Where did the pocket revolvers go?

[Josey]

I used to carry a S&W lemonsqueezer 32 breaktop for my HO. I have H&R and S&W 38 S&W and 32 S&W pocket revolvers. I see that Taurus is making a Instant Backup revolver. I think it is a positive step. Excluding the sheath trigger NAA 22 and 22 WMR small pistols, what are the modern day choices? J frames are out too. I am interested in revolvers that hold 5-6 shots and are itsy bitsy. I think there is a market. Why are there none?

 

[Dot_mdb]

I guess the small revolvers lost out to the semi's. Look at the popularity of the Kel-Tecs.

How much smaller can a five shot .38 be than a J frame? Once the gun fits in a pocket making it any smaller will just make it harder to use. And has much really been achieved by dropping the weight from 15 oz. (Airweight) to the current 11 oz. ultra light weights?

I suppose in lesser calibers there could be some size reductions possible but would they sell? They would require a new frame and that would make the experiment expensive for the existing revolver manufacturers.

What is the Taurus "Instant Backup"?

Bill

 

[Josey]

I was wondering if a manufacturer might give us a modern Bulldog. I do think that the Casull miniature 22 Velodog type revolver counts. I was thinking that the new 17 rimfire might cause a real boom in pocket revolver production. The Taurus 17 rimfire would be a 8 shot revolver I could get interested in. The Taurus folks brought out a smaller than J frame Instant Backup revolver in 9MM and 17 with 5 and 8 shots IIRC. A resurgence in small frame pocket pistols could be here.

 

[SapperLeader]

I would like a naa mini revolver in .32 magnum, or a instant backup size in .32 magnum, it would fill a few niche roles for me if it was about the size of a keltec p-32, but with revolver reliability and a bigger round. Im looking forward to seeing taurus instant backup line and see how much smaller it is than a j frame.

 

[Flipper]

I've been searching High & Low for a pocket revolver for over a year. Can't seem to find one that feels "just right", is easily concealable, and packs enough of a punch with a certain degree of accuracy. I recently went the Kel-Tec route picking a P-11 in 9mm with the chrome slide. I have to admit the thing is "awesome", hasn't missed a beat and I like it a great deal.. It can however, be quite a handful with some of the hotter hollow-points . One has to be careful to hold it properly when one has big hands 'cause if the trigger doesn't get your right hand the slide will bite your left. When all comes together though it is dynamite and I would recommend it highly. I would however jump in an instant at a "vest pocket" type 32 H&R magnum 'cause I'm still a revolver guy at heart and with all due respect to Kel-Tec; the P-32, while being a machining marvel, looks like a water pistol!

 

[Tamara]

The Taurus folks brought out a smaller than J frame Instant Backup revolver in 9MM and 17 with 5 and 8 shots IIRC.

No, those are on the same frame as the 85, and are therefore pretty much J-frame sized.

 

[Tamara]

I have a .38 Safety Hammerless, myself, which is no smaller than an I- or J-frame. The .32 Safety Hammerless is slightly smaller, in that it is chambered for the .32 S&W cartridge (not .32 Mag, not .32 S&W Long, just .32 S&W) and therefore only needs a cylinder .95 inches in length. As far as .17 HMR out of a snubnose? Sure, as a toy, but not for self defense, not for me. A lightly-constructed 17gr bullet designed to break up violently on impact with a woodchuck is not what I'd like to count on to stop a 250lb rapist, especially considering that the round is calibrated for maximum effectiveness in rifles and will lose massive amounts of velocity in a 2" wheelgun. Heck, all that powder burning outside the muzzle will probably do him more damage than the projectile.

 

[wally]

And has much really been achieved by dropping the weight from 15 oz. (Airweight) to the current 11 oz. ultra light weights?

Makes the gun jump a lot more when you shoot it, makes it flop around a lot less in a pocket when you move while carrying it.

Since I carry my carry piece a whole lot more than I shoot it, light weight rules.

4 oz. isn't much in the abstract but it is "quarter pounder"

If you have a gun in one pocket and a cell phone in the other and the weights are about the same, the dynamics when you move are "balanced" while a 24 oz. all steel pistol would make your pants be lopsided when you are moving.

My SC360 Scandium .357 weighs about as much as all the keys I have to carry, its a nice balance. I prefer the small autos like my Kimber Ultra Carry or Kahr PM40, but light as they are I find myself carrying the SC360 more often because of its lighter weight.

--wally.

 

[Josey]

S&W used to make the 38 S&W Terrier and IIRC they also made basically the same revolver in a I frame in 38 Special and 32 S&W Long. I was under the impression that the Instant Backup was also a Terrier sized I frame type revolver. It IS smaller than the 85.

