Dear s&w forum, I hate to be a bother so close to the holidays but i need a little help with writing project that i am working on its about a private detective and i need help choosing his back up gun. i have a couple of revolvers in mind but i can not chose which one to pick. Any and all help with this would be greatly appreciated. sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the s&w forums. p.s. here is the list
1.s&w model 36 2 inch barrel
2.s&w model 60 3 inch barrel
p.p.s. the story takes place in the year 2012.

In that case, I vote for something a little more modern, like a 640 or 642.

I would vote Bodyguard. If not the 36

The year 2012? No doubt a 340PD or one of it's variants...

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Stay Safe...
jd SWCA #3276

I vote 442 with L-405 crimson trace.

maybe the gun has a story too guys............ i vote the 36!

How old is the private detective? How long has he been a private detective? What did he do before becoming a private detective?

I would not automatically peg a P.I. as being a "gun guy". To him, a gun would just be tool. I would not expect such a person to have a 3' M60.

I think that when and how your character aquired his firearm would be important aspects in making the decision even if they are not explained in your story.

Take Magnum P.I. as an example. Thomas Magnum was a former Naval Special Warfare operator who served in Vietnam. It makes sense that he would have a U.S.G.I. 1911 as his firearm. It would make less sense to give him something like a German Luger.

Now let's just say your character is a former soldier that served in the Gulf during 2002-03 and then got out. I would see such a person more inclined to have some type of small semi-auto rather than a revolver.

In 2012, I think it much more likely that a P.I. would be carrying a small semi-auto rather than a revolver.

Pictured are two of my favorite revolvers for backup guns, the M49 and the M38. They have been around since the 1950"s. I carried a M38 from 1970 until 2001 and now I carry a M648. as my BUG.

Simple. Mod.36. Good luck

A crusty old salt would probably carry the M36. To me a 3" is a bit large for b/u purposes.

Give it some character like a CZ82......ooops that's not a S&W

340PD. One shot, game over. You could build up to selction as it being a beast to shoot very many rounds but when the chips are down you'll prolly get to sqeeze off only one round anywho.

Have a Blessed Christmas.....dan

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

Like a few others posted Model 36

A P.I. main weapon would quite likely be a "J" frame or Colt 2".
Backup would be a Beretta Model 950 .25acp

I agree with some others. I vote for the 36. He's Old School with the right tool!

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RIP Shipmate

I believe a modern P.I is really a throwback to the pages of Hammett or Chandler or Gardner. He would carry a snub nose revolver with a hammer and wood grips and blue colors and be as proficient with it as he is with his full size weapon; he could spin a dime at ten paces and get nine cents change. A 36, in his pocket, for sure. A 45 under his arm. Proven. Dependable. Always there. Just like him and always follows the right road. God, I love this country.

Don't want to burst your bubble but when I was a Private Investigator I never carried a backup gun. The gun I did carry was a 2 1/2" S&W 66. Of the 2 you mention I would choose the S&W 60. Since your project is staged in 2012 why not let his weapon mirror the times? Let his primary weapon be something like a Glock or SIG in 45 and his backup a smaller version of his primary.

I agree with Broadside in post #7. What is the P.I.’s back story? What is the back-up gun’s back story? Did he inherit it from his dad or grandfather? Did he buy it from a buddy who needed money?

Does he work divorce cases and is afraid of running into the ex-husband and carries a 2nd gun in his jacket pocket, or is he doing dignitary protection and riding around in limos and helicopters?

I talked to a “veteran of the profession” yesterday who carries a Glock .45 ACP, but his back-up gun is an old Colt Police Positive 2” in .38 Colt because it has sentimental value to him.

Good luck with the writing project.

Frank

This seems... familiar.

i WAS a PI and i carried a 640 357 in a front pocket holster, or a KT p3at in a guru back pocket holster.

I remember a few months ago some author asking pretty much the same question, they didnt have any options though, just asked for suggestions.

M&P 340 in a front pocket

The back story is important. An ex cop would probably carry a 36, if his dad was a cop it might be his old Detective Special flat latch. A fan of Marlowe (watching one right now) would probably have a Colt 1905 in .32 or .380. A modern guy, Gulf War vet, would most likely be carrying semiautos, both as a primary and bug. JHMO.....

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Even older, even crankier....

I have been a Private Investigator for a long time. My primary carry gun is usually a Glock 23 or 27 for a semi-auto. There have been times I have carried them both. The Glocks are usually carried in times when the case was particulary dangerous. I.E. the bad parts of town during surveillance, or during an undercover where if my true identity was discovered bad things could happen.
If I'm carrying a revolver it is usually my S&W M66-1 2 1/2" if I'm in a Magnum mood. For a .38 it's either my 2" M15 or 2" M12.
Backup is always my M340PD, carried in my left (non dominant side) pants pocket. Plus I always have a good knife available.
Jim

m36, or a 442 with crimson trace, like mine!

Ah yes. It is about time for the semi-annual, "I'm writing a book and my shamus needs a gun" thread... Ugh...

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Centennial Every Day

Photoman44,

I realize that mg357 asks this question about every three to six months, but what harm does it do?

Mg357 likes the 3" Model 60 and he likes to write short fiction stories. Maybe he get around to writing the stories and maybe he doesn't. Either way, I always enjoy reading the various responses from Forum members.

+1 The questions do no harm and the answers are interesting.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

I did 25 years in LE and the followed that by 5 as a PI... The big difference between being a PI and a LEO is that if the SHTF you will probably have no back up...and if you need a backup gun you are going to need it very badly...

Instead of carrying a Mouse Gun as a backup I carried a backup identical to the primary... The two "sets" I had were a pair of Colt Commanders in .38 Super or a night sighted set of S&W 6906s.

The primary was worn in a strong side belt holster and the backup was IWB butt forward behind the left hip.

A PI with a set of guns in shoulder holsters would be "eye catching"....

Bob

So maybe the answer to mg357's question is both.

I'm going with the M36 2". I don't have one but I do have a model 37 no dash airweight that is very easy to conceal.
Keep on keepin' on mg!
Peace,
Gordon

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better have that checked

I carried S&W J frames for over 30 years in my pockets, holsters and on my ankle.
Thats why I would choose the Ruger LCP. Small, DA only and it fits in your pocket.
It is lighter and less bulky than a J frame airweight, plus you have an extra shot.

Without a doubt the classic 36. Goes bang evertime and easy to pack and conceal in an ankle holster. Carried mine that way for years.

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V/R
Roger / SG

Broadside seems to have if figured out. As a detective fiction writer, a lot depends on how accurate you are in depicting a private detective. Most modern gumshoes work strictly on domestic situations and don't really need to tote a firearm. Most would be more at home with a digital camera, given their line of work.

SuperMan is the only one, I believe, who kept in mind one obvious question when asking about a backup, namely, what's the primary? I am not a private detective, but I have often given consideration to the primary when choosing a backup. I think that it's worth considering.

I'd give him a High Standard .22 mag derringer in a wallet holster.

I remember that knife Clint Eastwood stuck in that guy's leg just about as much as any backup gun in any movie. Leave it to me to be different...

S&W 640-1 357

Forget the firearms!
A good pair of "Run Away and Hide" shoes.

Oops! Sorry, I guess that would be a bit much.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

An RG Model 10? LOL

Naw . . . and Airweight for a backup, and the closest to the M36 is the M37 Airweight.