Off Duty Carry Ideas

[Aggie's Revenge]

I am looking for a revolver that I can carry concealed for off duty purposes. My Agency requires that I be able to qualify with it on the Oklahoma LEO qualification course. My price range is from $200 to $300. Anyone have any ideas?

Just FYI the course of fire for Oklahoma requires 70% and is...

Three foot line: (3) rounds one arm, elbow at 90degree angle, elbow tucked into side. (2 seconds)
Three Yard line: (2)rds. to center chest, two-handed mod. Weaver, (1) to head. (small scoring circle about 4" diameter) (3 secs)
Five yard line: (2) rds. center chest, two handed mod. Weaver. (3 secs)
Seven yard line: (2) rds. center chest, two handed mod. Weaver. (3 secs)
Fifteen yard line: (2) rds, center chest, low kneeling position. (4 secs)
Twenty-five yard line: (2) rds, center chest, low kneeling position using barricade for cover only. (5 secs)
Twenty-five yard line: (2) rds, center chest, weak hand barricaded position using barricade for cover and support. (5 secs)
Twenty-five yard line: (2) rds, center chest, stong side barricaded position using barricade for cover and support. (5 secs)
Fifty yard line: (2) rds high kneeling barricaded postion using barricade for cover and support. (8 secs)

 

[MCgunner]

Taurus M85UL, very light at 15 ounces, +P rated, accurate, superb trigger, great shooter. Think they're a little less than $300. Also, I can get the S&W 642 down here for about $305 at a local gun shop. It's a nice gun, but I sorta prefer an exposed hammer. The hammerless is better for pocket carry. The triggers on those little 642s don't hold a candle to my little Taurus, though. My little Taurus will shoot good loads into 3" at 25 yards off sandbags. That's pretty good even for a full size service gun. Snubbies are very accurate, you just have to deal with that short sight radius.

 

[Aggie's Revenge]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately we are only authorized to carry S&W, Colt, and Ruger revolvers. (Damn the Policy manual)

As for the hammerless, our local gun guru stated that its pretty hard to qualify with one.

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend the 642 unless you're a really good DA shooter. It's got a stiff, gritty trigger, the ones I've tried. They claim the trigger smooths up with use, but my Taurus was really smooth out of the box and considerably lighter plus it's SA capable (why I like hammers).

I'm afraid you're going to have to put more money on the gun if you want any of these brands. The SP101 is a great little revolver, probably going to be the lowest price. It's really an IWB type weapon, though, hard to conceal in a pocket. Not sure what your department's policy is, if you can carry on a belt holster off duty or don't mind IWB, I'd look serious at a SP101 stainless 3" gun. The 3" barrel gives a much easier sight radius to use and now you're talkin' .357 magnum capable in a shootable package, too. I think they're up around $400, though.

You might look around for a snubby used Smith M10 or 13 or something in good shape. That might be closer to your budget, be a full 6 round K frame gun. They're a little heavier, but more shootable. Not a whole lot better gun than a K frame Smith if you can find a good used one.

 

[MCgunner]

Just thinking about it, you might run across a M60 used for a good price. I'm not sure what they cost new, someone might enlighten us. The M60 is a hammer gun, stainless, and very accurate with a decent trigger. For your purposes, I'd think 3" barrel (for the added sight radius) and IWB carry. I have a 3" Rossi and had a 2" Rossi. Not sure if there's any inherent gun accuracy difference between the two, but that 3" will put 'em into 2" at 25 yards and is much easier to shoot than a shorter barrel gun. I think the sight radius is the difference. If you could run across a 3" M60 you could afford, that'd be near perfect. It'd be a 5 shooter, but well under 30 ounces, light on the hip, easy to carry.

 

[roscoe]

For the price, any used S&W J-frame, or a used Ruger SP101. The Rugers are heavy, but worth it when firing .357, in my opinion.

 

[Ala Dan]

Another vote for an older S&W model 60 .38 Special. True, it weighs 4 ozs.
more than the S&W 642; but once you get used too it, you will never know
the difference~!

 

[rtl]

Another vote for a 3" SP101 w/ hammer.

 

[Leadbutt]

I would look for either the 3" Ruger or a S&W 3",,if I read your qual course right you have to shoot at 50 yards,,we used to do it back in the 60's and 70's at every qual but its tuff and requires a heck of a lot of practice,, and at lest the 3" will give you a little better sight picture

 

[OldSchooler]

3" anything, off your list of makers, with wooden finger grooved grips. Buy used and save some moola.
The longer ranges for qualifying might also send you looking for a used 4" with abbreviated butt.

 

[OH25shooter]

Fifty yard line: (2) rds high kneeling barricaded postion using barricade for cover and support. (8 secs)

YIKES! With a small barrel off-duty revolver. Retirement qualification (HB218) sure is a lot easier.

