Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,178
Here ya go. M25-3 rechambered to .44 mag, and loaded with 180 grain full wad-cutters at 900fps. Same thing in .45 Colt would do the trick.
Which Revolver Should I use for HD?
- Thread starter Tallball
- Start date
- Status
Here ya go. M25-3 rechambered to .44 mag, and loaded with 180 grain full wad-cutters at 900fps. Same thing in .45 Colt would do the trick.
UncleEd
Member
TallBall,
My choice would be a medium frame .38 Special or .357 magnum. I would use .38 Special ammo like FEDERAL HST, SPEER Gold Dot or DOUBLE TAP standard pressure 110 grain jhp. In either my S&W model 15 or RUGER Security Six, these loads are controllable and easier to shoot than .357 magnums and effective enough to not worry about whether I needed something bigger.
These medium size guns, with four inch barrels are not too heavy to carry around, even all day and if you cannot wear them in say a pancake holster, you can put them inside a carryall bag.
The smaller guns will be harder to control due to lighter weight, usually smaller grips. They offer nothing except concealability over a medium size gun with a 4 inch barrel. So if you are not pocket carrying, go with the four inch.
The big bores are also heavy unless you are using something like a CHARTER ARMS Bulldog which will be much harder to shoot than a 4 inch medium size .38 Soecial.
Good luck with your surgery,
Jim
My choice would be a medium frame .38 Special or .357 magnum. I would use .38 Special ammo like FEDERAL HST, SPEER Gold Dot or DOUBLE TAP standard pressure 110 grain jhp. In either my S&W model 15 or RUGER Security Six, these loads are controllable and easier to shoot than .357 magnums and effective enough to not worry about whether I needed something bigger.
These medium size guns, with four inch barrels are not too heavy to carry around, even all day and if you cannot wear them in say a pancake holster, you can put them inside a carryall bag.
The smaller guns will be harder to control due to lighter weight, usually smaller grips. They offer nothing except concealability over a medium size gun with a 4 inch barrel. So if you are not pocket carrying, go with the four inch.
The big bores are also heavy unless you are using something like a CHARTER ARMS Bulldog which will be much harder to shoot than a 4 inch medium size .38 Soecial.
Good luck with your surgery,
Jim
nofendertom
Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2019
- Messages
- 1,014
One advantage of the Mod 28 is, that when out of ammo, it makes a pretty good club.
OP
OP
Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,803
Well, I should have expected that. I already want a 3" j-frame. Now that 8-shot N-frame is looking so extremely awesome that it's on the list as well. Doubtless they are expensive and it will take me six months to find one that needs TLC so I can afford it. That's good. It gives me something to do. 
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,178
At one time, when the .357 was more widely used, and LEO's were still using them, a pretty good study I saw rated the 125 grain bullet in the .357 as having the most one-shot kills, or incapacitation. I'm sure things have changed since then, (more relevant data would involve the 9mm and .40S&W) and perhaps the 110's do very well. Possibly better from a short barrel and in .38spl. ? Even so, my choice in .357 is still a 125 grain bullet for CC/EDC. To my mind, .38 specials are best served in a pistol chambered for .38spl. Never really been sold on the concept of using a .357Mag pistol, to shoot .38spl.
tallball, since you aren’t supposed to go out, and thus can’t practice with your choices, i recommend relying on a softer-shooting revolver with which you are already comfortable and accurate, even 22lr but at most 38sp. i like the suggestion of a snubbie in a bathrobe pocket to always be handy if you are forced to amble slowly around the house.
my bedside piece now is a rossi 3”, 38sp, 5-shot, j-frame revolver loaded with wadcutters. i’m good with it. it’s reliable. my nongunner wife could use it in an emergency. if it disappears into the black hole of a police evidence locker i won’t cry, alot. if i were “walking wounded” i would likely choose a ruger lcr 22lr.
tallball, you are an insightful contributor to these webpages. i wish you well and, with enforced time on your hands, look forward to more of your writing here.
my bedside piece now is a rossi 3”, 38sp, 5-shot, j-frame revolver loaded with wadcutters. i’m good with it. it’s reliable. my nongunner wife could use it in an emergency. if it disappears into the black hole of a police evidence locker i won’t cry, alot. if i were “walking wounded” i would likely choose a ruger lcr 22lr.
tallball, you are an insightful contributor to these webpages. i wish you well and, with enforced time on your hands, look forward to more of your writing here.
