Need some help picking a EDC revolver and caliber.

[ABPOS]

Speer Gold dot 135 grain +p is supposed to be one of the "best". A lot of guys also like the 158 SWC +p they call the FBI load. Remington and a few others make it.

I personally don't like shooting +p's in an airweight so I just carry whatever goes boom. It's not likely to expand so I just want it to penetrate. I need to pick up some more wadcutters but basically my go to load is Hornady American Handgunner 125 grain. That also is not likely to expand but it is clean and accurate and reliable. And seems a bit hotter than most loads. Although really I'd rather just shoot the lightest load as long as it penetrates. Hence some people suggest wadcutters because they do a good job in that regard. I wouldn't try to reload wadcutters, but some people do.

 

[smoore]

Cool. I am looking for one for both revolvers. I do have a small pocket holster that I think will fit the 637. It might be too big for it. They also told me they would give me a holster since the gun came with one when they got it in on trade.


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[smoore]

Speer Gold dot 135 grain +p is supposed to be one of the "best". A lot of guys also like the 158 SWC +p they call the FBI load. Remington and a few others make it.

I personally don't like shooting +p's in an airweight so I just carry whatever goes boom. It's not likely to expand so I just want it to penetrate. I need to pick up some more wadcutters but basically my go to load is Hornady American Handgunner 125 grain. That also is not likely to expand but it is clean and accurate and reliable. And seems a bit hotter than most loads. Although really I'd rather just shoot the lightest load as long as it penetrates. Hence some people suggest wadcutters because they do a good job in that regard. I wouldn't try to reload wadcutters, but some people do.

Awesome thx again for the help


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[ABPOS]

When I meant reload, I meant performing a reload into the cylinder because there's no taper and would be harder to do.

 

[smoore]

I picked up my 637 today. It carries very nice


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[rbmac52]

Congratulations! You just cannot go wrong with an Airweight j-frame in .38 Special!

 

[ABPOS]

Wooohooooo!! Welcome to the club. If you feel led, we need a range report after you go.

If all goes right, I might be going tomorrow myself. We're supposed to get snow though. We'll see how the roads are.

changed cuz I already posted that one:

 

[smoore]

Thanks I will post back after I shoot it and after I get the other


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[The Gila Bender]

The J frame 640-1 with boot grip was my first CCW and has been my default pocket revolver since 1995. The K frame 3" Model 13 carries 6 rounds and can still hide in a jacket pocket or IWB holster. My conceal carry autos are the HK USP 9mm Compact, HK USP .45 Compact and Kriss Sphinx Alpha SDP 9mm.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Back to basics

I don't edc, not allowed in my country, so I am not in,fluenced by personal preference. My thoughts are that before deciding what to carry you need to work out a few other things first.

Number 1, as quoted above, get yourself a good belt. I picked up a couple of DeSantis E25 belts from Midway, just a short drive from St Charles, for under $25 each when I passed through last year, and while I don't carry a pistol I use them daily on both my uniform and casual dress trousers. Even if you choose not to belt carry the belt will be worth it as you will need to carry ammo etc and the belt/pockets are the logical place to carry.

Number 2, how will you carry. Belt? Pocket? IWB? OWB? Shoulder? I visited St Louis in the first week of November and it was cold, wet and windy, but at other times of the year I understand it gets hot and muggy. Pocket or IWB seem to me to be the places to start. That lead to:

Number 3, choose the size of the revolver that you know you can carry concealed according to your location. J frame? K Frame? Larger? Other manufacturers equivalent?

Then and only then, would I start to look at gun options.

And get a decent holster too. Even if you are pocket carrying (especially if pocket carrying and you have a handkerchief, keys etc in the same pocket.

As far as caliber goes, many years ago I read the following, the best .38 Special round will be equal to an average 9mm in stoping power. The best 9mm equal to a lower level .357 magnum.

Finally practice regularly (at least monthly) with some decent g enrich "budget" ammunition and fire off the 6 rounds you have carried since you're last practice session. Reload with the rounds you have acarfied as spare and replace them out of the box.

Personally, given the OP I would be looking at that Ruger 9mm SP 101. Six rounds of top line defense 9mm with another six on my belt or in my pocket and I'd feel just as secure as when Ihave my G17 on the belt at work.

 

[smoore]

I don't edc, not allowed in my country, so I am not in,fluenced by personal preference. My thoughts are that before deciding what to carry you need to work out a few other things first.



Number 1, as quoted above, get yourself a good belt. I picked up a couple of DeSantis E25 belts from Midway, just a short drive from St Charles, for under $25 each when I passed through last year, and while I don't carry a pistol I use them daily on both my uniform and casual dress trousers. Even if you choose not to belt carry the belt will be worth it as you will need to carry ammo etc and the belt/pockets are the logical place to carry.



Number 2, how will you carry. Belt? Pocket? IWB? OWB? Shoulder? I visited St Louis in the first week of November and it was cold, wet and windy, but at other times of the year I understand it gets hot and muggy. Pocket or IWB seem to me to be the places to start. That lead to:



Number 3, choose the size of the revolver that you know you can carry concealed according to your location. J frame? K Frame? Larger? Other manufacturers equivalent?



Then and only then, would I start to look at gun options.



And get a decent holster too. Even if you are pocket carrying (especially if pocket carrying and you have a handkerchief, keys etc in the same pocket.



As far as caliber goes, many years ago I read the following, the best .38 Special round will be equal to an average 9mm in stoping power. The best 9mm equal to a lower level .357 magnum.



Finally practice regularly (at least monthly) with some decent g enrich "budget" ammunition and fire off the 6 rounds you have carried since you're last practice session. Reload with the rounds you have acarfied as spare and replace them out of the box.



