Going back to a revolver for carry

[Bikewer]

I have often said that the most uncomfortable revolver I ever fired was an airweight Smith with the small "stock" grips and stout .38 special loads.
Not only painful but it uncomfortably "squirmed" in my hand.
Now, my stainless Taurus 85 (J-frame clone) with the big rubber Pachmayr type grips is downright pleasant to shoot.
Still, I'm thinking entirely opposite... I never have quite cottoned to only having 5 rounds of .38 special and I'm buying one or the other of the new compact autos.
I have nothing whatever against "Tupperware"....I've had a Glock 23 on my hip for about 20 years and could not ask for a better combat handgun.

 

[X-Rap]

You hear a lot of folks dogging the Tupperware which is everyones right but I justand:banghead: when I hear what their alternative is sometimes.

 

[Stormin.40]

I have and carry a 642 it is of course a .38 special. I shoot it often with reloads that are in +P range. I don't believe it hurts but have practiced a lot to feel comfortable with the gun and recoil.

In contrast I have shoot a friends Ladysmith 357 snubnose, even though it is heavier than my 642 it stings with 357 ammo. 357 ballistics are not .38 Special +P and they don't feel like it either. I think the trade is a good one but both guns are readily available so you could just purchase the revolver you want.

 

[itsa pain]

going to revolvers would save a lot of accidental discharges being some semi's have to many switches and buttons

 

[gym]

I carried a model 60 for 23 years, also a Dective special prior to that, It was my first carry on my NYC permit. I was going with a model 19, but 19's are big heavy frames compared to a J frame. I never had a problem with any 38 load "even my gunsmith uncles" way over the top custom loads. I know some folks just hate the recoil.
Coming from the discipline to begin with, I don't think that the 357 is going to effect me as much as a new revolver shooter, A 44 Magnum was no problem for me. I do know that after a few rounds my hand at 65 will take a beating, but that is only happening if someone is about to try to kill me. At that point you don't feel pain, "believe me".
On pocket carry, I have been pocket carrying the following guns for 5 years now, without ever losing one of having any problem with a remora holster. Glock 26, shield, xds, lcp, seacamp, Taurus 85 titanium, EMP, and 9c Smith. I don't have a problem finding either the CCW breakaways or Rebock gym pants that work well with either sticky or remora holsters.
It's about tying the waistband string tight above the hip bone with the nylon gym pants. the ccw.s I carried an R1 in all night with 2 mags. Those are great and work, "no one knew I had a monster in my pocket.
I guess I will have to try it and find out, or rent a 357 and get re-aquainted with the feel.

 

[asia331]

I personally have no use for an "airweight" type sidearm. I want steel to soak up the recoil; with good leather and a belt I don't find carry an inconvenience.

 

[Bill4282]

UNLESS YOU SHOOT GOLD DOT SHORT BARREL, the ballistics of .38 special and .357 is the same from a 2" barrel since the powder doesn't have enough barrel length for a complete burn. For years cops carried 5 and 6 shot snubbies and didn't complain about being underpowered. Stats show that very few shootings in self-defense involve more than two rounds fired.

 

[R.W.Dale]

UNLESS YOU SHOOT GOLD DOT SHORT BARREL, the ballistics of .38 special and .357 is the same from a 2" barrel since the powder doesn't have enough barrel length for a complete burn. For years cops carried 5 and 6 shot snubbies and didn't complain about being underpowered. Stats show that very few shootings in self-defense involve more than two rounds fired.

This is absolutely and utterly FALSE

I've seen it with my own eyes over my own chronograph. A good 357 load from a 2"bbl will STILL outperform 38 from a 6" service sized revolver by a pretty substantial margin.

 

[KenW.]

Surprised no one has mentioned the LCR yet. I carried a S&W 36 for quite a while before I got my LCR. I don't really enjoy firing .357 magnums through my GP100 too much. So I will stick with Gold Dot +Ps in the LCR.

 

[rondog]

I use this S&W Model 49 with the pocket holster a lot, it's a nice little option when I don't want the weight & bulk of my 1911. I can also wedge it between the seats in my pickup too for easy access (legal here). Only 5 shots, but with +P hollowpoints I don't feel undergunned.

It has those aftermarket stocks on it, Hogues I think, and they're quite comfortable. I also have the dinky little original wood stocks, and put those on once just for grins. I couldn't get 'em off quick enough, I sure wouldn't want them on there permanently.

 

[DNS]

I just checked out the only scandium 360PD .357 on a certain online gun broker.
$950.
I really had no idea they were going for THAT much. Come to think of it I've never even seen a scandium frame in person.

Like Ken said, I love my LCR.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I'm carrying a scandium framed smith 357 on my hip now. But it's a 6" barreled 386

IMO that's where scandium really shines. Allowing a big gun to feel like a small one on the hip.

 

[rchery59]

Thanks, maybe I should just pick up an airweight? but I always liked the idea of having the 357 available. I did carry a model 60 for over 20 yrs back in the 70's-90's

The model 60 may be your solution. I love mine

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

The M60 is a great gun and very nice for shooting .38 Specials. But it's not really a pocket gun unless you are wearing heavy duty pants.

I solved the issue by going to an AirLite in .22 Magnum. 7 shots and with the Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot defensive rounds, it is viable (though certainly not ideal) for self defense. It doesn't drag down my pants at all.