Riomouse911
Member
Well, since you wanted a 3” J frame, here is a Model 36 .38 Spl. that I rescued.
As for your dilemma, the 4” .38 Spl. is about as much of a “do-it-all” HD firearm as can be found. If I was limited to a revolver stoked with good .38 Spl. rounds,, my 4” Model 65 or 66 .357 or 4” Model 15, 64 or 67 .38 Spl. would be where I would start.
Good luck!
Stay safe.
As for your dilemma, the 4” .38 Spl. is about as much of a “do-it-all” HD firearm as can be found. If I was limited to a revolver stoked with good .38 Spl. rounds,, my 4” Model 65 or 66 .357 or 4” Model 15, 64 or 67 .38 Spl. would be where I would start.
Good luck!
Stay safe.
ThomasT
Member
I would recommend the same thing I have used for at least the last 25 years. A 4" barreled model 15 loaded with Remington 158gr lead hollow point SWC bullets. The last few years I have kept a S&W model 431PD 32 mag in my night stand drawer also. I have never felt I needed anything else.
I do have a loaded Mini-14 and several shotguns with ammo in butt sleeves. A couple of those are single shots. I like them because they are fast and easy to load and then unload.
I do have a loaded Mini-14 and several shotguns with ammo in butt sleeves. A couple of those are single shots. I like them because they are fast and easy to load and then unload.
OP
OP
Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,803
Rio, that Model 36 is a work of art. It takes my breath away. Thank you to jstert and other posters with kind words and well wishes. I've been cancer-free for two years and am almost 100% recovered now.
Thanks to everyone who responded about HD revolvers. I never thought it through carefully before. Y'all made some very good points. After reading and thinking, I have come to these (perhaps incorrect) conclusions.
All of my revolvers are five or six shooters. The one I keep loaded might as well be six.
An adequate cartridge is better than an overly powerful one. There are family members, pets, and neighbors behind walls that aren't that thick.
My house is not large enough for long-range shooting. Four inches is probably the longest useful barrel length. Anything beyond that is just unnecessarily awkward.
I'm not sure about adjustable sights and/or hammer spurs. There's a tiny chance they might snag on a blanket or something, and a tiny chance that they will be necessary at close range.
I can shoot j-frames pretty well after 30+ years of practice, but they are kind of small for my hands and they only hold five shots.
All of my N-frames have 5 inch or longer barrels.
So it looks like a 2", 3", or 4" K frame. If I had one in 32 magnum, that would be a nice choice, as far as over penetration goes. But I only have small-framed 32's.
That's okay. I have 2", 3", and 4" medium-framed six-shot revolvers that can shoot 38 special.
My most likely choices seem to be a 2" Model 10, 3" Model 82, or 4" Model 64.
Thanks to everyone who responded about HD revolvers. I never thought it through carefully before. Y'all made some very good points. After reading and thinking, I have come to these (perhaps incorrect) conclusions.
All of my revolvers are five or six shooters. The one I keep loaded might as well be six.
An adequate cartridge is better than an overly powerful one. There are family members, pets, and neighbors behind walls that aren't that thick.
My house is not large enough for long-range shooting. Four inches is probably the longest useful barrel length. Anything beyond that is just unnecessarily awkward.
I'm not sure about adjustable sights and/or hammer spurs. There's a tiny chance they might snag on a blanket or something, and a tiny chance that they will be necessary at close range.
I can shoot j-frames pretty well after 30+ years of practice, but they are kind of small for my hands and they only hold five shots.
All of my N-frames have 5 inch or longer barrels.
So it looks like a 2", 3", or 4" K frame. If I had one in 32 magnum, that would be a nice choice, as far as over penetration goes. But I only have small-framed 32's.
That's okay. I have 2", 3", and 4" medium-framed six-shot revolvers that can shoot 38 special.
My most likely choices seem to be a 2" Model 10, 3" Model 82, or 4" Model 64.
TB (sorry, I could not resist),
That model 64 looks like an excellent choice to me. Now all you need is the right ammo.
Ugly Sauce,
While you mentioned the .357 magnum round's virtues and I am not disputing them as I used to carry one, you forgot the negatives.
READ RECOIL, MUZZLE BLAST, FLASH and NOISE!
