Revolver vs. Pistol

[stansdds]

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.

Now there is some great advice!

 

[RobzGuns]

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.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

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.

 

[fredj338]

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.

 

[TomkinsSP]

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.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Trooper224]

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.

 

[fredj338]

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.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Heavy revolver, not a fan of plastic.

 

[Trooper224]

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.

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?

 

[Donn]

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.

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.

 

[Chief Wiggums]

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

carry it....

 

[Rustyt1953]

I want it to be a surprise.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I carry for the occasion. I have multiple semi's and revolvers and switch back and forth depending on what I am doing and where I am going. As a young PO I carried a model 66 4" and a mod. 60 off duty. I then went to a 2.5" 66 before carrying a 1911 for about 25yrs on duty and off. around the house it's an M&P 340 but switch to a Shield or a Glock 19 for my security job. When hiking with my dogs on the Grand Mesa I take one of my larger revolvers, often a .357. Carry what you are comfortable with and shoot well.

 

[Mister X]

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.

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.

 

[fredj338]

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?

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.

 

[zzclancy]

Not going to disagree.

I could do the trendy thing and tell you that you absolutely must carry a double stack 9mm pistol or else the legions of 6ft/700lbs+ 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.

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.

 

[IAhunter]

Revolver guy here as well and I love my 66-5 with Silvertips, but I must confess that I regularly carry a Glock 27 in the summer.

 

[HorizontalMike]

S&W QC Driving Latest Choices In Revolvers

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 wouldn't go out or bring my AR

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$.

 

[white cloud]

I prefer something belt fed. Just kidding. 90% of the time is a Model 649. The other 10%? Some sort of magnum revolver.