Retirement Gun

[brokendowncop]

I'm thinking like "BAM-BAM". You specifically ask about revolvers so a Chief or variant. CCW is for defense. Combat shooting at personal threat distance. You don't need night sights or long range accuracy to neutralize a threat to your person. What you need is a second revolver for those additional "wants" How about a Model 27 6" with factory target trigger grips and sights. Bingo! Hope this helps.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

If the OP is looking for a current production revolver that he can walk into any gun store and purchased today, in my view, the model that best meets all his needs is the product code 178013 Performance Center PRO SERIES Model 60.

The 3-inch barrel can easily be pocket carried. J-frames are made for that. Cargo short are perfect. All you need is a light cover garment. I like an untucked "fishing" shirt. The kind with lots of pockets and special features. The Model 60's all steel construction will stand up to thousands and thousands of rounds.

It has true target sights. The rear sight adjusts for windage and elevation. The front sight is pinned and easily replaceable. This is a gun that the OP could use to legitimately punch paper at 50 yards. You can't do that with a 1 7/8“ or 2 1/8“ fixed sight snubbie, that's not possible.

Performance Center(R) Pro Series(R) Model 60 | Smith & Wesson

 

[TheHobbyist]

2.5" 686 Great gun that meets your needs. YMMV

 

[TheHobbyist]

By the way, congrats on the retirement...you earned it and now you are on your time! Have fun. Hope you have many happy, healthy years to come.

 

[brjr51]

Well I just retired in January and since then I've picked up a new 327 PC 2", a Model 38 no dash, a Model 36 no dash, a Model 36-6 3", and a Model 60-7, plus a 32 Hand Ejector and Model 31-1 Regulation Police for giggles.
Why limit yourself to one choice?

 

[03hemi]

One of my new carry guns. S&W PPK/S 380.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Carryable with a suitable holster. Concealable. Adjustable sights. Six shots, not 5. Rust-resistant. Rugged. Reliable. Accurate. Will not abuse your shooting hand. Shoot either .38 Specials or .357 Magnums.

I think a 66 snubby would be ideal for you. This 66-2, shipped in 1983, was purchased by me as an ideal self-defense tool. I treated it to a primo action job by Nelson Ford, equipped it with some nice Ahrends concealment stocks for comfort and retention, and hand-polished it so it looks prettier. I'm a happy camper. As an alternative to holster carry, I sometimes use a "day planner." I got this one from Dillon a number of years ago.

John

 

[44specialfan]

One more vote for a 640 Pro. No danger of serious wear with .38’s and very well balanced. Not light so make sure to get a well designed pocket holster for cargo pants carry. It truly is an outstanding j frame.

 

[joe44va]

I also consider the 60-15 Pro my first choice. If you'd like a couple more holes in the cylinder and the cargo pockets are big you might consider my second choice. A 686+ 3".

 

[SeamasterSig]

I overlooked the part about it needing to hit the target reliably at 50 yrds. That seems like an awful lot to ask of a pocket carry gun – especially with "retired" eyes, no matter what kind of sights are on it. I would think the full list of stipulations would require a couple of guns to fit the bill. Does it really have to be only one?

Didn't S&W make a 36 with a 3-inch barrel and adjustable sights? I would look for one of those before selecting a later-model stainless version, but that's just me. Lots of people like the 21st century models. However, I'm skeptical about carrying a gun with a 3-inch barrel in a front pocket on a regular basis – even a J-frame. Wouldn't it run the risk of exposing the grip in shorter pockets or when you sat down? It seems to me that it would be a better candidate for belt-carry and/or a shoulder holster.

 

[Whitwabit]

2.5" 686 Great gun that meets your needs. YMMV

Am retired and just ordered the 686+ Performance Center .. with
the 2 1/2 inch barrel .. should get it Monday ..

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congrats on the retirement white cloud! I've been retired for a few years now and it is wonderful! I'm going along with all the other guys who recommended a 640.

My EDC is the 640-1. It's not the Pro Series gun, but I like fixed sights on a carry revolver and I probably wouldn't use the moon clip feature. They are very accurate little guns. On a good day, I can get pretty good groups out past 15 yards just for fun.

Easy for me to carry in a cargo shorts pocket here in S. Texas. I use a Mika pocket holster, it keeps the sweat away from the gun. The 640's are pretty tough. I reload .38 specials also, and I shoot quite a few at the range when I go. I don't think I'll every wear out my gun with them. In jeans, I use a Simply Rugged Pancake and the 640 is light enough to be comfortable. I have a DeSantis Mini Scabbard on the way for it also. I think you and retirement and a 640 would be a good match!

 

[white cloud]

You folks have some revolvers that are beautiful. I genuinely appreciate the thought given to these posts. It is one of the things I admire about this forum. You are obviously seasoned shooters who can think. This going to be hard. I am thinking I might need to "try" more than one option. Fortunately the wife considers guns to be investments.

So here is some more info. I guess I should have been clearer. I live in a medium sized (too big) southern city. I absolutely refuse to be unarmed unless I am flying. My wife is more than "good" that. Things around here are not what they once were.