Personally, given the OP I would be looking at that Ruger 9mm SP 101. Six rounds of top line defense 9mm with another six on my belt or in my pocket and I'd feel just as secure as when Ihave my G17 on the belt at work.

Lots of good info and suggestions there. Thanks.

I did end up buying a reenforced leather gun belt. It didn't work by its self as good as the belt I was using. It did allow me to use some suspenders which I can use to hold the weight of the gun, and not have to tighten my belt until my eyes start to bulge out of my head. This combined with an updated iwb holster helped me carry my PPQ easier. Main problem I ran into was one there is no way to ever not feel that I am carrying. It is also something that I would not wear every day. Also the suspenders make wearing the gun uncomfortable while setting at my desk. But while walking bending and any other activity I tried wearing the gun was good. I am sure I could come up with a combination that works best if I kept trying. Since I decided on the 637 38 special I didn't put any more effort into carrying the PPQ. So far I have carried the 637 in a desantis pocket holster. This one is slightly too large for this gun, but it does cover the trigger, and even the hammer. I have a holster coming from the store I purchased this from. The guy that knew where it was, wasn't in today so I have to get it later. Depending on what it is, I may buy another pocket holster and a iwb holster for it. I will probably switch between the 2 methods for my daily carry.



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[Lu..]

I used to go through belts like water until I got an indestructible belt from Bullhide Belts. Have been using the same Hercules belt for the last 5 years and it looks like a brand new leather belt. Highly recommend it.

Hercules Belt - Virtually Indestructible Non Leather Belt - USA Made – bullhidebelts

When I pocket carry, I use a sharkbite holster for my 442 and use Perry "trucker" suspenders.

SHARKBITE™ Pocket Holster

Perry Suspenders - Perry Products

Very comfortable and don't have to readjust my pants the entire day.

 

[smoore]

I used to go through belts like water until I got an indestructible belt from Bullhide Belts. Have been using the same Hercules belt for the last 5 years and it looks like a brand new leather belt. Highly recommend it.



Hercules Belt - Virtually Indestructible Non Leather Belt - USA Made – bullhidebelts



When I pocket carry, I use a sharkbite holster for my 442 and use Perry "trucker" suspenders.



SHARKBITE[emoji769] Pocket Holster



Perry Suspenders - Perry Products



Very comfortable and don't have to readjust my pants the entire day.

Thanks again. The belt looks nice. I will put it on my list to try if I order more belts



I got a pair of those Perry Suspenders, the rough and tough ones. I like them, but I should have ordered the tall. I will probably order a pair of the tall to try out.



I also Like the holster and will put it on my list of possible purchases. I am also looking at the desantis pocket tuk one. It is a pocket holster that can also be used IWB. Looks like a good concept, if it functions well. I also looked at the clip grips, but I prefer to have the trigger covered. And I like my current grips one it. Before I buy a holster for it, I want to see what they have for me. my luck is what ever one I buy will be the exact same as the one they are giving me for free, or possibly the free one will be a nicer more expensive one. Of course this will only hold true if I buy one before getting theirs. If I wait, it will be one I don't like and is not worth wearing.

This is what I currently have it in. It is larger than it needs to be, but it works for now. The size might actually help the gun disappear in my pocket. Last night at least 4 times I forgot I had it in my pocket. Part of that reason is I used to keep my cell phone in that pocket. Since I had the gun there I put my phone in my left pocket. 3 times I went to pull my phone out and realized it wasn't my phone. One time I started to put my phone back and realized I had something in that pocket already. Part of this is habit of carrying my phone in that pocket, part of it was the gun doesn't feel much different from my phone, size and weight. While the gun is heavier, it is light enough that with out thinking about it, it feels about like my phone.

 

[smoore]

Just a quick update. I have been carrying this every day for almost a week. I have been using the pocket holster pictured. For 2 days now I have used a desantis pocket-tuk holster wearing it IWB. I can't decide which way I like it more. IWB or pocket. It seems to disappear in which ever way I carry it.

I have not gotten a chance to shoot it yet. Maybe next weekend. I have been using the laser trainer and target to improve my trigger performance and practice aiming, along with drawing and aim on target time. Right now my time to draw and put a shot on target is pretty bad. It will improve though once I practice drawing it more.
Thanks again for all of the help! You guys really helped me settle on this gun, and so far I love it!


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[elm_creek_smith]

Well, IWB and I don't get along. Hired Hand suspenders, a 5.11 Double Duty belt and a Bianchi 7 holster keep my Model 65-1 from dragging my pants down as I move and sit and stand and move. I put new wooden service grips and a T-Grip on the former police issue .357 Magnum.
I've been wearing suspenders since I started suffering from Noassatall Syndrome.

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[rubiranch]

I just put some smooth Combat stocks on my 640-1 .357. I like them soo much I started carrying it instead of my 642-1 .38 Special +P.

My 642-1 is an Airweight and has had nothing but +P ammo.




This Galco holster works really well for me too.




Occasionally I will carry my M&P 4.5" .45.

 

[Fortcouragearmory]

Just to add my $0.02 worth, my EDC is an S&W 442. Light enough to carry every day. Strong enough to handle +P ammo (I carry 158-gr +P JHPs in mine). Hammerless design so you could pocket carry if you like. Accurate, reliable, and convenient.

 

[smoore]

Quick update. Picked up that Dan Wesson, and changed the grips.

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[smoore]

This is the closest I have gotten to shooting my new guns.

S&W 637

Dan Wesson 15

This is on a 2" target standing back about 12' using my iPhone target app, snap caps, and a universal laser trainer.

Just thought I would share. [emoji1303]


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[ABPOS]

That is great!!!

A big part of shooting handguns well is recoil management. And even more so with snubbies. But dry firing seems to help me too.