S&W J frame vs. Glock 42

[Smoke]

well, yeah, no kidding. OBVIOUSLY when an AD occurs, somebody did something wrong, but that's beside the point. The salient point here is that striker-fired semi-autos are inherently more prone to ADs than a revolver. I'm not condemning Glocks ( or similar), I've owned them longer than anyone I've ever met ( yeah, seriously). But the design IS inherently riskier, and dismissing it as simply a training issue doesn't change this fact.

but how do you quantify riskier?

If there is a one in a million chance of a negligent discharge with a revolver and a one in 850,000 chance of a negligent discharges a Glock is it really more dangerous?

 

[shamus]

I've already posted here that I have both but feel more comfortable with the J frame even with two less shots. The why comes down to Walkin trails post above.

52 years carrying and training with a J frame. I have five, all with the same grips and if nothing else once a week I'll shoot one, at least a little.
Familiarity breeds competence. It's grown to be totally instinctive. For decades.

As the department Rangemaster I know for an absolute fact that ND's made a significant leap when the department when to autoloaders. Can it be blamed as a training issue? Yes of course. Mostly. What is the first thing to be cut when it comes to police defunding? Training.

Fifty years ago you had to qualify at 50 yards and in, with a revolver. Around 1990 with autoloaders taking over the police world the basic training was reduced to 25 yards and ten less rounds. WTF is up with that? Look at round count per police involved shootings. Way up.

I'm personally more comfortable carrying a revolver, and a DAO at that. Just sayin' some of us depend on many rounds of experience.

What he said _ I have said this before: a while back I reviewed all my shooting incidents, varmints, combat, hunting, defense, and every single one was settled with less than 5 rds. Doesn't mean I won't run into the biker gang from Mad Max but, I certainly don't obsess about it. Gun with 5 (S&W 638) and a box of mixed loads in the glove box. So far (82) has got me there and back. Also very fond of my first gun: Ruger OM FT .44 w/4" bbl. I have MANY others but, those two always seem to follow me around.

 

[walkin' trails]

With statistics from back in the early 90s, one entity where I worked at the time issued or authorized DA revolvers and semi autos from Glock and Sig. “ADs” seemed to be split evenly between the three operating systems (Sig was DA/SA). As an instructor, I’ve noted people who really aren’t that into guns, cops included, whose fingers naturally gravitate to the trigger all the time, not just when the gun is on target and the shooter ready to shoot. This is a training and familiarity problem. I think it is a result of someone who isn’t they comfort with what they carry and don’t see the benefits of addressing their fears by getting competent. The other “ADs” are likely caused during unconventional carry, such as stuffing in the waist band, dropping into a pocket full of other stuff, or into a purse or backpack along with aforementioned other stuff. Pocket trash has been known to get into the Glock trigger guards and various ranges of motion or sudden movements can cause chapstick to defeat a trigger safety and discharge a gun. So can keys, eyeliner, pens, and other crap. But it can also happen with other firearms. Maybe harder with a 10 lb plus revolver trigger, but sloppy habits with one gun spill over to others. And Glocks require the trigger to be pressed before disassembly so that accounts for probably more “ADs” than lipstick tubes. But any firearm requires training to become competent in handling, and Glocks, by design, aren’t anymore prone to unintended discharges than other quality designs. In fact, I recall a supervisor ventilating a wall while cleaning a revolver.

 

[HighCountryJD]

I live in Houston (native), and at 62, have had a Texas LTC since 1996, the year the license was 1st available, IIRC. I don't consider myself an expert, but after years of carry and mutli gun comps, I have a good idea of what works for me. I have carried many different handguns, the vast majority of which were autos. S&W, HK, Glock, XDM, 1911/2011, FN, Sig, etc. Like others, I base my EDC on what I'm wearing, what I'm doing, and where I'm doing it. Weekly bank day, for business deposits? I was jugged last year...followed from bank to a retail center, where I found my vehicle burglarized-glass smashed out, and an empty deposit bag gone. I also keep a P226 and a AR in my truck, so I'm glad I didn't catch the idiots in the act. Unfortunately, this type of thing has happened to me several times in the last 5 years or so, and has been more common in general, seemingly everywhere, but especially in blue cities like mine. So, on bank day, I go a bit heavier. Currently, my primary is a P365 Fuse w HST 124s, backed up with a 340PD w Speer 357 SB 135s. Sometimes I wear a (thin) level III vest. Around the house, or exercising around the neighborhood, I pocket carry the 340 PD. I also have a P365 I use when I need more concealment than the P365 Fuse affords. Mountains or backcountry?: FN 510 10mm with hot penetrators. There's a rifle in both of my vehicles: S&W sporter in the Tundra, and a Wilson SB 300 Blackout in the Toyota 86, both with Magpul D60 drums & Aimpoints. Watching vids of thugs walking up behind people and snatching their handguns out of their holsters, I have switched from open to thumb break holsters for strong side carry. I also have a Galco shoulder rig, for a back up or car travel, which I can set up for the P365, 340 PD, and others. Spare mag count ranges from 0-2, depending on my perception of risk.

It seems that you have a well thought out strategy. With the aforementioned vehicle burglaries, I’m curious as to how you, or anyone else, secures a rifle in a vehicle. I’m considering adding a PCC to my lineup but am concerned with leaving it in a truck.

 

[phm14]

It seems that you have a well thought out strategy. With the aforementioned vehicle burglaries, I’m curious as to how you, or anyone else, secures a rifle in a vehicle. I’m considering adding a PCC to my lineup but am concerned with leaving it in a truck.

That is a concern. IIRC, some LEO depts have used locking brackets, or other systems, to secure long guns. Fortunately, when I was jugged, they left the AR and P226 in the truck. They hit it in a busy retail parking lot. I had parked right up against the storefront sidewalk. When I came out of the grocery store, there were several witnesses that asked "Is that your truck?". They said a vehicle had stopped behind it, a "fat black dude" got out, broke the rear quarter glass, jumped halfway into the window, grabbed something and jumped back in the car, which sped off, with a deposit bag containing nothing but a receipt. . There was also ~$600 in emergency travel cash stashed in the truck, but they didn't have time to go through the truck. Your question got me thinking "Do I have an Aimpoint on the truck rifle?" Just checked and that rifle has Magpul irons on it. The S&W sporters were very well priced, when I bought them, so I don't have much money in it. The P226 is a .40 LEO trade in I picked up, so not much $ in that either. I do not want to contribute to the # of stolen guns already on the street, but locking these guns up reduces accessibility, and could potentially increase risk. Neither are visible from outside the truck. The P226 is in a holster, fastened to the side (inside) of the center console. The rifle rides along the back of the drivers seat, butt on the floor, held in place between the seat, and a seat back caddy/organizer, which straps to the head restraint posts. The glass behind the front seats is the darkest legal tint. Removing the firearms at home is an option, but if seen, could tempt thieves. If your long gun has a folding stock, it could fit into something like a tennis racket cover/bag.
The Wilson AR 300 BO "pistol" in my car trunk has an Aimpoint (both pricey), but the car is garaged. My home has security cameras, and motion lights, so the front is lit up, even when a car passes the house at night. The truck was also hit at our vet clinic, also in broad daylight, but that was a $5-6K cat theft (all 4 cats).

 

[redbanks]

I like Glocks but then again I heat my Hot Pockets with the microwave door open.

Talk about living on the edge!

 

[Major 2]

When I was High School over 50 years ago, the debate was Ford VS Chevy.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

When I was High School over 50 years ago, the debate was Ford VS Chevy.

You must have gone to a slow school. No GTO's, no GTX's? 440 Wedge rules. Hemi's 2nd. place.

 

[haywood]

Very nice looking shiny solid bull looking revolver, how heavy is it ?

Loaded 2LBS. Yes a little heavy. I have carried heavier. I’m just a Revolver nut and can’t get enough of this new Taurus. The action is perfect for me and it shot very well at the Range. I took off the smaller factory grips and added Hogue Mono Grips.

 

[Major 2]

When I was High School over 50 years ago, the debate was Ford VS Chevy.

You must have gone to a slow school. No GTO's, no GTX's? 440 Wedge rules. Hemi's 2nd. place.

No Sir, we had those... JUST no Debate.

A friend of mine (His dad owned small chain of family (EARLS) markets)
anyway, John had a 1st year GTO 1964 - Maroone on Black, 4 on the floor, 389 CID
NOBODY debated HIM

A girl I dated had Renault - Hahaahaha

I had Dodge A100 window van 318 V8 Auto , with surfboards
My Graphic teacher has AC Cobra 427 ....by God the real deal no KIT !

 

[daveboy]

Like you, I have two entirely different styles of weapons for concealed carry, with one being a .38 Special and the other being a .380 ACP. I will take exception to your statement that with the proper ammunition, the choice between the two calibers is a toss-up. I disagree, believing that with proper ammo, the .38 will beat the .380 everyday, and that's not even considering the effectiveness of +P ammo. However, concealability and ammo capacity can make a difference. I carry a Model 36, 2" barrel, loaded with Speer 135grain, +P Short Barrel ammo. That goes in a pocket holster in my right pocket, with two speed-strips in the left pocket, for a total of 15 rounds. I don't like striker-fired pistols (just a personal preference). So, sometimes I carry an RIA Baby Rock, 1911 super-compact .380 with eight rounds of Hornady 110 grain Critical Defense ammo in a pocket holster (or IWB holster depending on how I dress), with two magazines in the left pocket for a total of 22 rounds. I do not feel undergunned regardless of which weapon I choose.