What revolver do you depend on in a defensive situation? Whether it's concealed carry, open carry, vehicle defense, or home defense. I want to hear from everyone that depends on those trusty wheel guns. Which brands, models, calibers, size, and set up are you using when it counts the most? And if you've got pictures, do post them!

Also, if you carry a semi-auto in place of a revolver feel free to let us know what you've got!

Have at it.

model 60 3 inch 357. I shoot it better than any of my other guns.

Very nice!!! I love 3"bbl .357's

There are 2 . A 4" Highway Patrolman and a 6" Colt M357 .

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Mitch

586 the few times I chose to carry a wheelgun.

A 65/66.
A 625.
A 696.
Because they run, and run, and run, and....................

Ruger SP101, w/158 gr. .357 rounds. .... because some day I'll have a nice Smith like y'all.

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Don't need no stinkin' sigline

Right now it's a 642. I really want to trade my M&P9 for a 3" Model 60 .357 or a SP101 3" .357. Can't decide which one I want. I'll most likely always have that 642 with me, just want something a little bigger with a little more oomph!

Car Guns: S&W 640-1 Centennial Magnums (I have one in each car)

House Guns: Besides the SIG 220 and/or Glock 22 Auto Pistols there is a 4" 686-1M at my bedside. It has Mepro Nite Sights.

My carry gun is a 22-4 Thunder Ranch, which I also keep on my nightstand, which has a 45colt Mountain Gun in the drawer, along with a bunch of mooncliped 45acp ammon and loose 45colt ammo. My wife occasionally carries a 640 with 38+p ammo. I sometimes carry the 640 if weather or clothing make the Thunder Ranch impractical.

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Hastings

A model 65-5 3" during the foul weather and a Ruger SP 101 2.25" 357 in summer time.

Both guns very accurate and loaded with Buffalo Bore 158grain LSWCHP +Ps, they are accurate and give a quick follow up shot.

For the last several years it's been a M60. It's about to be retired back to the safe though for an auto, a M&P 40C. I seldom carry on my waist, normallly it's in a Galco Ankle Glove. The M&P will replace the 60 in an ankle holster. When I do carry on my waist it's a 1st generation Shorty 40 in a Mitch Rosen ARG (Ayoob Rear Gaurd when I bought it), now it's Amercian Rear Gaurd.

Cheers,
Sam

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Beware the man with one gun...

When i'm not carrying my 686 .357

I'm carrying my sig 229 chambered in 357

Thanks for asking John, I don't currently carry. I am going to pick up my first center fire handgun this week, and I will be open carrying. I like 1911's, .357 revolvers, and the feel of the Glock 19/23. I've been lurking on alot of forums and trying to get a feel for what most people prefer as a defensive sidearm.
I've shot a 1911, loved it. Shot a S&W 686 .357 and loved it, along with various other pistols and revolvers. So I guess I don't have a preference just yet.
What do you think would be a good gun for OC, and home/vehicle protection? And alot of range time of course.

P.S. Thanks everybody for sharing what you carry!

-Jake

biggs357,
That's a nice looking holster you got there, how do you like it? Also, very nice Sig, from what I've heard they are extemely well made and durable.

You guessed it John, I'm very excited!

I want to open carry because I don't have a CCW permit and open carry is legal in my state (NC), so I thought I give it a try. I'll mostly just have it in my car, not concealed of course, and at the house, but I want OC as an option.

And I agree with you about OCing a gun without a safety. I am considering a Glock, among various 1911's, and revolvers. I will not OC with out a holster with retention, like a Serpa or something with a thumb snap.

But even with the Glock I almost feel like I should carry it without one in the tube. That's why say a 1911, or another model gun with a safety might be better in the case it gets into the wrong hands they probably won't know how to use it. And it would just make me feel safer knowing my finger is not the only safety precaution.

Anyways, what you reccomend at a $500 max budget?

Thanks.

I'm not a fan of carrying only one gun. The first gun you get should be the one you can carry all the time. The only revolver I have that always works is my NAA Black Widow. It is always in my strong side front pocket and is only ever used as a BUG. When possible I carry a 5" 629 (5" full underlug barrel) as a primary. For many the smallest gun that always works is a J frame such as the 442, or 642. Usually my weak side front pocket has a 360 PD with Speer SB .357s (more recoil than most people will put up with) or a Taurus 605 with full power 125 gr. .357s (nasty recoil also). I started by carrying a 4" 586 IWB and think that a 4" L frame is the perfect belt gun. Get the small guns first.

In the house, a 4" Model 29-2 loaded with 200gr. .44 Special Gold Dot Blazers.

When I'm not going to need to disarm, a 3" Model 65 loaded with the Federal 158gr. LSWC-HP .38 Special "FBI" load.

When I'm going to have to disarm a lot, a 2" Model 36 loaded with the Federal "FBI" load.

An old M-36 in a pocket, IWB, or OWB holster. I bought the M-36
J frame for CCW. The .38 spl.+P caliber fills the bill for me. It's my devoted carry gun. No reason to get something else. Bob

You've got some nice stuff!
And I agree that a snub nose .357 has some down right nasty recoil when used with full power loads.

Sounds like a nice set-up there. Do you worry about the .44 Specials going through interior walls into other rooms?

My house gun is a Model 28 with the .38 Special 'FBI" load in the cylinder and 125 grain Remington Golden Sabre .357 in the speed loaders. My carry gun is a Model 649 with .357 110 grain SJHP in the cylinder and 135 grain Speer JHP in the speed loader. I do like to rotate occasionally.

