I have been seriously considering trading in my LC9, S&W 1911 E 45, 380 Bodyguard, and getting a 642, and a 357 K frame. I have already picked up a 637-2 and genuinely love it.
The reason for this line of thinking is this. I have not had a semi-auto not have at least one hick-up nor have I read a single review where the remark was made that the gun in question either did or did not have a problem. I realize that any machine, a gun is that after all, can fail but how many times have you heard of a revolver not ejecting or failure to feed. I need to know that I have taken every possible action to make my CCW weapon as reliable as possible. I have to admit, I have been caring my 637 for over two weeks now and today when I was going out with my wife I decided to take my LC9. I was about to leave the house and told my wife to give me a moment and I went to my safe and swapped out the 9 for my j-frame. I can not explain how unsure I am about an auto compared to a wheel gun. I have gone through the argument already, ask the Military, Police, Seals, etc. but that will not help me if the darn thing fails. Obviously these are my own insecurities but to me they are very real. Any genuine response is greatly appreciated but please do not just post to try to make me feel stupid. I do not post this on a whim, I, as all of you, take the security of my family and I, very seriously.
Thanks, Frank.

Hey, everybody is different and has different taste and lines of thought. If you are happy with your choice to nix the autos and carry wheelguns, then that's all that matters. I'm quite sure the whole auto vs revolver for concealed carry has been debated to the point of nauseum. It all comes down to what the individual feels and decides fits his/her needs best.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

__________________
Bud

If you feel comfortable with a revolver, you should carry it. If you don't feel comfortable about a semi-auto, you should not carry it. Period.

A huge percentage of successful defensive performance has got to be in the psychology of the individual who carries the firearm. Certainly the firearm itself cannot carry all that responsibility.

When you do what makes you comfortable, and you have trained to properly use your choice of defensive firearm, you are doing the right thing.

__________________
David Wilson

Helderberg,

Just think of the invaluable experience this decision will afford you when your revolver "binds-up"!

Mike

I think it is good to have a mix of semi-autos and revolvers. Try a 3rd gen auto like a 5906 or 4566 and you will likely find one that is very reliable. All of my 3rd gen are reliable.

Personally I like both semis and revolvers and my enthusiasm moves back and forth from time to time. Sometimes in one week I will carry a M640, M10, 3913, and 457.

Bill

Think we all have gone through similar phases. Do what you feel is right.

Just because it's a revolver doesn't mean it's going to be 100% reliable. Plenty of people have had failure issues with wheelguns.

Whether rev. or auto, you need to find one that's reliable.

I've had great luck with Glocks and trust my life to them. I also always carry a back-up gun.

__________________
Watch & Pray

If you prefer revolvers, that's fine. I would keep one semi auto with a high capacity magazine for those rare times you have to venture into a high crime area. For running to the 7-11 for a quart of milk, a revolver is fine. If you're repo'ing a car, carry a high cap auto.

Concealed carry is an individual right, and you need to do what you feel is best for you and your family. I go back and forth between the perceived advantage in reliability with the revolver, and the ease of carry of a small, flat sem-auto. Although, the semi's have come a long way over the years in the reliability area, in my 40+ years of shooting handguns. Practice a lot, keep your weapon clean and in good repair, and carry what you have confidence in.

J Frame, K Frame, sounds like good choices to me.

Your post shows that you have put a great deal of thought into this and obviously its not something you are entering into lightly. If I was in your position, I would also want to be sure that I am just as able to shoot accurately with whichever platform I was going to be carrying. Reliability is of uttermost importance, and next in line would be accuracy. If it goes bang every time, but I can't hit the broad side of a barn, my choice is wasted. Also a consideration is the ease and speed of reloads. I'm sure you've given all of this great thought, just pointing out the obvious. Most of us have similar thoughts from time to time.

I'm more comfortable with revolvers, that's why I carry them most. I will admit that I carry my Glock 19 when going to a city. Glocks opperate about as close to a revolver as an auto can. Pull the trigger, they go bang.

If you feel that much safer/better with revolvers, [and I know many well trained individuals that do], then that is what you should carry.

For me personally both have their place. I have used both as a primary duty/off duty guns and both as backup duty/off duty guns. And I have used every combination as a No1 and a No2.

For Urban use I favor a 1911 in 45 ACP as a Primary, with a 38 Body guard as a No2. This is my "normal" EDC [every day carry].

Durring hunting season, and many times while traveling to a hunting destination I switch to a 4" 44 Mag as a primary.
I will be carrying the 44 mag in the field.
On a long long distance road trip I will carry a second 4" 44 Mag as well as my Bodyguard. That way I have a spare Primary.
This deer season I have subsituted my 2" Mod 34 in 22LR for the 38 special Bodyguard.
I want to try the 2" Mod 34 on small game. So far I have given a wild pig a coup de gras, in the head, with the 22 and it worked great.

I will admit I feel better "armed" with a 1911 or two, as a primary, with a bunch [a dozen or so] of extra mags, but still think I could get by with a 44 Mag, or two, and a pocket full of speedloaders...

Of course I always have a rifle handy when on the road as well...

Thank you for the insightful response. Most all of you gave me the credit for having thought this over a lot. I am well aware that revolvers are not fool proof and can "Bind Up" but this is less often than a small auto failing to operate properly. I wish my 380 Bodyguard had not locked up on me as I was really enjoying that as a very concealable gun. Not a power house but better than nothing. It is at S&W now being worked over and I decided to carry my LC9. It failed to fire five times after about 150 rounds of Remington fmj. I have also had an LCP that consistently failed to feed and/or eject. No 100% solution here but I just wish there was an easier answer but I am well aware that there isn't. Thanks for putting up with my post and sorry or the waste of space.
Thanks again, Frank.

I have had both types fail in 40+ years of shooting.

AMT backup: was my CCW and one day I took to the range and...click. The firing pin had broken.
Colt Combat Commander: Shooting at a sandpit and the extractor broke. Finished my shooting with my Speed Six.
Taurus 650: Took it to the range. Click - bang - click - click. I had to return it and get it repaired.
Smith Model 19: First centerfire gun I ever owned. First time out I got one shot - the firing pin shield was setback and the primer flowed back into it, locking it up. The gunshop gave me another one!

All that being said, I still prefer a revolver. I keep a 7 shot 686 plus as a house gun and carry a 2" Model 64 and/or a 640-1 357 Mag (All loaded with Buffalo Bore 158gr heavy).
Mainly I carry revolvers because due to my slim build I can conceal them better.

I still have a 5906 9mm and a 4053 .40, but I cannot bring myself to keep them as my primary house guns (yet!) I like them a lot though and may rotate them in... both are dead reliable.

I regularly practice speed reloading with both speed strips (De Bethencourt's 2/2 method) and speedloaders (safariland for the 5 and 6 shooters and SL Variant for the 686 plus).

Go with what you are comfortable with and practice practice practice!!

Frank, you posts are not a waste of space.

A while back the NRA "American Rifleman" did a test of several different current made 380 small semiautos. Only one was 100% functional out of the box.

While I have had several semiautos over the years that were near as "Ivory Pure" ie 99 and 44/100ths percent reliable as it can get, And I carry some of them today as my Primary in complete comfort, even I consider a revolver a more sure bet for the first cylinder full.

Again if you feel better with revolvers, then carry them. And Apologise to no one about it. Just train with them, carry extra ammo in speed loaders or in speed strips, and train in their use.

Choose which ever your most confident with then train with it. Often.

I too have gone through the same mental process and am now carrying a Ruger LCP due to medical problems that make carrying anything heavier painful. It came down to the LCP or going unarmed, and I'm not going unarmed.

As others have said go with what works best for you, train and practice often and hope you never have to use that particular skill.

Thanks to all of you. I do really appreciate your input.
I think I will wait and see when Bodyguard comes back from S&W. I will take it to the range and run 100 or so through it. If I feel comfortable with it I will keep it for those times when nothing else will work but carry a 642 when ever I can.
Be safe, Frank.

I don't trust ANY of those little pocket autos-period.
My concealed carry piece is a 337.
If I have to go into a high crime area-I'll sent someone else.

__________________
Forum consigliere

Like the others who have replied I respect your thought process however you might want to consider your choices of weapons. If you search both the LCP and the Bodyguard you will find a laundry list of problems with both of these weapons. The very first Semiauto I ever purchased was a PPKS and I still own it. In over 30 years it has never failed to feed or fire. As previously said 3rd Generations Smiths are usually rock solid reliable, I have several and just purchased a CS45 to add to my CCW roster. Also I personally have had numerous Failures with Remington centerfire pistol ammo. My LGS won't sell it. I only buy Hornady Defense ammo for carry and have never had a failure. There are many excellent choices in compact weapons available today. Do your homework and don't fall into buying the newest fad and you will find what's right for you.

Just my 2 cents

__________________
Regards, Kent J