My First Revolver For Carry

[Whitwabit]

Ok .. looking at S&W and not interested in any other make .. so please limit remarks to S&W revolvers .. Thank You !!

Haven't owned a revolver in 30 some years .. have a group of autos most in 40S&W .. but no revolvers ..

So which one or two .. and why ?? What would you choose ??

Something in 357/38 +P .. DA/SA !!

So what are you carrying ??

 

[dr. mordo]

I carry a 4" Model 29, and I highly recommend it both as a CCW and as a "fun at the range" gun.

EDIT: I just realized you wanted a 38/357. I have been very underwhelmed with my 686 Perf Center, so I don't know what I'd recommend. I'd probly keep my eyes peeled for a M19 snubby or a 3" M13. If you are buying a new gun, my recommendation would definitely not be a S&W.

 

[Backlighting]

Can't beat the model 638. Lightweight, reasonable power and can easily conceal in both the pocket and inside the waist.
Model 638 | Smith & Wesson

 

[GTBL]

I like the 640 Pro for everyday carry. I do have a 3" 686 as well but have not bought a holster for it yet.

 

[dr. K]

A current model 60 (2 or 3 inch) or 649 would give you .38/.357 in a steel j frame.

 

[MetalMan]

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A current model 60 (2 or 3 inch) or 649 would give you .38/.357 in a steel j frame.

Agreed......

Model 60-15....shoots like a laser and easy to carry IWB.

While I wouldn’t recommend a steady diet of .357, .38 and +p are absolutely no issue.

Many folks consider this a “mini”-686.

 

[oldiesradio1560]

My daily carry is a 640 Pro Series .357 magnum with .357 125 gr. Hormany Critical Defense. I have No issues shooting or practicing with .357 factory loads.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

On the assumption you want to carry an easily concealable revolver your choices are a J frame or...........nope, that's it. Under easily concealable that's all there is. After that you have to do some homework. I wouldn't own a .44 Magnum, never mind carry one, unless I stoked it with .44 Special cartridges but, even then, it's a tank. Not my idea of all day carry but, obviously, we have friends that disagree with me (see above).

Next is a short barreled M686 or M66. Or M986 is you want a 9mm revolver to accompany your 9mm pistols. The 686 is called Deluxe, I think, and has a 3" barrel. The 66 has a 2.75" and the 986 maybe a 2". I can't recall for sure offhand. But after J frames that is what I consider to be possible concealed carry revolvers.

Since you said "carrying" that's where I would go - except I really like older, 2" K frames for daily carry and that's what I am carrying today. I don't use .357 Magnum for self defense; over penetration is one reason. I think .38 Special will suffice. But if you get a .357 you can load .38s so you're good to go there, anyway.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I carry a 642-1 and that's what I would recommend if you didn't want a SA capability. Inexpensive, readily available, and has carry versatility.

If you must have SA, then I'd suggest a 649 or 638. Snag-free carry, but you can cock the hammer. The 638 would be a good choice if you think pocket carry would be an option. Some people can pocket carry steel J-frames, but it's going to be easier with an airweight. If you can afford both, get one steel and one airweight. You can use the steel one for regular practice (or carry in a belt holster) and the airweight for carry and occasional practice.

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

686 plus is a great choice as well

 

[IAhunter]

I don't care for the J frames. My choice is a 2 1/2" model 66. I load it with the Gold Dot .357 short barrel load or Winchester Silvertips. The Gold Dot .357 is just a touch faster than their +P .38 Special load.

 

[Fishinfool]

Most folks think J frame these days when it comes to a carry revolver. And if pocket carry is what you want, then a J frame makes sense.

But, back "in the day", men carried K frames concealed on belt holsters, and did so quite successfully. 6 shots instead of 5, more user friendly grip, better DA trigger pull, and overall better "shootability" were the benefits. .357's out of any J frame are a handful. Much more controllable in a K frame, and despite what some think, there is a real difference in stopping power between a 38spl and a full house .357. The extra slight increase in weight? Some are more sensitive than me I guess, but I have never considered the added weight of a K frame in a well designed holster / belt to be an issue. In a new gun, the 2 3/4 inch 66 looks good. Plenty of older, used choices out there as well. For years I carried a 4 inch 66, or a 4 inch 586 in both shoulder and belt holsters, concealed, without issue. I enjoyed the confidence they gave me to project reasonable power (357 mag) with better accuracy at distance and speed, compared to a J frame. Its not always just about the mythical 2.5 shots at 10 feet in 4 seconds that some base their carry choices on.

Just my opinion, of course..

Larry

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Depending on your hand size and what grips fit you best, either a Model 19 or 66 with 2.5" barrel, or a Model 15 with 2" barrel. I prefer the 15 because a .38Spl is probably adequate, and Rogers/Safariland grips work very well for me even with the square butt of the 15. However, you clearly have a larger choice of grips with the RB 19 or 66, and a larger choice of ammo with the .357.

It appears to me from my tests with a chronograph that a .38Spl revolver gives slightly higher velocities with .38Spl ammo than a .357 revolver does, so if you're sure that you are going to use .38Spl ammo, you are probably better off with the 15.

Of course, if you can fit a 4" barrel revolver on or in your belt, all three revolvers are available that way, too, with some ballistic advantage.

 

[D Brown]

Can't beat the model 638. Lightweight, reasonable power and can easily conceal in both the pocket and inside the waist.
Model 638 | Smith & Wesson

My vote would be for the 638 as well. Either the current 638-3, or if you're willing to do a little hunting; you could possibly find the older pre-lock 638-2, which is also Plus-P rated.

The photo below shows my personal 638-3, upper right; and my 638-2, lower left.

 

[Bill In Texas]

If you are thinking about an Airweight, the 637 has both SA/DA capability and hasn't been mentioned.

Of course, you can't go wrong with a stainless steel Model 60 in either 2" or 3" as others have brought. Kinda hard to pocket carry the 3" though. LOL!

If I was going to buy a k frame for daily carry, I would get the new Model 66 with the 2.75" barrel. My reasoning is that it would be replaceable if I had to use it in a self defense situation and the gun was confiscated as evidence. I don't carry my older k frames for that reason.

 

[haywood]

J-Frames are my favorite. While the all steel are most fun to shoot the Airweights are great for pocket carry. I carry Two 442 airwieghts most of the time and don’t mind shooting them. If you can try a few, that would be best. If your not worried about pocket carry the all steel would work. I don’t care about shooting single action so I like the DA only gun.

 

[p8riot]

I carry a 342PD. Mine is a first year of issue. Weighs in at 10.8oz unloaded and hides really well. Took a little time to get used to the recoil. You don't find many for sale.

 

[Old cop]

I’ve been carrying some sort of J frame for almost 50 years. My current EDC is the 340PD loaded w/+P b/c .357 is too hot for accurate follow up shots, for me anyway. You can pocket carry these little guns, or put bigger grips on and belt carry if that is your preference.

 

[31FordA]

If you are looking for a .38/.357 with SA/DA capability I would suggest the 2.5" 19/66 or the 3" 13/65. A 3" 65-5 Ladysmith offers all the best features of the 65 and 66. The 2.5" 19 is probably the easiest to find for a reasonable price.

In a .38 only the 10/64 with a 2" or 3" barrel is a good choice. I carry a 2" 64-2 for work and like it a lot. The 2" 64 is much more accurate than you would expect for a snubnose.

 

[silversnake]

Ok .. looking at S&W and not interested in any other make .. so please limit remarks to S&W revolvers .. Thank You !!

Haven't owned a revolver in 30 some years .. have a group of autos most in 40S&W .. but no revolvers ..

So which one or two .. and why ?? What would you choose ??

Something in 357/38 +P .. DA/SA !!

So what are you carrying ??

If it's been 30 years I would stay away from the Airweights. They're just not a lot of fun at the range. Any K/L frame snub is much easier to shoot. Get the light J-frame as your second revolver.