hi, i have four semi auto handguns. all which i carry. i was hopeing to gather some information on a good revolver for carring.

J frame. I prefer a 442.

How do you plan to carry it? Don't mean to answer a question with a question but it will help answer your original question.
If the answer is in your pocket I think you'll need to find a good J frame. Many to choose from.
If the answer is in an inside the waistband holster I think you are looking at a J or K frame. Again many to choose from.
If a pancake or regular belt holster is used I'd say the only thing limiting you is your personal preference. Many to choose from.
Sorry I got long winded. Now how are you planning to carry it?

Kinda depends on what you want. Jframes are more concealable and great little revolvers, but they take a lot of practice and the light ones, like my EDC 442, can bark a bit. Kframes are a good compromise, and as long as you are using the right ammunition they do everything you need and last a lifetime. They won't fit in most pockets, though, so you need a good belt holster. The largest caliber you can get in the J and Kframes is .357. Lframes are great guns, again too big for a pocket, but everyone who has one swears by them and a few have been made in .44 Special (5 shot versions). Nframes are your real big bore alternative, .44 and .45 caliber are available. Again, the lighter ones kick a bit but pack very nicely. I'd recommend going to a range and shooting every revolver you can get your hands on, then making a decision from there.

Oh, and Welcome to the Forum!!

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Even older, even crankier....

I prefer a j frame in the pocket. This matches my clothes and the temps here. When I was where you in the process are I wanted to carry a Colt Commander. No can do unless I wear a coat every day. Dressing for 100+ degrees will limit reasonable options for sure.

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>>ARMED LIBERAL>>

Hard to beat the 442/642 for concealed carry. While it's true that they do take a certain level of commitment to take the time practicing both dry fire and live fire to become proficient and accurate it's worth it in the end. They can be carried most any way a gun can be carried, they're dependable and are actually a lot of fun at the range. The 442/642 have enclosed hammers so there's nothing to snag on the draw stroke.
I carry my 442 concealed either owb under an untucked shirt or in my right front pocket when the weather's too warm for a cover garment

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One that you will actually carry!
I personally really like the old Bodyguard series. Having the ability to shoot SA but not get hung up coming out of a pocket is a GREAT feature.
I like a S&W M49 for practice at the range and a M38 to carry. Same gun but the 38 is much lighter and way more likely to be in a pocket - OTOH you (I) don't want to run a box of ammo through one very often, if ever .

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In dog years I'm dead.

Hi paGunGuy:

Welcome to the forum! Prior to receiving my CHL, I anticipated carrying either a K-frame .357Magnum, or a 9mm or .40 S&W semiauto. The smallest semiauto I owned was a Seecamp in .32ACP. Color me surprised to find out what the "old timers" said was true - a J-frame in the pocket (or holster) beats anything left at home in the safe. My EDC (Every Day Carry) gun is a Model 38-0 in .38 Special. I just received a Model 638-1 (same as the older Model 38, but with a stainless steel barrel and alloy frame) as a Christmas gift and will carry that as a BUG (Back Up Gun). I've really come to appreciate the Bodyguard design - often called the "humpback". It gives you a no snag design with the option - if ever needed - of a single action trigger pull. Both the Model 38-0 and Model 638-1 are equipped with Crimson Trace LG-405 laser grips. Compare the Bodyguard design with the other J-frames in my 2nd photo - the 2 revolvers on the right are concealed hammer Centennial models - the one on the bottom is a Model 642. The revolver on the top left hand side of the photo with the exposed hammer is a Model 60-7. It is very hard to go wrong with a J-frame.

Best of luck,

Dave

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A Model 36 worked well for many years and still does now. There are all kind of J frames in all kind of materials made today but, but why mess with perfection? Get the classic pocket gun, a Model 36.

I favor big guns. It takes a scabbard to carry a revolver with any amount of respectability.
Here are some of the ways I carry them---now, some of the pics are just for fun, but, trust me on this---A four inch sized duty belt/western belt and holster do conceal very well.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

Model 19 or 66 any way you want to carry it, a lot of options.

