What is your preferred S&W concealed revolver? Yes, we would prefer a Remington 870, some a 1911, or the Battleship Missouri in a gunfight, but please limit your responses to Smith revolvers. I have a CS9 and CS45 that are my carry guns, but as the years go by, I find that I prefer revolvers when in a hurry. Looking at the S&W Model 640 and similar models, any suggestions? Thank you!

360pd, because I put it on and forget it's there.

I would love the 640 but it's a little too much for pocket carry. The 340 and 340PD seemed like they would be brutal with 357 mags so for the money, I chose the 442 Pro Moon Clip. Great for pocket carry and about 1/2 the price of the 340 duo. If money is no object, I'd go the 340 route.

M649, or an old M49 like I pocket CC in warm weather.


And yes, I rather have one of my 1911's....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I have carried a 642 for several years and really like it. Replaced the factory grips with the UM Boots.

It is light but not too light and can take +P's.

I also have a 60, 442 and a 638 but it is usually the old familiar and well worn 642 that I go for when I am carrying a revolver.

With that said I recently picked up a Shield and am making the switch from pocket to IWB. Still qualified with the 642 this range session though, in case I decide to go back to her. Hard to break old habits.

So far everybody has mentioned J-Frames. I must admit they are handy to carry, but I don't feel comfortable using one as a primary. My M340PD lives constantly in my left side pocket. (I'm right handed). For my primary carry revolver my favorite is my 2 1/2" M66-1. It is small enough to carry concealed in an OWB holster. Shoots like a target revolver and balances perfectly. Plus it's stainless, so no rust worries. But best of all, it's a .357 Magnum.
I actually have both of these on right now, and feel prepared for anything.
Jim

Rick: Either a 3" 65-5, a 3" 66-4, or a 2 1/2" 66-1 in a Lobo Enhanced Pancake OWB vertical holster loaded with 38 +P's.
Hank M.

I also love "J" frames. I have five of them. I'll add a couple pictures that I have on the computer. Another choice slightly larger is a 3" model 65 round butt. It's a "K" frame with fixed sights. The first picture is of a 642 stainless and a nickel 442. Hard to tell the difference. Both air weights. The second picture is of a 60-9. It's chambered for .357 mag. Also has a heavier barrel which really helps when shooting. I had the hammer bobbed and an XS Big Dot front sight put on. Love it. And here is a picture of my 640. I polished it to a nickel luster. It has an old school look with Sambar stag grips and a Tyler T-grip adaptor. Sorry not too good of a picture.

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Mbr; LEAA,KSRA,M.C.League

I prefer the 442, mostly for it's simplicity. Nothing fancy.

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Because of the metric system?

642 for me

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John

I suggest you read Ed Lovette's book "The Snubby Revolver". When it comes to having to defend yourself unexpectedly, up close and personal, while living your normal life, accessibility is key.

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

Improved Model 56, AKA 2" Model 15. Easy to conceal on the belt, accurate, quick sight acquisition, comfortable with 158 gr +P LSWCHP.

J frames, of course.

One is used for pocket or ankle, the other for waistband. One is stoked with +p 38's, the other 357.
20150319_093037 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20150312_104857 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

They are both current production and quite common, but are exceptional in fit finish and smoothness of action. They also shoot extremely well when I'm up to it.

Hard to beat the 442.

I carry a 640 Pro in a Remora IWB holster.

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For ankle: 642/442.


Pocket: 642/442 or the 640.


Belt: Snub 64 or 12 or maybe a 3" 64 or 65.


You can't really go wrong with a J or K frame....so you need multiples.

I have a nickel 442 and an older Model 38 (humpback). Both are light enough for pocket carry but heavy enough to help w/accurate follow up shots w/+P. The titanium frame guns are nice for carry bit just a bit too pricey for my budget. If you can find one the Colt Cobra is excellent too. Offers six rounds and a full length ejector rod in a package about 2 ozs. heavier than a standard J frame.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I carry a model 640-1 with the XS front sight. I also like fiber optic front sights for my older eyes. I carry it in the apex position in a Aker model 134 inside the pants. This gun has been a back up in uniform and I still carry it in plain clothes depending my assignment. I also have a 637 lighter but no way to change out front sight like the 640-1

Tony P

I'd like to add-

If it were to be my only CCW, I'd lean toward the 640 in .357. Much nicer for sustained practice, and a little more horsepower for the odd occasion that you need it.

