I have run through several carry revolvers and a few small autos. I keep leaning towards revolvers. My last being the S&W 442. I really liked it....but, I hated pocket carry and figured if I had to belt carry=go with larger and more capacity!

I really like revolvers but can't get past their low capacity vs size and weight.

I've pondered the S&W 686+ 3", the Ruger SP101 3" (which I recently sold), and the Colt king Cobra.

Any suggestions?

The 3" model 65 or 66 is just dandy. If you want to step up, then 24/624 657/629 or 696 would do well.

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On the Oak Savannah

3” Model 60-15 carried IWB in a Milt Sparks VMII works for me stoked with Winchester PDX1 .38Special +P...

Appropriately dressed, my second choice is this Model 66-4 in a custom OWB holster by forum member “Snubbyfan”.

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If this really bothers you, carry a Sig p365. Going to a bigger revolver gives only 2 more rounds. Unless you want to go really big and tote a 627 N frame all day for 8. I own one and wouldn't want to do that. I've carried a LCP (6+1) for years and recently started to carry J frames. With the J I slip a speed loader in another pocket and feel I'm carrying enough. I'm not a cop, so I'm not confronting or trying to detain anybody with the possibility of a drawn out gun fight. It's there to get me and my family away from that. Multiple assailants? Sure, could happen. But if it was in this State in public, they'll have more than just me pointing a pistol at them. Life is choices and compromise.

Well, your title says "Ultimate"

So how about UDR..like this 657, might be hard to find though, as they only made 161 of these.

But there are other calibers out there.

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If I holster carried (I don’t), this 2.5” M66 would ride along. Relatively small and concealable but packin a big punch. Here with it’s larger sibling .......

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Pass it on.
Mark

I see your question as your answer. Start with a good holster belt and holster for the 442 you already like, assuming you can draw and hit what you aim at. Nothing wrong with more choices though, and you won't know until you try.
I'm an unwell female senior citizen, and occasionally comfortably conceal carry a 3" 686+ in a Galco Combat Master and two speed loaders. It's no heavier than my regular EDC, but my lifestyle isn't as active as it used to be.

Wouldn't call any choice the ultimate, but I like it for what it is.
Happy hunting.



Edit: I'll add that it's a naturally good shooting choice with enough mass to very comfortably shoot lots of 158gr magnum loads at the range.

A 2.5” or 3” K frame would be my recommendation.

Ultimate ?

A Manurhin MR-73, with 3 inch barrel in 357 Magnum.

No such thing as the "ultimate" carry revolver. Everybody has different needs/wants. What's ultimate for me may or may not be ultimate for you or anyone else.

Having said that, it's hard to go wrong with a 2-3" K-frame. I've had a 2" 64 and a 3" 65, both excellent guns that carried well and could be comfortably concealed with my clothing choices. The biggest problem is availability.

There's nothing wrong with belt carrying a 442. For several years my EDC was a 642 carried in an IWB holster.

I like the Ruger SP101, but unless you plan to regularly use/carry heavy .357 Magnum loads, I think there are options with a better power/weight ratio.

A Kimber K6S might be a good option. 6 rounds of .357 Magnum (or .38 Special) in a roughly J-frame-ish size. I don't have one and have never handled one (mostly out of a fear I will want one ), but the reviews I've seen have been very good.

If capacity and weight really are an issue for you, then I'm going to have to agree with Collo Rosso that a semi-auto may be more to your liking.

Just my opinion.

Check out a kimber K6 DA/SA . Mine is awesome. 6 shots, great trigger, same size envelope as a j frame. It's what you have been waiting for

For me this is the ultimate carry revolver.
7 rounds of 357 SD ammo in a roughly K-frame sized package (same frame size just a tiny bit larger cylinder). The attached photo is bigger on my laptop screen than the actual revolver. And only 19 ounces - Taurus 617 Total Titanium

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

The first rule of gun fighting is to have a gun. If it's heavy and uncomfortable and you leave it home, it won't matter how many rounds it holds. I'm not dissing anyone for their carry choices but I think the whole high capacity thing is over blown. If you are regularly confronted with multiple assailants and protracted gun battles, you should probably change your life style. Remember that the average police gun fight is over in three rounds. And these are the people who seek out the bad guys with guns. The likelihood of a civilian engaging multiple armed subjects is somewhere less than the likelihood of getting struck by lightning while being eaten by a shark. This is the long way of saying that if you take a liking to that 5 round J frame, then carry it. My general daily carry is a 360 titanium. It weighs 11 ounces and I carry it in a Vedder IWB holster. In the winter I sometimes just stick it in my coat pocket. I sometimes, but not faithfully, throw a speed loader in a different pocket. I'm old school with my ammo choice and carry Winchester, 158 grain, 357, SWC. I want to make sure they make it to the boiler room regardless of whatever barrier is between me and the threat. In the hot months, I switch out to my 380 Bodyguard that usually ends up in a cargo pocket. I will make up for cartridge capacity with marksmanship and stealth.

My personal belief is that the ultimate carry revolver is the one you're most likely to have with you. Your 442 is pretty much perfect in my opinion. I've known guys who claim to carry larger pistols but they never seem to have it on them because they're not wearing the right jacket or something. That's not to say that those who recommend them don't carry them but it's a whole lot more pistol than many want to lug around in a truly concealed arrangement. I own a beautiful 2.5" K frame that I love to shoot but if I wanted to make it my carry I know that half the time it wouldn't be with me. My M&P340 only holds 5 rounds but, I always have it with me. If I'm going someplace where I figure 5 rounds of .357 won't suffice then I really have to question why I'm going there in the first place.

My EDC is a Kimber K6s with a IWB ,I also have a S&W 327 Pug 357 8 shot Owb which is a winter only ,also have ammo strips for extra ammo.Never feel under gunned.

I carry 2 revolvers. A custom 642 and a custom 342. Both are +P rated. Together they hold 10 shots. I own and have carried a round butt Model 12 4 inch with a model 38 as BUG. I am no fan of autos although I have carried them when they were issued and required but always with a J frame BUG. It doesn't get better for holster carry with little weight than a airweight K model. The BUG 342 goes into an ankle holster very easy to draw from a seated or driving position. Ask me by private message how I know.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

It's a natural contradiction to be "leaning towards revolvers" and being unable to "get past their low capacity vs size and weight", so is this an exercise in futility?

Perhaps the best first thing to do is step back and determine what your carry needs, concerns and expectations are, and if they're reasonable to your circumstances. Mission drives hardware.

Fact is, the overwhelming number of ordinary citizens living their lives in the U.S. today will never need to defend themselves with a gun (or anything), whether they carry or not, ever.

Fact is, those who will (and carry), rarely fire more than a few rounds, if that, or are in a situation that requires more firepower.

So, with that in mind, and assuming you're living an intelligent and blameless life vis-a-vis your personal safety, what do you think you truly need to be adequately armed?

Food for thought...

Per your OP, a little more on what you prefer in a revolver will help us best advise you. Fixed or adjustable sight? Relative size and weight? Preferred finish? The list goes on. Tell us more about your preferences or needs or as is often the case this thread'll just become a useless list of everybody's personal favorites.

But folks like easy options, so...

1) Get thee to your 442, a couple good styles of holster inside and outside the waistband that are comfortable, secure and conceal well. Get thee to plenty of good training ammo and the defense load your 442 likes best. Get thee to the range, the training course and the room in your home where you can safely dry fire and practice draw and presentation, movement, retention standing and entangled, and access under stressful circumstances.

Maintain relaxed alertness to your surroundings, and know ahead of time in your heart what you will and will not do in justifiable defense of your life and the lives of those entrusted to you.

Know the self-defense laws where you spend your time, and contemplate the moral aspect.

Do all this consistently and you'll be significantly more equipped to defend yourself if need be with a J-frame snubby .38 than your average concealed carry or nightstand dude who bought a big bore or high cap, shoots it every now and again and calls it good.

If you must "step up", I think the Kimber K6S beats anything S&W is making right now -- much though it pains me to say -- as far as personal defense revolver go.

Be safe.

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Pickpocket

When was the last time 5 rounds wasn't enough?

I went from a Glock 27 to my good old 642-1 and feel most comfortable with it.

Depending on the situation I either carry it in a pocket holster, or this belt holster. It is nice to free up the pocket sometimes, I never carry anything else in my pocket if the 642 is in it.

My latest carry revolver is a Ruger LCR in .327 Federal Magnum. Very potent caliber, six round capacity and carries very well. Good luck with your choice!

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I like the Ruger SP101 with 2.25 inch barrel. Great for OWB wear and soaks up recoil of Buffalo Bore and Underwood 38 Spl +P loads.

...and nothing shabby about the S&W 642 J frame...it’s double action smoothness can’t be beat. Put some Altamont Falconia grips on it coupled with Speer 38 Spl +P 135 gr Gold Dots and you have all you really need for self protection.

S&W Model 340sc Scandium.....5 rounds of nuclear 357 125gr JHP. It ends fights, sets clothing and small bunnies on fire

Some say it kills at both ends....



