Best revolver for CONCEALED carry

[Stationary Smell]

I keep thinking I want a revolver for concealed carry (even though I have perfectly good 9mms that work fine...) and was looking for ideas. Holster suggestions are great as well, pictures are always welcoe. I carry inside the waistband but pocket carry would probably be considered as well. Ilk probably go with a .357 because of the versatility, but all suggestions are welcome.

 

[Sistema1927]

S&W 642 in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster always worked for me. You might find that .38 Special +P is the most powerful that you want in a lightweight pocketable revolver. Look at the latest Lucky Gunner ballistics tests and choose your ammo accordingly.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

If you are going to shoot much with 357 mags a Ruger SP-101 is a good choice. I like the 3 inch barrel. It isn't a pocket gun in either size or weight but very shoot-able with mag loads.

 

[bassjam]

I think the S&W 642 / 442 is the king for pocket carry. Or a 340 if you want .357 capability. The LCR is probably second on the list, the trigger is better stock, but it's ever so slightly larger.

For IWB carry, I don't know that there is a best as size and weight will be slightly less important. S&W 640, Ruger SP101, and the new Kimber K6s come to mind.

 

[Stationary Smell]

I'll probably carry 38 specials or 38 +Ps but just want the ability to shoot .357 mag.

 

[loneviking]

S&W 586 L comp. Or, the 3 inch 686plus and have it Quadported.

 

[bannockburn]

S&W Model 638 has been my go-to choice for quite awhile. Inside the pocket I like the DeSantis Nemesis holster and their SOF-TUCK holster for IWB carry.

 

[red rick]

I sold a S&W M&P 340 because of the recoil and bought a 642 . But if you want to pocket carry a .357 I would look at the M&P 340 because it is so light , but it will not be fun to shoot , not even with 38's . It does have a better feeling trigger and better front sight than my 642 , I did like that part .

The Ruger LCR weighs about 4oz. more and is slightly bigger . It has a nicer trigger than my 642 and you can get a night sight for it . It also comes in 9mm if you want to stick with 9mm .

If you decide that you might not like pocket carrying , I would look at the SP101 3" , I did . The extra weight tames the recoil of the .357 a lot better and you get a little bit more FPS from the longer barrel .

Here are some of my holsters for my 642 . First is a Mikka pocket holster , round cut . It stays in your pocket when you draw your revolver , it does print in normal fitting jeans . I carry in the pocket when I am lazy and don't want to put on a holster and dress around it .

Second , is a OWB holster made by K&D holsters . They are no longer in business , its a shame because it is one of my favorite holsters . OWB is my favorite way to carry , most comfortable .

Last is a Milt Sparks VMII IWB holster . It is the hardest to get on and you have to buy your pants bigger in the waist .

 

[red rick]

More pictures .

 

[Zaydok Allen]

S&W 586 L comp. Or, the 3 inch 686plus and have it Quadported.

I carry a 3" 686+ from time to time. Not really concealed though. Love the gun, but I wouldn't if it was ported. With a 3 inch barrel it's loud enough. A 3" GP100 would work ok too, and now they come in 44 Special.

But whatever.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

A Ruger SP101 or LCR would serve you well. Also A S&W 640 Pro series would be nice. The Kimber K6S is a nice gun and gets you 6 shots. A S&W 65 would be good, or maybe a 66. There's a lot of choices.

 

[bassjam]

I sold a S&W M&P 340 because of the recoil and bought a 642 . But if you want to pocket carry a .357 I would look at the M&P 340 because it is so light , but it will not be fun to shoot , not even with 38's . It does have a better feeling trigger and better front sight than my 642 , I did like that part .

Great point about recoil. I have a S&W 337, which is like 10.7 oz or something unloaded. Practicing with it can be pretty brutal with .38 sp. I think the 340 is only an ounce heavier, which isn’t going to help a whole lot for .38’s and will be downright punishing with .357mag.

I recently got a 442 and it’s much tamer when shooting .38’s out of it.

 

[Jonesy814]

An air weight S&W J frame like a 642 or a 638 are very easy to carry 38 special Plus P ammo will get the job done. My 638 in a pocket holster is my most common EDC.