 

[MCgunner]

You know, if it was me, of the guns I own, the only S&W I even own anymore is my M10, but it's a 4" heavy barrel and I KNOW I could clear that course with it. My Ruger revolvers are all Blackhawks and I've never owned a Colt. I'd just have to buy a Milt Sparks holster for the M10 and maybe replace that nice Hogue grip with something of a little lower profile for concealment. It's a little heavy to tote all day, but a good holster can make a difference.

I don't envy your predicament. I only have to worry about the Texas CCW qualification. I think Stevie Wonder could qualify that with a Beretta Jet Fire.

 

[dbarale]

The SP101 is a good choice but if you can find a Speed Six you'll get an extra round for not much more bulk.
It would also take a steady diet of magnum and be comfortable to shoot.
A friend just picked one up at a show this week end for 200$ OTD...
A 3" S&W M65 is another option.

 

[Aggie's Revenge]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I decided to take a personal day tomorrow and go do a little recon/shopping.

BTW the good thing about the qual course is if you make all your shots to 15 yard line, you only have to get 2 out of 8 in the black to qualify.

 

[ProguninTN]

SP101

Another SP101 supporter.

 

[george29]

Model 66, 2.5". Two friends owned these, they were perfect for shooting, a little harder to conceal.

 

[obiwan1]

Another vote for a 3" anything.

 

[Aggie's Revenge]

Thanks once again for the imput guys. I went with a S&W 638 with recessed hammer.

I got it for $350, hopefully it was a good deal.

 

[Logan5]

That sounds like a decent price. I hate to sound like a jerk, but these little guns are a little different from anything else. Get some extra practice; run more than the usual few boxes of ammo through it before you hit the qualification course. The short sight radius means it always takes a good bit more practice on trigger control and sight picture; you just have to try harder with a snub.

 

[10-Ring]

I'd go w/ a S&W model 60 or 640...if you prefer Ruger, check out the sp101

It's really not the firearm, but your commitment to mastering your selected platform

 

[JMACDONALD]

HEY AGGIE

"Unfortunately we are only authorized to carry S&W, Colt, and Ruger revolvers." tHAT BECAUSE YOUR CHEIF LOVES YOU GOOD CHOICE ON THE MODEL 638, MY OFF DUTY PEICE IS A .38 ONLY 649. LOVE IT. I'VE PICKED UP PLENTY OF AUTOS AND WHEELIES OVER THE YEARS BUT THAT BODYGUARD JUST BEGS MY TO CARRY IT EVERY WHERE I GO PANTS POCKET, COIN POCKET, JACKET POCKET, ANKLE, IWB, JIT SLIDE, GLOCE BOX, YOU NAME IT. DOUBLE ACTION AND SNAG PROOF UP CLOSE AND SINGLE ACTION CAPABILITY FOR EXPOSED HEAD SHOTS. - MAC

 

[OldSchooler]

Good choice and whats done is done; not a bad deal, really . Very concealable and not too bad to shoot - with standard pressure ammo.

If Im not mistaken that model is +P rated, but dont buy into that too much. The +P stuff will likely blast the thing apart eventually. And it's a booger to shoot - kapow!

I'd stoke it with standard pressure or warm handloads loads for practice/qualifying and +P for carry, with a cylinder or two once a month of the +P stuff for familiarity. Unless you have to qualify with your carry ammo - then you gotta work at it! But as they say:

"You pays your money, you makes your choices."

Nice gun, though, anyway you shake it.

 

[MCgunner]

All that 2" gun needs to be accurate is practice and ammo it likes that shoots to POA. You can shoot it single action for precision and its 2" barrel and light weight are fantastic for concealment. Snubbies are quite accurate if the shooter can shoot it. I'm quite sure I could qualify on that course with my Taurus 2" no problem and the Smith, with accurate ammo that shoots to POA is no different to shoot. A 3" gun would make it easier, but I think you'll do fine and after you qualify with it, you'll have a gun you can just slip in a pocket holster. That means you'll ALWAYS have this thing with you. I prefer pocket carry for comfort to IWB and first thing I do in the morning is slide my carry piece in the pocket holster and last thing I do at night is take it out and lay it on the night stand. It's with me all day and I never really pay it any attention.

Let us know how the qualificatin goes.

 

[RugerSAFan]

Bought a S&W M60 a while back. According to the dealer, it had been a LEO purchase for ankle carry. Found to be too heavy for ankle carry. Had the hammer bobbed with a very smooth trigger job.

 

[Marshall]

Model 60 .357 Mag Great piece worn OWB or in your favorite IWB holster. All steel and DA. I prefer hammers.