What is the best CC 357

[afghanhound]

Which S&W would you recommend to CC? Is a 357 a reasonable CC and is there one small enough to CC? Or, should I down size to a 38? I realize in winter time, CC is easier, but I also wish to CC in the summer, so I need to decide what to get and also what type of holster would be the least visible. Not sure I could carry in my pocket or those holsters inside the pants, would have to try that last one first. I am not interested in a 22, I want something with a little more impact. My main gun is now a 357Magnum that I use 357 hollow points or 38+P in. It's a 2.5 inch barrel, 7 rds. But I find it to be rather large for CC. Help!

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Look at the 640, small and hammerless, great for CC. Or go with the 642, will accept 38 +P (for a good smack to your hand). Lots of carry options, stainless to protect your investment. 38 will do the job at close range.

 

[colt_saa]

Half of these little guys are 357

However they do require practice

 

[Flattops]

Model 640

Model 640. Hand down. I have a 640-1 with factory (front) night sight, Stainless, no lock, magna's, and it carries well, and shoots even better. They DO require practice. but, if you enjoy shooting, thats not really an issue.....

 

[BigBill]

I have also carried a ruger police service six in 357mag with a 2 3/4" barrel inbetween the 44magnum. Easy to conceal with an in the pants holster any easy to shoot with the shorter barrel. But the now owning a s&w combat masterpiece in 38 special I would prefer this one over the ruger. If I was going to purchase another 357mag revolver today it would be the 4" barrel I would get. It's easy to conceal too. Plus the 4" barrel would be more comfortable to shoot too.

 

[tjpopkin]

I have carried everything from .44 Mag to .380acp,and I now carry a .357.

a Model 629 (3"); a PC 66-4; to a Modified PPK (weight and conceal), to a Sig 238 (I love this little gun), to more power (my PC Shorty 45) another fabulous gun,; but later, a gun that is LIGHT and large, PC 625-10,; and the best compromise, a .357 I hate to shoot....the amazing Model 340.

I carry the 340 everywhere and know the punch on the front end is far worse than the recoil....and that is bad enough!


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43 years of CC....lots of favorites, but the 340 is unbeatable...you are hardly aware it is there, but it is reassuring.

Needed a CC gun only once, I was carjacked in 1994, and I had the PPK on my belt. When I exited the car, I drew down, and the assailant (who only had a knife) was done. At the time I had two mags full of SuperVel 90gr. loads (very similar to CorBons) and I nearly used them....good news....I did NOT!

Terry

 

[CAV]

I also carry a 340 and will highly recommend it. Mine is the M&P no lock version and I never leave home with out it.

Not much "winter carry" where I live but I can pocket carry this model in everything from shorts to dress pants.

 

[Macinaw]

+1 on the M&P 340. I carry mine everyday. If the gun is too big it will be left behind.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I am partial to the short barreled K frame revolvers.

 

[wildenout]

IMHO

Which S&W would you recommend to CC? Is a 357 a reasonable CC and is there one small enough to CC? Or, should I down size to a 38? I realize in winter time, CC is easier, but I also wish to CC in the summer, so I need to decide what to get and also what type of holster would be the least visible. Not sure I could carry in my pocket or those holsters inside the pants, would have to try that last one first. I am not interested in a 22, I want something with a little more impact. My main gun is now a 357Magnum that I use 357 hollow points or 38+P in. It's a 2.5 inch barrel, 7 rds. But I find it to be rather large for CC. Help!

If you want a hammer, nothing beats a 686+ in my eyes, various barrel lengths including the 2.5 and with the + you get 7 rounds! No hammer, 640, I personally am not a fan of the airweights too little weight for such a mighty round (if doing .357 at all). I carried a 640 that my Dad let me have (another thread) for a while and loved it! My father-in-law begged me for it so I sold it to him and am currently waiting on the 686+ myself

 

[wildenout]

I have carried everything from .44 Mag to .380acp,and I now carry a .357.

a Model 629 (3"); a PC 66-4; to a Modified PPK (weight and conceal), to a Sig 238 (I love this little gun), to more power (my PC Shorty 45) another fabulous gun,; but later, a gun that is LIGHT and large, PC 625-10,; and the best compromise, a .357 I hate to shoot....the amazing Model 340.

I carry the 340 everywhere and know the punch on the front end is far worse than the recoil....and that is bad enough!


