So what is the best carry revolver currently in production?

My vote is really a tie:

1. An M&P 340 with no internal lock. It's light, can shoot 357 mag if you want, but it's a great 38 special gun.

2. A Ruger LCR 327 Federal magnum. I really like 32's and the LCR is very flexable from very mild to very hot loads. Plus it's a six shot and LCRs no longer have internal locks.

That said, I don't have either of the above. Have never seen either in a LGS and we can't mail order here in CA.

It is time for me to take another photo of this Talo PC gun but it is the best .38 Airweight I have ever shot. Smooth and light but a metal gun that will last a long time. I like the 60 but it is heavier and I like that this just disappears in the pocket or on a belt, with different grips. A snub in .357 for me was a cool thing but it is just self-abuse in my opinion. Just my .02 but this is a heck of a gun.
Frank.

I think the 442/642 is the best combo of price, weight, and quality.

But for me, the best is the charter bulldog. Big bore in a small package. I use it as a woods gun and a conceal carry gun. I could get by with just that little hand cannon.

https://thedesertsedge.wordpress.com...d-smithwesson/

Pick one - any of these will do just fine.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

What criteria are you using to constitute best? Size? Weight? Load? Capacity?

And carried how? Deeply concealed? Lightly concealed? Open?

I think the 640 Pro can do just about anything, but I reach for a 442 Moon Clip most days.

Without any further criteria from the OP, apart from being current production, 'best' is highly subjective.


Perhaps a 627PC snubbie might be the right answer? 8 shots of .357 is hard to argue with.

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- Post No Bills -

If I had to pick a duty revolver it would be one of the four inch L frame stainless .357 models. For concealment any of the concealed hammer styles would get the job done, and I'd use it as a back-up for the L frame.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Another vote for the 627PC. My EDC in the Winter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 432PD is a very underrated carry gun. The .32 H&R magnum rounds are on par with .38 special. The recoil is very mild and it holds six rounds, one more than most pocket revolvers.

My current choice is a 396,
44 special, Alloy L frame, titanium cylinder 2 1/2" barrel.

Somebody else might love J fame 357, a K frame or even a short barreled N frame. There are even some packing X frames.

Make your choice pay your money and practice practice practice.

I have a 431PD which is the same as yours except for an exposed hammer.

I like it too and also like the 32 H&R Magnum round, but I don't think either of them are still in production.

Cal seems to want something small and light that is good for pocket carry. I can't argue with his choice of the M&P340. I had a Ruger LCR 357 magnum for a little while but I decided I didn't want a plastic gun so I sold it and got a 649.

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Accuracy supercedes Speed

EB 07 is correct. The Charter Arms bulldog in .44 special is just perfect. Big bore, small package.

[quote=Cal44;139124432]

Have got three 360J's that look just like the one pictured. Awesome carry pieces. Thanks for sharing.

J-Frame's rock. Got all sorts of them and no matter the age the action is that of a time piece.

For a pocket gun, in the current S&W catalog I would say the Talo 642 (10186) is the best combination of price and features. No lock, PC action job, polished trigger and thumbpiece (no more bloody thumb knuckle!). It's also cut for moonclips but even if you don't mess with them, the cut in the cylinder edge kind of acts like a chamfer.
I saw many at the Chantilly show today for just under $500. At the Richmond show there was one for $450.
Paint the sights and add a set of LG-405s.

Another vote for 627 if weight is not a problem.

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

Yup, for a pocket pocket revolver, the M&P340 gets my vote.

For me it's definitely a J-frame. And of my 4 J-frames the go-to choice is the 360J

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John

The snub 327, gets my vote. Light, 8shots, .357's if you want, moon clips, mostly black for better concealment. If it were a centennial, it would be perfect gun IMHO.

My vote is for the 640 Pro. No infernal lock.

Were I to carry a revolver it would be a Model 60 pro. I prefer an exposed hammer, and without the lock, if available.

20160127_093304 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
Airweights, Chiefs Special (though that's an oldie), and the stainless J magnums are all good.

I'm a little surprised to not to see more Ruger's, Charter's, or Taurus's -- but only a little surprised since this is a S&W board.

By "best" I meant the one you would prefer to carry for SD -- even if you don't currently own it and with money as no object.

Obviously some will want small and light, others bigger bullets, others more power.

So I suspect with this size group, "best" could be everything from an NAA 22 short up through a 500 S&W snub.

This is what I carry almost daily, unless I carry my 637-2 in my pocket. Both of these may be replaced in cooler weather with my new 66-2 2.5" however!

My primary-carry revolver is my .44mag S&W69 5-shot 4-1/4". Carries as well as my primary-carry semi-auto (10mm Kimber Eclipse Custom II 1911).

I'm a big fan of the 3" Model 60-15.

Yes, it has a lock, but if it bothers you, you can plug it.

The 3" barrel is no harder to conceal or carry than the 2.125" barrel on the Model 60-14, but it's much more efficient with both .38+P and .357 Magnum loads.

The steel frame is heavier, but not enough to make a difference for IWB carry, but it makes a large difference in terms of how well you can shoot it.

I like the humpbacks - no-snag hammer to control safe holstering, single action option for a deliberate/more accurate shot. The alloy 638 is easier to carry, of course, but the weight of the stainless steel 649 just feel better to me.

I carry the S&W 329 loaded with 44 specials. It is plenty light enough for me, also carry 44 magnums if I run into a bear and they do have them here. It is either that or a Dan Wesson CCO in 45 but they weight the same

Some people's "carry" pieces get left in the gun safe or in the car. "Best" is subjective. I'll vote for a Model 642 J-frame .38 Special without the lock. I always have one at hand.

649 gets my vote.

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2B1ASK1

I have carried, over time:
Model 64 4"
Model 642
Model 10 4" (a couple of different ones. Should never have sold the DAO one)
1911A1 Full Size
Model 13 4" DAO - Current.

If I were to replace that Model 13 with something currently in production?

Probably either another 642 (for compact) or a 686 SSR (if I wanted to stick with the 4" I've been most comfortable with.)

Ok, I know this is a S&W forum, but the SP101 with the 3in -ish bbl.

My ongoing fetish for 2in K Frames remains strong, but I don't think any are in current production.

( Keeping within the general spirit of what I think the OP has in mind.)

M&P340...

but... a timely thread for me. I'm trying to decide between a 640 Pro and the relatively new 442 PC as a BUG. Price-wise the 442 PC gets the nod, but -- thanks to responses here -- I'm leaning toward the heavier, all-steel 640 Pro with its full moonie and .357 ability.

On an elk hunt near here last fall a friend pumped 11 .45 acp into the chest of an attacking griz. I reckon the lone M&P340 might not be enough on my morning walks with the pups -- both can run faster than me.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Who walked away from that encounter?

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Accuracy supercedes Speed

My chosen everyday carry is my 431PD 32 HR Magnum :



But, I must admit I really feel just as good about my Ruger LCR 327 Federal CT Green Laser. Both six shot.

I have several J-Frames AND a Ruger LCR 327. Nothing wrong with any of 'em. The LCR has 20% higher capacity and, for the most part, a better trigger. I'm comfy with any one of them in my pocket.

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Bob