Best EDC revolver

[boricua9mm]

From the Smith & Wesson website"

"Medium Frame (K)
The K-Frame revolver is one of the most important innovations in Smith & Wesson history and was built specifically to handle the .38 S&W Special cartridge. Since its introduction, the K-Frame has been a favorite for military and police professionals as well as target shooters and enthusiasts. Today's K-Frame is available in .22 LR and .38 S&W Special."

All of the models I mentioned, as well as the ones others have graciously shared photos of, are chambered in .357 Magnum and live happy lives emptying brass in that caliber. Some text on S&W's website does not change that.

Likewise, the N-frame was not developed for the .44 MAG cartridge, but it's weaker brother. Does that mean that N-frame .44 MAGs don't exist, or that they are not suitable?

 

[mnhntr]

Model 65 S&W in a 3in barrel

 

[tuna]

My fantasy gun is just what you're looking for: A Ruger LCRx in .327

Adjustable "sights" can be had with the addition of a CT Laser Grip.

C'mon - who's with me on this? I think this would be AWESOME!

 

[GRIZ22]

If you're carrying a K or L frame size revolver there really isn't much difference between a 4" and shorter length barrels. There are many revolvers out there that fit your criteria but accuracy will depend mostly on you.

 

[dom1104]

In my world...

If you are gunna carry a revolver, its gotta have moon clips. Not for the reload, which will be in a speed loader, but to extract the original rounds as a packet, with no fiddling around.

If you are gunna carry a revolver, its got to accept loose rounds, speed strips, speed loaders, etc.

If you are gunna carry a revolver, carry as much ammo as you possibly can in the gun, and in the reload.


All these things to me add up to a 8 shot 357 magnum cut for moon clips w/ a reload.

16 rounds, compact package, easy to shoot, super SUPER easy to conceal.




I will never go back to an autoloader personally.

 

[wheelyfun66]

K frame snub from S&W:

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The "best" EDC revolver can be found sitting next to the golden flying pony that every little girl in the world wants to own. It doesn't exist. There is only a "best" EDC revolver for you, as each person is different in size, shape, strength, capabilities behind a trigger, and different tolerances for what they are willing to carry.

We can comprise a list of some of the best options based on an average person, but that's all. Sorry if I sound like a stick in the mud, but I see a lot of "Best" this or "Best" that threads, and I think they are unanswerable questions given the format of the forum. Certainly nothing wrong with discussing good options though, as that is one of the points of THR.

So for me, balancing capacity with shootability, with potency of caliber, and finally, with concealability, a 3" Ruger SP101 is my "best". If open carrying, a S&W 686 with a 3 or 4" barrel is best for me.

 

[RealGun]

Wheelyfun66 - K frame snub from S&W: (pic)

What calibers?????

Do they meet the 6 round test?

Are they compact or just short?

The one in the background with "45" on the barrel is probably suspect for this topic.

Nice guns.

 

[RealGun]

460Kodiak - The "best" EDC revolver can be found sitting next to the golden flying pony that every little girl in the world wants to own. It doesn't exist. There is only a "best" EDC revolver for you, as each person is different in size, shape, strength, capabilities behind a trigger, and different tolerances for what they are willing to carry.

We can comprise a list of some of the best options based on an average person, but that's all. Sorry if I sound like a stick in the mud, but I see a lot of "Best" this or "Best" that threads, and I think they are unanswerable questions given the format of the forum. Certainly nothing wrong with discussing good options though, as that is one of the points of THR.

So for me, balancing capacity with shootability, with potency of caliber, and finally, with concealability, a 3" Ruger SP101 is my "best". If open carrying, a S&W 686 with a 3 or 4" barrel is best for me.

The criteria in post #1 are pretty specific. We really only have to deal with any test for reasonableness in claiming some gun is "compact". We might find the criteria rhetorical, with no perfect match existing, upon which we all agree.

 

[CraigC]

I don't know of a "compact", 6-shot .357 Magnum. I think of that as more or less defined by the L frame with its longer cylinder window, which is serious bulk and weight to carry.

S&W's K-frame .357's (19, 66, etc.) are among the most popular revolvers they have ever produced.

The "best" EDC revolver can be found sitting next to the golden flying pony that every little girl in the world wants to own. It doesn't exist. There is only a "best" EDC revolver for you, as each person is different in size, shape, strength, capabilities behind a trigger, and different tolerances for what they are willing to carry.