As I have a few choices in carry gun, the 442 fits my requirements.

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Because of the metric system?

S&W M60-7 (mid 1990's). Everything you want and nothing you don't.

I settled on the 351c because of the ultra light weight (12.08-oz fully loaded) and the 7-shot capacity. Yes, it's a .22 Magnum so shot placement may be more critical than with a larger caliber. But the extra 2 shots is a nice bonus.

S&W Model 36 .38 caliber revolver.

My personal favorite CC revolver? This one:

3" 657 in a Milt Sparks PMK, loaded with 250 grain LSWC at ~850-900 fps.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

You must be a big mutha! Can't argue with a .41 Magnum. I'd have to hire a midget to help me carry it around though.

(no offense to any midgets)

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Mbr; LEAA,KSRA,M.C.League

331ti in H&R .32 Magnum, with the proper ammo....

I've always liked the Pro since I first saw one. Would love one, but I couldn't justify the extra expense though over a standard magnum 640. No offense intended, it's just me.

I say that and just remembered that I purchased a 60-9. also a .357, since I rarely see these type "J" frames. It was cherry and I got it for $350. Then I sent it to Robar in Phoenix. Had them NP3 it, bob the hammer and put an XS Big Dot front sight on it. Cost me an extra $400. So I was getting close to a Pro's cost.

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Mbr; LEAA,KSRA,M.C.League

Ruger security series in 357mag w/2 3/4" barrel in stainless.
The s&w are worth too much in value to ccw carry.

A professionals choice..M38

The choice is "best concealed carry revolver to carry", or "best concealed carry revolver you would want if you were in a gunfight". They will be VERY different guns. The "Best" is likely something in between the two.

What grips are those, they look great!

My preference for the best concealed carry revolver - that I'll also carry all day, everyday is a S&W Model 60-14.

I carry .38 +P 125gr XTPs in it, giving a velocity of 950 fps in the 2.125" barrel. Although .357 Magnums are comfortable to shoot in it with a Hogue monogrip, I shoot it more accurately in rapid fire with the +P load. Still, it's nice to have the .357 Magnum option and it will launch a 158 gr JHP at 1065 fps.

My regular Model 36 comes in a close second:

VZ G10 (the smoother ones). They work great, and help conceal this beast...and it DOES conceal (I'm only 6'2" or so).

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Hey, no offense taken. When I retired my 642 to the safe I was looking for a 640 and couldn't find one. I left my name at a LGS for both. The 640 Pro came in and they called me so I went to look at it and found they also had the 640 in also. I picked up both and fell in love with the Pro. It just felt right in my hand, and the night sights sold me. So I said to myself "what the hell" and went with the Pro even though it was more money. I haven't regretted it. I took me a little while to get used to the extra weight but now I don't even feel it. When I get a little older and if it starts bothering me I'll go back to my 642.

Depending on circumstances, one of these three, all loaded with factory Remington Golden Saber 125 grain 357 Magnum loads.

Model 586 seven-shot L-Comp. My favorite: extra shot and very accurate.


Model 19 F-Comp. Super refined, accurate and low profile.


Model 13 357 Carry Gun. The lowest profile gun I own.


Each carried in a Milt Sparks PMK holster.

Keith

I carry a 640-1. It's light weight, comfortable to carry and highly corrosion resistant. I also have a 642CT to play with or a backup.

cprher Your model 13 Carry Gun looks outstanding! I generally don't fancy comped or bobbed guns but that looks fantastic.

My 1974 Colt Cobra but I can't say that because it's not an S&W.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

I second the Lovette book.

I've pocket-carried a steel J-frame with Pachmayr Compacs for sixteen years. The weight and bulk were no problem after a week or so, and control and recoil damping are much better.

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Oh well, what the hell.

In my state if I use a gun in self defense I lose it. It takes a lawyer to get it back money wise iffy. Check your local and state laws.

Add me to the 642 fan list.

Well, the one that is in my pocket right now is a 342. It is the one that is almost always with me. So, I guess you could say it is my EDC. That said, it isn't my favorite. My favorite CCW revolver is my M-65, 3", HB, RB, .357.

MB

I carry my 629-8, usually I rotate between it and my Ruger Alaskan depending on where I plan to go. I carry 44spls around town and 44mags in the field. If you have a good belt, you can carry practically anything for CCW, these are my EDC. Go big or go home.