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43 years of CC....lots of favorites, but the 340 is unbeatable...you are hardly aware it is there, but it is reassuring.

Needed a CC gun only once, I was carjacked in 1994, and I had the PPK on my belt. When I exited the car, I drew down, and the assailant (who only had a knife) was done. At the time I had two mags full of SuperVel 90gr. loads (very similar to CorBons) and I nearly used them....good news....I did NOT!

Terry

Terry, those grips are incredible! Did you make them yourself? Or is that something I can buy somewhere online?

 

[kaaskop49]

Depends on what you can handle. Is there a nearby range with rental guns where you can try out different models? The 340, as the other posters say, is a great carry piece, but it is a bear to handle. If you're not carrying full Mag loads, why carry a Mag gun? Can you do double taps on a paper pie plate at 3-5 yards with any weapon? You may have to.
Also how will you carry? Pocket? Then the 340. IWB or belt? A steel frame model will do. Only you can judge how far you can or are willing to go re small-frame Mags.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I like my Ruger SP101.

I found that the slighty smaller S&W J-frame didn't fit my hand as well.

 

[66snub]

I carry a Model 19 2 1/2" as my daily. On cold days it rides in a pancake holster under my shirt. On hot days when I can't hide it in the pancake, I appendix carry it in one of those cloth holsters with the plastic clip. Once in a while it pokes a bit, but I gladly accept that in exchange for a larger gun with full grips.

 

[afghanhound]

CC to carry

Thank you all for the info. I will go to the local range this week and rent a few of these guns to try out. Seems a lot like the S&W 340 and the 640. I will also try out the Ruger SP101 as I see a lot of write ups on that one. However, I am very partial to S&W, love the feel and quality of them.

 

[shutupdata113]

I like to switch it up from my ruger sp 101 357 Magnum to my .38 j frame airweight. The airweight is awesome on really hot days

 

[shutupdata113]

Check out gemini customs. For the money you spend on some of the smiths, you could get a gemini custom sp 101!! Amazing work

 

[shouldazagged]

I hope you won't rule out .38 Special +P. Much easier to shoot in a small gun, less likely to blind you with flash in a low-light situation, and has been proven effective at saving bacon for a long time.

 

[cal50]

Not a s&w but a very good pick for a pocket magnum is the Ruger LCR. The. 38 and the. 357 are exactly the same size but the magnum had a stainless steel frame and weighs 4 ounces more. I went with the magnum for durability and the option to use 38 or magnum ammo.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The best concealed carry .357 is actually a .355. It is called a Shield in 9mm. Shorter, lighter trigger, more rounds, less recoil and, while it has a little less stopping power - in theory - if you use a good 9mm load, I doubt any bad guy can tell the difference at gunfight distances.

 

[M3Stuart]

Welcome to the forum!

I used to carry this 60-9. In case you're new to S&W's; It's a pre-lock, J-frame, with a MIM trigger and hammer, in .357 mag. Note that it has an exposed hammer - not recommended by some for CCW. It weighs about 23 oz. empty. It fits nicely in the pocket or IWB with the holsters shown. It's also shown with a Hogue Bantam grip - that's the smaller one (minus a place for your pinky). Pachmayr makes a Bantam-type grip that has a little place for your pinky but I don't have one of those anymore. The second pic is that gun with the stock Uncle Mike's (full(er) size) grips.

I don't recommend shooting a lot of .357 cuz it's hard on your hand. I used to carry .38 +P or 'light' .357s, and, practice with .38 Special all the time.

+1 on the 640 recommendation. The j-frame magnum varieties are .357 minus the (might get snagged on your pocket) hammer.

 

[tinman931]

Not a s&w but a very good pick for a pocket magnum is the Ruger LCR. The. 38 and the. 357 are exactly the same size but the magnum had a stainless steel frame and weighs 4 ounces more. I went with the magnum for durability and the option to use 38 or magnum ammo.

A second to that. Although my LCR is not .357, I would still recommend that option as it is a great carry gun.

 

[tinman931]

I have carried everything from .44 Mag to .380acp,and I now carry a .357.

a Model 629 (3"); a PC 66-4; to a Modified PPK (weight and conceal), to a Sig 238 (I love this little gun), to more power (my PC Shorty 45) another fabulous gun,; but later, a gun that is LIGHT and large, PC 625-10,; and the best compromise, a .357 I hate to shoot....the amazing Model 340.

