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.

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.

I agree with Engine49guy. The Airweight 38 Special is the way to go. I carry the 642 (Enclosed Hammer) for the Summer and move to my 40 Compact for colder days.
Don't limit yourself to just one and done!

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BrassTacks

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.

Some form of a 1911 , or a small frame .44 Special revolver. Or a PPK/S

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!

Now there is some great advice!

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.

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.

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.

Ain't that the truth.

I disagree. This can be quantified. We can deduce using reason and logic which is superior for self-defense.

Put another way, what handgun is superior for saving your life: a 5-shot J-Frame, 6-shot K-Frame, or a Performance Center 1911 9-shot 9MM?

We can do the metrics & factually determine superiority w/o opinion. Just the facts, ma'am.

I agree to a point, but it depends on the scenario. What's inherently better in one situation may not be better in another. I'll take an enclosed hammer J-Frame over any auto or full sized revolver in an ECQ scenario, but in a ranged gunfight, I would prefer a high capacity auto.

Gimme five!..Up high, down low..tap rack, tooo slow! 340PD all day, year round.

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.

This is my philosophy as well. I carry an issued Glock 23 with one spare mag on the belt and a 442 with one speed strip in the strong side hip pocket.
Either can be primary depending on the circumstances.
With my hand already properly gripping the 442 still in the pocket , I can draw and fire and usually hit a sheet of typing paper at fifteen feet in two seconds. Working on improving my first shot accuracy to hit the black of a B-8 target in the same time restriction.
Our training Lieutenant was amazed by how fast a snub .38 can be drawn and fired from the pants pocket as described above.
When I ever decide to retire, I suspect a snub .38 will be an everyday companion.
I have tried numerous small auto pistols and they, in my view, are holster guns and not suited for pocket carry. A small snag free revolver is nearly perfect for that job.

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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Do you shoot other striker-fired guns such as the SD9 or M&P as well?

Did you mean XD9? I had a xd40 tac and put a 9mm stormlake? Conversion barrel. It was an incredible gun. I sold it, in the "great caliber consolidation of 2011?" I don't know how many of you went through those. Just get rid of a whole caliber. Pretty dumb huh. Now I'm considering a CZ in a 40 or a 1911 in a 40. 40s were great. Ugh! I miss them.


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Yeah I was wanting XD, Dang typing fad, like smokeless powder! LOL

I am very partial to 357sig and would like an M&P 2.0 compact or even one of the SD-9VE in the caliber.

My XD was a great accurate gun. I sometimes look at them now and want to buy it again. I shot 9 and 40 in mine. I think I might've shot the glock about the same- and the glock being a range gun had many thousands in it probably and was better than I imagined.
The only thing I did with my XD was the drop in barrel down to a 9 and two 9mm mags.
I really regret selling it. But everytime I want to buy one again- I end up with another revolver.


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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

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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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

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 .

All my auto carry pistols have short reset triggers and am finding I am having the same problems as you with my new 686+ PC !!

I am short stroking it about half the time and any rapid fire probably better then half .. Its a hard habit to break since I am use to shooting autos these last few years ..

Shooting both My Beretta PX-4 and my Sig Leg P229 in 40 with the SR triggers I do fine .. but still short stroking the revolver ..

So won't be carrying it anytime soon and it won't be the bedside pistol for awhile till I am more use to the triggers full release to reset ..

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$.

Please do a report on your K6S.

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.

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 Cop
LEO (Ret.)

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.

As much as I love revolvers, For concealed carry I chose the Glock.

Me too. I love my revolvers and carry my 686 sometimes, but the Glock gets the job 99% of the time.

How can you assess a threat to where your going before you get there an know what is going on ???

Neither a 357 or a semi

I chose a 325PD
if I want smaller I have a 396

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.

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.

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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642-1, M&P15 TS

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.

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.

Attached Images

	9-'52 Baby back strap.jpg (37.7 KB, 95 views)
	9-'52 Baby relieved trigger guard.jpg (44.6 KB, 94 views)
	9-'52 Baby right $5 gold piece from 2000.jpg (98.2 KB, 121 views)
	a big snub.jpg (83.8 KB, 104 views)
	bison x-draw for the 460.jpg (94.4 KB, 98 views)

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

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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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

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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Certified Curmudgeon

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

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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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

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?

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.

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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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Heavy revolver, not a fan of plastic.

in terms of self defense , which gun provides the greatest reliability , ease of use & accuracy?

carry it....

I want it to be a surprise.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan