New revolver.

[byrom1212]

I'm wanting a small frame revolver for a CCW. I have dont know whats out there and wanted to see what ideas you can give me.

 

[mac79912]

What price range?The Taurus model 85 and Charter Arms make affordable 2" snubs for under $400.Smith and Wesson also has a good selection of small pistol's.I have a SW model 66 and a 386pd and have had no problem's with them.I paid $500 for the 66 and $600 for the 386pd.

 

[fm2]

If it's going to be for ccw, then a bobbed hammer or concealed hammer is usually considered a better choice.

I really like the S&W 642. It's a small framed (j) concealed hammer 38 with the aluminum frame, like the S&W 442. It's light enough for pocket carry. If you want something with more heft, then you can go with a steel framed S&W. And if you want it heavier still you can go with Ruger's SP101. Probably the steel j-frame and the SP101 are best for waist or jacket pocket carry.

 

[CJS3]

Taurus 850 in 38spl, or 650 in 357mag, have no exposed hammer and are DAO. Both would make good pocket guns or IWB carry gun.

 

[Nate C]

What's a good price for that S&W 642 airweight? I saw it at $400 but thought that was kind of high. Am I wrong?

 

[Dog]

I think $400 would be a very good price, Academy has the 442 and the 642 for $459 + tax.

In no way wish to offend any Tauras owners, but S&W and Ruger are better choices, having owned Tauras in the past myself.

 

[rrent]

how about the new Ruger ---might be a little wait ---and the last two new Rugers --SR9 and LCP have had a post production recall -----I bought and have had recalled and gotten back one of each---


Ruger LCR - Lightweight Compact Revolver

 

[Sanity is Curable]

Charter Arms is coming out with a Rimless Revolver in .45 auto, that I cant wait to get my hands on.

note: Sorry about the reviving an older thread.

 

[junkyguns]

IMO get what you can afford. almost any new snubby will do the job the test of time will lead you down another road , but for the time being a rossi or a taurus will work they are a pretty decent revolver and the taurus has a lifetime warranty allthough the turn around time suffers quite a bit.
Myself I would hate be confronted with a situation of a bad guy and no defense because I had to wait to get a higher priced handgun, so get what you can save a bit more cash then take the slight loss of reselling your lesser priced handgun and get what you want. the slight loss may not even be a factor in todays panic priced handguns you may even come out on top. there are many instances of used guns selling for more than new cost, proof is in the texas gun trader ads. Not Knocking tgt at all it is the best gun site I have found for free.
good luck on your quest. and remember bullets are not discriminant.

 

[texas_teacher]

The 2 1/4 " SP101 by Ruger is a little on the heftier side weight-wise but when you fire it with 38+P or 357 it doesn't feel like its going to rip your hand off like some of the airweight ccw revolvers... Ruger has also started making a hammerless model although the models with a hammer make it where firing in SA you have a feather trigger and amazing accuracy... That's my two cents...

I've looked at those airweights by S&W and Taurus but I wouldn't think of carrying +P in them... I'd shop around for the most ruthless looking 38 JHP's that I could find to load that baby up with those...

 

[navyguy]

My wife carries this cute little 637. Being so light weight, recoil with normal defense loads is pretty stout, be we've got it loaded with Fed low-recoil JHP. Not the best defense round, but still better than a .380 and recoil is manageable. Surprisingly accurate out to 10 yards or so. Just wish it didn't have that stupid lock. Paid $385 NIB about a year ago. I think they have since gone up. CTD had some (without the lock) advertised in the Sunday paper a month or so ago for $425~. I was tempted because I really like that little revolver.

 

[1rightguy]

S&W 340 PD 357 Mag. They are not cheap but why not get the best. Weighs in at 11oz's, Has a kick but you can shoot 38 spc. for fun.

 

[eriadoc]

I've looked at those airweights by S&W and Taurus but I wouldn't think of carrying +P in them... I'd shop around for the most ruthless looking 38 JHP's that I could find to load that baby up with those...

I carry a S&W 340PD Ti/Sc Airweight and I keep it loaded with .357 mag JHPs. I've put a couple hundred of those types of rounds through it and probably 400+ more of .38 or .38 +P ammo through it. The recoil is not as bad as some make it out to be, IMO. I use a shooting glove at the range when I'm firing .357, but I'm very comfortable with it.

EDIT - The ammo that I keep loaded and recommend for the 340PD: Buffalo Bore Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash .357 Magnum. From the website:

Item 19G/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point bullet @ 1,225 fps from a 2.5 inch S&W mod. 66 barrel. Designed to mushroom violently, yet hold together and penetrate deeply-roughly 12 to 14 inches in human tissue.



S&W mod. 340PD 1-7/8 inch barrel - 1,109 fps (341 ft. lbs.)
S&W mod. 66 2-1/2-inch barrels -1,225 fps (416 ft. lbs.)
S&W mod. 65 3-inch barrels - 1,322 fps (485 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun 4-inch barrel - 1,445 fps (579 ft. lbs.)
Colt Python 6-inch barrel - 1,388 fps (535 ft. lbs.)

Alternatively, I've been most happy with CorBon.

 

[483]

As I have learnt from Internet, a small frame revolver (especially light-
wieght) gives cracks in the frame (where a barrel is attached to a frame).
May be S&W model 40 is free from this fault - I don't know.

There is another tale - When Stalin have stolen the nuclear-bomb secrets
from America he issued an order to reproduce the American bomb "as it
is". The job was headed with russian physisist Igor Kurchatov.
When the job was done, then Stalin asked Kurchatov to show him
the bomb in action. It was done successively.
Then Stalin asked Kurchatov to show him the safety mechanizm to adopt
the bomb to the army applications. Kurchatov sayed:
- "Americans don't use the safety mechanizm in the bomb that we've stolen".
- "But why?"
- "I dont know, but I think they invented the bomb to do explosions."

 

[eriadoc]

As I have learnt from Internet, a small frame revolver (especially light-
wieght) gives cracks in the frame (where a barrel is attached to a frame).
May be S&W model 40 is free from this fault - I don't know.

S&W has addressed that issue in the design, but you still cannot use rounds of less than a certain grain.

 

[madgringo]

\

S&W has addressed that issue in the design, but you still cannot use rounds of less than a certain grain.

Can you save me some searching ?
Whats the number on that grain ?
thanks

 

[eriadoc]

\


Can you save me some searching ?
Whats the number on that grain ?
thanks

120 gr. If you use rounds lower grain than that, you run the risk of top strap cutting and/or forcing cone damage. It's really hard to find a .357 mag round that's lower, so it's not an issue there, but I did see some .38 rounds that came in at 115 gr., IIRC.

 

[eriadoc]

Here are a few pics of mine with the aforementioned Buffalo Bore ammunition.

120 gr. stamped on the side:

top strap insert:

 

[madgringo]

120 gr. If you use rounds lower grain than that, you run the risk of top strap cutting and/or forcing cone damage. It's really hard to find a .357 mag round that's lower, so it's not an issue there, but I did see some .38 rounds that came in at 115 gr., IIRC.

Thanks eriadoc
I would have known that if I would take my 340 out of the box. I'm waiting on my mikas pocket holster. I've had the pistol about 5 years & it only has about 50 rounds thru it. Been depending on my PPK/S all this time...way before 380 got scarce.

By the way I use buffaloe bore for the 380.
Still thinking about 38+p or .357 for the 340.