OLDSTER
Member
642 or 442 with a nice trigger job and Pachmayr Compaq combat grips and good holster--Sweeeet!!!!
Revolvers vs Semi
- Thread starter jerbehr
- Start date
Another revolver to consider is the Ruger SP101, if you want a hammer on your gun. (They do make a bobbed hammer model, as well.) It is heavier than most of the comparable S&W J-frames, which might make it a little less attractive for carry, but it also is very strong and durable, and does not have a lock. The Ruger LCR has already been mentioned, and that is a very good carry revolver, and has a very nice trigger pull.
The Shield is one of the best small semis on the market right now, IMO. It's not really a pocket gun, like a 442/642 or the LCR, but it carries very well IWB.
The Shield is one of the best small semis on the market right now, IMO. It's not really a pocket gun, like a 442/642 or the LCR, but it carries very well IWB.
smithman 10
US Veteran
AZretired
Member
Seems like I've tried everything over the years and always end up up back with the tried and true J frame 38
I can see where you would want to be able to cock the hammer if you had he time to do so. You can get a Smith with a built in hammer shroud that would allow you to thumb the hammer spur for SA yet covers the hammer enough to keep it from hanging on your clothing
whw
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After many years of trying all kinds of firearms, I finally decided to try and match the advantages of the pistol with the scenario I am most likely to encounter.
I'm 50+ and a civilian that will probably not experience a self defense scenario unless it is up close and personal. It is likely that I won't have time for a sight picture and I will discharge the firearm while it is held close to my body.
For that reason, I selected a gun platform that is less likely to jam when held next to the body and won't go out of battery when pressed against someone's rib cage or belly. The revolver excels in this scenario because I don't have to worry about it going out of battery or suffering a failure due to the slide being blocked or hindered in some way.
Life is full of trade offs and unknowns. Study the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, and then decide which works best for the scenario you are most likely to encounter. If you are kicking in doors of drug houses, I would not recommend a revolver.
I would like to add that being an older guy has led me to seek simplicity in life, and revolvers are simple to operate. I don't have to worry about magazine lips bending, magazine springs weakening, FTF, FTE, stove pipes, bullet set back, tap rack bang, etc... Revolvers are relaxing for me. I hope your choice brings the same level of comfort to you.
whw
I'm 50+ and a civilian that will probably not experience a self defense scenario unless it is up close and personal. It is likely that I won't have time for a sight picture and I will discharge the firearm while it is held close to my body.
For that reason, I selected a gun platform that is less likely to jam when held next to the body and won't go out of battery when pressed against someone's rib cage or belly. The revolver excels in this scenario because I don't have to worry about it going out of battery or suffering a failure due to the slide being blocked or hindered in some way.
Life is full of trade offs and unknowns. Study the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, and then decide which works best for the scenario you are most likely to encounter. If you are kicking in doors of drug houses, I would not recommend a revolver.
I would like to add that being an older guy has led me to seek simplicity in life, and revolvers are simple to operate. I don't have to worry about magazine lips bending, magazine springs weakening, FTF, FTE, stove pipes, bullet set back, tap rack bang, etc... Revolvers are relaxing for me. I hope your choice brings the same level of comfort to you.
whw
Last edited:
BobC357
Member
As noted by others, square guns are slimmer and wheel guns are more reliable. Square guns hold more rounds than wheel guns.
Learn to use and enjoy both equally well and you'll be in great shape!
Learn to use and enjoy both equally well and you'll be in great shape!
Delos
Member
being comfortable
Well, Mr jerbehr, let me try hard to make a complex subject short. As others have indicated you will probably end up trying them all, then knowing your comfort area. First let me mention some items seldom mentioned, or not at all.
Sound decibel meters do not read peak pressure, just total sound. I have lost a lot of my hearing around missiles, jet planes, 357 mag, 30:06, and I have no more to lose without soon using hearing aids. So I favor low pressure cartridges with moderate to heavy bullets, that do not break the sound barrier. I might be wrong.
I usually like single column magazines because they are thinner and I think they are more reliable. It takes less magazine spring strength to lift a single column of cartridges.
In a perfect world that might be single column 9mm sub sonic. If the 9mm was not a 35,000 psi cartridge.
I cheat my own logic by usually having double column loaded half full on house pistol (the spring must lift all the cartridges up high enough for the slide to grab another round in a very short period of time).
I shall no doubt gravitate back to a 45 auto. that is 21,000 psi.
Bone conduction of sound to ears is supposedly a big deal. Behind the ears is most sensitive they say. However it is the forehead that faces forward the most directly so a reasonable baseball cap is probably some help. I use earplugs and the highest rated earmuffs even when riding my lawn mower.
The standard load for a 38 special is 17,000 psi. I dearly love my little J frame chiefs specials so they are the most often with me on the trails. If I was riding a horse I would be carrying 44 specials with 6 inch barrels.
I know the short barrel revolvers are short. Sorta. But in the semi auto's they measure from the head of the bullet. Please do mine the same favor, or at least measure from the front of the bullet.
