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  #1  
Old 06-22-2018, 10:31 PM
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Default Revolver vs. Pistol

I posted this question on a different forum & would like to include
the S&W forum in this question.

What would you want to carry for SD, a 357 in magnum revolver(6 or 7 shot) or a Glock 19 you can sub any pistol & any 357 in magnum for this discussion.

At this present time I'm going between my new & improved 686 + revolver & my G19 gen 4 &/or my G43. My G19 is by far an easier pistol to shoot with accuracy that my G43.

However, my 686 + with my new trigger job is now my first choice to carry 24/7
even though its a monster to carry. My feelings are quality always trumps quantity no matter what your weapon de jour is.

As always, all responses are welcome.
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Old 06-22-2018, 10:51 PM
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I live fairly far south as well and right now it is AFRICA HOT here.
That being said concealing under a jacket or long shirt is really not an option (for the next few months at least).

My neighbor has an airweight J frame .357 but I honestly find full house .357 unpleasent in an airweight frame and mildly unpleasent but manageable in a K frame Model 66 snub.

Current summer CCW is a 38 special Model 37 airweight for any 2 legged threats, for woods carry the Model 66 snub gives another level of confidence for anything 4 legged that lives in in SE Florida.

When it cools down switch to an 8 shot 9mm S&W Model 3953 ,
For trips to Me-Jami, WPB or Ft Lauderdale switch to a 12 shot Model 6906 or 14 shot Model 59 for added peace of mind.
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Old 06-22-2018, 10:54 PM
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I could do the trendy thing and tell you that you absolutely must carry a double stack 9mm pistol or else the legions of 7ft/300lbs+ meth heads wearing 5 layers of heavy denim wielding car doors as shields who patrol every street corner will get you.

I could take the road less traveled and say that a 5-shot .357 Magnum is all anybody needs and go on forever about their superiority to semiautomatic pistols in terms of reliability.

I could be an Armchair Commando/Mall Ninja who insists that you carry whatever the Military/Law Enforcement at large is currently using and that anything else is completely inadequate.

I could insist that my own personal choices for self-defense are the end all, be all and bombard you with anecdotes/opinions to support those choices.

Instead, I'm going to do something most uncommon by telling you to carry the firearm that you are most proficient with and feel the most confident carrying, regardless of what that may be or what I may personally think/feel in regards to your choice.

Last edited by Echo40; 09-17-2018 at 05:35 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 06-22-2018, 11:03 PM
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Some form of a 1911 , or a small frame .44 Special revolver. Or a PPK/S
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Old 06-22-2018, 11:11 PM
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This is one of those every-other-week, beat-it-to-death, opinions-are-like-orifices, topics.

I'm with officer Callahan on this one - you'll get responses from all the types he cited - 'nuff said.
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Old 06-22-2018, 11:12 PM
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From the title, I thought this might be a discussion on correct nomenclature!

I like both. My EDC is a Colt DS, and the gun I take to the city or on the road is a 39-2.

So, in answer to your question, if I had to pick one or the other, it would be a 2.5" Model 66. Or my 39-2. Or my BHP. Now that I think about it, I've NEVER been able to choose just one in any of these "what would you choose" threads!
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Old 06-22-2018, 11:13 PM
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Gimme five!..Up high, down low..tap rack, tooo slow! 340PD all day, year round.
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Old 06-22-2018, 11:29 PM
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If weight is not really much of a consideration, carrying a combo of something like a Glock 19 and an hammerless snub revolver would provide effective tools for an extremely broad range of possible defense scenarios. Most would consider the G19 the primary and the snub the backup, but I would look at the snub as the main weapon to have immediately accessible due to its efficiency in reactive close-quarter situations.

However, I just don't see that combo being necessary for civilian self-defense and carrying relatively heavy gear takes its toll over the course of years.

In terms of lighter guns, I'm just not a huge fan of small autoloaders since most are pretty finicky and their capacity is usually not all that much greater than the revolver to make it a sensible consideration to trade-away the reliability, safety and ECQ advantages of revolver.

