What handgun for when you probably need a rifle but can't have one?

[Parker Dean]

I like how everyone ignores the CCW stipulation and suggests long barrel Super Redhawks with scopes and etc.

The DW was a good suggestion IMO, but it doesn't necessarily require an 8 inch barrel. My Model 15-2 had a four inch barrel and I amazed myself one day by hitting quite easily the 100yrd rifle targets with Remington 125gr SJHP's. No significant hold-over or windage and with iron sights. This gun would be on the upper limit of CCW in my opinion, but OTOH some people carry the larger N-frames so YMMV.

And if N-frames are in the mix then that opens up the 44 Mag. The cartridge has the capability of course but I've never had an N frame and so have no personal experience of it's accuracy in the shorter barrels at that range.

 

[grendelbane]

You mention the accuracy of short barrel N-frames at long range. Well, a lot of that depends on other factors. 10 years ago, if I had to make a pistol shot at 100 yards, I would probably have chosen a 6" N-frame. Today, with my eyesight, I would choose the 4". Obviously, the guns have not changed, but my eyes have.

I have a S&W model 13 that will keep its shots in 8 or 9" on a good day. This is a 4" K-frame, so a large frame and a longer barrel are not necessary for 100 yard accuracy. With a little luck, neither are adjustable sights.

Short barrel N-frames are CCW capable, if not always comfortable.

 

[ChristopherG]

I don't think the 'CCW stipulation' means, in the context of the original question, that it must be carried on the person. He just says that,

"with a CCW, you can carry any legal pistol you want in a vehicle, even multiple pistols."

I take it that DMK is here using 'CCW' colloquially to refer to the license that permits carry of a gun. In our state of NC, the license does not specify or limit what particular guns are covered by the license--and the question is about handguns that approximate rifle capabilities. Had he meant a gun he could pack, then his suggestion of a Contender would surely have been followed by a , a , or perhaps even a So I'll stick with my 6" N-frame w/red dot.

 

[SpikeEVO]

a gun hidden under the seat IS a ccw in states without legal concealed car carry

I thought he said he could conceal multiple guns with his CCW too, ie a snubby .357 concealed on his person in a holster, and a pistol alternative to a rifle hidden under his driver's seat.

I still say that a scoped AR15 pistol with about a 10 inch barrel is da bomb... I have a .223 Contender with a 10" barrel, and it is deadly accurate and it certainly shoots flat even at 200 yards, so the velocity loss can't at the ridiculous level in that short of a barrel... Besides, the US military has shortened barrels on their old CAR "Commando" M16s, like 10.5 inches or something like that, as have the Isrealis with the Micro Galil... good enough for Uncle Sam, good enough for me

 

[ID_shooting]

I gotta go w/ the TC vote. My 14 in barrel kicks out a 240gr pill at 2000 FPS. Surprisinly flat.

We were out this weekend with the 300's bouncing milk jugs between 300 - 500 yds. I got a wild hair and tried it with my TC. Never did hit a jug at that range but came mighty darn close several times. I know if I put the scope back on and practiced, I could do it.

I might have to go buy a T/C encore in .308 or .243 if I get serious about long range pistols.

 

[DMK]

ChristopherG & SpikeEVO are correct. I was specifically referring to either vehicle or off body carry(perhaps in a discreet pouch, backpack or something similar). In my scenario, a 4" .357 could also be carried IWB.

However, you do make good points Parker Dean. Feel free to consider and suggest other options or scenarios. I threw this topic out for open discussion.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I haven't seen a barrel for Dan Wesson SuperMag under 6 inches.... I'd wager you'd lose a bit of oomf in the .357 Maximum from a too short barrel.

I have whacked bowling pins at 100 yards with it... not "offhand" but braced on a fence post. (Don't do it on the hood of your car the flame cutting spits enough to affect your paint.)

Would not hesitate to shoot an elk with it though.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I'd choose my Smith & Wesson Model 625 in .45 ACP. It may not be the flattest shooting handgun round out there, but you have to try to make it shoot inaccurately.

I can just lob those big .45s in like a mortar. Fire mission!

 

[Kenneth Lew]

Broomhandle Mauser w/ stock in .30 caliber.

Kenneth Lew

 

[george_co]

S&W57, 41 Mag, 6"

No question for me, I can hit bowling pins, one handed, regularly enough to be competitive out to 80 yards using standard ammo. I can also hit a torso size target out to 240 yards 4 out of 6 times, two handed. The 41 will still have enough umph to hurt at that range.

Also, a 40 S&W has pretty good trajectary (sp) at 240 yds, and is quite accurate at 100 yds. However, at the longer range I wouldn't trust it to do much damage.

However, if you are engaging an adversary at 100 yards or greater, you would probably be able to get at and deploy a rifle that is legally cased. Specifically, the Kel Tec Sub gun in 40, 223 or the Beretta Storm. My carry rifle, if I decide I need to have one available, is a lever action Marlin in 41 Mag.