Anyway spend some time with the auto pistols and get accustomed to checking how everything feels. Including not only the spring tension on old and new magazines but the feel of the recoil spring when you rack the slide, the feel of the extractor spring when you push on extractor with slide locked back. The feel and sound of the magazine locking in place. And for me I must watch the first cartridge chamber moderately slow into the chamber. Does it slide nicely up under the extractor. Does it go almost perfect into the chamber - or does it hit low on the feed ramp. Does the kick of a +plus P shell hit your hand a bit hard and throw the shell excessively high. If I was going to shoot them regularly I would buy a slightly stronger recoil spring. But I am not interested in +P.
Revolvers are comfortable to own and shoot and to reload for. Open the cylinder, empty out the cartridges, work the action, watch and listen as you drop the shells back in, close the cylinder and give it a last wiggle so you know it is not binding. But it all depends. Listen to what the retired police say. They have years of experience.
When you drop the shells in do they clink down level like a clean revolver should. Is the ejector level with the rest of the cylinder or does it have some dirt under it. Did your copper bore brush lose a wire or two under the extractor or somewhere. When the brush begins losing wires buy a new one. Make sure your wire brush is for handguns, and can come out the back of the barrel of revolver so wires are free and straight. Not bent back inside the barrel and difficult to remove.
Your eyes will effortlessly memorize what you are looking for. After oiling the bore and chamber wipe it off with dry patch. If you use bore solvents follow directions exactly. No wet solvent when cartridges back in your handgun.
Well, Mr jerbehr, let me try hard to make a complex subject short. As others have indicated you will probably end up trying them all, then knowing your comfort area. First let me mention some items seldom mentioned, or not at all.
Sound decibel meters do not read peak pressure, just total sound. I have lost a lot of my hearing around missiles, jet planes, 357 mag, 30:06, and I have no more to lose without soon using hearing aids. So I favor low pressure cartridges with moderate to heavy bullets, that do not break the sound barrier. I might be wrong.
I usually like single column magazines because they are thinner and I think they are more reliable. It takes less magazine spring strength to lift a single column of cartridges.
In a perfect world that might be single column 9mm sub sonic. If the 9mm was not a 35,000 psi cartridge.
I cheat my own logic by usually having double column loaded half full on house pistol (the spring must lift all the cartridges up high enough for the slide to grab another round in a very short period of time).
I shall no doubt gravitate back to a 45 auto. that is 21,000 psi.
Bone conduction of sound to ears is supposedly a big deal. Behind the ears is most sensitive they say. However it is the forehead that faces forward the most directly so a reasonable baseball cap is probably some help. I use earplugs and the highest rated earmuffs even when riding my lawn mower.
The standard load for a 38 special is 17,000 psi. I dearly love my little J frame chiefs specials so they are the most often with me on the trails. If I was riding a horse I would be carrying 44 specials with 6 inch barrels.
I know the short barrel revolvers are short. Sorta. But in the semi auto's they measure from the head of the bullet. Please do mine the same favor, or at least measure from the front of the bullet.
Anyway spend some time with the auto pistols and get accustomed to checking how everything feels. Including not only the spring tension on old and new magazines but the feel of the recoil spring when you rack the slide, the feel of the extractor spring when you push on extractor with slide locked back. The feel and sound of the magazine locking in place. And for me I must watch the first cartridge chamber moderately slow into the chamber. Does it slide nicely up under the extractor. Does it go almost perfect into the chamber - or does it hit low on the feed ramp. Does the kick of a +plus P shell hit your hand a bit hard and throw the shell excessively high. If I was going to shoot them regularly I would buy a slightly stronger recoil spring. But I am not interested in +P.
Revolvers are comfortable to own and shoot and to reload for. Open the cylinder, empty out the cartridges, work the action, watch and listen as you drop the shells back in, close the cylinder and give it a last wiggle so you know it is not binding. But it all depends. Listen to what the retired police say. They have years of experience.
When you drop the shells in do they clink down level like a clean revolver should. Is the ejector level with the rest of the cylinder or does it have some dirt under it. Did your copper bore brush lose a wire or two under the extractor or somewhere. When the brush begins losing wires buy a new one. Make sure your wire brush is for handguns, and can come out the back of the barrel of revolver so wires are free and straight. Not bent back inside the barrel and difficult to remove.
Your eyes will effortlessly memorize what you are looking for. After oiling the bore and chamber wipe it off with dry patch. If you use bore solvents follow directions exactly. No wet solvent when cartridges back in your handgun.
Clovishound
Member
Obviously, the decision is very subjective. I have had to qualify and carry both. I prefer a semi. One reason is that I do not particularly care for a short barreled revolver. I recently got a deal on a 4" Model 10, and love shooting it at the range, but it is not the most comfortable/concealable weapon to carry. My EDC is a compact 9mm. I tried the single stacks, and didn't care much for the ergonomics of them.
I really like a striker fired weapon for carry. It has the same pull regardless of whether it is the first one out of the pipe or not. I am not a big fan of DAO. That is a personal thing. The striker is a trade off between a short, light, crisp trigger pull that is probably only suitable for the range, and a long, hard pull that is probably much safer for carry, but not so good for accuracy.
