I've been going back and forth between these two guns. I currently carry the m&p 9mm compact as my backup and off duty but I find it a little too bulky especially for summer concealed carry. Would the revolver be any less bulky than the compact? I know the bodyguard definitely would be I just like the idea of having a little more powerful round in the 38. Just can't seem to make up my mind so any opinions are welcome. Thanks

Less "bulky" size-wise or weight-wise? A J-frame Airweight/AirLite is about the best of all worlds in terms of concealed carry.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

Less bulky size wise

Look at a Springfield XDs .45 ACP.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

Go for the shield in 9mm or .40.

Not being a LEO I do not carry a BUG, but IF I DID it would be a gun that functioned exactly as the primary one does.

EXAMPLE: If I carried a M65 3" my BUG would be a M60 2". If I carried a Colt 1911 my BUG would be a smaller Mustang Pocketlite.

The reason for this is familiarity in the heat of a gun fight. I NEVER would want to have to remember which gun I had in my hands and how it functioned when seconds counts! I can deal with a smaller sizes gun as a BUG but personally don't like to mix different gun designs for SD.

I've been carrying some sort of J frame as a B/U or off-duty (before I retired) for over 40 yrs. While I've tried many, and sometimes carry my Keltec P32, the J frame is the one I always come back to. Its reliability is 100% and provides the best compromise of size, power, accuracy & reliability.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Neither, tuck a 442 in your pocket.

Attached Images

pocket.jpg (25.5 KB, 101 views)

I have a bunch of guns, and I as a BUG I would prefer the 642 to the BG380, 9c and the Shield.

What is it about the little lightweight 642 that is so awesome? I don't know, but it just hides anywhere and is a dream to carry. It's a beautiful piece of work besides.

I think loaded with Gold Dot 158 +P it is a pretty formidable weapon besides.

__________________
Kirk / Spock 2020

I carry a FNP45T on duty and a Colt Commander off duty but my BUG is a custom DAO 9mm scandium J frame. I don't like small autos for backups, to easy for something to "eff up" when you need it most - limp wristing, mag failure, out of battery, etc, etc, plus no contact shots. The J frame is great for dropping in a pocket for a quick run to the corner store and I'll carry it in an ankle holster when we go out to dinner or someplace where a bigger gun would be a pain to try and conceal effectively.

I understand and appreciate what Chief38 is saying about familiarity and staying with similar platforms, that is one reason I stay with only two - SA auto and DAO revolver. But, for me, the BUG is a last ditch/stick it in their gut and fire/get the hell off me gun and nothing works better for that than a DAO J frame. I have never had an issue switching back and forth between the two and it is something I train for, just like transitioning from rifle to sidearm and vice versa.

__________________
Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I carry a Scandium J frame in small pocket in my leather jacket. The revolver only weigh 12 ounces and has a little bulk but not much. I can get it out pretty fast if the need were ever to arise

It would be nice if S&W would reintroduce the 940, and offer it in a Centennial configuration. Absent a factory 9mm J-frame, that limited run of DAO 37-2s a while back made for perfect pocket revolvers.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

Without going into other recommendations, here's my opinion.

As far as compact handguns go, I've carried a G27, M&P40c, and a Ruger SR40c. While they are decent to carry, they aren't the most comfortable during the summer. I can appreciate where you're coming from.

I enjoy my 642. I can use it as a size reference since I don't own a 637.

While it is in general smaller than the 9c, the max width of the 9c and the cylinder width of the 637 are almost identical (I want to say around 1.3" but don't quote me). The overall length of these two guns is less than 1/2" different (the 637 being the shorter of the two). The biggest difference is the weight. Of the two guns the 637 would be more comfortable to carry for a prolonged time during the summer. (Except for the hammer. I PERSONALLY don't like hammers for concealed carry. I'm an IWB appendix carrier. That's why I chose the 642. Again, that part is personal preference.)

Compared to the BG380, even my 642 feels like a chunker. The BG is over an inch shorter in overall length, I believe 3oz lighter unloaded, and less than 1" wide (right around 3/4"). It is by far the most comfortable gun I own and carry.

Now as far as the caliber choice.... I won't get into that. You DO get two extra rounds with the BG, but is that a big enough advantage compared to a .38+P?

As far as size, weight, bulk, comfort / ease of carry goes, I give the BG the edge no question.

Again this is just my personal opinion and since everyone is mad differently, you're bound to have different opinions.

Now, my other recommendation that isn't the BG or 637: M&P Shield. It's surprisingly more comfortable to carry than my M&P 40c. As far as overall carry time my Shield .40 gets the most.

__________________
- The Federalist #46 -

I think many cops have had similar debates with themselves over the years.

First things first ...

How well can you shoot all of the guns you're using, or considering using, for off-duty weapons? Smaller size & lighter weight are all fine & dandy, but if you can't use a smaller gun safely, accurately, effectively & controllably in a dynamic, high stress situation ... are you really being practical?

I carried a variety of smallish off-duty weapons over my career, both revolvers and pistols (J-frames & a Ruger SP101DAO, as well as a 3913, CS9, G26/27, SW999c, CS45, 4040PD, M&P 40c, and others).

I eventually gravitated from the compact/subcompact pistols to a variety of J-frames, and for much the same reason as others ... lighter and smaller. Easier to carry on my own time. I did a lot of training/practice with them, though, and I was also a long time revolver shooter (carried an issued revolver as a young cop).

Last year, I finally bought my first .380 pistol in over 25 years ... a Ruger LCP. (It was just enough smaller than the BG380 to matter to me, and it was offered without the integral laser.)