Agreed and that can be applied to discussions of the "best" of anything. It simply doesn't exist, except in the pages of pedestrian rags like G&A.

 

[HexHead]

Been carrying this everyday now. Yeah, it's only 5 shots, but in .44 Special. I really like how light (20oz.) and comfortable this Charter Arms Bulldog is....

 

[Stainz]

I carried my 5-shot 296 (19.7 oz AirLite-Ti in .44 S&W Special) in a R. Mika pocket holster in my cargo pants. It wouldn't pocket carry in all of my pants so I added a 642 for all pockets EDC, carrying the 296 when hiking in the 'boonies'. It worked until I tore my right rotator, making presenting, firing, absorbing recoil, and following up problematic. Both are five-shooters and DAO, two misses on the OP's list anyway. 1/13 found me buying a new 351PD - a ~2" 7-shot SA/DA capable 10.5oz J-frame Airweight - in .22 WMR! I am not delusional - it isn't as effective, even with Hornady's 45gr FTX Critical Defense rounds, as decent .38's in my 642 - but it fills the bill while my rotator is mending.

As I just 'had' to have a 2 1/8" 632 Pro in .327 Federal Magnum when it was announced, I bought mine when they finally became available. Only Freedom Arms still lists their .327 Fed Magnum caliber offering as available, all of the 'big guys' having dropped their offerings. The SS DAO J-frame is a six-shooter, but with drift adjustable windage. And... empty, it weighs twice what my 351PD does loaded. Then there is the ammo availability... despite it's ability to chamber and fire .32 ACP, S&W, S&WL, H&RM, most folks would want to load something on the order of the Speer 115gr Gold Dots in .327 Fed Magnum, which approach 1,400 fps from that snubby. Sadly, with my weakened shoulder, 96gr LRNFP poof loads in .32 S&WL cases are the current norm.

Stainz

 

[Panzerschwein]

I think the only real "compact" 6 shot revolver in a caliber over .32 H&R would be something like the SP101 in .327 Fed Mag, or some of the older 6 shot .32 small frame revolvers. There was a J-frame in .32 H&R out at one time. It looked pretty neat but they don't make it anymore.

I don't think a 6 shot .38/.357 magnum really qualifies with your first specification. I know my self it would be pretty tough to conceal on my frame, hence why I own a J-frame .38 and carry that vs. my Ruger GP100!

 

[sgt127]

That...right there, is the pinnacle of a concealed carry revolver. I would take a picture of mine and post it, but, mine is nowhere near that pretty. Scuffed, nicked, dinged and well used but, very comforting to have along.

 

[lowercase]

Given your stated requirements, here's another vote for the S&W Model 66 with the 2.5" barrel.

It is concealable, has 6-shots of .357, has adjustable sights, and is very accurate.

However, I carry my Charter Bulldog .44spl 2.5" and Smith 642 much more because they are both smaller and lighter.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yeah the M66 K-frame .357 magger would be about the best you could do. A bit chunko, a bit weighty, but it should do pretty well.

 

[RealGun]

I don't know of a "compact", 6-shot .357 Magnum. I think of that as more or less defined by the L frame with its longer cylinder window, which is serious bulk and weight to carry.

S&W's K-frame .357's (19, 66, etc.) are among the most popular revolvers they have ever produced.

I had new guns in mind. Historical perspective doesn't interest me much, but don't hold that against me. I resist the prices of desirable old Smiths. Many of them are fugly anyway.

ICBW but I believe K frame 357s were displaced by the L frames. The J frames started using J "magnum" frames, both out of concern for durabiity with high volumes of full power loads.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Well if anything in the 32 range is out, then it would be "Go big or go home".

S&W 327 - 8 rounds of 357 Mag will do most.

 

[RealGun]

I think Hunter2011 should add a price range to his criteria. Some of these old dream guns are too expensive to even shoot.

 

[sixgunner455]

Adjustable sights need not apply on a daily carry revolver *for me*.

That criteria just does not compute for me. Hence, I did not buy a 2.5" Model 19 or Model 15 S&W. I bought a 3" Model 13 S&W. 3", round butt, K frames are out there, in .357 and .38 Special, stainless and blued.

They are very packable, as well as being very shootable.

 

[CraigC]

I had new guns in mind.

You're placing stipulations not mentioned in the OP. You can't have an intelligent discussion on this if you pretend that the only guns in existence or in use are those made in the last 30days.

Historical perspective doesn't interest me much, but don't hold that against me.

Obviously. I really don't know how you came by this opinion but the 19/66 are two of the popular handguns of all time. They are not some obscure revolver built for a few years and are now unobtainable. K and L frame .357's have been produced concurrently since the L's inception. The K-frame model 66 is in the current catalog. Get a clue already.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/..._827561_-1_757769___ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

I resist the prices of desirable old Smiths.

Apparently you resist educating yourself on desirable older S&W's at all. The current 66 has an MSRP of $850. If you can't find an older 19 or 66 for that or less, you're not looking very hard.

Some of these old dream guns are too expensive to even shoot.

Hogwash. I've never spent more than the MSRP of the current 66 on any of my "dream guns".

Many of them are fugly anyway.

As has been previous discussed many times, you are in the extreme minority on this, thankfully.

 

[Hunter2011]

That...right there, is the pinnacle of a concealed carry revolver. I would take a picture of mine and post it, but, mine is nowhere near that pretty. Scuffed, nicked, dinged and well used but, very comforting to have along.

What model is this? I cannot see it from the photo. This, and the 586 L-Comp looks like what I want. 3'' seems to be the perfect size, what do you guys think?

Sorry, I have never learned how to do multiple quotes, so I will answer some posters who asked me questions like this.

@Realgun. I don't want to say the sky is the limit, but I got my yearly bonus at work, and if I still need some cash I am prepared to take out a loan if need be. I really want to get something that I would not mind owning till the day I am raising daisies. But I would like to spend conservatively if possible.

@ Onward Allusion, I never said .32 is out .32 H&R and bigger is needed. I don't say I don't believe a .22 Magnum won't get the job done. I just don't want to start a caliber war, which we all know is easy to do

.44 Specials, How much wider are their cylinders than the typical .357 magnums? 6-shot vs 6-shot.

 

[Auto426]

I'm not sure what the availability of new and used revolvers is like in South Africa, but I'll echo some of the suggestions made earlier in this thread.

I'd say that the gun that best meets your criteria would be a 2 1/2" S&W 19 or 66. K frame, 6 shot, .357 magnum and a popular model in years past. It's no longer in production, so you would have to track down a used model.

As far as a new gun is concerned, S&W currently has a 2 1/2" 7 shot 686 that's only slightly larger than the 19/66. They also make a 3" version that's slightly longer but gives you a full length ejector rod which will make ejecting empty cases easier.

 

[wlewisiii]

That one is a Model 65. 3" barrel version, very nice revolver.

My EDC is not quite as pretty as that.



It's a Model 10-5 from 1972. It's scruffy, DAO & I just bobbed the hammer myself with the help of Mr. Dremel. The magna grips with a Tyler T-Grip are a good combination to gain both conceal-ability & control-ability. New magnas & a bottle of Brownell's Oxpho-Blue are on the way for it as well. Going back to the OP:

1. Must be rather compact. (It must be able to be carried unseen easily).
2. Must have 6 shots or more.
3. Must have adjustable sights (Or can be fitted with adjustable sights)
4. Must do both DA and SA.
5. Must be accurate.

1 - I find it compact enough. YMWV.
2 - 6 shots
3 - shoot 158 gr. slugs and you won't need them. I don't anyway. Again, YMWV.
4 - I disagree. A defense revolver should be DAO. Read Grant Cunningham or Mas Ayoob for the reasons why. If you want a K-38, that's cool, they're beautiful & fun at the range. They are not good carry revolvers.
5 - I have yet to find a more accurate revolver than the K frame. I've owned Colts and every time I do, I sell them quickly. I will never sell another K frame.

Load a Model 10 with Buffalo Bore's FBI Load (item 20A - https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108) - 158 gr LSWCHP-GC +P - and you'll have more than enough power to do what needs to be done while being able to put the rounds on target far more quickly and effectively than with over powered and potentially over penetrating .357 magnum rounds.

As I said above, your mileage will vary. This is my answer & I carry it every day. Now, back to deep lurk mode for me.

 

[Catshooter]

Some excellent suggestions in this thread. Lovely, too.

I used to hunger for much of what you have asked for. A 19/66 would be high on my list except my ears can't handle an un-muffled shot from one.

I have over the years dropped the desire for the adjustable sights and gone with making the load shoot to point of aim, adjusting the fixed sights, or both.

A Charter Arms Bulldog would be my answer for you even though it misses on some of your requirements.


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