If you go with a semi, I would recommend getting one with either a manual safety, or one that can be carried decocked. Too many incidents out there of NDs while holstering, even with trained individuals. You will need to train thumbing off the safety on draw, once the weapon clears the holster.
If you don't have the time, or desire to spend some quality range/training time with your weapon, then a revolver would probably be a better choice.
Either can be used effectively for self defense, and the choice depends on your likes and dislikes, and what you are comfortable with.
I really like a striker fired weapon for carry. It has the same pull regardless of whether it is the first one out of the pipe or not. I am not a big fan of DAO. That is a personal thing. The striker is a trade off between a short, light, crisp trigger pull that is probably only suitable for the range, and a long, hard pull that is probably much safer for carry, but not so good for accuracy.
If you go with a semi, I would recommend getting one with either a manual safety, or one that can be carried decocked. Too many incidents out there of NDs while holstering, even with trained individuals. You will need to train thumbing off the safety on draw, once the weapon clears the holster.
If you don't have the time, or desire to spend some quality range/training time with your weapon, then a revolver would probably be a better choice.
Either can be used effectively for self defense, and the choice depends on your likes and dislikes, and what you are comfortable with.
whw
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I wouldn't either, but it is the only option for the lead with the shield. Some still prefer the revolver because there have been some instances in which the shield actually interfered with the slide and caused a malfunction.
whw
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Another old guy here, but one who has owned more pistols than revolvers. I liked some of them very well, including a lovely CZ75, and G22 and G19 Glocks. But now my EDC gun is a Smith 640 made in 1990, .38 Special +P, which I carry in a front pocket holster loaded with the old FBI/Metro recipe. I had a good smith give it a nice trigger job and put an orange insert into the front sight blade.
I trust it implicitly to speak its lines on cue. I can if necessary shoot it repeatedly from inside a pocket. The concealed hammer nearly eliminates the risk of snagging and keeps lint and stuff out of the action. With the 21-ounce weight and Pachmayr Compac grips it's controllable and comfortable to shoot. No safety to fumble, no worry about it firing if in a red-alert situation I'm forced to take a less-than-perfect grip, no magazine to drop. The option of single-action fire is not one I want--far too easy in extremis to accidentally pop a cap before I meant to.
I liked my pistols, especially the Glock .40; but in my old age a revolver seems to make more sense. My head-of-the-bed gun is a Model 10-5. But your mileage may, etc.
I trust it implicitly to speak its lines on cue. I can if necessary shoot it repeatedly from inside a pocket. The concealed hammer nearly eliminates the risk of snagging and keeps lint and stuff out of the action. With the 21-ounce weight and Pachmayr Compac grips it's controllable and comfortable to shoot. No safety to fumble, no worry about it firing if in a red-alert situation I'm forced to take a less-than-perfect grip, no magazine to drop. The option of single-action fire is not one I want--far too easy in extremis to accidentally pop a cap before I meant to.
I liked my pistols, especially the Glock .40; but in my old age a revolver seems to make more sense. My head-of-the-bed gun is a Model 10-5. But your mileage may, etc.
Like everybody else I've tried several varieties for ccw. Looked at various factors and a big one for me was day to day clothing and where I'm at. In Florida I end up in shorts and thin shirts most often. Even in the "winter" I'm rarely wearing a jacket.
So in the end I went with a kahr cm9. Single stack, light weight, and is comfortable. Glock was just not comfy in my situation. Also I thought about the reality of an event. This ccw is just to help me get away from the situation ASAP.
Revolver carry was fine as well just a bit bulky on the cylinder as noted above. Maybe if I dressed different or was up north with more clothingy options would change.
In the end as long as you are comfortable with the carry and use of the firearm it'll work for you.
So in the end I went with a kahr cm9. Single stack, light weight, and is comfortable. Glock was just not comfy in my situation. Also I thought about the reality of an event. This ccw is just to help me get away from the situation ASAP.
Revolver carry was fine as well just a bit bulky on the cylinder as noted above. Maybe if I dressed different or was up north with more clothingy options would change.
In the end as long as you are comfortable with the carry and use of the firearm it'll work for you.
To answer this question, I like my 642 because as Shoulda said, the closed action eliminates dirt, lint and debris from getting into the action.
I can stuff my 642 in a pocket or backpack and not worry about something getting into an open hammer pocket.
I used to carry a Shield, but that is back at S&W for the very reason that whw doesn't carry a semi.... the slide stayed out of battery if bumped.
I went back to my 3913 because it always works, never a glitch.
But just yesterday I was reacquainted with my beautiful 642 (it was commandeered by my wife for nightstand duty) when I picked out a pair of slacks for church that the 3913 wasn't going to be able to ride IWB in. Somehow these slacks have shrunk hanging in my closet.
The 642 rode OWB in a Blackhawk Compact Askins holster and felt great.
When you have a lot of great guns they have to take turns going on outings with you. Maybe someday I'll be wise enough to know which gun is THE perfect gun to carry, but I don't know that yet.
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