Carry revolver

[Harvey]

I prefer the simplicity and reliability of a revolver to have as a carry piece that preferably can be carried in a pocket holster. The only thing that bothers me is capacity. I would want a .38 or .32 if necessary. I would use Hornady or a similar defense round. Granted, most opinions are that a "social" event usually entertains only one or two rounds. Nevertheless, I am not comfortable with five rounds, and prefer eight or more if such a piece is available (in .38 or .32). If these are not there, I would settle on a six round revolver that is light enough (20-25 ounces).
Does anyone know of the availability of such a piece?

 

[gunzo]

The original, now discontinued Colt Cobra was 6 shot & will meet your weight criteria. And, it's about all I can think of that will.

The new, currently made made Cobra will not.

 

[Kevin]

Ruger has an SP101 in 327 which is 6 rounds. Not sure how much it weighs. And Mimber has a 357 revolver which is 6 rounds. I know those are the calibers you mentioned, but they do have more capacity albeit, not 8 rounds. But, if 6 rounds of 357 won’t stop someone, 8 rounds might not either.

Ruger also has the LCR, but i don’t know much about them.

 

[arfmel]

An older S&W Model 12 or Colt Cobra would seem to meet your requirements for weight and 6 rounds. Neither is recommended for use with +P ammo. S&W used to offer the Model 327 which was available as a snub nose N Frame 8 shot .357, if memory serves. They were a scarce, high dollar item.

I believe Ruger currently offers the LCR in .327 Federal with six round capacity.

 

[eveled]

Smith still makes the 327 pug nose 8 shot .357 magnum revolver. I have 1. It’s a work of art. But not a pocket gun. I find it easier to carry 2 j frame 5 shot air light revolvers for 10 shots.

 

[contender]

Many a famous & confidant LEO have carried or still carried a revolver for their primary handgun. Often,, when asked why not a high capacity 9 or 40 etc,,, one of my favorite responses is; "
If I need more than 5-6 shots,, I'm not doing MY part!"
I suggest you find a 5 or 6 shot revolver in a caliber you are comfortable with & invest a lot of time & effort in practicing with that gun. Get VERY proficient,, and the fears of "only 5 shots" will diminish.
Spend money on ammo,, and learn to speed reload if necessary.

 

[Captain America]

My 5-shot .38 Special LCR lives in my pocket all day, every day. I really think if you're going to pocket carry a revolver 5 rounds is going to be it unless you use a .22lr, the LCR is unparalleled in my opinion. I have a Bantem grip on mine and it carries very well in a jeans pocket, my wife has the .22lr version with finger groove grips and it is always with her.

 

[hittman]

My 5-shot .38 Special LCR lives in my pocket

the LCR is unparalleled in my opinion.

I agree with this except mine is in an ankle holster.

It's a personal preference and comfort thing with the weight and size of a carry gun. I'm not comfortable with anything bigger or heavier than the LCR. And if I need 6 shots instead of 5 it may be too late for me anyway. If you need 6 shots, will 8 be enough? 10?

My other carry guns include a LCP-II in 22LR. I don't care that some people don't like a 22 for carry. I shoot it well, it's reliable and has 11 rounds of 40 grain hollow point Winchesters rated at 1465 FPS.

A Glock 43 sometimes is IWB too.

 

[eveled]

It’s not that it might take more than 5 shots to hit your target. It’s that there might be more than 5 targets. As in multiple attackers. A reload is always a good thing to have available.

