Don't like my concealed weapon....

[LL617]

I presently carry a small Taurus .380 for CWP. I don't like it because the moon clips bend too easily. I am thinking of replacing it with another S&W. I like the 43C or the 351. However, can you use .22LR in the 351? It calls for the 22 Magnum round. I have some of that which I bought by accident for my 617, but I have a lot more .22LR.

I know that you can use a .38SP load in a .357, so I was wondering if I could use the .22LR instead of the 22 Magnum load.

Thank you for the help.

[Road Rat]

No. The .22 LR cartridge is smaller around than the .22 WMR cartridge.

Where the .38 Special cartridge is "shorter" in length than the .357 Magnum cartridge.

IF you can replace the cylinder with one for .22 LR then, maybe, but I doubt it!

[VaRecon]

Try a 317 Kit Gun. Little bit longer barrel but that translates to accuracy.

[kennyb]

you aren't really planning to use a .22 for self defense are you?

[LL617]

Rats.

That makes the choices much slimmer. Looks like the 43c will be the way to go if I can get some moon clips that will hold up better than the ones I have.

Thanks for the info. I couldn't remember if the .22 WMR was wider or just longer.

[Hapworth]

Originally Posted by kennyb

you aren't really planning to use a .22 for self defense are you?

Better than a spoon.

[mg357]

LL617: Have you stopped to consider a snubby revolver such as a S&W Model 36 or maybe a S&W Model 60 both of those guns can fire .38 special ammunition?

[Doug M.]

The 43C does not require or even allow for moonclips. A .22 beats the heck out of a pencil and some harsh language. There is even an article somewhere about "old man" guns, which includes the possibility of using a .22 due to the problems age or other infirmities can cause.

[Old cop]

The .22's you mention are all J frames, why not step up to a .38 spl., especially if you have been shooting/carrying a .380?

[Beach-Hunter]

Originally Posted by Old cop

The .22's you mention are all J frames, why not step up to a .38 spl., especially if you have been shooting/carrying a .380?

I agree get a J-Frame in 38 spl...the airweights are very nicely priced..ammo is easy to get and still fairly cheap if you shop around...The 38 has many different loads to suit your needs. From very tame wadcutters w/very little recoil to full power +P'S....You will be much better protected with a .38 Special J-frame..life time warranty also.

[Wee Hooker]

Originally Posted by LL617

Rats.

That makes the choices much slimmer. Looks like the 43c will be the way to go if I can get some moon clips that will hold up better than the ones I have.

Thanks for the info. I couldn't remember if the .22 WMR was wider or just longer.

FWIW, there is a low power round that is backwards compatible with the 22 WMR if your just looking for reduced power/flash. It's called the .22WRF. It's not as cheap as 22lr though.

[pharmer]

I just learned that Taurus makes a .380 acp revolver. Thanks. Joe

[gasaman]

Originally Posted by pharmer

I just learned that Taurus makes a .380 acp revolver. Thanks. Joe

Me too.....
But I won't be buying one.
.380s in my stable are a Seecamp and soon to be Kahr.
I'm not opposed to the not so common revolver calibers.
I do own a S&W 940 no-dash.

[shawn mccarver]

Originally Posted by LL617

Rats.

That makes the choices much slimmer. Looks like the 43c will be the way to go if I can get some moon clips that will hold up better than the ones I have.

Thanks for the info. I couldn't remember if the .22 WMR was wider or just longer.

I do not believe the S&W 43C uses moon clips.

On the other hand, I was not aware that Taurus made a revolver for the .380 either. I know they made a revolver for 9mm and maybe even for other auto cartridges, but I was not aware of a .380 revolver from Taurus.

[jdh]

Originally Posted by shawn mccarver

I do not believe the S&W 43C uses moon clips.

Mine doesn't.

[DonD]

Originally Posted by kennyb

you aren't really planning to use a .22 for self defense are you?