My carry choice is a lightweight, small frame wheelgun.
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Old 06-22-2018, 11:38 PM
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I hate how well I can shoot a g19. Absolutely hate it. I still don't own one. And I put 50 rounds in a range gun rental(g19) - and shot a hell of alot better than my sig p226 with 7,000 rounds in it.

Auto for SD. And I'm a revolver guy!

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Old 06-23-2018, 03:54 AM
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Im thinking about getting a 6shot jframe clone called the K6. And ditching the 1911.
Im not going to get in a gunfight. Just to defend and get
If i was expecting trouble I wouldnt go out or bring my AR
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Old 06-23-2018, 05:35 AM
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I am a revolver type guy, and am especially fond of the 357. That being said my carry piece is a Glock 36 in 45acp. No fancy hyped up ammo, just the same ball ammo that sent countless numbers of the enemy to a dirt nap since 1911
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Old 06-23-2018, 06:05 AM
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It had nothing to do with the platform. I had to learn my own shortcomings under stress before I settled on an EDC.

I owned and carried only 686 revolvers until I took a private lesson that included drawing and firing on a simulated attacker. With the adrenaline pumping, I short-stroke revolver triggers consistently.

The short reset of my DA/SA semi-auto EDC fixes my short-stroke problem and addressed my other concerns about safeties and trigger weight .
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Old 06-23-2018, 06:47 AM
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The answer is: It dosen't matter! Carry whatever you feel most comfortable with and whatever system you will actually carry. The first rule of gun fighting is to make sure you have a gun. That 686 is a nice gun but does you no good if it's home in your sock draw because it's too heavy. Your Glock is one of the most reliable semi autos ever devised but if you leave it home because it's too thick to carry in your waist band, it's useless. The next rule of gunfighting is to hit your target. That 1400fps, 125 grain, 357 is useless if it goes whistling off into the landscape when you need to defend yourself. You are better off with a center mass hit from a 40gr .22 than 5 misses from your 500 magnum. This is the long way of saying that you need to concentrate more on HOW you are carrying than WHAT you are carrying.

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Old 06-23-2018, 06:50 AM
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I carry a 340PD b/c weight is a significant consideration and I have confidence in the revolver platform. Last week I shot my J frame and discovered it was very accurate @ 7 yards using my carry rounds and equipped w/a wood boot grip (the way I carry it). I do have a sore hand and a blister on my trigger finger, but I know I can defend myself w/this little gun.
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Old 06-23-2018, 06:56 AM
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When I leave home I assess my potential threat level and carry accordingly. Usually it's the P32 that goes for a pocket ride. I can put 8 rounds in a half dollar size target at 5 paces very rapidly (I practice often) so that should take care of self defense.Threat level higher..I'll take a J frame in .38, IWB holster. Anything else I leave to law enforcement. I'm no hero..sorry someone robbed your store,stole your car, your pocketbook etc etc. Maybe you should carry a gun. The 12 gauges keeps me safe while at home.

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Old 06-23-2018, 07:50 AM
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As much as I love revolvers, For concealed carry I chose the Glock.
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Old 06-23-2018, 08:28 AM
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Neither a 357 or a semi

I chose a 325PD
if I want smaller I have a 396
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Old 06-23-2018, 08:45 AM
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A lot of good points in the above comments. I usually carry either a G26 or M&P .40C. Those two seem to be the best choice for me.
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Old 06-23-2018, 08:46 AM
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Find a range where you can draw from a holster.
Buy or borrow a shot timer.
Notepad and pen.
Which of the firearms you might carry do you hit fastest and hardest with.
Carry that one.
When you start putting numbers to it, easier to pick.
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Old 06-23-2018, 09:23 AM
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I carry a S&W 642-1 around home and walking distance.

I carry a Glock 19 most times I set foot in the vehicle or go to town or elsewhere.

I carry a Glock 26 when I carry in "restricted" (10 round magazine) states under LEOSA.