 

[Merle1948]

maybe a Charter Arms 44 special? :?:

 

[Paul B]

I carry an S&W M60 .38 Spl. most of the time and sometimes a Cold Combat Commander in .45 ACP. For the M60 it's 5 shots with two speed loaders in my ;pocket and with the .45 it's one up the spout and an 8 round magazine in the gun and an 8 or 10 round magazine in my pocket. I use an IWB type holster for both guns. I think the odds are if you have the gun and need it, the opposition will turn tail and run away. On the rare occasion they don't, I think most will split once they realize you will shoot and one is already on the ground.
FWIW, I base my thoughts on actual experience, Both times just the sight of the gun was enough to terminate hostilities although one got very close to going terminal.
I've mentioned one before, a case of mistaken identity. Years later the person that he thought I was died and looking at the guys picture was like looking in a mirror. The other was in San Francisco during the racial turmoil in the mid 60's. I worked swing shift at the time and San Francisco had placed a curfew of 9pm. So here I am driving home when a carload of thugs comes up at a stop light. One got out of the car and approached my vehicle so I showed him the Colt Cobra I owned at the time. He got back in the car shouting, "He's got a gun. Get the (bleep) outta here.and they took off out through the red light burning rubber. Took me a while to stop shaking.
Frankly, even with only two experiences of that nature during the 81 years I've been on the planet, it's damn well two times too many.
Paul B.

 

[gramps]

Harvey, do an risk assessment of your life. Do you frequent bars, houses of ill-repute, go to bad neighborhoods to pick up drugs? If the answer is no, then you probably won’t need something with high capacity magazines. As Contender mentioned, getting an 5-6 shot revolver, becoming proficient with it will do wonders for your confidence levels. Originally bought an SP-101 in .357 mag, that I carried IWB. I gained too much weight, and went to OWB carry. Too much trouble to carry the Ruger in town and the Charter Bulldog .44 spcl on the farm. So I now just carry the Bulldog OWB. Good luck finding what works for you. It is a fun process. If you live close, you are welcome to come and shoot mine.
gramps

 

[Mobuck]

"And if I need 6 shots instead of 5 it may be too late for me anyway. If you need 6 shots, will 8 be enough? 10?"
I've seen times when 30 rounds were gone much too soon. I carry a 5 shot SP101 and admit to being concerned about the low round count. I'd sure like to get back to 10+ on board. A "CLICK" when you're needing a "BANG" is a terrifying sound and a small gun doesn't make a very good club.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

If I was looking at trying a new pocket gun for PD, minimum of 38 Special +P I'd look at the Taurus 856. It's a 6 shot gun at 16 to 22 oz, and comes in various models. Also it comes in both 2" and 3" barrel. You can get one for under $300 NIB. I have some other revolvers that hold 6 rounds but they can get spendy, in Colt models, and S&W models.
I'm even considering a Taurus revolver. Being totally open when I do carry a revolver I carry a Ruger LCR, Ruger SP101, or an S&W 642 j frame. I personally think getting some training is more important than an extra round.
Additionally, as others have brought up, if I was concerned about only carrying 5 rounds, there are speed strips, and loaders. In addition, at least a couple of us, typically carry more than one handgun. In fact, in some places carrying a second gun is called a New York reload. Faster than reloading and you can have it in your hand quickly. I frequently carry more than one gun. I think hitman is the winner with 3 guns. :mrgreen:

 

[DeletedMember275]

It’s not that it might take more than 5 shots to hit your target. It’s that there might be more than 5 targets. As in multiple attackers. A reload is always a good thing to have available.

Or that there may be multiple attackers and it takes more than 5/6 rounds to stop them all. Regardless of what you carry, practice reloading - under stress, if at all possible.

And while I realize that we're NOT talking about carrying as an LEO, I always find this story rather chilling:

https://www.policeone.com/police-heroes/articles/why-one-cop-carries-145-rounds-of-ammo-on-the-job-clGBbLYpnqqHxwMq/

 

[Snake45]

New Colt Cobra or King Cobra with 3" barrel, the finest carry revolver now made (IMHO, of course). If it's over your weight limit, it won't be by more than an ounce or two. Live with it.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I read that article some years ago, and was familiar with it. Truth is, I've never heard of a civilian needing that many rounds. A civilian doesn't have to go after anyone. Biggest thing is running in to multiple muggers. But a gun isn't out only protection. Who here that has had any training that see's five disreputable guys coming toward him wouldn't duck into a shop, or cross the street, or somehow avoid the group. Awareness is your most important defensive tool. That's why training is so important. On a much bigger forum, I brought up the challenge if anyone had even ever heard of someone needing more rounds than than their gun held. No one took me up on it.

