The Always Gun

[larryw]

I can see how those in search of contention would misconstrue a simple question as grasping for an argument.

I'm in the market for a snubbie. I look at the physical specs and the revos rated for 38+P are IDENTICAL to those for 357. Cost difference, if any, is trivial. I know most of the members here are intelligent and I'm simply asking them why they made the choice they did.

I enjoy shooting max loads out of my 44Mag and shooting a snubbie with magnum loads was a challenge, but an enjoyable one. Considering the purpose of the gun, recoil isn't a deciding factor (especially since one can tone the loads down if so desired).

 

[V-fib]

Ruger .357 3" Sp101 is my always gun. I like the revs for ccw due to their simplicity and reliability.

 

[hansolo]

I didn't know any better

About a year ago my brother found out I was starting to get interested in shooting. We were into BB & pellet guns as kids.
He's 60 and I'm over 50. He said he haid two S&W revolvers. "Cool! Let's go shooting!" He is not what one would call an afficianado. He brought his J-frame .357 snubbie and a M/P
.38 Special, as well as a shopping bag full of ammo. We both knew the basics of safe gun handling. I was eying the blued M/P with it's 4" tapered barrel: that's the one I bought from him. I degress: He handed me the Chiefs Special and a box of ammo...I looked at the writing: .357 Magnum Win....I got a firm two handed grip and KAPOW! I started laughing. Why? I couldn't believe the powerful noise and kick(recoil)from this little handgun.
I had been borrowing a mentor's BHP for the preceeding weeks, and knew I wanted a semiauto and I now had a chance to also get a vintage S&W that my brother bought from an LA Cop. I felt like Dirty Harry. I'll always keep my 1956 pre-Model 10. Now, I think I need my own S&W .357 Snubby! Excuse the longwinded post, but y'all can relate to your first few years of being into this incredible sport/hobby/right(2nd Amendment)/etc.

 

[Matt G]

I think there's some different interpretations of what the term "Always Gun" means. I'm seeing some awefully large, and, what's more important, HEAVY pistols being listed as always guns. To me, an alloy frame snubbie in .38 spl in the J-frame class of size is the maximum that one can consider a viable "Always Gun."

Always means ALL THE TIME that you're out and about; not just "pretty much everytime I go to the convenience store," or "at least a coupla times a week." It means carrying when you're in a hurry to get out the door. When it's hot and muggy out. When it's raining out. When you know that you need to look nice. When you know that you need to look casually dressy. When you know that you need to look professional. Always.

The big hindrence to carrying all the time is discomfort. This is offset by reducing the weight as much as possible. Here's where the alloy-framed revolver comes into its own. I occasionally sub my KelTec P-11 in this role, but it's really not as comfortable as the J-Frame Airweight Chief's Special. Even that's not as handy, quite, as a P-32 would be. (or better, the new .380 that's coming out in the same size.)

An always gun may not be in the ideal caliber. It may not have the number of shots you want. But you'll always have it on you.

 

[AK103K]

I guess I wasnt paying attention when I first responded to this thread. Now I see its more aimed at Snubby's, rather than autos. When you say an "always gun", I took it to mean a gun you have with you, always. Always to me is just that. I do have my Commander on every waking minute of every day,(with one or two few exceptions) and its within arms reach when I'm in bed. I never found it to be hard to conceal or wear for long periods. I think an auto is much easier to conceal than a revolver and especially the reloads. You can definitly hide a larger, full sized auto easier than a full sized revolver, and even better than a lot of so called compact revolvers. Just seems to me, if you can do that, why not carry or wear the larger more powerful gun? Now I may ocasionally carry a SIG P230 or Smith Model 36 as a backup to my Commander, but the Colt is the gun that always with me.

 

[DAL]

Well put, Matt G; you are correct!
DAL

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

It changes..

I look at *nearly All my handgns as carry guns. Right now, as I sit here and read posts, there is a Jetfire in my pocket and a S&W 331 on my ankle. Come to think of it, the 331 is pretty much always on my ankle. No way I could reach down an draw from my ankle in any reasonable amount of time (WAY to stiff for that), however if I were KNOCKED down there would be a nasty, NASTY, .32 H&R Magnum surprise for the BG that would come from my ankle.

KR

 

[Johnny Guest]

Agree with last post about ALWAYS gun - - -

I've had several which qualified, both from description and use - - -
Carried a Bauer .25 in a hip pocket holster as regularly as my pocket knife and car keys for several years. It was there, no matter what I was carrying for a duty gun, or other off duty piece.

Later, when I began dealing with a less refined bunch of folks, but sometimes couldn't be known to be armed, I carried a PPK .380 in a homemade ankle holster. I wore western boots all the time, and the ankle holster went on immediately after my socks, every day.
Sometime around 1978 I reassessed my needs and changed over to an Airweight Chief. Test fired it, bobbed the hammer, had an action job done, and wore it for an ankle gun for a lot more years.

After I was assigned a job which required me to be in and out of the county jail frequently, I stopped carrying the M37 except off duty--A Colt Commander will answer MOST needs during business hours.

Nowadays my always gun is a P32 or Colt Agent, when away from the office. (But I still have the PPK and my old Bauer.)

Best,
Johnny

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Johnny...

How did you carry that little Bauer? Chamber empty, I guess??

KR

 

[Matt G]

That would be smart way, wouldn't it? (Striker fire. [shudder])

 

[gumshoe4]

I've relied on a 649 for many years now, but recently bought an SP101. I carry each of them and switch around. Sometimes I carry both.

Truth is, I have access to a number of different handguns, but when I'm going out the door, I am most likely to grab the 649 as I go.

I have thought about upgrading it to one of Smith's internal hammer designs, but I'm not willing to give up the 649 yet. Or maybe ever.

Bob
TFL# 8032

 

[Bainx]

Got a Chiefs Special, circa 1954. Really handy as a BUG although I seldom carry it because it is CHERRY.
My father said he used to carry it with payroll from the [old] Knox County Courthouse to a bank in downtown Knoxville.
I still got the shoulder rig it fits in.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Well, Kentucky Rifle - - -

- - -I have to admit, that for several years, I carried it cocked and locked. I made a little wallet-style holster which completely enclosed the pistol--NOT the type you could fire in/through. I was just looking at the combo last night, and saw how the leather had become formed in both positions--Safety UP and also DOWN.

I figured that, because the safety locked the sear and not just the trigger, it was safe enough. A crime lab firearms examiner who'd made quite a study of striker fired pistols for court cases gently pointed out the error of my thinking. I shudderingly re-assessed my carry mode thereafter, and practiced one-handed chambering techniques. Old dawgs CAN learn new tricks, y'see.

I still carry the Bauer occasionally, and review the drill. I need to handload some .25s and do some intensive practice, though . . . .

Best,
Johnny

 

[Matt G]

Bainx: '54 Chief's? There's more'n one reason not to shoot it; that revolver's not nearly so strong as the later year's Chief's Specials. All aluminum alloy, isn't it?