So, I suppose given the above that the G26 works for every occasion...but I still carry a 642-1 around home and general vicinity.
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Old 06-23-2018, 10:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirty Harry Callahan View Post

Instead, I'm going to do something most uncommon by telling you to carry the firearm that you are most proficient with and feel the most confident carrying, regardless of what that may be or what I may personally think/feel in regards to your choice.
Now there is some great advice!
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Old 06-23-2018, 10:28 AM
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My 1st carry handgun back in the 70s was a S&W 19-3 w/4" barrel. I tried some steel .380s, but none of them felt right and I never cared for 1911s (just a personal thing). Most of my wardrobe though, consisted of Windbreakers, Hawaiian shirts and 'Mexican Wedding' shirts, in order to conceal it.

When the G19 came out in '89/'90 I got one, loved how it performed and carried IT until 2008, when I decided I wanted to Front Pocket carry and learned to be proficient with a PF-9. (I know... Eeww! But it performed well in my hands)

When the Shield came out in 2012, I rented one, it felt great to shoot, was dead on and fit in the front pocket of most of my pants.

To sum up... Since the 70s, I've always carried what I could shoot very well, as opposed to what others thought, or being a slave to fashion.

BTW: I still have (and regularly shoot) my 19-3 and G19.
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Old 06-23-2018, 11:52 AM
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Dirty Harry Callahan and bigwheelzip nailed it.

Another factor (with apologies to the real estate profession) is Location, Location, Location.

Considering when to carry what is directly related to the perceived threat. Based on where I go I've become quite comfortable with my reworked, birth-year Baby Chiefs. When I head into the woods this time of year I add my snub-nosed 460.

Six-shot revolvers are my high-capacity weapons.
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Old 06-23-2018, 12:28 PM
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G19 all day every day. Lighter wt, more rds, easier to conceal & shoot at speed. Want the same power as the 686, carry a g32 as I do or slightly smaller/lighter p239. I love the 357mag, own 5 diff 4" models, but no contest for ccw.
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Old 06-23-2018, 01:01 PM
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For 40 years I have carried a M40, and now an M640. JMO the DAO revolver in .38S&W Spl Ctg is an ideal SD weapon.
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Old 06-23-2018, 02:11 PM
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Old 06-23-2018, 02:53 PM
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My current off duty carry is a Beretta 92 and one spare 18 round magazine.

However, in reality a citizens chances of actually needing a firearm are so remote as to be beyond minute. Consequently, a five shot J-frame will probably suffice for just about anything you will encounter. Anything else is just personal choice and affectation.
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Old 06-23-2018, 03:00 PM
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Quote:
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My current off duty carry is a Beretta 92 and one spare 18 round magazine.

However, in reality a citizens chances of actually needing a firearm are so remote as to be beyond minute. Consequently, a five shot J-frame will probably suffice for just about anything you will encounter. Anything else is just personal choice and affectation.
With that mindset, why carry at all, not likely to ever need it? Imo. If you need, you may need it badly, very badly in todays enviro. Granted the vast majoroty of us carry to feel better. Few though really have thought out their choice or train/practice for a fight.
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Old 06-23-2018, 03:26 PM
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Heavy revolver, not a fan of plastic.
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Old 06-23-2018, 03:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fredj338 View Post
With that mindset, why carry at all, not likely to ever need it? Imo. If you need, you may need it badly, very badly in todays enviro. Granted the vast majoroty of us carry to feel better. Few though really have thought out their choice or train/practice for a fight.
It's not a mindset, it's a verifiable, statistical reality when comparing the number of verifiable shootings and comparing the number of rounds fired, etc. Mindset is a completely different discussion. I know it's fashionable to train like we're HALO jumping into Fallujah on a moonless night, but that's far from the common denominator in urban America. The reality doesn't jive with the steely eyed SEAL Team 6 image a lot of folks have of themselves, but there it is. We all make our choices and we take our chances. My chances of needing a seatbelt are minute, when compared to the number of hours I drive annually v. the number of traffic crashes I get into. That's not a mindset, but again, a statistical reality. Of course, that doesn't stop me from wearing one. The choice to wear one is a mindset, the chances of needing one is statistical.


I know quite a few gun savy types who've been there and done that, that choose to carry a J-frame off duty. It's not my choice, but I'm certainly not stupid enough to question the mindset of very experienced people because their choice is different than mine. Assuming someone is lacking in training or mindset because of their weapon choice is just a bit myopic. Then again, I've just policed urban American for over a quarter of a century, so what do I know?