In my RUGER GP-100 or S&W L-frames, the 125 grain REMINGTON sjhp is a hot load, but controllable and getting a really, reliable and proven load like the REMINGTON or FEDERAL 125 grain jhp will accomplish what you said OR MAYBE NOT. Remember, we are talking post surgery. I had surgery a couple of years ago and I was slow after it.
Much more important than knock em' dead power is control. If I shoot, I want to hit my target and I may have more than one target to deal with. That is one of the reasons my own house gun is a BERETTA 92.
For rapid shots, a .38 Special will be quicker for follow up shots than the .357 fired from the same gun. The difference might not be that much in my 6 inch S&W 586 with its MAGNA PORTED barrel, but in my Security Six, I really notice it.
Back to the revolvers. A .357 magnum revolver firing +P .38 Special ammo will always be easier to shoot than the same gun with .357 magnums. It will also be less disorienting due to noise, flash and blast. Inside a room, all of these will be magnified.
I switched to the FEDERAL HST 130 grain jhp in my .38 Specials and .357 magnums because I do not think than ANY .357 MAGNUM LOAD will perform better. This bullet is designed to expand rapidly and that is what the .125 grain .357 did. It did not penetrated deeply, but opened up very quickly and thus did a lot of damage. If TallBall or someone else wants to carry around an N-frame or an L-frame gun, that is their prerogative, but in my own experience, I want a minimum of stress after surgery. That means a gun that is not too heavy and is easy to shoot.
DOUBLE TAP ammo also looks to be very effective and is has a traditional bullet shape, so it works well in speedloaders. The wadcutter shape of the HST, makes for a slower reload. Downside for both ammo is that they are hard to find now and the DOUBLE TAP will have more recoil and flash than the HST. Still, it will be a lot less than 125 grain .357 ammo.
TallBall, Good luck with your surgery,
Jim
That model 64 looks like an excellent choice to me. Now all you need is the right ammo.
Ugly Sauce,
While you mentioned the .357 magnum round's virtues and I am not disputing them as I used to carry one, you forgot the negatives.
READ RECOIL, MUZZLE BLAST, FLASH and NOISE!
In my RUGER GP-100 or S&W L-frames, the 125 grain REMINGTON sjhp is a hot load, but controllable and getting a really, reliable and proven load like the REMINGTON or FEDERAL 125 grain jhp will accomplish what you said OR MAYBE NOT. Remember, we are talking post surgery. I had surgery a couple of years ago and I was slow after it.
Much more important than knock em' dead power is control. If I shoot, I want to hit my target and I may have more than one target to deal with. That is one of the reasons my own house gun is a BERETTA 92.
For rapid shots, a .38 Special will be quicker for follow up shots than the .357 fired from the same gun. The difference might not be that much in my 6 inch S&W 586 with its MAGNA PORTED barrel, but in my Security Six, I really notice it.
Back to the revolvers. A .357 magnum revolver firing +P .38 Special ammo will always be easier to shoot than the same gun with .357 magnums. It will also be less disorienting due to noise, flash and blast. Inside a room, all of these will be magnified.
I switched to the FEDERAL HST 130 grain jhp in my .38 Specials and .357 magnums because I do not think than ANY .357 MAGNUM LOAD will perform better. This bullet is designed to expand rapidly and that is what the .125 grain .357 did. It did not penetrated deeply, but opened up very quickly and thus did a lot of damage. If TallBall or someone else wants to carry around an N-frame or an L-frame gun, that is their prerogative, but in my own experience, I want a minimum of stress after surgery. That means a gun that is not too heavy and is easy to shoot.
DOUBLE TAP ammo also looks to be very effective and is has a traditional bullet shape, so it works well in speedloaders. The wadcutter shape of the HST, makes for a slower reload. Downside for both ammo is that they are hard to find now and the DOUBLE TAP will have more recoil and flash than the HST. Still, it will be a lot less than 125 grain .357 ammo.
TallBall, Good luck with your surgery,
Jim
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,178
I don't disagree, and I think the .38spl has always been underrated. It's a good, powerful round for self defense. The .357 is hard on the ears, in fact I've always found/thought it's worse than the .44 magnum. Yes, there are some negatives. But recoil? A .357 has recoil? Who would have thunk??
