Is it me or are most revolver holster just wrong?

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Originally posted by Saggitar:
I have been carrying for over 18 years now & I have never forgotton the PRIMARY reason for it. To PROTECT my own life--my loved one's & possibly others in a life threating encounter. In the 1970's I had to frequently board ships from unknown ports of origin while serving in the US COAST GUARD. I learned real quick that when the ---- hits, the last thing that matters is CARRY COMFORT. Do you really think this concept changes in the civilian world? Please people, carry the biggest ,baddest caliber you can SHOOT WELL. Get looser clothes to help conceil or whatever. Remember---you carry for a specific reason--Your'e not auditioning for GQ Magazine. If you FAIL in your'e mission, that COMFORT FACTOR is going to be HEAVIER on you than that little gun ever was. I carry an L FRAME SMITH & WESSON 357 3IN BARREL IN A SURVIVAL SHEATH CHEST HOLSTER DAILY. THIS IS AN 8 IN REVOLVER WEIGHING APPROX 38 OZ. ITS PART OF MY COMFORT ZONE NOW & IT DIDNT TAKE LONG TO GET USED TO IT AT ALL. If the event ever comes, I WILL NOT have to second guess myself on the issue of SELF DEFENSE versus CARRY COMFORT. DON'T LOOSE FOCUS PEOPLE & REMEMBER-----PRACTICE--PRACTICE--PRACTICE & MORE PRACTICE

Saggitar;

Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum. You make some interesting comments. But I'm a little confused. Is your revolver a 3 inch or an 8 inch? You first say it's a 3 inch, then an 8 inch.

Comfort definitely does matter. The "concept" you mention does change in the "civilian world" where many people are limited by circumstances, regulation or convention and must use a smaller weapon for discretion. There are many people who cannot afford to be discovered armed at their workplaces for reasons of propriety. This prevents them perhaps from selecting larger, sometimes more powerful arms for their everyday use. In other words, sometimes large pistols are just not practical in certain circumstances.

I do agree with you that one should carry a weapon they can shoot competently and that practice is very important. For most people, larger frame revolvers provide better sight pictures, absorb more recoil and generally are more accurate when compared with small frame revolvers. But despite that, most folks either prefer or require a smaller sized weapon for the reasons I have already stated.

Judging only by my own experience, both in law enforcement and as a holster maker, small J frame S&W revolvers far exceed L frame revolvers, in any barrel length over 2 1/2 inches, for popular use in concealment. I understand that it may work for some folks, but certainly not the majority.

Today, you can have any number of smaller, lighter J frames chambered in .357 Magnum, so the trade off, in both size and weight, is rather considerable.

 

[Saggitar]

Lefty,

Thanks for the welcome. Sorry for the confusion. My carry weapon is a Smith &Wesson 686 plus 7 shot 357 Mag-- 3 in barrel -- 8 inches overall length. About the same OAL as my Colt 45 1911 which I carried for about 14 years until I regressed back into the wheel guns of my youth. I carry the 686 now because I prefer to carry the weapon that I like to shoot &practice the most with. Just a personal preference. As to the comfort issue, I have a J frame S&W 38 Chiefs Special & a Colt 38 Commando which I have also carried at times but I do not seem to have the issues of adapting to carrying the larger weapons as some people do. My priorty has never changed in the last 18 years. I understand your'e observations on MOST peoples reasoning for smaller weapons, but like I said before-- when the ---- hits your;e not going to think about comfort, just firepower &accuracy. Thanks a bunch for the dialouge. By the way , Im going to check out your'e website for a houlster for my new Taurus 40 24/7 4In BBL. Any suggestions? Thanks Saggitar

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Saggitar;

There are quite a few different styles of holsters you might find suitable for your Taurus. Which of those might suit your particular needs, is largely a personal decision.

A fairly significant number of my clients do carry large frame wheelguns, generally, with short barrels for concealment. Personally, I championed that practice many years ago when Colt and S&W literally refused to produce .44 and .45 large frame revolvers with 2 1/2 inch barrels. That's another story that I've discussed previously, elsewhere on this forum. Here is my favorite of that breed of serious shootin'iron;

Colt New Service .45 LC 2 1/2 inch barrel.

For some folks this would be impractical to carry. For others it might be just perfect. I have no real criticism of either choice but I understand that it's never as simple as we sometimes imagine, selecting the perfect carry gun and accessories for every conceiveable circumstance.

I came across this photo I took a few years ago. It helps illustrate my point. Although the Colt is certainly heavier, it's not any less concealable than this 3 inch S&W Model 60 .357 with the right gunleather.

 

[mississippi revolverman]

I usally carry a model 60 in a safariland soft leathe IWB at at the appendix position most times. When I need more have a 3" 686 plus and a Milt Spark IWB I carry in the small of my back

 

[BurkLee]

Originally posted by biggs357:
I don't care for iwb only because i don't like buying pants in another size,I carry all my guns this way.

For an OWB carry, I think the Bianchi Black Widow (like this) is the most comfortable I have found

 

[bluesman99]

I am happy with the enthusiastic response to my original post. Bill to respond to your request as to how I like My Barami Hip grips I will say this. They are low cost, no-frills, well (snug) fitted to the J frame, and hold the gun tight putting the cylinder below the belt, but I must say that shooting standard .38's is far more uncomfortable than my big rubber bannana grips that I used to have. The difference in shooting these skinny grips is giving me second thought about them on my airweight. I may buy some Tgrips? Otherwise I love the hip-grips. I also carry a seecamp .32 or Keltec .380 in the pocket most of the time. What I like about these pocket pistols is that with the right pocket holster they print just like a wallet in the front pocket, but they do have their limitations.

I have determined that I just can't deal with any type of belt carry at home or at work. I just don't live in a "state of risk" that requires such drastic day to day carry requirement as a civilian. For me it has to be so comfortable as to allow me to carry confidently to the point of almost forgetting I am carrying to make it work for me. This is just my personal situation and using a pocket pistol allows me to carry all the time. If the world around me changed to a point where I was in potential danger on a regular or even occasional basis I would certainly change my approach. I like carrying the J frame as a change of pace and it sure feels good in the belt with the hip grips!

 

[bill2000]

Knew you'd like them Bluesman. I understand about them being a little deficient in the felt recoil department but I don't find it all that bad with standard loads. Wouldn't want to burn through a box with them but thats not what their all about anyhow. They hide nice and carry secure. Best to ya.

 

[blacksharkL82]

Originally posted by tbone2:
Google Barami Hip Grip. I am built about the same as you and this is the best I have found. Conceals with a t-shirt just fine. Check it out!

That is what I've been using for 25 years.
Also gives me a better grip hold.
<[email protected]>

 

[Goodtime Charlie]

Originally posted by Rugskipper:
My 642 disappears in my front pocket with this.
http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/pocket.htm
Comes out fast and slick as a whistle too.

Ditto that for my 442-2.