What is the best CC 357

[afghanhound]

Which S&W would you recommend to CC? Is a 357 a reasonable CC and is there one small enough to CC? Or, should I down size to a 38? I realize in winter time, CC is easier, but I also wish to CC in the summer, so I need to decide what to get and also what type of holster would be the least visible. Not sure I could carry in my pocket or those holsters inside the pants, would have to try that last one first. I am not interested in a 22, I want something with a little more impact. My main gun is now a 357Magnum that I use 357 hollow points or 38+P in. It's a 2.5 inch barrel, 7 rds. But I find it to be rather large for CC. Help!

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Look at the 640, small and hammerless, great for CC. Or go with the 642, will accept 38 +P (for a good smack to your hand). Lots of carry options, stainless to protect your investment. 38 will do the job at close range.

 

[colt_saa]

Half of these little guys are 357

However they do require practice

 

[Flattops]

Model 640

Model 640. Hand down. I have a 640-1 with factory (front) night sight, Stainless, no lock, magna's, and it carries well, and shoots even better. They DO require practice. but, if you enjoy shooting, thats not really an issue.....

 

[BigBill]

I have also carried a ruger police service six in 357mag with a 2 3/4" barrel inbetween the 44magnum. Easy to conceal with an in the pants holster any easy to shoot with the shorter barrel. But the now owning a s&w combat masterpiece in 38 special I would prefer this one over the ruger. If I was going to purchase another 357mag revolver today it would be the 4" barrel I would get. It's easy to conceal too. Plus the 4" barrel would be more comfortable to shoot too.

 

[tjpopkin]

I have carried everything from .44 Mag to .380acp,and I now carry a .357.

a Model 629 (3"); a PC 66-4; to a Modified PPK (weight and conceal), to a Sig 238 (I love this little gun), to more power (my PC Shorty 45) another fabulous gun,; but later, a gun that is LIGHT and large, PC 625-10,; and the best compromise, a .357 I hate to shoot....the amazing Model 340.

I carry the 340 everywhere and know the punch on the front end is far worse than the recoil....and that is bad enough!


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43 years of CC....lots of favorites, but the 340 is unbeatable...you are hardly aware it is there, but it is reassuring.

Needed a CC gun only once, I was carjacked in 1994, and I had the PPK on my belt. When I exited the car, I drew down, and the assailant (who only had a knife) was done. At the time I had two mags full of SuperVel 90gr. loads (very similar to CorBons) and I nearly used them....good news....I did NOT!

Terry

 

[CAV]

I also carry a 340 and will highly recommend it. Mine is the M&P no lock version and I never leave home with out it.

Not much "winter carry" where I live but I can pocket carry this model in everything from shorts to dress pants.

 

[Macinaw]

+1 on the M&P 340. I carry mine everyday. If the gun is too big it will be left behind.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I am partial to the short barreled K frame revolvers.

 

[wildenout]

IMHO

Which S&W would you recommend to CC? Is a 357 a reasonable CC and is there one small enough to CC? Or, should I down size to a 38? I realize in winter time, CC is easier, but I also wish to CC in the summer, so I need to decide what to get and also what type of holster would be the least visible. Not sure I could carry in my pocket or those holsters inside the pants, would have to try that last one first. I am not interested in a 22, I want something with a little more impact. My main gun is now a 357Magnum that I use 357 hollow points or 38+P in. It's a 2.5 inch barrel, 7 rds. But I find it to be rather large for CC. Help!

If you want a hammer, nothing beats a 686+ in my eyes, various barrel lengths including the 2.5 and with the + you get 7 rounds! No hammer, 640, I personally am not a fan of the airweights too little weight for such a mighty round (if doing .357 at all). I carried a 640 that my Dad let me have (another thread) for a while and loved it! My father-in-law begged me for it so I sold it to him and am currently waiting on the 686+ myself

 

[wildenout]

I have carried everything from .44 Mag to .380acp,and I now carry a .357.

a Model 629 (3"); a PC 66-4; to a Modified PPK (weight and conceal), to a Sig 238 (I love this little gun), to more power (my PC Shorty 45) another fabulous gun,; but later, a gun that is LIGHT and large, PC 625-10,; and the best compromise, a .357 I hate to shoot....the amazing Model 340.

I carry the 340 everywhere and know the punch on the front end is far worse than the recoil....and that is bad enough!


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43 years of CC....lots of favorites, but the 340 is unbeatable...you are hardly aware it is there, but it is reassuring.

Needed a CC gun only once, I was carjacked in 1994, and I had the PPK on my belt. When I exited the car, I drew down, and the assailant (who only had a knife) was done. At the time I had two mags full of SuperVel 90gr. loads (very similar to CorBons) and I nearly used them....good news....I did NOT!

Terry

Terry, those grips are incredible! Did you make them yourself? Or is that something I can buy somewhere online?

 

[kaaskop49]

Depends on what you can handle. Is there a nearby range with rental guns where you can try out different models? The 340, as the other posters say, is a great carry piece, but it is a bear to handle. If you're not carrying full Mag loads, why carry a Mag gun? Can you do double taps on a paper pie plate at 3-5 yards with any weapon? You may have to.
Also how will you carry? Pocket? Then the 340. IWB or belt? A steel frame model will do. Only you can judge how far you can or are willing to go re small-frame Mags.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I like my Ruger SP101.

I found that the slighty smaller S&W J-frame didn't fit my hand as well.

 

[66snub]

I carry a Model 19 2 1/2" as my daily. On cold days it rides in a pancake holster under my shirt. On hot days when I can't hide it in the pancake, I appendix carry it in one of those cloth holsters with the plastic clip. Once in a while it pokes a bit, but I gladly accept that in exchange for a larger gun with full grips.

 

[afghanhound]

CC to carry

Thank you all for the info. I will go to the local range this week and rent a few of these guns to try out. Seems a lot like the S&W 340 and the 640. I will also try out the Ruger SP101 as I see a lot of write ups on that one. However, I am very partial to S&W, love the feel and quality of them.

 

[shutupdata113]

I like to switch it up from my ruger sp 101 357 Magnum to my .38 j frame airweight. The airweight is awesome on really hot days

 

[shutupdata113]

Check out gemini customs. For the money you spend on some of the smiths, you could get a gemini custom sp 101!! Amazing work

 

[shouldazagged]

I hope you won't rule out .38 Special +P. Much easier to shoot in a small gun, less likely to blind you with flash in a low-light situation, and has been proven effective at saving bacon for a long time.

 

[cal50]

Not a s&w but a very good pick for a pocket magnum is the Ruger LCR. The. 38 and the. 357 are exactly the same size but the magnum had a stainless steel frame and weighs 4 ounces more. I went with the magnum for durability and the option to use 38 or magnum ammo.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The best concealed carry .357 is actually a .355. It is called a Shield in 9mm. Shorter, lighter trigger, more rounds, less recoil and, while it has a little less stopping power - in theory - if you use a good 9mm load, I doubt any bad guy can tell the difference at gunfight distances.