No more so than I would with .45acp JHPs. You can get too worried about such things to the point where you're compromising your own safety with an ineffective firearm or ammunition. My plan is to not shoot wildly and to make my shots count.

Very good answer , and you very right in the fact that you don't want to get so worried that you end up with an ineffective weapon.

Nice, how many speed loaders do you usually carry?

For me it's always my 642-1 loaded w\ Buffalo Bore's version of the FBI load w\ Crimson Trace LG405, usually in front pants pocket in a Uncle Mike's #3....however, like it even better OWB in my LoboGunleather Pancake holster. If the situation is in my house in the middle of the night it would prolly be my 66-2 2.5" w/ Crimson Trace 306's & loaded w\ Buffalo Bore tactical Short Barrel .357 low flash, low recoil.

Is that open carry or concealed?

I have a 3" S&W 65-3, DAO w/bobbed hammer, currently loaded with Speer 135-grain SB Gold Dots.





It's wearing Ahrends grips in the pictures. While they fit and look great, they're a little too slippery during shooting for my tastes. It's currently wearing a set of Magna stocks with a Tyler T-Grip adapter.

Thank you for sharing!!! I like that gun alot!

My bedside gun is a 4-inch Ruger Speed Six loaded with .38 Spec +P. For carry, it's been either a 39-2 (pocket carry) or a 640 (belt or SmartCarry), depending on circumstances. I finally found a nice 2-3/4 inch Speed Six, which will probably replace the 640 -- when I can convince my wife to carry the 640 -- which she likes alot and shoots well, but doesn't yet see the need to carry. (At least I convinced her to get her carry license!)

When I'm in the revolver mood it's a 2 inch model 64 for me. I would just rather have a little extra weight on my hip than my little finger hanging off the end of a j-frame. I also use Buffalo Bore's LSWCHP load

S&W 36

or

Speed Six .357 2.75"

Worked today, S&W 396 strong side right in Galco Summer Comfort IWB, S&W 296 in Hume JIT 11 on the clock crossdraw, and a 642 in left front pocket in a Null Pocket holster.

No pictures, but my youngest Grandson is home from college and I am going to try to get him to teach me how to post pictures--he will need lots of patience.

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the world is round everywhere

seniordep2010, I usually carry one speed loader. My heavier, winter weather coat has deep zippered pockets so I could carry two or more if I wanted. Carrying one doesn't make any noise. I know speed strips are popular and I would try them if I could find them locally. The cost plus shipping seems a little steep for what you are getting buying from an on-line store.

I too prefer to carry 2 revolvers. A 642 resides in the weak side front pocket and is loaded with .38 Hornady Critical Defense. A 2.5" Model 66 or 3" Model 65 rides strong side OWB and is loaded with Speer Gold Dot .357 during the cold weather months.

When carrying in the summer months, the Model 66 is replaced with an IWB holster that holds a Model 640. Same .357 rounds are used.

Strong side front pocket holds two speed strips of .38 of Speer Gold Dot. I can always add a third gun in an ankle holster. The S&W M&P 340 is a great ankle gun with outstanding sights.

Good luck. There are a lot of excellent choices.

whw

carry- model 36
home- 4" security-six

M&P 2" or a 642 and/or 25-5 6" or a 57 6" or a 24 3" and sometimes a Single Action Army and am never far from my 1911s

Thanks for all the replies guys, it's really cool to know what every uses on a day to day basis.

M325sc with Crimson Trace LG-206.

Carried in a strong side Threepersons from El Paso Saddlery.

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"DE OPPRESSO LIBER"

S&W Model 27-2 with 3.5 inch barrel

She's maybe not the prettiest revolver S&W ever made but fits the bill for me as a carry selection.

649-5



And yes I carry and shoot full power 125's. With the extended grip it's controllable. Have also been known to cary Golden Sabers.

Home defense and maybe occasional CC:

Those are some good pictures. And I really like that 640-1 James.

2.5" or 3" 66, pre lock of course. Regards 18DAI.

Glock 27 for CC in waistband Uncle Mikes cheap holster.

During the winter months? My 696 gets the holster ride.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

All depends on the situation, different tools for different jobs.

Hunting/woods hiking sidearm - 629 Mountain Gun

Dog walking gun - 3" 66

Weekend pocket carry (jeans/cargo shorts) - 640-1

Weekday pocket carry (slacks) - 642-1

Same here--model 60-10, 3 inch barrel, Pachmayr "gripper" grips and Federal 125 gr jhp

Are those +Ps or .357s? Welcome to the forum.

I carry a M 66 2-1/2" most of the time loaded with Winchester .38spl+p silvertips.
my house gun is a M 28-2 4" loaded with 158gr.357magnums and I sometimes carry it also.
The M66 is a -6 (new in 2002) and has the lock/flag removed.
my full time house gun and camp gun is a M 686-2 6" loaded with 170 gr .357magnums.

Attached Images

	M66 FINISHED 2.JPG (140.5 KB, 169 views)
	S&W M 28 4.JPG (68.2 KB, 98 views)
	000_6362.jpg (223.3 KB, 81 views)

Mine is a S&W M60, 1 7/8" barrel with Pachmeyer "Compact Professional" grips. Bianchi Pocket Change holser....with me 24/7

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G.P. Charlie