for offense
3 inch Barrel Ruger GP100 for offense
critter
Member
If you can find one, look at the Taurus 5-shot 9mm revolver. I have one and it is even smaller than the Taurus 85. The cylinder is shorter as is the barrel-total about 1/2" shorter than the 85. It is not a lightweight however.
Malodorousroadkill
Member
The Smith & Wesson 638 is an airweight 5shot .38 special weighing only about a pound loaded. It conceals in a pair of relaxed fit jeans no problem. Deeper pockets are fine too. Only about $399 most places. Got an internal lock though. But I've heard they can be removed easily. Makes me wonder if there's a market for solid replacement pieces for them.
Guillermo
member
Smallest and lightest does not always mean that you can hit with it.
I carry a Colt Detective Special. It is accurate and I shoot it well.
I carry a Colt Detective Special. It is accurate and I shoot it well.
rgs1975
Member
IMO the S&W J frame with internal hammer is just about the best way to go for concealed carry.
Below is a photo of my S&W 432PD. It's a .32 Magnum J frame Airlite weighing 12 ounces unloaded and a mere 15.8 ounces loaded with Federal PD Hollow Point 32 Magnums.
You can see the size difference as it is sitting next to a S&W L frame in middle and a S&W K frame at top.
If .32 Magnum is not the caliber for you S&W makes the same size guns that chamber .38 Special, .357 Magnum and I believe .44 Special. Of course the weights are going to be higher with the other calibers but the frame size is the same.
Below is a photo of my S&W 432PD. It's a .32 Magnum J frame Airlite weighing 12 ounces unloaded and a mere 15.8 ounces loaded with Federal PD Hollow Point 32 Magnums.
You can see the size difference as it is sitting next to a S&W L frame in middle and a S&W K frame at top.
If .32 Magnum is not the caliber for you S&W makes the same size guns that chamber .38 Special, .357 Magnum and I believe .44 Special. Of course the weights are going to be higher with the other calibers but the frame size is the same.
Shade00
Member
rgs1975, I've been looking for a 431PD or a 432PD for a while for my wife. I think the .38 special recoil out of an Airweight is going to be a bit much for her. How is recoil with that little 432PD? Wish I could find one locally.
IMHO Taichi56, you can't get any smaller than a S&W J-frame. You can, I guess, with the NAA mini-revolvers, but... just no. Single-action and a .22 mag... not capable SD, nor are you going to be very accurate. Stick with a S&W. My choice would be a 442 or 642 - the same gun, just different finishes.
IMHO Taichi56, you can't get any smaller than a S&W J-frame. You can, I guess, with the NAA mini-revolvers, but... just no. Single-action and a .22 mag... not capable SD, nor are you going to be very accurate. Stick with a S&W. My choice would be a 442 or 642 - the same gun, just different finishes.
bps3040
Member
Love my 642. Carry it everyday. Mika pocket round cut.
Actually, my favorite "pocket" revolver isn't the lightest at all....it's a S&W 34-1, 1 7/8ths"bbl that chrono's 900fps+ average with generic bulk-pack Fed. HP's....very accurate, very fun, very cheap to shoot, and I do some blistering DA shooting with it....but I'm hijacking the thread.....
Another vote from the 6-shooter Colt camp. One of my favorite carry pistol is my Colt Agent with an alloy from and hammer shroud. It is amazingly accurate for it's size and really not bad to shoot at all.
It's basically the same gun as my Colt Cobra but it's NIB and haven't had it out to shoot. Both the Agent and Cobra are identical to the Detective Special but with alloy frames versus the DS all steel construction
If you can find a deal on a Magnum Carry they are also great shooting snubbies. The are almost identical in size to the DS/Agent/Cobra but with slightly different actions, stainless steel construction and able to handle .357 magnum rounds
They were only available for one year and while not cheap, they are very accurate and dependable pistols
It's basically the same gun as my Colt Cobra but it's NIB and haven't had it out to shoot. Both the Agent and Cobra are identical to the Detective Special but with alloy frames versus the DS all steel construction
If you can find a deal on a Magnum Carry they are also great shooting snubbies. The are almost identical in size to the DS/Agent/Cobra but with slightly different actions, stainless steel construction and able to handle .357 magnum rounds
They were only available for one year and while not cheap, they are very accurate and dependable pistols
rgs1975
Member
With magnum hollow points the recoil is definitely there but easily controllable. I'd liken it to a steel J frame 38 special.
With 32 S&W Longs it's a dream to shoot. The recoil is just enough to let you know you're shooting something. Very similar to 38 Special target ammo out of my heavy, full lug, L frame 586 .357.
Both magnums and longs are extremely manageable in the 432PD.
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