In either caliber, or any revolver I like full wadcutters loaded hotter than the standard target loads. (although I do often carry full power loads "on the street") When I do carry a revolver I usually have the gun loaded with wadcutters, and then my reloads will be a round-nosed bullet. Yeah, getting a speed loader filled with full wadcutters into the cylinder is not "speedy"!!!
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,178
Yep, I prefer the Taurus PT92CS with a 20 round magazine in it for night-time HD, but it's mostly just there to get me to a rifle. !! Daytime, might have a cap-n-ball revolver or some other odd-ball pistol on the hip when in and out and doing outside chores. !
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,178
OLDE RETIRED COASTIE
Member
My brother who lives in Oklahoma city, chose a ROSSI JUDGE IN 45 colt/410 shotgun. He keeps it loaded with the new 410 home defense loads. They shoot 3 32 caliber rounds with each pull of the trigger. Multiply that times 5, and you get 15 bullets going down range. Is double action, and push comes to shove, can still shoot 45 colt. My family is originally from Oklahoma, and our grandfathers were in law enforcement in the 1920s Oklahoma, andeven knew some of the old gunfighting lawmen of that era. They always said they never felt undergunned with a couple COLT SAAs in 45 colt. Is hard to argue with that kind of logic.
Personally I keep two guns loaded in the home, but am an old kinda guy with no kids or grandkids around, an older Ruger security six, 357/38 and an Uberti EL PATRON in 45 colt
oh yeah for got to mention the 12 guage mossberg pump in the closet
Personally I keep two guns loaded in the home, but am an old kinda guy with no kids or grandkids around, an older Ruger security six, 357/38 and an Uberti EL PATRON in 45 colt
oh yeah for got to mention the 12 guage mossberg pump in the closet
Last edited by a moderator:
JTHunter
Member
Every gun in my house is fully loaded with several close at hand but hidden from view.
Armored farmer
Member
Does ruger still make the lcr in 9mm?
That seems appropriate for your circumstances.
Otherwise, if a revolver is what you seek, an sp101 is hard to beat as an all-around sd/hd/ccw.
That seems appropriate for your circumstances.
Otherwise, if a revolver is what you seek, an sp101 is hard to beat as an all-around sd/hd/ccw.
Armored farmer
Member
Another interesting idea...
The highly poo-poo'd Taurus judge/S&W Governor.
I have a friend that swears by his as a household gun.
The highly poo-poo'd Taurus judge/S&W Governor.
I have a friend that swears by his as a household gun.
stonebuster
Member
A 2"-4" K frame would be my choice loaded with Federal HST micro 38+P. I recently picked up a 3" Model 64-5 that has become my nightstand choice lately. It sounds like you've already got some fine choices in your collection already but don't let that stop you from buying another revolver. Maybe a 3" Model 65? There's nothing that aids a speedy recovery like buying yourself a nice gift to enjoy and posting it here to show it off. Wishing you a speedy recovery and good health in the future!
OP
OP
Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,803
Thanks again for all of the kind suggestions.
Armored Farmer, I have a Judge that I bought for fun. I haven't had a chance to practice with it enough to feel like I know how well the 410 shells will perform. It's the 3" magnum version. Next time I have a chance to visit my BiL's place out in the country I should give it a work out. The few times I shot 3" magnum buckshot shells were fun and impressive. That would pretty much solve the penetration problem.
My LCR is 38 special. It's fabulous. It's my cargo pants carry piece. However, for HD I prefer a steel revolver. They're easier to shoot, and weight isn't an issue if it's just sitting on the nightstand. LCR's are sure nice revolvers, though. The trigger is outstanding.
I'm not an SP101 fan. They just don't fit my hands well. I've owned three and still have two of them, but they're kinda "meh" to me. The 2.5" 9mm and 4.2" 327 would both be fine for SD, but I just don't like them a lot. One of them has a decent trigger for an SP101, but that's still not saying much.
Ugly Sauce, If I had a short-barreled six-shooter in a 40-something caliber, I would certainly consider it, with the right ammo. I have four short-barreled revolvers like that, but they're all five-shooters. My 6" or longer large-framed revolvers seem a bit awkward for indoors.
Right now I have the 3" k-frame on my nightstand because it happened to be sitting around while I tried different holsters for it. I'll open up the safe today and see if the 2" or 4" is a better fit for the exact spot I like to keep it. Everyone in my house is an adult who is careful with firearms, so I can leave them pretty much wherever I want.
