Revolver vs. Pistol

[Doc Holliday 1950]

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.

 

[Engine49guy]

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.

 

[Echo40]

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.

 

[Laketime]

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

 

[BC38]

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.

 

[RobertJ.]

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!

 

[michpatriot]

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

 

[Mister X]

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.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

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!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

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

 

[Narragansett]

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

 

[bigwheelzip]

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 .

 

[cmj8591]

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.

 

[Old cop]

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.

 

[Breakaway500]

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.

 

[lunger]

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

 

[steelslaver]

Neither a 357 or a semi

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

 

[cololab]

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.

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

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.

 

[blues7]

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.