Which would you want for a sd gun?

Which would you pick for a pocket gun?

  • 44 spl Charter 2.5 in

    Votes: 32 15.2%

  • .327 Fed Charter 2.5 in

    Votes: 5 2.4%

  • .327 Fed Taurus 2in

    Votes: 8 3.8%

  • None of the above.

    Votes: 166 78.7%
  • Total voters
    211
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

Eric F

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
2,933
I usually carry a 38 super 1911 but it was stolen then recovered. I will get it back in about 8 months. In the mean time I need a sd gun. Since my 1911 is still in as was condition and it will come home, I thought now would be a good time to get my pocket revolver.

I have narrowed things down to a small .327 federal magnum six shot(taurus or charter) or a 44 spl charter 5 shot. Which would you pick and why?
 
Sorry, none of the above. :(

For ammunition considerations, I will always choose a J frame in 38spcl as a pocket revolver.
 
Sorry I forgot to mention I reload and have plenty of components for both just no gun.
 
Voted None of the Above.

I owned a couple of early Charter Arms Bulldog .44's. Got tired of trying to get them to consistently work normally. I have no idea what the newest incarnation of the design is like, but if it's mechanically the same I have no interest in ever trying one again.

The .327 Magnum cartridge doesn't interest me. I have .357 Magnum & .38 Spl revolvers which serve my needs.

My revolver needs are adequately served by S&W and Ruger. I haven't owned a Colt revolver since I was a young man, although I feel they're a good revolver. Owning a Taurus revolver is something that would never interest me.

Now, that's just me.

If you like the other companies and those calibers I certainly wouldn't begrudge you the opportunity to own them.

FWIW, I've been a long time .44 Magnum revolver owner, shooter and even carrier. I just don't think the major makers offer a lot of modern defensive ammunition choices in the .44 Spl cartridge (realizing you're well aware of this sort of phenomena being a .38 Super owner/user ;) ). I haven't carried .44 Spl in my Magnum revolvers in some number of years, although when I did I mostly carried the W-W 200gr STHP and I still have a couple boxes of Speer 200gr JHP left over in my collection.

Luck to you in your decision. Got any trigger time in with either caliber you're considering?

Edited to add that I just noticed you're a reloader. Well, when I was a reloader I always did have a soft spot for .44 Spl. ;)
 
I don't like the manufacturers you have listed.

I have a couple of Taurus 44 specials and I carried the snubby when I couldn't afford any thing else.... it's over 15 years old and it works fine, but I cannot recommend their new offerings.

If these work for you, go with the 44 special.
 
Last edited:
If you have the components to reload either/both, that's a plus, and I'd opt for the .327 then for pocket carry. But of the two manufacturers, I choose neither.
 
Sorry, none of the above.

My small pocket carry choices for SD would be:
-Seecamp .32 or .380
-Micro Desert Eagle .380
-S&W J-Frame .38spl
-Ruger LCP .380
-Kahr P380
-Bersa Thunder .380

Medium carry choices would be:
Glock 26/27
HK P2000SK
Kahr PM9/PM40
Springfield XD Sub-compact

Large carry choices would be:
Glock 19/23
HK P2000
HK USPc
HK45c
SA XD
SA 1911 Champion
 
Got any trigger time in with either caliber you're considering?
Click to expand...

Yes I shot many 44 spl years ago with my ruger vaquero, however I traded it for a m-1 carbine.

The 327 is new, I always wanted a 32 of some sort and 327 fed is a real cool round with a small but significant following.

Between the two the 44 gives a better wound channel but way less energy than the 327. Also the 327 beats a 38 hands down according to the gun rags and ballistics testing.

As far as the manufacturers I picked I do have trigger time on some of their other products and cost is a big factor in picking them.

Smith$wesson(pun intended) Is just way more expensive for a comparable product.

Still looking for more opinions please keep em comming

The 44 would be cool in a slightly larger size gun than the 327 then the arguement of 5 or 6 shots..........
 
Last edited:
As far as the manufacturers I picked I do have trigger time on some of their other products and cost is a big factor in picking them.

Smith$wesson(pun intended) Is just way more expensive for a comparable product.
Click to expand...

If you plan to do much shooting with them then it's probably somewhat easier to justify the initial higher cost of the more expensive make of gun over the long term.

Customer Service and warranty support are worth some consideration, too.

Also the 327 beats a 38 hands down according to the gun rags and ballistics testing.
Click to expand...