We own a farm in rural S.C. If I am headed to the farm ( I plan to do that a lot real soon ), my day starts with loading the Kubota on trailer in town. By the time I get the tractor chained to the trailer, I will be sweating like a pig. IWB holsters will soaked at this point and I will have a sweaty gun. If I pocket carry in an Uncle Mikes all is good. I may have to stop at a truck stop and fill up the diesel truck. To my way of thinking my revolver needs to be accessible. When I get to the farm I will unload the tractor and start to work. If I am bush hogging I will be about as dirty as a human can get. Dust is everywhere. If I am carrying anything outside the belt, the gun will be covered with dust. This also eliminates carrying a rifle on the tractor. If it is IWB, it will be soaked with sweat. Pocket carry is about all that works. S.C. has a major hog and coyote problem. I try to kill these critters as much as possible. I will agree that a .357 is light hog medicine but if I can put some bullets in one, they will die. So I need to be able to hit with the revolver I have on me. Then I get home and get cleaned up. The wife want to go somewhere. I am back to city carry mode but I want something that I can hit with at more than 10 yards when things aren't going well. Not a simple set of requirements. I may need to cave in an accept that I need more than one revolver to do all of this.

Wood714, What is the middle gun?

 

[murphydog]

Thanks for the extra information. If you have big enough pockets, a 3" model 60-10 or 15 in .357 would fit the bill and would also make a dandy holster gun. .38 Special seems a little light for boar.

wood714's gun is a 2.5" model 686, nearly 2 lb. unloaded - you'd need a really big pocket for that one .

 

[white cloud]

You sir, have an amazing command of the understatement!!! A buddy of mine has a 3" 686. It's a really nice revolver. I am thinking that I need one just to have.

I load .357s for the hogs and .38s for everything else. BTW, a .357 158gr Hornady XTP out of a rifle works wonders on these things.

 

[lrrifleman]

Hello white cloud,

First and foremost, congratulations on the impending retirement.

I like your criteria. I have an Model 36-6 ... a carbon steel model whose stainless counterpart was the Model 60-4 I believe. I would suggest that you look at these models. With my 38 wadcutters, I can shoot one-handed half dollar sized groups at 25 yards all day long. Shortly after I purchased it, I swapped the rebound spring and the double action is a dream. For 50 yard precision shots, you need an exposed hammer, which eliminates the Centennials. The 3" barrel ensures positive extraction for rapid reloads in an SD situation. When I carry, it is IWB or coat pocket. While my 366 came with recoil reducing Hogue rubber monogrips, I quickly replaced them with wooden monogrips. If it weren't for this particular model's rarity, I would carry this revolver all the time; however, I don't want to lose it if I have to use it, so a 686+ 3" will be taking it's place. While I have not had the opportunity to shoot it at 50 yards, I am certain that I could keep it on an 8" paper pie plate with SWCs.

 

[SeamasterSig]

I live in a medium sized (too big) southern city.

By the time I get the tractor chained to the trailer, I will be sweating like a pig.

It sounds like you really need two guns to meet your needs. And preferably stainless steel for the extra corrosion resistance. Also, since you mentioned leather, horsehide will stand up to sweat better than cowhide, but standard leather also works just fine in a quality holster. If your wife is on board with gun ownership and concealed carry, you would be well-served "investing" in a "city gun" and a "country gun" since you have a foot in both worlds, i.e. a J-frame snub 38 spl for self defense against people and a 3 or 4 inch K/L-frame 357 magnum for critters and target shooting. Trying to serve both roles with a single gun will ultimately lead to disappointment. A 686 would get 'er done outside the city limits for sure, but don't overlook a model 66: It weighs less than a 686 and can handle the heavy ammo you'd want for hogs just fine (I carry 180 grain hardcast flat points in mine for that purpose in South Florida). If you aren't smitten by the full-length barrel lug, the only thing a 686 can do that a 66 can't is shoot hot 125 grain magnums carefree day-in and day-out. Get the medium-frame revolver and appropriate holster(s) first, and when you get tired of lugging it around, start looking for a J-frame

Down the road you may also consider a lever action rifle in the same 38/357 caliber (why complicate things) for around the farm. You aren't going to pocket carry a K- or L-frame for very long while working. The weight and bulk will get old fast. Regardless, you'll need a good OWB holster for such a revolver. And since you probably move around a lot when working, I would not necessarily recommend a pancake holster, because they tend to be very close-fitting and pull the butt in very tight to your ribs, which is great for maximum concealability but possibly at the expense of some comfort. There are many versions of the old Nelson "Professional" holster that still provide sufficient concealability while giving you more "breathing room" than a pancake-style holster. However, around the farm where concealability isn't so much of an issue, a so-called field holster may serve you best. R.Grizzle over in Georgia and Lobo in Iowa make excellent holsters for the kind of guns you're considering and the wait isn't excruciatingly long.

 

[wood714]

Wood714, What is the middle gun?

2 1/2 inch 686.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

My answer was the Smith & Wesson Model 340PD Airlite. Easy to carry in my pocket. Easy to draw. 5 shots of 357 Mag. Smith & Wesson quality. I have other revolvers for other purposes.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

So this is a very long winded question. I apologize.



I am very close to retiring. I am in good health and my joints seem to be doing fine. What I am looking for is sort of the ultimate carry revolver for this stage of life. It doesn't need to be a deep concealment piece as my wife tolerates me dressing around the gun. It has to be a S&W. Since I live down south, it gets hot and I sweat so I want something that I can pocket carry in cargo shorts. I want to be able to shoot a boat load of .38 level loads and not wear the gun out (I reload). I want a stainless steel gun. I want good sights. I want to be able to get a good D.A. trigger pull. I used to shoot NRA Bullseye so I want to be able to hit at 50 yards. It needs to be carried in a leather holster.



What do you suggest?

As I got older, my 4 inch S&W 686-6 became less attractive as a concealed carry gun. My EDC is the 2 inch S&W Model 12-2. Traveling, I add the 3 inch S&W Model 13-3. They conceal easily on my 5’8” 185 pound frame. I would go with the new 2.75 inch Model 66. Get it polished out, or do it yourself.

THIS is why I carry the Model 12-2.

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