This thread has revealed that I am lacking a short-barreled N-frame. I need to take care of that one of these days. A 40-caliber revolver is also on my wish list, pretty much just because I don't have one. I think I finally have a deal worked out for a 3" j-frame. It probably won't be on my HD list, but I've been wanting one for a while now.
I'll give this one a try, while I'm messing around today. It's only 5". Maybe the extra inch won't turn out to matter much.
Armored Farmer, I have a Judge that I bought for fun. I haven't had a chance to practice with it enough to feel like I know how well the 410 shells will perform. It's the 3" magnum version. Next time I have a chance to visit my BiL's place out in the country I should give it a work out. The few times I shot 3" magnum buckshot shells were fun and impressive. That would pretty much solve the penetration problem.
My LCR is 38 special. It's fabulous. It's my cargo pants carry piece. However, for HD I prefer a steel revolver. They're easier to shoot, and weight isn't an issue if it's just sitting on the nightstand. LCR's are sure nice revolvers, though. The trigger is outstanding.
I'm not an SP101 fan. They just don't fit my hands well. I've owned three and still have two of them, but they're kinda "meh" to me. The 2.5" 9mm and 4.2" 327 would both be fine for SD, but I just don't like them a lot. One of them has a decent trigger for an SP101, but that's still not saying much.
Ugly Sauce, If I had a short-barreled six-shooter in a 40-something caliber, I would certainly consider it, with the right ammo. I have four short-barreled revolvers like that, but they're all five-shooters. My 6" or longer large-framed revolvers seem a bit awkward for indoors.
Right now I have the 3" k-frame on my nightstand because it happened to be sitting around while I tried different holsters for it. I'll open up the safe today and see if the 2" or 4" is a better fit for the exact spot I like to keep it. Everyone in my house is an adult who is careful with firearms, so I can leave them pretty much wherever I want.
This thread has revealed that I am lacking a short-barreled N-frame. I need to take care of that one of these days. A 40-caliber revolver is also on my wish list, pretty much just because I don't have one. I think I finally have a deal worked out for a 3" j-frame. It probably won't be on my HD list, but I've been wanting one for a while now.
I'll give this one a try, while I'm messing around today. It's only 5". Maybe the extra inch won't turn out to matter much.
earplug
Member
I like the option of putting a firearm in a pocket when confronting unknown visitors. Since I frequently wear loose fitting shorts around the home light weight is important.
shootbrownelk
Member
Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casull.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,294
Tallball
For a number of years when all I could afford were just a couple of handguns (back then hunting rifles and shotguns came first) my best (and only choice really) was a S&W Model 10 loaded with 158 gr. SWC ammo. That and a 4 D cell battery Mag-Lite flashlight served me nicely for HD for many years. I picked up this S&W Not-a-Victory-Model M&P some time back for when I was between residences and renting a small apartment. Nothing too fancy or expensive, it served it's purpose well at the time.
After that I had a Beretta Model 84 as my go to gun as I liked the idea of having 13 rounds of .380 ACP on tap for any uninvited nocturnal visitors.
Nowadays I rely on my SIG P229R for Home Defense duties along with a frame mounted light/laser combo.
For a number of years when all I could afford were just a couple of handguns (back then hunting rifles and shotguns came first) my best (and only choice really) was a S&W Model 10 loaded with 158 gr. SWC ammo. That and a 4 D cell battery Mag-Lite flashlight served me nicely for HD for many years. I picked up this S&W Not-a-Victory-Model M&P some time back for when I was between residences and renting a small apartment. Nothing too fancy or expensive, it served it's purpose well at the time.
After that I had a Beretta Model 84 as my go to gun as I liked the idea of having 13 rounds of .380 ACP on tap for any uninvited nocturnal visitors.
Nowadays I rely on my SIG P229R for Home Defense duties along with a frame mounted light/laser combo.
DC Plumber
Member
My 4" 625 Model of 1989. Loaded with Federal HST 230g JHP +P.
Archie
Member
All around, .38 Special loaded with wadcutters or 158/160 grain lead flat fronted bullets as fast as the revolver and you can handle them. I find a three or four inch gun very handy, very controllable and not as vicious in recoil as may be. A decently sighted in S&W K frame is likely the best.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked