Found a 12-2...to carry or not to carry...

[Cuda]

Picked this up at the MWCA gunshow yesterday...Model 12-2, 2" barrel--tight action, hardly a turn line...





Serial number points it to 1974.

I actually bought it to carry, but...now I'm reconsidering; is the fragility of these overrated? It seems to me that it would be a great carry gun; six shots, light weight, nice full grip...but if regular practice with standard pressure ammo is going to rapidly wear it out...not sure if I want to do that.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Carry it, shoot it, don't worry about it unless something happens to it. It was made to be used.

 

[g8rb8]

Carry.
John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

 

[NYlakesider]

Use it, shoot it, carry it, enjoy it!

 

[Bajadoc]

I would not be able to resist using that beauty.

 

[Biginge]

Have Shot mine for years with no problems. A very good carry piece.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

That is to good of a carry gun not to carry it.

If nothing else get a 2" model 10 for practice.

BTW: Congrats!

 

[shawn mccarver]

Shoot with standard ammo; carry with +P (yeah, I know), and enjoy it. If something breaks, get it fixed. If you cannot get it fixed, so what. YOU should be the one to enjoy wearing out your gun, not the next owner.

 

[Alk8944]

No one on this forum can tell you what to do with your gun, only you can decide. Did you buy it to shoot/use, or as an investment?

If you bought it to shoot/carry then do so. You should be aware that the major issue with any of the "Airweight" models the principal issue is finish wear if you carry it. It will take only a few weeks in a holster full-time for the finish to be far less pristine than it is now. The other issue is that virtually all the internal parts of the Model 12, except the 12-4, are different from the steel guns, and difficult, if not impossible, to find. So if anything does break/wear out repairing the gun may not be possible. But these are the chances you take with any out-of-production mechanical device, regardless of what it is!

If you bought it as an investment and wish to retain the maximum value then put it in the safe and leave it there!

Your decision, not ours.

And "delicate", where do you get that idea? The strength of a revolver is in the cylinder, not the frame, and the cylinder is steel, just like the all steel guns. While anecdotal evidence makes it appear that the Airweight frames may be somewhat more prone to cracking in the lunette this is not fatal to the gun or a safety issue! As to the cause, it is my belief that the cracking is more likely to be the result of the guns being dropped than it is from shooting them. They will take far more stress than many seem to believe they will!

 

[shell627]

Another vote to carry.Model 12 is a wonderful carry gun.

 

[2hawk]

IIRC, somebody (maybe on this forum) used a M12 to test the "is +P ok in my gun" question, and didn't have any issues after thousands of rounds.

That is a beauty, so if the goal is to have a nice gun to tote around, you certainly have a winner, but it will develop "character" in time.

 

[Cuda]

I bought it to carry--and that's what I do intend to do with it...

Thanks for the advice, all.

 

[Izzydog]

I have it's identical twin brother in my collection. I've been torn for years, over if I should shoot it, sell it, or keep it as is. It's just too damn nice!

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Carry it, shoot it, don't worry about it unless something happens to it. It was made to be used.

I agree. It's rare enough that it will retain a good chunk of its collector value even with some honest wear on it.

PS I've been looking for precisely that gun for years, and for carrying, not stashing away.

 

[Old cop]

All my guns are shooters. Some are carried more often than others but no safe queens for me.

 

[pete950]

Carry it and enjoy it lif is short!!!!!!
A nice wadcutter load or a non +p 158 swc
Federal makes one or the hoenady 158 grain non +p XTP load

 

[bearpugh4570]

carry and enjoy. i do. mines a 12-2 also from 1976. shoot it every week. shoots too good not to. i carry standard pressure critical defense in mine.

 

[RussellD]

My mother is 80. She has a Model 12 in her night stand to ward off the things that go bump in the night. She shoots it very well too.

 

[CajunBass]

I bought one just like that a few years ago, with the box, cleaning rod, and some of the papers. I stuck it away for a while, then thought I'd try carrying it just for "grins and giggles" a couple of times.

I never stopped.



I carry it in a leather OWB holster and the finish shows little wear. The grips have a couple of dings in them from seat belt buckles most likely. It really doesn't look much different from that picture.

I shoot standard pressure 158 LSWC ammo for practice and load P+ for carry.

 

[dcopper]

Nice piece, got one in nickel. Looks like new! I don't carry it. Got a Mod 65-3 3in I carry instead.