 

[Godsgunman]

I have said over and over that I am a revolver fan and carry mine at least 50% if not more. That said I wouldn't trade the m&p9 for an airweight snub. Very difficult to shoot and not fun to practice with .357 mags. More doable with .38spl but even +p isn't super fun plus it doesn't match the 9mm capacity or capability. Capacity isn't everything as I said I carry a 6 shot .357 more than half the time but its about shootability. I can shoot my m65 3" .357 as well as my 9mm so I don't feel outgunned. I've shot the 13oz airweights and they just aren't for me.

 

[Dr_B]

How hard is it to effectively fire a 12oz 357mag j-frame?
I'm guessing regular practice isn't much fun.

I don't know... that might be subjective. I have an awful lot of fun practicing with my j-frame with both .38 and .357 loads. But I like recoil.

A revolver for carry is a great option. Semi-autos offer greater capacity and many are very reliable. But there are some things they cannot do. Most semi-autos cannot be fired when the muzzle is pushed (e.g., if you are being attacked and you have to use it at arm's length). Then there is the problem of magazines being unseated (can be corrected quickly if you practice a lot with tap-rack-re-assess). When firing around cover or concealment, a revolver is not subject to ejected brass re-entering the ejection port.

Just some thoughts.

 

[btg3]

Going back to a revolver for carry... I find myself somehow wanting a metal, non "tupperware", gun again... I got a lead on a scandium 357 S&W 360PD.... A guy wants to trade me for my M&P compact...

Keep the M&P 9c, or trade for the 357?

Perhaps the operative word is "back" and the question is why go there? Most LEOs and military do not "go back to a revolver". Perhaps you have a good reason other than "somehow wanting" to embrace wistful nostalgia with gun leather. or greener grass, or just to try something different. For sure, the owner of the 360PD has had his fill of recoil and is ready for something practical. You've posted the best advice yourself -- rent one... which will help you get over it like nothing else.

 

[gym]

I am going to take that advice "btg", as having re-thought it, there was a reason that after 50 years I slowlly got rid of my revolvers, even the NA 22 mag/lr. There is no reason to assume that anything has changed since I made that concious decision. Unless one falls into my lap, "which happens to us all", especially when we don't look for it. I will stay with my sup compact pocket rockets. But thanks for the flushing out, I feel better already.
I bought a new EDC knife instead, that should last a few days before I get bored and start looking for another 1911.

 

[Haywood]

I see you have decided to wait on a 357 Snub Revolver. If you should think about one again, keep a eye out for the SP101 or the LCR 357. I carry both guns every day. Of corse the heavier SP handles recoil better. The LCR357 has a soft grip but some full house 357s are tuff to shoot. There are several Self Defence 357 loads that are not bad to shoot. I had a reloader reload several thousand rounds for practice that almost duplicated the recoil. This made for a lot of less exspensive practice. 38 and 38+P are easy to practice with also. I carry Corbon 125g. JHP 357 ammo. It handles well and has good stopping stats. I also have the S&W 442 I practice with a combination of 38 and 38+P. after 100 rounds I am ready to put it away. As for capasity, I carry Two Guns and reloads for both guns. I think with practice and tactics I should be safe. So far so good.

 

[RealGun]

Part of the popularity of semi-autos is avoiding recoil. Why don't they go back to 10 mm? Partly because it can be punishing enough to practice to lose out in popularity to the .40 S&W progeny. The .357 Magnum cylinder, like the .38 Special, is compact enough to carry easily. A cylinder full of the same number of bigger rounds like .45 Colt is significantly more gun to carry...bulk if not weight.

My .45 ACP S&W 625JM is a pussy cat compared to my .357 and all but the soft cowboy loads of the .45 Colt.

 

[David E]

Stats show that very few shootings in self-defense involve more than two rounds fired.

Really? Cite your source, please.

 

[btg3]

UNLESS YOU SHOOT GOLD DOT SHORT BARREL, the ballistics of .38 special and .357 is the same from a 2" barrel since the powder doesn't have enough barrel length for a complete burn. For years cops carried 5 and 6 shot snubbies and didn't complain about being underpowered.

And those years came and went looooooong ago.

Additionally, ballistics and #shots fired don't mean as much when you consider that the majority of the time, the target was not hit.

The level of preparedness and risk is up to each individual. I lean toward preparedness and load significantly more than 2 bullets in my gun.

 

[farm23]

Around here I carry a 44 but if I wanted a 38 I would look for a Colt DS or a much less expensive Charter Arms. My friend has a Charter Arms and it is still a good weapon after many rounds.

 

[gym]

I know Taurus or Smith makes a 40 caliber revolver. If somone made a 9, that was actually scaled down instead of the cylinder just being reamed to the proper dynamics. It should be a smaller more compact gun. Most times, "if nor all" they just leave the frame alone. A 7 round 9mm would be interesting.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I know Taurus or Smith makes a 40 caliber revolver. If somone made a 9, that was actually scaled down instead of the cylinder just being reamed to the proper dynamics. It should be a smaller more compact gun. Most times, "if nor all" they just leave the frame alone. A 7 round 9mm would be interesting.

The reason for this is that a cylinder has to be so long to ensure 35k psi worth of superheated cylinder gap doesn't blow the skin off your fingers.