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Old 06-23-2018, 03:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirty Harry Callahan View Post
Instead, I'm going to do something most uncommon by telling you to carry the firearm that you are most proficient with and feel the most confident carrying, regardless of what that may be or what I may personally think/feel in regards to your choice.
What Harry said. We've all heard the old saying, "Beware of the man who owns one gun." Whatever you shoot best, train with it as much as possible. That's the one you carry, whether a wheelgun or auto pistol.
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Old 06-23-2018, 04:11 PM
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in terms of self defense , which gun provides the greatest reliability , ease of use & accuracy?

carry it....
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Old 06-23-2018, 04:32 PM
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I want it to be a surprise.
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Old 06-23-2018, 05:14 PM
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I carry for the occasion. I have multiple semi's and revolvers and switch back and forth depending on what I am doing and where I am going. As a young PO I carried a model 66 4" and a mod. 60 off duty. I then went to a 2.5" 66 before carrying a 1911 for about 25yrs on duty and off. around the house it's an M&P 340 but switch to a Shield or a Glock 19 for my security job. When hiking with my dogs on the Grand Mesa I take one of my larger revolvers, often a .357. Carry what you are comfortable with and shoot well.
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Old 06-23-2018, 06:00 PM
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We all make our choices and we take our chances. My chances of needing a seatbelt are minute, when compared to the number of hours I drive annually v. the number of traffic crashes I get into. That's not a mindset, but again, a statistical reality. Of course, that doesn't stop me from wearing one.
We wear seatbelts, not a harness and HANS devices like a race car driver, because it is unnecessary as well as simply not being practical and compatible with daily life.
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Old 06-23-2018, 10:53 PM
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It's not a mindset, it's a verifiable, statistical reality when comparing the number of verifiable shootings and comparing the number of rounds fired, etc. Mindset is a completely different discussion. I know it's fashionable to train like we're HALO jumping into Fallujah on a moonless night, but that's far from the common denominator in urban America. The reality doesn't jive with the steely eyed SEAL Team 6 image a lot of folks have of themselves, but there it is. We all make our choices and we take our chances. My chances of needing a seatbelt are minute, when compared to the number of hours I drive annually v. the number of traffic crashes I get into. That's not a mindset, but again, a statistical reality. Of course, that doesn't stop me from wearing one. The choice to wear one is a mindset, the chances of needing one is statistical.


I know quite a few gun savy types who've been there and done that, that choose to carry a J-frame off duty. It's not my choice, but I'm certainly not stupid enough to question the mindset of very experienced people because their choice is different than mine. Assuming someone is lacking in training or mindset because of their weapon choice is just a bit myopic. Then again, I've just policed urban American for over a quarter of a century, so what do I know?
New century trooper, now who is being miopic? Today you are just as likely jumped by multiple attackers with semiautos , a 5 shot would really suck. You are right though, we all make choices & live with them, but like the seatbelt issue, there are better choices.
Semantics maybe bit it is a mindset, sure based on stats, but a mindset. If one carries for a "what if" & justifies their chouce as "not likely to ever needed it", then like the seatbelt, why carry at all? Jmo, but carrying a gun is a pita done right. So if I am bothering to carry one, I want to cover as many bases with it as I can, not just the lone unarmed or lightly armed thug. Jmo, its free & it was asked for in the thread.
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Old 06-23-2018, 11:44 PM
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I could do the trendy thing and tell you that you absolutely must carry a double stack 9mm pistol or else the legions of 6ft/700lbs+ meth heads wearing 5 layers of heavy denim wielding car doors as shields who patrol every street corner will get you.

I could take the road less traveled and say that a 5-shot .357 Magnum is all anybody needs and go on forever about their superiority to semiautomatic pistols in terms of reliability.

I could be an Armchair Commando/Mall Ninja who insists that you carry whatever the Military/Law Enforcement at large is currently using and that anything else is completely inadequate.

I could insist that my own personal choices for self-defense are the end all, be all and bombard you with anecdotes/opinions to support those choices.

