Search for a new EDC Revolver

[Kollector03]

Well elbow surgery and persistent nephropathy issues in the forearm and hands has put me at odds for my EDC revolver.

My companion for the last year has been a very nice 342PD....very accurate for a snubbie, but the light scandium frame & titanium cylinder is just too much for me at the moment. What was sharp and manageable is now downright painful.

I have a 43C that I really like and while .22LR is not ideal for carry, but at least its not like going out of the house unarmed.

Took my 351PD to the range and found that to be very manageable, so now I find myself on the hunt for a 351C in .22 Magnum.

Fun times in MN.

Kinda sad to see an old friend leaving.

 

[Fox4506]

Have you thought about trying a 640? The extra weight might tame the recoil enough for you.

Fox

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I believe you might have chosen a word that doesn't apply to your nerve problem in your elbow and hands.

I've had neuropathy problems in both elbows. The ulnar nerve surgeries solved the problems (nothing at all to do with my kidneys).

Give yourself some time; you'll heal well and never notice the difference in your shooting ability. Very soon that 342PD will never have looked so good.

Do what the doc says! Take good care of you.

 

[Kollector03]

Have you thought about trying a 640? The extra weight might tame the recoil enough for you.

Fox

I have a 60-14 that I shoot well with .38 +P. For carry its a touch heavy and has the exposed hammer which is not ideal for pocket carry which is my preferred.

If i don't find the 351C, the 60-14 and a belt holster is likely going into service as my carry piece.

 

[Kollector03]

I believe you might have chosen a word that doesn't apply to your nerve problem in your elbow and hands.

I've had neuropathy problems in both elbows. The ulnar nerve surgeries solved the problems (nothing at all to do with my kidneys).

Give yourself some time; you'll heal well and never notice the difference in your shooting ability. Very soon that 342PD will never have looked so good.

Do what the doc says! Take good care of you.

I had the ulnar nerve transposition surgery on the left elbow and holy smokes did it get worse....still waiting for it to get better.

 

[jtcarm]

Have you thought about trying a 640? The extra weight might tame the recoil enough for you.

Fox

This.

And switch to .38 wadcutters for your carry ammo.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I had the ulnar nerve transposition surgery on the left elbow and holy smokes did it get worse....still waiting for it to get better.

How long's it been?

My right one took months; the left was good to go in two weeks. The "physical terrorists" in both cases helped a great deal. Patience, and steady as she goes.

 

[SAFireman]

The 351c is a good choice if recoil and weight are the issue. There is no doubt that the 22 Mag rounds of today's advance technology will do the job. I have put many injured cows down and sent Wil-E-Coyote to his maker many times with one.

I got really lucky and snagged mine when they had an internet sale a while back. I haven't taken any photos of it and posted here for no real good reason. We all like photos, right?

If you needed to, the 43c would also do the job. Good luck with your search and hopefully you heal quickly.

 

[photoman]

The .22 magnum is a good option but boy howdy are they loud.

I would try a 640 .38 Special (not the larger/heavier .357 version) with 148 wadcutters or 110 grain Federal low recoil Hydra-Shoks.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Might want to try out a box of critical defense lite in that 342 and see how it shoots. I think you are probably going to need a 380 pistol

 

[Kollector03]

Might want to try out a box of critical defense lite in that 342 and see how it shoots. I think you are probably going to need a 380 pistol

Thought about going the .380 route but that is one caliber that I just cannot warm up to.

Will try the light loads in the 342 though. That may present another option.

 

[Mister X]

Consider limiting your live fire practice. I know that's an appalling idea to many gun guys, but it's better option than dropping down to an ineffective caliber or giving yourself a new ailment from carrying a heavier gun. Any shots in an actual defense encounter are likely to be fired at extremely close range and even untrained folks can usually make those shots.

 

[Warren Sear]

K-framed 38 Special with 2" barrel might be an option, and you will get one more shot...

 

[ABPOS]

You could always bob the hammer on your 60. And yeah, I think I'm going to start carrying wadcutters in my 442 cuz I just don't like recoil too much. And I like more control for quicker follow up shots.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Having 43c and 351c revolvers my $0.02 is that I will take the better SD bullet design avalible in Maggie from Speer (or Hornady) over the extra round. If I carried the 43c I would load it with Aguila SSS 60 grainers (assuming that they stabilized in my particular gun).

 

[delcrossv]

If you can find a 940 it's a great compromise. And 9mm works better out of a snubby. I only carry my 342PD when the 940 is too big for what I'm wearing.

 

[Old cop]

An older Colt Cobra (not the new one), if you can find one, is also a good choice.

 

[max503]

K-framed 38 Special with 2" barrel might be an option, and you will get one more shot...

I've considered carrying my S&W model 15 because it is so much easier to shoot than my 638 snubbie. Maybe now as I get older I can finally justify that 2" model 10 I've always wanted.

 

[JH1951]

My 649 with .38 Spl. wadcutters suits my aging wrists quite well. There is the extra weight in carrying, yes, but it is offset quite well by the need for extra weight to reduce recoil. And the WC's help with that as well.
With that combination I feel quite adequately protected, and my self defense needs are satisfied. I have tried lighter J-frame versions and tiny .380's, and 649 works best for me. Of course, YMMV. Best of luck in your search.

 

[Warren Sear]

I've considered carrying my S&W model 15 because it is so much easier to shoot than my 638 snubbie. Maybe now as I get older I can finally justify that 2" model 10 I've always wanted.

I used to have a small and very skinny girlfriend who was interested in shooting. I thought a 642 would be perfect for her, so I let her try one of mine. She didn't care for that one at all. Later she tried my 2" Model 15-3 (shown in my post above). That one she really liked! I'm not a fool though, I don't give my guns away to women. She had to buy her own. Everything works much better that way.

 

[H Richard]

Another alternative might be a 431PD or 432PD. Yes, alloy frame but in 32 H&R Mag, You can practice with 32 Longs (and reload for a pittance) with a mild load, and carry the H&R Mag when needed. The guns weigh 13 oz unloaded, and are not punishing even with the H&R Mag rounds.

 

[Kollector03]

How long's it been?

My right one took months; the left was good to go in two weeks. The "physical terrorists" in both cases helped a great deal. Patience, and steady as she goes.

been about 8 months since the surgery. No relief in the pain in the elbow and hand...if anything its worse. The tingling in the fingers and back of hand has gotten a bit better. Palm of hand has almost no feeling at all. the outside three fingers are still significantly clawed over at rest. I'm reluctant to have the right one done due to the lack of "success" with the left, but the doc said the nerve was badly damaged and prognosis was at least 12 months if not more before any noticeable change. I'll end up getting the right elbow done too because the pain level is pretty debilitating.

 

[Kollector03]

If you can find a 940 it's a great compromise. And 9mm works better out of a snubby. I only carry my 342PD when the 940 is too big for what I'm wearing.

I may pick up a 442 and have it converted to 9mm.

 

[Kollector03]

Another alternative might be a 431PD or 432PD. Yes, alloy frame but in 32 H&R Mag, You can practice with 32 Longs (and reload for a pittance) with a mild load, and carry the H&R Mag when needed. The guns weigh 13 oz unloaded, and are not punishing even with the H&R Mag rounds.

I had not thought of this option. Can you shoot .32 Short and .32 Auto in these as well? I had a Ruger LCR in .327 Mag that I foolishly sold a while ago that would be a great option for me at the moment.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

been about 8 months since the surgery. No relief in the pain in the elbow and hand...if anything its worse. The tingling in the fingers and back of hand has gotten a bit better. Palm of hand has almost no feeling at all. the outside three fingers are still significantly clawed over at rest. I'm reluctant to have the right one done due to the lack of "success" with the left, but the doc said the nerve was badly damaged and prognosis was at least 12 months if not more before any noticeable change. I'll end up getting the right elbow done too because the pain level is pretty debilitating.

Gad, I'm really sorry to hear that.

Sure hope you get some relief soon. I've heard letting nerve damage linger makes it worse on the recovery end.

Take good care.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Three years before I retired from the Army, they rebuilt my left elbow. Even though I'm right handed, my 4 inch S&W Model 629 was suddenly unshootable. After retiring I went through a number of revolvers, including an employer-issued 4 inch S&W Model 686-6. My current carry guns are a 1963 2 inch round butt Model 12-2, a 1976 4 inch square butt Model 65-1, and a 1982 3 inch round butt Model 13-3. I have a 2014 Model 642-2 Airweight Centennial, but I only carry that when I can't conceal a K-Frame. I'm saving it for my tiny-handed USMC Lance Corporal granddaughter.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[TomkinsSP]

Kollector03: Hierarchy of .311 handgun cartridges:
.327 Federal Magnum will shoot all below...
.32 H&R Magnum will shoot all below...
.32 S&W Long "
.32 S&W (sometimes called short)

.32 acp being semi rimmed will chamber and shoot in all above BUT as commercially loaded exceedes the pressure standard for .32 S&W, not that lots of people haven't done that...

.32 acp will also chamber and shoot in .35 S&W

 

[ABPOS]

I may pick up a 442 and have it converted to 9mm.

I've never shot one to know for sure myself, but there are many reports that a 9mm in a j frame has far more recoil than .38 special. The pressure is higher. I hear it's more like +p and possibly even more approaching .357 in felt recoil.

I think you're probably going in the wrong direction with that. I would much rather have .38 special. You can get low recoil loads. Wadcutters that aren't real hot and even some of those .38 shorts by Magtech for practice if you want. I'm thinking about getting some of those for my Daughter.

 

[Kollector03]

I've never shot one to know for sure myself, but there are many reports that a 9mm in a j frame has far more recoil than .38 special. The pressure is higher. I hear it's more like +p and possibly even more approaching .357 in felt recoil.

I think you're probably going in the wrong direction with that. I would much rather have .38 special. You can get low recoil loads. Wadcutters that aren't real hot and even some of those .38 shorts by Magtech for practice if you want. I'm thinking about getting some of those for my Daughter.

I have a 9mm cylinder in my 60-14 and it is a very gentle recoiling revolver. Extremely manageable. Not sure how it will be in an alloy frame like the 442 though.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Regarding recoil and felt recoil in .38 Special and 9mm: Pressure is measured in PSI. If the PSI is double, while the avalible case volume is half, and the diameter of the projectile is the same, then if your propellant burns before the projectile leaves a equal lenth barrel, the force exerted on the point of case/frame contact is equivalent.

I suspect the greater felt recoil is due to the fact that most commercial 9x19 loading use more propellant to move a lighter bullet of the same diameter faster.