Light and easy to carry...somewhat hard on the old hands with stout 357's.

Carry what you shoot well, just be sure to actually carry it!

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On the Oak Savannah

I rarely ever pocket carry or carry IWB. They just don't work for me. I'm much more comfortable with a good OWB concealment holster. A good holster and belt can make a large gun disappear under nothing more than a T-shirt.
The two guns that I normally carry are a 1911 Commander or a S&W 642 when I'm feeling lazy.
However, to me the ultimate carry revolver is a 3" K-frame. Its big enough to shoot well, yet small enough to conceal. I like a 3" barrel as it gives a slightly longer sight radius and a full length ejector rod while not giving up anything on concealment.
I have 3" Models 10 and 13. Love 'em! While I usually do carry one of the other guns, from time to time, I do pull out one of the 3 inchers and carry it for a while. Just because I like 'em so much.

I've carried my 642-1 for a lot of years and a speed strip in my pocket.

I carried a 640-1 for a lot of years prior to the 642-1.
The 642-1 is a lot lighter and easier to carry than the 640-1.
Loaded with Federal Premium 38 Special +P 129 Grain Hydra-Shok JHP I'm content.

My brother was in law enforcement and he always told me that if you don't win a
gun fight in the first three shots odds are you're not going to win.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

As much as I love my S&W revolvers, my ultimate carry revolver is a 3" DAO Kimber K6S, shown here with some companions.

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Only a cold warrior

I carry a 5" Classic 629 .44mag, from pajamas-off until pajamas-on, every day. In a homemade under-the-shirt cloth vertical shoulder holster rig. Very comfortable and very well concealed. Loaded with six Underwood JHP's. I wouldn't trade it for ANY number of rounds of any lessor caliber.

J frame on steroids. 327 eight shot.

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While I certainly understand the school of thought that says "5 is probably enough", what happens when it isn't?

I've never heard of anyone saying "we had too much ammo" once the smoke clears.

As long as increased capacity doesn't make it too big or heavy for you to consistently carry it I fail to see the downside. For example the 617 I posted will fit in the pocket of most of my pants and since its weight is comparable to one of my steel J-frames, it carries just as well in pocket or IWB as a steel J-frame.

So I figure why not have 2 more rounds on tap before needing a reload?

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

You're not Chuck Norris, if you have attackers in such numbers and with no fear of the 5 rounds in a J frame then you're probably SOL no matter what. Being able to spray a few extra rounds of 9mm down range isn't going to help you at that point. But in reality most people will never have to pull their EDC, the very small percentage that do will never have to fire a round, and the very small percentage of the very small percentage that do, typically fire around 3 rounds. Carry what you're comfortable with and don't worry about the what ifs and ya buts..

This fits the bill for me

Yeah, because anybody who sees all the news reports of people being attacked by multiple assailants, and takes that into consideration when arming themselves is obviously under the delusion that they are Chuck Norris.

Heck, since the probability of ever needing your EDC is so low, why bother with even carrying a gun?

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I read a news story some time ago (or maybe a story about the story, it's been a while). A man was found shot dead just inside his front door. The police took hours to remove all the guns he had in the house.

But he did not have a gun on his person when he answered the door.

That story got me thinking. Most of my guns are in safes, as is responsible. Yes, I have EDC guns. But I did not think a lot about the around the house carry.

So, I have a "house gun" now. It's always in a pocket in a fleece I wear when just knocking about, or thrown in a pocket if I am not wearing the fleece. It's a Seecamp LWS .32. Weighs a whopping 13 ounces loaded. (It's a vintage one, made when Seecamp was still Seecamp.) It is loaded with real Silvertips, not the pale imitations sold today.

If I am out of the house (without the Seecamp, it sometimes travels with the fleece), I have what I call an IDC EDC with me. The IDC means "I Don't Care. Not that I have the gun, but that I don't care if the gun is confiscated if I ever have to use it righteously. So that one is a S&W 642-1 police trade in with a really rough finish but sound internals.

If I ever have to reload either, I am already in very, very deep $%@!.

And yes, I still carry reloads for both. In case.

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Ray
SWCA 3472

M&P 340 W/38 spl

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Some assembly required..

If buying today I'd get an 8 shot 357 snub.
Colt DS and 2.75" Security Six are my small revolvers.

My M59 is the only gun I've had to draw or carry in my hand when on the water or working thru the night in boat yards.
Switched from my Colt GM and HS 22mag Derringer to the M59 and Derringer the first time a boatload of refugees washed up on shore, in the Keys, when on my weekly solo fishing trips.