 

[Steve C]

I like my S&W 637 .38 spl and carry it in a Desantis pocket holster. It conceals well and is light enough that it isn't even noticeable in the pocket. The boot grips it comes with fit my hand giving it a natural point and proper alignment when drawn. Recoil with +P is quite manageable. I load it with Remington Golden Sabers and carry extra ammo in 2 Safariland speed loaders. I selected the exposed hammer model as I have owned for years an older model 36 and am used to the exposed hammer. Any of the light "air weight" hammer-less or shrouded models would be just as good.

 

[red rick]

Here is my SP101 3" in a Don Hume H721 O.T holster . This is a nice holster for the money and no wait time . I am comparing it with my 642 in a K&D holster . As you can see there is very little size difference on the belt .

 

[farm23]

My wife carries a 642 and I have carried a 3" 629 but will be carrying a Charter Arms Bulldog Classic when it arrives. Why? because I am partial to big holes and that is what I am use to. The CA is not much bigger than my wife's 642. If you want to keep with a 38/357 you have a lot of good choices and any of the above ideas will work. If I was going that path I would look at a Kimber K6

 

[someguy2800]

If it was pocket carry a 642. If you waist carry and you want to shoot 357 I would get a 2.25" Sp101 or smith model 60.

 

[loose noose]

Whenever, I carry a revolver I prefer the big bore, especially in the .44SPL Charter Arms 2.5" SS Model using an inexpensive leather holster, that I got a while back from Cabela's for like $20-$30 dollars. The arm itself is very light 22oz. unloaded. even though only 5 shots, I also have two speedy loaders that increase the capacity to 15 rounds. Below I'm carrying the holstered firearm concealed on my right hip. Note my Charter Arms 3" Classic, (Purchased back in the mid '70s) also fits in the same holster, that I bought actually for a Colt Detective SPL that I also used to carry.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I like my 637. Carry it everyday in one of those hybrid IWB holsters. I like the exposed hammer. I dont have to use it, but it is there if I decide I want to. But because of the hammer I would not consider putting it into a pocket. Luckily, I have no desire to pocket carry. I don't worry much about snagging when drawing from the hip.

I would not recommend a 357 in this weight range. They are painfull to shoot and I would imagine that bullet pull can be become an issue with some ammo. Buffalo Bore 38s even start to pull in my 637.

More than likely you will fire a handfull of 357s to try it out and then switch to 38s exclusively. So why not save a few bucks, and maybe a few onces, and start with a 38.

 

[RealGun]

If I had a compact 9mm that I liked and shot well, I would probably stick with it. Among my revolvers, with which I am more emotionally attached than some black semi-auto, my Chiefs Special 3" 36-1 would be my "best" along with a Ruger Sp101 in 32 H&R. For the magnums and big bores I want a bigger gun. My winter carry is a 3" GP100 converted to 6 shots of 41 Special. I have the luxury of a lot of leeway on how I dress to conceal, so my choices may be a wider range than for many others.

My most versatile is a 38 Special snubbie by Interarms Rossi 88 that has been worked to a really nice action. My gunsmith says the innards are identical to a Smith J-frame, not sure which model. I shoot mostly single action, so all but one of my guns has a hammer spur. My go bag gun is a 637 lightweight snub. While rated for +p, it is just too harsh to shoot with ammo that heavy.

I have small 357s but only because I can load lite in 357 cases. No way am I shooting anything heavier than Speer Short Barrel in those guns. I have enough choices that I never shoot anything but what matches the stamping on the barrel, so using 38 in a 357 is out of the question. I could have just bought a 38.

I too prefer guns that I can carry, but in your situation you might want to start with a range gun, something like a 4-6" 357 Magnum, a la a Smith 686 or a Ruger GP100..

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

A 3 inch CA Bulldog makes a nice carry revolver.

 

[Sarge7402]

My 2 inch charter arms has been my CCW revolver now for going on 35 years. And no it's never let me down.

 

[Stationary Smell]

I have a Taurus model 65 with a 4 inch barrel. It's a fun range gun... but it's too big for me to carry concealed. In thinking something for summer carry, maybe under a T shirt or pocket carry. I reeeeally like the Kimber K6s... might have to go fondle one of those and see what my thoughts are... I'm not too concerned about the recoil of 357 mags in a small frame revolver, I'll most likely just carry 38 +Ps in it

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I carry a 2.25" SP101 in an American Pride leather pancake nearly daily.

 

[Stationary Smell]

So many options... you guys are right... the SP101 looks nice too. With a smaller set of grips it looks like it would be a very similar size to the K6s. And DA/SA which I would like as an option