Agreed. I think the .22LR is a poor choice for CCW unless you're very elderly and/or have severe arthritis or other physical limitation. I think a .380 is the minimum acceptable caliber but that's just my opinion.

Being critical, I'd go with something from S&W or Ruger anyday over Taurus. Don

[holo]

Originally Posted by DonD

Agreed. I think the .22LR is a poor choice for CCW unless you're very elderly and/or have severe arthritis or other physical limitation. I think a .380 is the minimum acceptable caliber but that's just my opinion.

Being critical, I'd go with something from S&W or Ruger anyday over Taurus. Don

+1 I had a bad time with a Taurus

[snubbiefan]

Just don't fool with the Taurus 380 revolver....period. You can download (or have somebody do it) a 38-Special that your cat can shoot...if it had thumbs. I customize loads for the wife when she carries one of the 38-J's. She does better with her "old man gun" 317 22LR snub-nose. The blame thing weighs around 10-ounces and I can't get it out of her purse.

[Chris L.]

Originally Posted by pharmer

I just learned that Taurus makes a .380 acp revolver. Thanks. Joe

I was interested in the Taurus M380 also, until I handled one. They have an extremely hard trigger pull, somewhere in the order of 15 lbs, and I don't think there is a gunsmith workaround for that, as that weight might be needed to ignite the primers on the .380acp cartridge. Also, it has a full steel frame, which takes away the weight advantage of having a smaller revolver for CCW. Might as well just carry a J-Frame and get the higher power cartridge.

Still, I'd buy one if and when they go for clearance prices, due to it's uniqueness and being a possible future collectable . There won't be too many buyers for this one, and you can probably be certain it will be dropped from Taurus catalog within 2 years. If you do buy one, get the blued finish, as I heard the silver finish looks awful.

On a related note, I emailed Charter Arms asking for a .380acp mini-revolver and they said they might consider one for this year. I'm not opposed to the concept of a true .380acp mini-revolver, I just know it can be done better then what Taurus is offering.

[John In Omaha]

I had the same questions when I got my CCW about a year ago. Did a lot of homework and came away with the rather new S&W 632-1 in .327 Fed Mag. I love it and there's always that extra round to use if needed over the bigger guys.

[LL617]

Thanks for all the comments.

Let me back up with some history. I have a snubbie K-frame that is my CWP of choice. To perfect it, I have it at the gunsmiths now. It's an older model, so I got the .380 acp to use while the K-frame was being worked on [they are having trouble with the factory sending the wrong part].

I bought the Taurus .380 because it was cheaper than an S&W and I had some .380 that I bought for a family member already. I planned to use the .380 as a backup after I got my K frame snubbie back. I had previously had the opportunity to shoot a .38 Bodyguard with .38SP +P and didn't like it; no matter how hard I gripped it, it tore my hands up.

As I mentioned in another thread, the .380 is certainly no S&W. After looking at the display model, the one in the box that the store wanted to ring up was unacceptable, and I insisted on taking the display model. The tripper pull is much different than an S&W, but I can handle it.

I started thinking of something along the lines of the 43c, 317 because a] I've already accidentally bent two of the moonclips that came with the Taurus; b] the 43c holds more rounds than a J frame or the 5 cylinder Taurus acp, even though it's only a .22 load. I asked about the 22 Magnum load because I liked the looks of the 351 c model.

Money is somewhat of an issue, but I'll keep asking questions and looking around until I'm satisfied that whether I change the Taurus out or just buy more moonclips I'm choosing wisely.

[Doug M.]

The choice of champs in .38 special snubbies is almost always the standard wadcutter, except that they are not your friend for a rapid reload (so standard velocity hard cast SWCs, or maybe the Gold Dot short barrel load). It cuts a good sharp hole, should shoot to point of aim, and is easy to shoot.
I'll admit that the J frame is almost never a primary gun for me, which means among other things I don't often carry a reload.