 

[Old Fuff]

Josey:

You are correct. Taurus will be offering a new series of revolvers that are similar to the model 85, but with the frame and cylinder shortened about 1/4 inch. In effect the two revolvers would be similar to a Police Positive Colt vs. a Police Positive Special. The first will be chambered in .17 HRM (don't ask me why) and 9mm Para. using moonclips.

Down the road they are considering .22 WRM , .22 RF and .32 H&R Magnum.

I think the reason manufactures haven't brought out smaller-then-J-frame .32 revolvers is because they didn't see a market. Generally speaking J-frame's in .32 haven't proved to be popular. But now several makers besides Taurus are looking at the issue again.

In the meantime I've been satisfied to get along with Colt Police and Pocket Positives, S&W I-frames, and yes - even some .32 Safety Hammerless' revolvers. Oldies are goodies ....

 

[Josey]

Taurus is onto something. I fully intend to purchase a IB in each caliber except the 17. I have never been attacked by a tree rat. LOL I think that the Colt Pocket Positive in either 38 S&W or 32 SC is the best small revolver. You read that right, 32 SC. I still have 50 rounds. 32 Short Colt

 

[Tamara]

Call me crazy, but as the owner of three I-frames as well as numerous J-frames, I just can't see enough difference in size between them to get spun up about. But, hey, whatever bastes your turkey.

I have never been attacked by a tree rat. LOL I think that the Colt Pocket Positive in either 38 S&W or 32 SC is the best small revolver. You read that right, 32 SC. I still have 50 rounds. 32 Short Colt

Just what I've always wanted for self-defense! An 80gr LRN projectile at 745fps, pumping out a monster 100 ft/lbs!

 

[Josey]

It beats a hard stare! LOL I did mention hideout in my original post. I could see two 8 shot 22 Magnum revolvers as adequate for CCW.

 

[sturmruger]

I just bought a S&W 637 Airweight. It is 15 oz and and very small. I can't think of any revolver that is handier then this little pistol.

 

[Flipper]

What a coincidence! The Airweight 637 was the last revolver I had been considering before I purchased the Kel-Tec P-11. The 637 was very light indeed but did not come in & out of the pocket as easily. Taurus may be on to something making the frame a bit smaller. But 32 H & R magnum is as small a caliber as I'm willing to go.

 

[gvass]

hi,

See the image below. This is not a real gun, of course, just a 9x17 mm Knall gas-alarm revolver, but the very same size (much less than J-frame) would be possible. The manufactures should use the 9 mm Luger ammo with 5-rd clips, and the cylinder must be shortened accordingly. The SW M940 9 mm revolver was designed with the .38 special-length cylinder.

 

[November]

I've also been looking for something a little smaller than a J-Frame with some decent power. As soon as Taurus makes a concealed hammer version of the 9mm Instant Backup, I'll buy it.

 

[scbair]

I was just thinking . . .

as I compared my old S&W 1903 I-frame to my S&W M642:

Shorter butt;
Shorter cylinder & frame;
Slightly smaller cylinder diameter;
All-steel, but seems comparable in weight to my Airweight J-frame.

NICE It combines to make a significantly more pocketable package.

.32 S&W Long - - UH-OH!! .38 S&W wouldn't be much of an improvement, either. The cylinder & frame are too short for .38 Special service rounds.

With modern metallurgy, couldn't the old I-frame be upgraded to, oh, say, 9mm Parabellum? Using 5-round moon clips? I'd grab one in a heartbeat!

 

[Old Fuff]

Taurus is going to make their new "Instant Backup" or "IB" revolver in a 9mm Para./5 shots/moon clip version. It is very close to the old S&W "I" frame in size and weight.

 

[Flipper]

Old Fuff
Any idea when this is gonna take place? Availability to the public?

 

[milton]

The Taurus web page say Holiday 2004 - which I take as XMas.
It also says SS for the gun which might mean too heavy for pocket carry.

 

[Old Fuff]

According to a list Taurus gave me at the SHOT Show they are supposed to become available during "mid/late 2004."

Concerning pocket carry. I have carried a larger .38 Special, all-steel, hammerless CIA in this mode with no problems, and no printing because of the weight. Be that as it may, a Titanium version is also in the works. If the smaller sized gun proves to be popular you'll see a number of interesting additions to the line, including a hammerless pocket revolver. But that's way down the line. Don't look for an early introduction.

 

[JERRY]

looked on tuarus site, didnt see mention of a smaller framed gun.

 

[JERRY]

disregard. i found it.