Instead, I'm going to do something most uncommon by telling you to carry the firearm that you are most proficient with and feel the most confident carrying, regardless of what that may be or what I may personally think/feel in regards to your choice.
I'm not going to disagree with Dirty Harry. Carry the firearm that you are the most proficient and confident with. For me it could be a 1911 or a revolver if it was only proficiency I probably would go with the 1911. After having major shoulder surgery on both shoulders I'm most confident with a model 21 or even a j frame. Some days my shoulders ache so bad that I'm just not confident I could quickly clear a malfunction. I've never had one on any of my Ed Brown's malfunction but....... I also find with age I'm really comfortable with a fixed sight revolver with a 10 pound trigger pull. The simplicity of the revolver. For the most part I think autos are a fad and IMO the majority of the CCW people would be better served with a revolver, of course there are exceptions and your choice. Doc I think that 686 would make an excellent choice. After that trigger job I would put 200 rounds through it just to be sure.
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Old 06-24-2018, 08:36 AM
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Revolver guy here as well and I love my 66-5 with Silvertips, but I must confess that I regularly carry a Glock 27 in the summer.
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Old 06-24-2018, 09:25 AM
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Exclamation S&W QC Driving Latest Choices In Revolvers

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Im thinking about getting a 6shot jframe clone called the K6. And ditching the 1911.
Im not going to get in a gunfight. Just to defend and get
If i was expecting trouble I wouldn't go out or bring my AR
Bingo! While I own three Smiths and carry a J-Frame, my newly ordered Kimber K6S arrives this Wednesday!

My reason for going non-Smith is that my last two, a 642 and 627PC, both showed up with QC issues and I had to re-work the triggers on each. My 32yr old 686, bought new, is/was a much better gun then as well as now. Don't get me wrong, I love S&W revolvers, but have soured on having to do my own DIY "tuning" after paying premium price$.
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Old 06-24-2018, 04:15 PM
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I prefer something belt fed. Just kidding. 90% of the time is a Model 649. The other 10%? Some sort of magnum revolver.
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Old 06-24-2018, 05:25 PM
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I’ve always liked Revolvers best. When it came time for CCW I tried several semi-Autos but always went back to Revolvers. I like having a gun I can shove against someone without worry of moving the slide out of lockup causing the gun not to fire. I also don’t want to worry about the slide being blocked by me or an object turning the gun into a single shot. Also if I don’t have a good grip on a semi-Auto during a attack it could cause a malfunction. I am just more comfortable and confident with a Revolver. I like Snubs. I shoot them well. They are not for everyone.
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Old 06-24-2018, 05:30 PM
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Right, wrong, or indifferent I carry both. 640 Pro in the summer, a Colt 1911 in the winter.
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Old 06-24-2018, 07:25 PM
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...carry the firearm that you are most proficient with and feel the most confident carrying,...
Finally someone gets it. Thank you for that.

Far too often people pick their carry gun for the wrong reason. The two most common are size (ease of carry) and price (they don't want an expensive gun confiscated). Both of these reasons should be far down the list.

The first and most important quality in a defensive firearm is functional reliability. If it doesn't work, it's useless. If this isn't at the top of your reasons for your carry gun, rewrite your list.

The second is effectiveness. This has nothing to do with caliber or capacity. It's all about how easy it is for the owner to put rounds on target under stress. If you can't hit the assailant, you can't stop the assailant (I could write a book based on that last sentence).


Based on the two guns listed in the OP, the first choice could be the revolver. Revolvers are not immune to malfunctions, but they are far more reliable than any semi-auto. But you can't forget shooter effectiveness. If the owner can shoot the G19 better under stress, and his G19 proves to be reliable, then it's the better choice.
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Old 06-24-2018, 07:46 PM
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...
Revolvers are not immune to malfunctions, but they are far more reliable than any semi-auto.
...
I think revolvers are far more reliable than semi-autos when your talking about shooter induced malfunctions, but not mechanical failures.