Once I'd confirmed normal function with some different hollowpoint loads available to me, became accustomed to the revolver-like trigger stroke and experienced surprisingly great practical accuracy, it became a pretty common retirement CCW weapon. I live near the beaches and it gets warm in the summer months.

Like you, I tend to like the heavier bullets available in the modern defensive .38 +P loadings. (I typically carry Win 130gr +P PDX1 (RA38B in Ranger boxes), Speer 135gr +P or 125gr +P GDHP, Rem 125gr +P GS or Rem/Win 158gr LHP +P). I accept the potential for some reduced penetration with the newer designed hollowpoint .380's (if they expand), such as the Speer 90gr GDHP, Win 95gr T-Series and Rem 102gr GS HPJ.

It's one of those balanced trade-off, compromise things.

If I thought I was going to invoke my peace officer powers and take an enforcement action, obviously I'd much rather have a larger revolver or pistol than my J's or a .380 pocket pistol. Preferably one of my compact/subcompact 9's, .40's or .45's.

I can only make such a decision for myself, though. Over the years when our folks have asked such questions about off-duty/secondary weapons, I preferred to defer specific recommendations about what they ought to pick. Instead, I let them try a sampling of many guns I owned, or other instructors owned, or whatever might be in our training vault ... and let them run the guns that interested them through some qual courses or drills.

I wanted them to experience the guns for themselves, and decide which ones (make/model, size & caliber) actually worked best for them (meaning not what some other cop or gun store sales person may have told them was "best").

Some did better with one gun, but really wanted to pick something else, apparently having been influenced by friends, family, range/store sales persons or some magazine article. Well, okay ... as long as they can meet the minimum acceptable standards for handling & qualification.

Have you tried a BG380 on the range? If you can, run one through some familiarization drills and then try it through whatever qual course-of-fire you have available to you at your dept range.

The size of your hands might make the itty bitty .380's a "less than optimal" choice. It worked that way for a couple of our instructors. They just couldn't hold the little guns well enough for their comfort. They could easily hold and use their J-frames, though.

So ... pick whatever works best for you, in your circumstances. Cop out, huh?

I'll continue to own and use both my several J's, as well as my little LCP ... and I've thought about maybe picking up a BG380 sometime (if only because I can get one for a LE discount, or as an armorer).

Luck to you in your decision. It doesn't have to work for the rest of us, just you.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I agree that it is personal preference. The 637 is what I carry. J frame revolvers are what I bought for my daughters for house guns. Yiogo

My duty gun is a 4 inch S&W Model 686. My back-up gun is a S&W Model 37.

My primary concealed carry gun is a 3 inch S&W Model 13. My back-up gun is.........a S&W Model 37.

The irregular shape of a J-Frame revolver is more concealable in a pocket than a smaller semiautomatic.

ECS

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I appreciate everyone's input. Obviously everyone has different opinions but I like to see why people select certain guns. I'm
leaning towards the revolver. I like the reliability and I currently only own semi-autos so it'd be nice to have variety. But I will be taking the advice of shooting first before I maks the final decision

While the 442/642 are powerful J Frame choices, don't overlook the very functional and storied M49 (or 649) or the Airweight counterpart, the M38 or 638.

Humpbacks are pretty special.

Be advised there's usually a bit of a learning curve when first using a DA/DAO revolver. As an instructor, I'd much rather take an experienced revolver shooter and transition them over to pistols, than the other way around.

The very attributes that make the little 5-shot DA/DAO guns so practical and attractive for lawful concealed carry also make them more difficult for many people to shoot accurately & controllably.

By that, I mean their light weight (which varies a lot, depending on the model and materials used); reduced grip frame size (small grips and reduced trigger reach, usually offering less of a "mechanical advantage", and more diffifculty in controlling them under recoil); a heavy DA/DAO revolver trigger stroke (which requires a complete trigger recovery in order to operate it for the next shot), short barrel (shorter sight radius and left forward heft to help with recoil, as well as more muzzle blast), and more rudimentary sights (not as easily clearly seen and picked up under some light conditions). Things like that.

The weight can run from steel to aluminum alloy, or even lighter when it comes to Scandium aluminum frame models that have titanium cylinders. Light off a .38 +P or .357 Magnum in a Ti/Sc 5-shot Airlite and see the world from a different perspective.

Many folks can usually find some combination of model, weight and caliber, as well as some ammo choice (standard pressure .38, +P or Magnum), to suit their skillset and perceived needs, or simply their level of range enjoyment for frequent practice.

I have more than half a dozen J's. Only 2 of them are steel models (and one of those is an excellent older 3" Heavy Barrel M36). The rest are either aluminum or Scandium aluminum, with 2 of the Scandium guns being M&P 340's (one with & one without the lock ... as an excuse to own 2 of that model, since I REALLY like the XS front night sight for my aging eyes ).

If you can learn to use one well enough to stake lives on being able to use it under the stresses of an unexpected dynamic, rapidly evolving chaotic, life-threatening situation, probably in bad light ... it makes it a decent choice for those times when you want to be lawfully armed, but don't want to lug around a compact or full-size belt weapon.

Know anyone who will let you borrow theirs for some trigger time at your dept range? Run some courses-of-fire and whatever demanding drills you may have available, and see if you want to put in the time and money (ammo) to become a skilled revolver shooter.

Some folks take to it like a duck to water, and some have to really work at it.

The bottom line is that the .38 snubs and little .380's have been saving the lives of cops when employed as secondary/backup weapons, and they can allow you to be armed off-duty when you might be inclined to leave larger guns at home.

Both take effort and practice, though. No free lunch.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer