Perfect Packin' Pistol

[Jimmymac46]

A number of years back, John Taffin coined the phrase perfect packin' pistol, as a way to describe just that. He initially defined the gun as a DA or SA revolver, with a 4" to 5 !/2" barrel, in any caliber capable of doing all duties......self defense, survival hunting, comfort of carry.

After being reminded of the PPP in a recent Amercian Handgunner issue, I have given considerable thought to what my PPP would be. Having owned nearly every caliber and barrel length of J, K, L, and N framed Smith's over the past 40 plus years, and with great difficulty, I have narrowed my personal opinion down to one gun. It was and remains a difficult choice which I have changed temporarily on a number of occasions....but I return to the same gun and am locked into it now.

My choice is made from precisely what Taffin invisioned....the perfect PACKIN' pistol. Packing is highlighted because that is what is of primary importance in this catagory. It may not be the 'perfect gun'.....but will do nearly everything and is capable of being carried regularly.

My decision is made with the following considerations.... small enough to be concealed.....light enough to not be uncomfortable after all day carry......durable enough to be relilable......powerful enough to perform most any task. To me, that means, smaller in frame, shorter in barrel, stainless construction, and the first number in the caliber begins with a four.

Before I reveal my PPP, I would like to expand Taffin's PPP to include automatic pistols as well as revolvers. Mr. Taffin is a world famous writer and expert on all firearms but has a history of being a big bore revolver guy. While I am also, I think it would be fun to open the category to all PPP's regardless of action. Why can't the PPP be an auto, or any configuration for that matter?

Knowing you are all waiting anxiously for me to reveal my PPP, without further ado, here are my choice(s). My favorite PPP, forgoing all my 'N' frames and my second runner up, a 629 Backpacker......I choose my model 696! Stainless, 'L' compact, 3 inch, adjustable sigthts, 44 Special. The best metal, perfect frame size, sufficent barrel length and adjustablility for sight radius and cartridge performance, and the finest caliber in a compact hangun available, IMO.

My PPP auto, for those of you who haven't decided I'm out of my mind and are still reading this.....the Colt Government model, Mark IV, Series 70, 45 ACP.

Now, what are your favorite FIRST choice PPP's?

 

[RobertJ.]

1. My 2.5" Model 19. Here on the North Oregon Coast, it fits all my requirements. We have black bear and cougar, but an encounter with one of them is pretty slim compared to a two legged predator. Small enough to carry and or conceal, large enough to be intimidating (especially from the business end, with hollow points peeking out the front of the cylinder), powerful enough to get the job done, and, even with the 2.5" barrel, accurate enough to hit a coffee can at 100 yards. Mine is no safe queen, so I'm not afraid to take it out in any kind of weather.

2. 6" 629. Although, if I moved back to Alaska, it would be #1.

 

[crofoot629]

You can't beat a 696.

Except my soulless Glock 27 holds more rounds, is smaller, and has way fewer sharp edges to dig into my rib cage, and I can actually shoot it better.

Ducking and running for cover,
Emory

 

[Combat_Diver]

Mine would be a 3" HB, RB K frame either a model 13 or 65. Have owned several over the years and they do any job I ask of them. Do wish smith made a .41 Mag on the L frame like your 696 and then I'll be in hog heaven.

CD

 

[Raspy]

I keep waivering between my beautiful 696 and my 3" Talo 686+.

For fun, the 696 is the one.

If I could only have one in an emergency the nod would go to the 686+ just because it carries two more rounds in the same size gun. It's also easier to get ammo for.

Going on a hike out in the country, or camping, and if I decided not to carry my SP101, the 686+ is the one again.

But all the while I'd be missing the 696. What is it about that thing?

 

[SuperMan]

...Mountain Gun...just pick your favorite caliber. My favorite is the 657 .41 Magnum but I also have the 629 .44 Magnum and 625 .45 ACP.

Semi-auto...my daily carry gun, Colt Commander .38 Super which has been hard chromed, BarSto barrel and MMC Tactical Adjustable night sights.

Runner-ups:
Taurus 4" Titanium Tracker .41 Magnum
S&W 60-10 3" AS .357 Magnum (Backpacking/boating/fishing gun)
S&W 357PD AirLite .41 or the 329PD in .44
Freedom Arms Model 97 4.25" barrel, round butt in .41 Mag or .44 Special
...another semi...Dan Wesson Commander Classic Bobtail in 10mm (don't own this one)

I own all of the above but if it came down to just one for daily day in and day out use it would be one of the MG in a good holster.

Bob

 

[NE450No2]

For a semiauto I would pick a 1911 Light Weight Commander in 45 ACP.
Best choice for the city IMHO...