A Model 58 was my favorite of all the revolvers that I have carried. It was hampered by a lack of ammunition availibility. I did not find thr weight and size bothersome.

I like my 3" model 10 when wearing something with a good belt, In the summer whan wearing shorts I carry something lighter. The 3" K frame has great balance and soaks up the recoil from +P loads well. YMMV

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

If one takes the time to master double-action shooting, then it is hard to beat a S&W model 642. I have carried one daily for decades and forget that it is on me. A few years ago I added Crimson Trace grips. They were worth the money, as far as I'm concerned.

I carried a S&W model 66 with 2 1/2" barrel for a few years and always found it uncomfortable.

My Model 37 car gun is hard to beat. Light enough for pocket carry in a jacket, small of back or_! I have a proper holster of course. I have it loaded with +Ps but have never shot the hot load but a few fired when needed wouldn't loosen it up much.

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

For pocket carry: Pre-lock J-frame Smith, preferably with a shrouded or concealed hammer. My most commonly carried handgun is a 36-"no dash" in a pocket holster of my own design and manufacture.

For IWB/OWB: 3" Smith Model 13 or Model 65. Probably the perfect six shot carry revolver. Excellent balance. Choice of .357 Magnum or .38 Special ammunition. I don't like stainless steel, but since I hadn't seen a Model 13 at a gun show in ten years and CDNN had an outrageous deal on used Model 65s, I went with the latter.

Fully agree, only in my case I go even lighter with a Model 37. No locks, no fuss, no muss. Even in the airweight it's very easy to control. Load up some Buffalo Bill 38 special wadcutters and you are all set.

Welcome to the forum! Right at this moment, I'm carrying a 3" 65. It's a K frame. As far as I'm concerned, it's about the perfect concealed carry revolver.

Another vote for a J frame .38. Mine is a satin nickle 442 no dash loaded w/the FBI +P outfitted with wood magnas & a Tyler TGrip. I shoot it monthly b/c these little guns require routine practice to maintain proficiency. A close second is my 1968 Colt Cobra also loaded w/the FBI +P, wood factory grips and a TGrip.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I have to agree with the gentleman who recommended the venerable Model 36. In 32 years, I have literally put tens of thousands of rounds through my Model 36 and carried it as a backup gun as a police officer for years. It never failed me. Its design is simple and well proven.

thanks for all the advice. i appercitate it very much. even tho i own four handguns my first one was only three months ago, i am still new to handguns. thanks again

Gotta weigh the balance between size , power and concealability. I don't want to have to dress around a gun.

I often pack a standard 2in Mod.37.

I'd probably trade it for a pre-lock 442 though.

The model 60 2" in stainless, or model 642 in alloy!

Welcome to the forum!

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But then, what do I know?

Model 49 or 649. Why give up the ability to fire single action by bobbing the hammer that wasn't meant to be on a pocket gun or buying a gun with no hammer to cock if there's a gun available that comes ready made for not only pocket CARRY but pocket SHOOTING?

as a primary it is a 44 Special L frame. The 296 is my favorite, with the 396 next up. The 642 works well as a bug.

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the world is round everywhere

I pocket carry or ankle carry a model 640 pro in 357 mag, 649-3 in .357 mag in a De Santis ankle holster and a model 36 in a pocket holster. My primary carry is usually a .45 auto loader. So the EDC J frames are BUGs. But I practice with them a lot and am proficient at combat distances out to 20 feet.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

This will likely mean adding two or three more handguns.

Mastering a Jframe takes a religious conversion.

A Model 442 or 642 and others in this class are a dream to carry. They can be just plain brutal with +P loads. Bad enough with target loads. Rent or borrow one before you buy. I got thru only one cylnder of a .357 of some model # before drawing blood.

A Model 60, 640, or 649... IMHO are about the perfect balance in weight, pleasure to shoot, and just all around build is perfect. The Airweights to me can be too lightweight to shoot accurately.