Mechanically, my G19 has been more reliable than my 642. Actually, my LCP has been mechanically more reliable than my 642. Not long after I got my 642, I had a cylinder lockup that had to go back to S&W for repair. Now it’s 3 years old with a couple thousand rounds through it and today the hammer stud broke.
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Old 06-24-2018, 07:48 PM
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Welllll..from my experience, I've not had any spent shells flipping down the front of my shirt while shooting a revolver..

Which weapon is better???? I suppose it depends on what a person is planning on shooting, and how many of times they want to kill it.


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Old 06-24-2018, 08:13 PM
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Revolver if I really expect trouble
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Old 06-24-2018, 09:14 PM
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I think revolvers are far more reliable than semi-autos when your talking about shooter induced malfunctions, but not mechanical failures.

Mechanically, my G19 has been more reliable than my 642. Actually, my LCP has been mechanically more reliable than my 642. Not long after I got my 642, I had a cylinder lockup that had to go back to S&W for repair. Now it’s 3 years old with a couple thousand rounds through it and today the hammer stud broke.
Interesting. You're the first I've heard of that has had more issues, of any kind, than semi-autos. I have a few revolvers and none have ever failed in any way. Can't say that for the semi-autos. Of course I don't have as many rounds through the revolvers. Maybe I should step up my revolver game?
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Old 06-24-2018, 09:40 PM
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Heh. The pain level in my lower back and hips dictates what I'm carrying at any given time.
Now, I'm not whining. I had a GREAT time getting in this bad of shape. Just recognizing that comfort's got to come first these days.
As such, the gun I have on me most often is the little Kahr 380 in my pocket. If the meds are working right, then one of the 640s, or either the 9 or 45 Shield, or even a K-frame if I'll be sitting more than standing. Point is, work with your situation, not against it. Something is always better than nothing. And so on.
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Old 06-24-2018, 10:05 PM
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I'm honestly pleasantly surprised to see so many folks agree with me here, guess I've just gotten so used to seeing wannabe experts on various forums who somehow feel qualified to dictate what everyone ought to carry with blatant disregard for circumstances/preferences which may render their arbitrary definition of the perfect, one-size-fits-all platform/caliber combination uncomfortable, unwieldy, or even utterly ineffective in the hands of folks other than themselves.

For example, my EDC is a Smith & Wesson manufactured Walther PPK/S in .380 ACP and my Home Defense firearm is a Taurus Judge Magnum, and boy oh boy have I ever gotten an earful on how poor of a choice I have made with that combination... Never mind that it works for me, it deviates too far from the status-quo in just about every camp/school of thought there is, and therefore it must be responded to with the utmost snobbery and even hostility.
I've heard it all and then some, yet it never ceases to leave me utterly bewildered. What is this odd obsession with attempting to force others to reconsider their choice of firearms? I seriously doubt that it was born of legitimate concern when the folks who do it are so needlessly rude/imposing on the matter, most often presented as a demand or even a threat-by-proxy rather than a simple suggestion, which is needless to say a terribly ineffective way to convince someone to reconsider their decision.
Just saying, "If you value your life then you should dump that pea-shooter and pick up a real man's gun like the one I carry!" or worse, "You must really hate yourself and your family if you carry that piece of junk." doesn't exactly make for a convincing argument, let alone a positive suggestion that one is likely to accept, yet you see stuff to that affect quite often on the internet.

Ah, but then again... I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised that folks here are more laid back and friendly, seeing as Smith & Wesson isn't exactly in with the overcompensating, tacticool, Mall Ninja/Armchair Commando crowd, nor would I still be an active poster on these forums if the userbase was compromised of such *ahem* characters.
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Old 06-24-2018, 11:05 PM
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If you feel confident and adequately protected with your .25 ACP or your 629 with five reloads, I'm happy for you and won't try to sway you to my carry choice.

If you carry an eleven ounce .357 Magnum or a .50AE Desert Eagle, I reserve the right to say "Better you than me," but I won't call you an idiot for not carrying what I choose.

Inspector Callahan is right: I don't see a lot of that kind of arrogance here. That might be partly because our average age is well past the Wally World Commando bracket and we have a lot of retired and active LEO's with street experience. I think it's also due to a culture of civility on this forum, maintained by the members as well as the moderators.
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