When assisting Customs or DEA with their Marine Electronics I knew they'd protect me so I just carried donuts and fresh coffee.

No question for me. I can carry the Model 340 PD Airlite all day long and deliver 5 shots of 357 mag without reloading. Fits in my pocket without seemingly weighing any more than my keys and small enough that nothing is stretched or cramped. Only danger is forgetting that you have it.

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My perfect carry revolver for twenty years. Perfect for me, I trust all seven rounds to find it's target.

I have more then 1 ultimate revolver 5 shooter whether it be a J frame 642 or 3 inch SP101 or a 6 shooter 3 in. Smith model 13 or 2.5 66 or 7 shooter 3 in. 686 + or 2.5 386pd or a 8 shootef 327.

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balin
NRA Life Member

Aww heck fellers. Ultimate CC revolver is the one you can grip and rip a headshot on the adversary in self defense without thinking about aiming

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R/S
J.D.

Taurus is making some darn-fine lightweight carry revolvers these days. A 16 oz. .38 Special +P with six pills, equally comfortable in the pocket or an IWB/OWB holster just might fit the bill.

Firearms | Taurus USA

I like the old fashioned Bodyguards -- the humpbacks.

My favorite is this 649 no dash 38 Special.

I especially like the SA option -- not so much for defense, but for woods carry and plinking.

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Try a 2" or 3" model 36. You will b e pleased.

I love this revolver. I still havent found a holster and sights for it that I like.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

The s&w 340pd and 327pc are my most carried revolvers. Occasionally I break out the 686+ 4". Its just a tad too long for me

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The ultimate? It has to be the 340 PD. Effortless carry, dramatic and vivid results if you touch it off.

Combines the best of today's flashbang stun grenade and amazingly lightweight materials with the ancient and dependable technology of Smith & Wesson.

Decades of service say the J frame is about as good as it gets. My 442 validates that opinion.
Wanting a bigger burrito? The current Colt offerings are excellent choices. Proper holsters can be a tad more difficult to find but are available.

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Here's one the FBI issued to agents in the 1980s to carry. 13-1 shipped to Quantico FBI FTU Dec, 1980. Agents carried this duty revolver for over 10 years until the change over to the 1076. The bureau went from a manageable carry weapon in the K frame Model 13 .357 Mag to, for many, an unmanageable one for concealed carry purposes in the 1076. This is my carry weapon of choice today when I want a break from the M&P 40 Shield.
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Where is the love for the 38/638/49's everything you get in a 642 PLUS single action capability for that carefully aimed shot while the assailant is running away (or "field use" for you politically correct fellows here )
Can't beat airweight J frames for pocket carry although .38's are as stout as I can stand shooting. If I had NO small frame revolvers, my first choice would be a K7 DASA. If I had no small autos ( like the M&P380 and the .45 shield) my FIRST pick would be a Sig 365 with manual safety. Since I've got all the bases pretty much covered already, anything I buy now is pretty much just pissing money away on stuff I want but don;t need....although I've been jonsin' BAD for a 365 MS lately. Oh and a 7.5" Super Redhawk in .44 too

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Forum consigliere

A very good answer - and I would add that it be one you can do that repeatedly (to take out two or more if need be).

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

likely to take incoming on this...love revolvers, nothing like them for feel, function and pure elegance of design.
With that said, for many of us elders who no longer have the range time of previous, currently living relatively low threat lives, dealing with hand issues such as athritis or carpal tunnel, revolvers are not always the best solution for EDC, recently gave up my 642 for those reasons.
When I do carry a revolver these days, usually during a woods walks, it's with a 3" SP101 .357 in a comfortable OWB leather slide.
If threat assesment requires it, my Sig P365 is fine carry piece, light and accurate, sweet trigger, 12 round mags, easy to carry and conceal.
95% of the time, however, an LCP gen2 (not LCP2) is riding along in my pocket, as easy to carry as my wallet. I can punch center target with this little gun at 25', and carrying 15 rounds of Extrema XTP going 1000fps with 200 ft# does not leave one unarmed.

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One of my favorites: 3" 686+. Use a Mernickle holster.

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Foster Positivity.

As posted earlier:



Mas Ayoob has an article in the latest issue of "Handgunner" magazine (Ayoob files) were a 5 shot revolver wasn't enough ammo during a home invasion. A second revolver had to be deployed. And that was with only one invader.

Personally, anything that holds less than 8 rounds is a back-up/secondary gun for me.

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Watch & Pray