What I did in a previous infatuation with snubbies, and have done again recently was to pick up a K frame snub. 90% of my practice rounds are done with a K frame. Just a pleasure to shoot. It allowed me to build my skill comfortably and carried over nicely to the airweights and steel J Frame.

I have owned the 442 and carried it regularly. I carried a 649 and felt it was the best handgun I have ever owned.

My next purchase will likely be a 640 or 649.

Have not yet to have the pleasure to shoot a Model 36, but plan to borrow a co-workers in the coming weeks for a test shoot. Good luck.

What wnr said. If you decide on a small platform, invest in extra range time. No offense, but you'll need it.

I conceal carry a revolver almost daily.
I think you really need atleast a pair of revolvers. This is why.

Everyone who carries a revolver needs a 442. They are small, light weight, and easy to conceal. I carry mine in a Lobo Pancake most of the time. I also pocket carry it at times in a vest, coat, or jacket pocket. Everything is looking great to this point. They have a couple down sides. A J Frame snub is notoriously hard to shoot without a lot of trigger time. They also recoil a little harder than some enjoy to shoot enough to get good with one of them.

All is not lost with a J Frame however. The solution is a third revolver. Get an LCR 22 or a 43C which are both J Frame size 22's, and try and wear it our.
If you are going to carry your J Frame 38 reloads in Speed Strips you need practice using them. Tuff Products makes the Model 1022 Speed Strip for the 22. It normally holds 10 each 22 shells. When using the 1022 to reload the LCR 22 and 43C you need to load it in pairs skipping a round between pairs for cylinder clearance. It will only hold 7 loaded in this fashion. Just index the cylinder on the empty chamber when you close the cylinder. When you order Speed Strips for the 38 get the 7 shot version, and load it with 5. The extra length gives you something to get a grip on when loading your J Frame. This will speed up your reloading time normally.
I also like my speed strips in Orange, so I can find them on the ground easier when practicing tactical reloads.
Tuff Products

For the Second Revolver I prefer to carry a K Frame any time I can, instead of the J Frame. The consideration with a K Frame is barrel length. The longest barrel handy to conceal carry is a 3". The 3" has a couple advantages. A Full Length Ejector Rod, and a little more Sight Radius for accuracy.
Next choice would be a 2-1/2" barrel K Frame.
Then we have the 2" Barrel K Frame.

Any of the 3 barrel length K Frames will be a More Shootable Platform than a J Frame set up for concealed carry. You can find all 3 barrel lengths on the used market. As was said above a Snub K Frame is fun to shoot.

The K Frame needs to be belt carried. My preference is in a Lobo Enhanced Pancake. The same holster I recommend to belt carry the 442 in.
Lobo Gun Leather - Home

I carry my K Frame reloads in a Safariland Comp II Speed Loader. I carry either one or two. I belt carry the Comp II's in Safariland CD-2 Spring Steel Speed Loader Carriers.
Speedloaderstore.com

For ammunition I carry Speer 135 grain Short Barrel ammunition. I carry 357's in my revolvers that will chamber them. The 38 +P version in the 38's.

That should fix you up.

Bob

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ICORE MO2908

For everyday carrying, a J frame Centennial is hard to beat. Either Airweight or steel version; doesn't matter; whatever is comfortable to you. I own both, a 642-1 and a 640-1, and I carry both.

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MARK

A Centennial, loaded with wad cutters, in my right front pocket.

640-1
649-3
60-9

Don't much care how many of each as long as there's at least two on.

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Pace

My main summer / winter back up.... 642 with crimson trace grips. All my carry guns wear ctc grips.

Favorite public carry revolver is a 3" chater arms buuldog, 44 special.
Favorite outdoor carry would be my 29-3 mag, 4" barrel, hard chrome finish.

I like a 2-1/2" model 66 k frame carried IWB.

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Member MVGCA, OGCA, NRA Life