I carry the 340 everywhere and know the punch on the front end is far worse than the recoil....and that is bad enough!


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[URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/terrypopkin/media/66F-comp.jpg.html]










43 years of CC....lots of favorites, but the 340 is unbeatable...you are hardly aware it is there, but it is reassuring.

Needed a CC gun only once, I was carjacked in 1994, and I had the PPK on my belt. When I exited the car, I drew down, and the assailant (who only had a knife) was done. At the time I had two mags full of SuperVel 90gr. loads (very similar to CorBons) and I nearly used them....good news....I did NOT!

Terry

Wow! That is a beautiful collection. Quite impressive.

 

[finesse_r]

There are a lot of good CC Guns to consider.....

Which S&W would you recommend to CC?

I would recommend a 696 in .44 spl as the best S&W CC revolver.

Is a 357 a reasonable CC and is there one small enough to CC? Or, should I down size to a 38?

A 357 is reasonable if you choose to deal with the high pressure, loud blast, and muzzle flash, that in a closed area can render temporarily partially deaf and in low light temporarily blinded by the big flash. I really don't like to shoot magnum loads unless I have hearing protection. A .38 would make more sense, or even a .38 + P. My personal favorite in 357/38 is a 2 ¾" Ruger Speed Six, or a 3" S&W M64 in an IWB custom leather holster.

Not sure I could carry in my pocket or those holsters inside the pants, would have to try that last one first.

My favorite for pocket carry is a S&W M649-2 in .38 spl.

 

[Warren Sear]

.357 Magnum CC

For me, it begins and ends with the Model 65 with 3" barrel.

 

[CAV]

The best concealed carry .357 is actually a .355. It is called a Shield in 9mm. Shorter, lighter trigger, more rounds, less recoil and, while it has a little less stopping power - in theory - if you use a good 9mm load, I doubt any bad guy can tell the difference at gunfight distances.

Putting aside that you ignored the question that was asked, I'll respectfully disagree with your statement (except for the round count. )

The Shield is ~50% heavier than a 340 and is only 0.2" shorter. You can't stage the trigger, felt recoil is relative to the shooter, and a lighter 9mm bullet shot out of a 4" barrel will still be moving slower than a heavier .357 shot from a 2-2.5" barrel.

Of course, YMMV.......

 

[tjpopkin]

The grips on my guns were made by Kim Ahrends....he is a magician!

 

[tgmr05]

If you are going to carry it in your pocket, or in light shorts and t-shirt, then the scandium framed j frames are the best choice. They are rough to fire full power 357s through, though. The weight, or lack of weight, is what makes these guns shine. An sp101 and steel j frames simply weigh too much for light tasks over long periods.

If you can belt carry, or IWB carry, then a k frame 3 inch or the ruger sp101 3 inch is the best choice with maybe the pro series steel j frames running third, as they all are much easier to shoot than the scandium/titanium guns. You give up a round with the sp101/steel j frames, but they are the only current option, as the k frame smiths are no longer made. You can find them, but they are pricey. You do gain the extra round, though... there is a 2 or 2 1/4 ruger version, too.

Personally, it is good to have options, so over time, you may want to consider having one of each. A nice lightweight j frame, for those times when weight is more of an issue, and a nice 3 inch K frame, for those times when you may be going somewhere you really want to make sure you have a gun with you....

 

[gtv]

I used to carry a Ruger LCR, but recently switched over to my first S&W, a Model 60-9. While I do not know whether I will carry .357 in it, it is nice to have the option... maybe load out with four .38 +Ps, with one "Hail Mary" magnum in the last chamber.

I loved the LCR for being lightweight and easy to carry, but shooting +Ps through it was punishing compared to the heftier Smith. The Hogue grip can only do so much, and after 20 or so rounds, the web of my shooting hand would ache for a day or two. Not so with the Model 60-9. And if that means I will practice more, then the added weight on my hip (or pocket) is something I can live with. Because trust me, with any J Frame size revolver, especially if you are talking .357 Magnum, accuracy under stress is something you must work at.

I will say this, though: you will be hard pressed to find a better factory trigger than the LCR. If Ruger could put that trigger in the SP101, they might well have the perfect revolver.

 

[john123456]

i like my 3in model 60 pro the wife claimed i think its a good trade off . the full house rounds are kinda loud though. wife still lets me look at it sometimes