However, it is my opinion, that for a citizen in a defensive mode it will be an extremely rare situation where you will be justifiably engaging advesaries at 100 yards or greater. It will, in most cases, be extremely difficult to prove you were acting in self-defense and couldn't get away.

Now that I said that, I practice regularly at 100 yds., because you never know. And, you will be surprised how accurate you can get at 100 yards with just a little practice.

Please note that my opinions are usually worth less than you paid for them.

 

[Smaug]

 

[RepublicanMan]

FN FiveSeveN, 5.7 X 28, looks like a baby rifle cartridge, extremely accurate, almost zero recoil and oh so sexy.

 

[cratz2]

Well, I've done a bit of shooting at 100 yards and have owned a couple guns that did surprisingly well at that distance including an EAA Witness Silver Team in 40 cal. Most of my best shooting at 50 to 100 yards has been with a 6" Dan Wesson 22 revolver.

But for consistantly shooting 100 yards or beyond, I'd probably go with this:

 

[Marshall]

I'm with RepublicanMan!

The FN FiveSeven is a great hangun for distance shooting.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Even with the off-body restriction I'd go for this one.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Interesting parameters - -

The initial post stipulates that with CCW, one is legal with any sort of handgun. Toward the end of the post, though, DMK mentions a Contender, a piece I normally dont associate with concealed carry. Perhaps he is thinking of carrying a couple of different handguns.

Well, If legal to do so, I WILL carry a concealed handgun, which in my mind restricts the size a bit. No mention is made of the weight burden, but I like to stay fairly light. Under these circumstances I'd want a four-inch .357, such as a model 19 or a Colt .357/Trooper, stoked with some fairly warm 158 loads.

For just a bit more weight, I could pack my .45 Colt Mountain Gun, which has some fairly serious throw weight. I have pet loads for these three revolvers, and I've shot all of 'em at 100 yards and beyond. Could I do a bit better with a 6" Model 29 or a 7-1/2" Super Blackhawk? Probably, but those wouldn't be nearly so portable or concealable.

My own choices - - - -

Best,
Johnny

 

[mainmech48]

I carry a pre-Taurus Rossi 92 carbine in .357 with a 16" barrel behind the seat of my Ranger in a rectangular soft case. Two MTM ammo wallets of 158 gr. HPs ride with it.

The whole package is about 36" long and weighs less than six lbs. With the Lyman 66A receiver sight and Marble's bead, I feel confident that I could make an assailant take a deep personal interest in keeping his head down out to 200 yds.

While perhaps not quite as inconspicuous as a similarly cased "handrifle" or large revolver, it works better for me.

 

[AirPower]

Desert Eagle!

 

[MrAcheson]

Dunno. I'm not really confident in a .357 being lethal out to 100 yards from a handgun. Hunters complain about the .357 leverguns loosing effectiveness by 50 to 100 and they are going to have a lot more muzzle velocity than a handgun.

If it was me I'd go with something in 10mm that has decent magazine capacity. Maybe a 10mm 1911 that has had a good accurizing treatment with a bunch of spare mags to go with it. Or you could carry a big bag with scoped hunting pistol in it.

 

[ChristopherG]

Okay, I'm gonna do this merely because I was finding the thread interesting, and posters seem to have stopped reading the initial question:

Assume for sake of this discussion, there is no legal way of concealing a long arm in a vehicle. However, with a CCW, you can carry any legal pistol you want in a vehicle, even multiple pistols.

Just pondering a thought for discussion: Let's you saw a need to carry a long arm (for one of the number of reasons we've discussed many times) but legally can't.

Long guns are out by definition, including short long guns.

Handguns of all varieties are in, and concealability on your person is of absolutely no importance; it will be concealed in a vehicle which is large enough to conceal a long gun, but cannot for legal reasons. So, accepting these hypothetical circumstances, can anyone improve on my 6" .41 mag 657?

 

[RonS]

Here you go, the original gun for people who don't have room for a rifle, the Gwinn Bushmaster aircrew survival weapon.


http://www.biggerhammer.net/armpistol/

 

[The_Antibubba]

If you'll get your minds off the handmortars

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned it, but if a concealable handgun is called for, the CZ52 is a good choice. The 7.62X25 round really moves!

 

[Sean Smith]

People should read the question.

This is about an off-body-carry or in-car handgun that can be carried in the car because the person is a CCW holder. Not a gun to carry concealed on his person. Effective range has to be 100 yards.

Those critera rule out about half the answers given on objective grounds.

For a semi-auto I'd consider a 10mm longslide, ballistics would still be decent at 100 yards. Better answer is probably a .44 Magnum revolver with a 6" barrel and maybe optics.

 

[RonS]

I just thought of another, more practical option, a Savage Striker bolt action in .308, 7mm-308 or .243. I think they have a one or two shot magazine. With a good pistol scope and a sling that would serve to steady the hold that might be the most viable option for true long range accuracy and hitting power.

 

[DMK]

I think I found a few I might like at Taurus:


Heres an 8 3/8" barrel, scope and eight rounds of .357.

This 12" with 6 rounds of 44 is pretty nice too.

Or perhaps 8 rounds of .30 carbine.