While the versatility of being able to shoot some other .32 revolver cartridges is probably useful for some folks, the lighter bullet weights of the .327 Magnum cartridge just don't interest me as much as they might some folks.

The ability to chamber 6 rounds instead of 5 rounds is also arguably of interest to a number of folks. I'm just not one of them.

Paper energy figures stopped being a major factor in the selection of small bore handguns for me some years ago, too.

I guess of the two caliber offerings I'd be much more inclined to return to using a .44 Spl ... with a decent bullet weight and a nose cavity design that stood some chance of potentially expanding at the low velocities realized in short-barreled .44 Spl wheelguns.

Then again, I have a good choice of .38 Spl, .357 Magnum & .44 Magnum wheelguns from which to choose, so I'm understandably less inclined to look at the modernization of the .32 revolver cartridge.

If it appeals to you , though, why not get one and enjoy it? That's why they made it, you know? ;)
 
I don't like the manufacturers you have listed.

+1, and so voted. A used S&W 442/642/637/638 is a better choice if price is important. And as a huge plus, S&W's customer support is the industry leader. As is their warranty, even for weapons that have gone through several owners. I bought my 637 new seven years ago, and have fired several thousand (stopped counting) rounds through it. Last range session, it fired the first round and then the firing pin lost all interest. I called S&W, and they emailed me the FedEx shipping label. As soon as I get a box, I'll ship it to S&W at their expense. From what I have read on websites like this one, I should have it back in 2-3 weeks, no charge, shipping included. Weapons made 1980 and before may not qualify for this free support, but the warranty on your 1980 Camaro has also expired.

Cordially, Jack
 
Last edited:
Of your choices I would go with a Taurus over a Charter. A used S&W should be about the same price as a Taurus by the way.
 
I voted, "None of the above."

1. I have both an older Charter Arms .44 Special and a Taurus model 445. In a .44 Special I prefer it over the Charter (which in my case has a 4" barrel). I can pocket carry the Taurus, but I prefer an inside-waistband holster for both. The Taurus is a bit big and heavy, and the Charter too small and light for the .44 cartridge. You can of course, handload the .44 downward for the smaller gun if you want to.

2. At the moment I pocket-carry a Taurus model 85 LW, in .38 Special - and see no advantage in a .357 Magnum chambering. Do keep in mind that the .357 has a long case, and all snubbies have short ejector rods.

3. I also sometimes carry an older Colt Detective Special because it is good-to-go out to 100 yards, and of course anything closer. Current snubbies have front sights that are way too low for this.

I have no experience with the new .327 Magnum, but note that it is almost equivalent to a .30 Carbine out of a 6" barrel. I think it could be an excellent round - but not necessarily in a pocket-sized snubby.
 
357/38, 44 special

I have alot and do alot in the 357 catagory (rifles, revolvers) I cast and reload for them so that is my first choice. I did have a Charter 44 and sold it due to money. For the right price I would get another.
 
due to speedloaders available
Click to expand...
Good thought, seems no one makes speed loaders for either of the 327's I picked(atleast that I can find right away on the net) this is an important consideration.

Old Fluff pm coming
 
Compact 1911 since you're familiar with the ergo and point. If you want to go smaller, go for a .380 Colt Pony or a compact 9mm 1911. Regardless, stick with what works for you since you're betting your hide on it.
 
Reminds me of the November election--I don't like either choice.

I'd go with a J-frame S&W
 
When I carry away from the job I carry one of several calibers and makes. I carry a 38 SPEC/357 Mag from Colt, S&W, or Ruger. I also carry 9mm from Beretta or S&W; 40 S&W from SIG; 45 ACP from Colt. The list of models would be quite long. Recently I find myself carrying a 4" Colt Python, 3" S&W 65, 92 F Beretta, SP2340 Sig, or a Colt Gov't Model Series 70 MK IV.
 
None of the above.

If I were picking a .44 it would be a S&W 296 otherwise it would be a 642.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
Would you carry a customized gun for CCW
2 3
Replies
68
Views
2K
Ruggles
R
Hoyte
  • Locked
Which gun to buy?
2
Replies
41
Views
2K
Legionnaire
Legionnaire
J
  • Locked
Best top brands of handgun ammo for SD and HD.
Replies
21
Views
2K
Steve C
S
M
  • Locked
Small double action .22 magnum revolvers
Replies
16
Views
3K
chicharrones
chicharrones
D
  • Locked
Input on Concealed Carry Weapon
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
Drgong
D
Back
Top