In the field my pick is a S&W 44 Mag Mountain Gun.

 

[Dale53]

These verbal exercises are good fun. My trail gun varies depending upon where I am and what I'm doing.

One I have gone to often when bird hunting with my O/U shotgun is my S&W Model 60-4 in .38 Special. It's a dandy - I hardly know I am wearing it but it is quite effective for small game:

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with my Smith Model 631 (4" barreled .32 H&R Mag) for general use and small game.

If I am going to be in Black Bear country, then my 624 in .44 Special will probably get the nod:

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Poohgyrr]

For now, one of Smith's eight round .357's. This 3 1/2" blued version gets shot every trip to a range and not a problem yet.

 

[Stainz]

I liked J.T.'s PPP idea - a 625MG in .45 Colt. Of course, it requires a belt mounted holster - not exactly a CCW. As most of my needs are in state & federal parks these days - hiking - my go-to CCW of choice is my 2.5" 296 AirLite-Ti hammerless 5-shot .44 Special, where CC is legal. I love my 696, but, at 4 oz less than the 625MG, it needs a belt holster. The 296 rides in a pocket holster (Robert Mika) taking a little more room than my similarly pocketed 642. I carry a 240gr LSWC followed by 200gr Gold Dots. Here it is with the holster, urban ammo (All Gold Dots!), and two of my typical EDC pocket knives, a BM 710 & 760:

Not a great plinker, like my 696, but that isn't why I 'pack' it!

Stainz

 

[MTKTM]

There's another thread on "woods guns" which overlaps with this one quite a bit. I suppose it is just marginally less tilted toward the self-defense-from-bad-guys-and-zombies angle than this, more "sport" oriented, although it seems to me that a guy wandering about in the "woods", depending on where it is, is far far more likely to encounter a two-legged predator than a four-legged one.

Of the guns I currently own, my choice would have to be the 5" 627 8-shot 357. High round-count, accurate, capable of shooting 38 Specials for small game and plinking, but with 357 power for negative social and/or animal interactions. I live in griz country, and often carry a 4" 500 when in the back-country, but that's not nearly as "all around" as the 627.

A close second choice for me would be a 4" 625 in 45ACP, it's a sweet gun, very accurate and sufficiently powerful for most purposes, but just a tad less versatile than the 627 in my view.

 

[BSkerj]

Mine would have to be my 686+ in 4 inch, coupled with a Lobo pancake OWB holster.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I like my Colt LW Commander for carrying as it is flat, light, and holds eight cartridges. But a K frame, like this #65, can be carried, handled and shot by anyone eight to eighty simply by changing the stocks and ammo to fit the one using it.

 

[jimmyj]

Glock Model 23 or Model 27

 

[Larry from Bend]

Because Mountain Lions now call our area home (one was spotted about 2 miles from our buildings last month) this is what I should pack around here. It's a .357 Model 66.

But because it's so handy and unobtrusive, this is my favorite "packin' around the farm" handgun. It's a .38 Special Model 60.

 

[6pack]

My two current PPP are in my avatar pick.

The 442 is an excellent pocketer and the 57-5 will be riding in a Sourdough Pancake being made my Simply Rugged at this time.

The 442 goes most places with me....the 57-5 is going to be hopefully used on a deer and some hogs this year.

 

[bronco45]

44 Mtn Gun with 260grain SWCs Keith style traveling at 1100fps. Carried in a Mernickle PS Series holster and a speedloader with six and a belt slide with six.

 

[keith44spl]

Got Packin' Revolvers?

I like packin' these...Any ol' day,

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[DRYHEAT]

Good for concealed or open carry, 3" bbl., 7-shot, .357 Magnum.

 

[4-Screw]

If I was allowed to carry (do not move to IL), it would be a 66 2.5" with +P's(or 686 snub) over the 19. I would not carry .357s unless I was backpacking. The increased penetration is a huge issue.

-SS is much better for maintenance and holster wear.
-BUT, the blue can be better since it is less obvious and conspicuous (+1 for the 19)
-On the other hand, having a brighter gun can have it's advantages as well...an eye catcher
-My father carried a 19 2.5" as his off-duty weapon and then switched to a Model 60. In the 70's, if you all remember, men's jackets and suits were slimmer/tighter, and the 60 did not stick out as much in the shoulder holster as the 19...not much of an issue today.
-he also taught me...if you need more than 6 bullets, you are in A LOT of trouble.
-I do not care how many times you take your semi-auto to the range, I still would never trust one....even if you had it polished, throated, mag-welled, etc etc...when it hits the fan, I want to know when I pull that trigger, a round will be fired.

My $.02