M640 Pro with Speer 135 gr SB carried in a Lobo Gunleather Original Pancake. The Speer is plus pee, but I will try the MGN if I can find some. It is in the plus p plus velocity range.
This revolver also works well in my pants pocket in a High Noon pocket holster.
I also carry a 3 inch M60-15 with the same ammo. I am using the same Lobo holster, but I am going to order one made for the three inch barrel. In the M640 holster, about 3/4 inch of barrel and sight is outside the bottom of the holster.

Best,
Rick

If I were to carry a revolver, it would be a 3" 686. My fav carry piece is a Kobra Carry, either as a purse gun or owb on the right rear quarter hip. It's surprising how a gun prints, but for my size and fashion sense that works often with the KC. I think the 45ACP is a terrific close range round and there are some nice 45 revolvers too, which look like they'd carry nicely.

If done sanely and safely, it's all good . . . carrying has gotta work for the carrier and it's very personal.

Rachel

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Rachel
Grande Torina

I wear shorts almost 100% of the time here in Florida. They have large cargo pockets.

Real easy to carry my 642 or 640.

I have some Pachmyers on the 640 and they are just a little bigger than Uncle Mike's and some other grips but they really knock down the recoil on the 640 with 357's. I will shoot 50 when I go to the range. I've worked the trigger to a very smooth 9 lbs.

When I have the 640 on me I damn sure don't feel out gunned. After 5 rds I'm gone somehow, somewhere, LOL.

Dan

I've carried J frames as back-up guns for years, a 36, a 49 and a 940. But today I picked up my first revolver I'd consider a primary weapon, a 396 NG.

Haven't shot it yet, and it only holds 5 rounds, but its 5 big rounds of .44, so I don't feel undergunned. I'm going to work it into the rotation with the Glocks and see how it competes.

It's a lot more common for a police officer to encounter multiple assailants than it is for a civilian in a self defense shoot, just because officers by the nature of their jobs have to go into dark and scary places looking for reported trouble and bad guys while civilians, by the nature of what they should be doing are backing out of trouble and using a firearm as a last resort.

But even for police officers the average shoot is over and done with in less than 5 seconds with less than 5 rounds fired at less than 5 yards range. The FBI recently determined 80% of it's shoots occur in 3 seconds, with 3 rounds and less than 3 yards and they've modified their qualification training and testing to reflect that, with more focus on close range rapid fire shooting drawing from a concealed holster.

It doesn't mean a multiple perpetrator shoot won't happen, but for a civilian it's a low probability event on top of an already low probability event.

Consequently, I eventually realized that I in my current desk flying management position I no longer have a real need to carry a high capacity automatic and I found that even a compact double stack 9mm is more than I wanted to carry day in day out for civilian self defense. A Model 36 or a Model 60 is far more comfortable as I don't even notice it on my hip, and 5 rounds of .38 +P will get me through any self defense shoot I'm like to be involved in just as well as 14 rounds of 9mm Para.

2 1/2" 66ND IWB!

I'm going to go with the 340pd, nothing wrong with the 442, but I like the pd for ammo compatibility with my primary.

For me the perfect set up, is the 340pd with a 327 snub, and a 627.


A perfect trifecta of S&W goodness. All three guns shoot the same ammo.

The j frame, for quick pocket carry, add in the 327 if you want more firepower with the j frame as backup. Or if open carrying the 627 use the 327 as the back up. Then both your primary and backup, not only shoot the same ammo, but use the same speed loaders/moon clips.

Couple weeks ago bought a S&W M&P 340 with out the internal lock. XS Sights Tritium Night sights are just awesome. Took it to the range. Excellent accuracy. Gold Dot 38 special + P 135 grain short barrel ammo. I have no interest in firing 357 magnum in it. I carry it everywhere. Put it in the pocket. The recoil is a little snappy. My wife had no problem with the recoil and we are 60. She grew up with guns, carries (CCW) Glock 27 and a S&W ported PC airweight 460 with Crimson Trace and she is not recoil sensitive. May not be a good choice if you are recoil sensitive.

Can I do a little thread drift? She got hit by a car that ran a red light. She handed the Denver Officer her Driver License, Registration, Insurance and CCW permit. Asked what she was carrying. Just couldn't get over it. Grey hair 60 year old lady carrying.