CCW...Revolver or Semi?

[scooter123]

Frankly, I just don't understand the appeal of pocket carry. I don't carry a purse so my pockets tend to get loaded down. In the front right, it's key's, cash, and a pocket knife. In the front left, it's a wallet and change. As for my rear pockets, don't carry anything there, found out many years ago that sitting on my wallet was screwing up my back and I have the typical white male "vanishing butt" syndrome, which means there aint much padding back there. In addition, back pocket carry is an invitation to pickpockets. If I tried to pocket carry it would take me a week to fish the gun out if I needed it.

My choice for carry is either on the hip or on the shoulder. I also only carry one gun, no variation in manual of arms and since I enjoy shooting it, it gets shot a lot.

That gun is a 40 caliber Sig P239 and I now have 2700 rounds downrange with it without one single malfunction. It's accurate, easy to conceal, and with 2700 rounds without one single jam I consider it quite reliable.

When I was first looking for a carry choice I rented a 442 because of all the myths about semi's jamming. Thirty rounds of shooting that was enough for me. Frankly I don't understand how people can shoot these guns. The grips are TINY and the recoil with a 38 spl. makes my P239 feel like a 22 Mag. In addition, the sight radius is small enough that it's useless for me beyond 10 or 15 feet. As much as I love wheelguns, the only J frame I'll consider purchasing is the model 63 and that would be as a range toy.

Bottomline, my vote goes to semi's in a good holster. I would also recomend the Sig P239 highly, in fact IMO it's the finest combat pistol on the planet.

 

[badge 851]

To each his own but I have been carrying twin J frames for many, many, many years. Primary is at 4 o'clock either IWB or OWB, BUG is in my left front pocket. In cooler fall and winter weather I move my BUG to my left outer jacket pocket.

 

[coltgun]

Glock 23

Looks like more and more armed robberys and confrontations involve more then 1 bad guy, thus i will continue to carry my 40 cal 2nd gen, beat up Glock 23, with my smith 337ti snubby as a bu gun, i trust the glock and i8 want those extera rounds for the extera bad guys...

 

[whitedogfive]

Revolver vs Semi

Guys, just because your semi auto runs flawlessly at the range does not mean it will do the same in a self defense situation. At the range you are in a perfect situation, two hand grip on the gun, arms extended, feet apart, calm heart rate, no stress, exactly what is perfect for the gun to fire. This is not what is going to happen if you are in a self defense close encounter. Bad guys will not let you take the "proper position". Your more likely to shoot one handed, while falling to the ground or eating dirt and still trying to take your gun out or being punched and trying to place the barrel on the bad guys belly as you fend off with the other hand.... lets be reasonable here. Bad guys do not want to get shot and if they do not flee they will fight and there goes your "proper position". Law enforcement use semi's because they have the luxury of distance, bad guys want as much distance from cops as possible. You can fix a malfunction when you have distance. For us civilians, bad guys want to be in your face a malfunction means your dead. I choose a revolver because of this.

 

[sipowicz]

Guys, just because your semi auto runs flawlessly at the range does not mean it will do the same in a self defense situation. At the range you are in a perfect situation, two hand grip on the gun, arms extended, feet apart, calm heart rate, no stress, exactly what is perfect for the gun to fire. This is not what is going to happen if you are in a self defense close encounter. Bad guys will not let you take the "proper position". Your more likely to shoot one handed, while falling to the ground or eating dirt and still trying to take your gun out or being punched and trying to place the barrel on the bad guys belly as you fend off with the other hand.... lets be reasonable here. Bad guys do not want to get shot and if they do not flee they will fight and there goes your "proper position". Law enforcement use semi's because they have the luxury of distance, bad guys want as much distance from cops as possible. You can fix a malfunction when you have distance. For us civilians, bad guys want to be in your face a malfunction means your dead. I choose a revolver because of this.

Good obs...some people have trouble making certain autos work 100% because of their hold...if you limp wrist it under stress, you might have a single shot gun in your hand.

 

[DDDWho]

An old thread resurrected.
Put me in the revolver column.
My Taurus 85 ultralite has a loaded weight of exactly 1 lb. less than my Ruger SR40. I have 2 speed loader for it so the lack of mag capacity is a minimal consideration. The Taurus is easy to conceal and carry. A .38 Spl. JHP center mass should be enough.

I like the post made by whitedogfive

 

[nipster]

I carried a model 60 for years, but a few years back switched to primarily a Glock 23. Not a fan at all of Glocks and hate the trigger, the main reason was capacity.

 

[badge 851]

Guys, just because your semi auto runs flawlessly at the range does not mean it will do the same in a self defense situation. At the range you are in a perfect situation, two hand grip on the gun, arms extended, feet apart, calm heart rate, no stress, exactly what is perfect for the gun to fire. This is not what is going to happen if you are in a self defense close encounter. Bad guys will not let you take the "proper position". Your more likely to shoot one handed, while falling to the ground or eating dirt and still trying to take your gun out or being punched and trying to place the barrel on the bad guys belly as you fend off with the other hand.... lets be reasonable here. Bad guys do not want to get shot and if they do not flee they will fight and there goes your "proper position". Law enforcement use semi's because they have the luxury of distance, bad guys want as much distance from cops as possible. You can fix a malfunction when you have distance. For us civilians, bad guys want to be in your face a malfunction means your dead. I choose a revolver because of this.

whitedogfive, your analysis is 100% Spot On! Having survived a gun fight I can tell that your finite motor skills go into the crapper damn fast. I thank God above for my training, mindset, and tactics learned. I also thank God for the reliability of my S&W 686. Now that I am retired I still carry two revolvers, albeit one from a different manufacturer. Primary is a 357 Mag & BUG is a 38 Special. All reloads (speed loaders and speed strips) are 38 Special for obvious reasons.

 

[sierra255]

WOW....Lots of great advise, so I won't give you mine regarding which gun to carry. What I will say is: Don't carry anything less than a .38sp or 9mm. That is the minimum, and remember that "a dead man cannot testify against you in court" After 30+ yrs of law enforcement I can tell you that is the best advice I ever got..

 

[FlYFiShErMaN]

Simple answer for me is "yes"

I carry both. Depends on how my mood strikes me I am fairly large, so I can conceal both my old W.German P220 or my Mod 66 with ease. Plus they both point well and shoot great for me. So - bottom line, what works for you is what you should be carrying.

 

[SCWOODY]

I prefer my S&W 469 for jacket, vest carry in a bianci paddle holster. It has been faithful for 15 years and never has given me a problem.
For loose shirt, jeans etc. I have a CM9 in Mitch Rosen iwb. Light and very concealable.
For tee shirt and shorts or quick trips I drop my Hi-Standard 22 magnum in my front pocket.
Everyone must make their own decision. I have carried several snubbies in LE as backup. Have NO problem with any revolver. Never went back carrying a large revolver after buying the 469. I do keep a model 10 at the front door closet for quick use if needed.

 

[NE450No2]

Random Thoughts.

Most bad guy on Civilian encounters will occur at conversational or even touching distance, and at very high speed.

Most Civilians are not WELL trained, and do not shoot a lot.

For these type encounters a revolver is best IMHO.

I most often carry a revolver myself as a No2 for these incidents/reasons.

However because of my time on the JOB, I also carry a semiauto, with several extra magazines, as I feel if I get into a really bad "deal" a 1911 in 45 ACP with a lot of ammo is my best option [till I can get to a rifle].

Most "normal" people are not going to carry 2 guns.

So, I recommend to most all, to carry a good revolver for concealed carry, and practice with it a bunch. I also recommed carrying extra ammo in either speed loaders or speed strips, on your person, with extra ammo in your car, and, if you use one, your briefcase as well.

 

[enfield]

Buy several of each and make up your mind over the next 10 years. We all do it this way.

 

[cmort666]

The firearm I carry most these days is a 2" Model 36 "no-dash" in a leather pocket holster of my own construction.

It's reliable, accurate, more than effective enough, and easy to remove to enter a CPZ.

 

[Old cop]

I've been carrying a small .38 for over 40 years, beginning w/a Colt Cobra in 1968. My current EDC is the M&P 340 which carries very well. The Colt is in the safe and my Ruger LCP comes out as wardrobe needs dictate, which is not all that often.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Primary concealed carry: Model 13-3

Alternate primary concealed carry: Model 10-5

Secondary (read "always") concealed carry: Model 37

Questions?

ECS

 

[OLDFED]

After many years of trying to figure it all out, I carry a fullo size KIMBER on a Clipdraw and tucked inside my jeans. It lays flat, has all the "punch" I'll ever need and an extra mag in a side clipon pouch.

 

[kozmic]

IMO, front pocket conceal is tough. The right holster will help with read. For size, I like the small .380's and have a Bodyguard. Their thinness is unequaled but that's where my love affair ends. I consider them as decent back-up pieces.
I also have a 442 and if you go with a J frame consider hammerless for all the obvious reasons. There are a ton of great loads available in 38s. They are flawless in operation but not the most fun to fire and limited to 5 rounds.
The new Shield or some of the other compact 9/40's look to score well on in all categories and present a really nice choice.
Personally, I seldom carry front pocket but sometimes when I have painter or cargo pants with large pockets and then I try to squeeze in my Ultra Stainless Raptor II or my M&P 9c.
I suggest that you carefully try all of the above and read up on ballistics for the calibers in your contemplating. Remember that new guns and especially ammo are available everyday so, take your time and ask questions. The posts here are very insightful.
Good luck, your question is a tough one and very individual but you appear to be on the right track.

 

[kozmic]

I had to laugh, as I am 6'1' [although beginning to shrink after 65 years] and weigh 200 lbs, and I think I need to lose 10 or 15 pounds.

amen brother!

 

[TexasArmed]

For many years I have carried a Charter Arms Bull Dog .44-.44 SPL. 5 shot-stainless and rubber-21 OZS unloaded-2 1/2 inch barrel, in an Uncle Mikes IWB open top holster-appendix carry. I can retrieve it in a hurry, and you'll never know I've got it. But you have to decide. I would not carry in my pants pocket, unless it was a secondary piece. Flapjack

I also carry an older Charter Arms Bulldog 44 Spl 3 inch barrel as my primary five shot revolver, and a secondary S&W 38 Spl airweight stainless steel five shot revolver. Additionally I also have a S&W 625-5 4in long colt 45 six shot revolver and an 851 Taurus 38 Spl.

I prefer the simplicity, carrying 3 extra speedloaders, and one
for my 38 not worrying about a malfunction as I have never experienced one with a revolver. I have with SA's. I carry the 38 Spl in my front pocket but with a good pocket holster that separates from the gun when I draw. I love the CA 44 Spl as it fits exactly into a J Frame holster. I won't rule out ever buying
a SA but for my needs I prefer revolvers.

And since I have neurapathy in my hands, I find it easier to load
revovlers than putting rounds into a magazine.