 

[Mag-force]

gunzo i agree with u the cobra a good choice I've been carrying one for yrs.

 

[pleadthe2nd]

I like the 6 shot sp101 327 federal, it can be covered easily if worn owb, I usually have a speed loader handy. I haven't even shot my semi autos in at least 6 months, probably been carrying the sp101 a little over a year now, with the exception of a ruger blackhawk 45 or 44 from time to time.

 

[BDM1]

When i get my ccw again, my carry gun will be my older Charter Arms Off Duty .38, that i just put new Altamont grips on (with checkering, an absolute necessity for me). It is lighter than my other snubs, it will carry five rounds of Hornady Critical Defense +P. It literally feels like an extension of my hand. Some will look down on this old Charter, but mine is mint condition, tighter than a drum, and smooth as silk. For normal everyday situations, five rounds should be plenty. Obviously, some people are in situations that would cause them to want/need many more rounds, but to me that is a whole other world. Police officers, military, etc. If i were going into an area i felt necessitated higher round counts, i believe i would consider my handgun as just backup, and have another entirely different weapon at my disposal. Thankfully, i don't foresee me ever being in that situation. A call to the authorities for help would probably be in order, or, better yet, reevaluate why i would want/need to be in that area to begin with. Situational awareness, probably your best weapon.

 

[redhawker]

My EDC is a .327 mag LCR which is 6 shots. 1.87" barrel, 17 oz empty. I hardly know it's there. I carry another 6 rounds in an 8 round speed strip (2 rounds, skip one, 2 rounds, skip one, 2 rounds) which make reloads a little easier and faster.

 

[Rook]

20 to 25 ounces is to heavy for me to carry in a pocket. I carry a S&W 340PD .357 Mag 5 round snubby that weighs 11.58 ounces which includes a set of Crimson Trace laser grips. For some people the .357's are too hot for them so they load it with .38 Specials.

I carry mine with my .357 Mag loads that I load using specs from back when they made real .357 Mag ammo.

 

[contender]

"It’s not that it might take more than 5 shots to hit your target. It’s that there might be more than 5 targets. As in multiple attackers. A reload is always a good thing to have available."

Valid consideration.

However,, as pointed out above,, the chances of the need for more than 5-6 shots,, as an average citizen,, is almost unheard of.
Besides,, as it was also pointed out,,, if you have a "gang" of more than 5 attackers,, and you are able to drop 5 of them with 5 shots,, I doubt seriously that any remaining attackers will want to hang around. Hence my comments about speed reloading & practice.

 

[Rook]

"It’s not that it might take more than 5 shots to hit your target. It’s that there might be more than 5 targets. As in multiple attackers. A reload is always a good thing to have available."

Valid consideration.

However,, as pointed out above,, the chances of the need for more than 5-6 shots,, as an average citizen,, is almost unheard of.
Besides,, as it was also pointed out,,, if you have a "gang" of more than 5 attackers,, and you are able to drop 5 of them with 5 shots,, I doubt seriously that any remaining attackers will want to hang around. Hence my comments about speed reloading & practice.

If I run out of the 5 shots in my .357 Mag snubby I'll reach over in my other pocket and pull out my 7.48 ounce 1st Generation Kel-Tec P-3AT .380 that has 7 more rounds in it. It's easier to carry 2 guns as to load an empty one. My 2 guns weigh less than most peoples single gun that they carry.

Mine weighs 7.48 ounces for the .380 + 11.58 ounces for the .357 Mag. = 19.06 ounces. plus the weight of 12 rounds of ammo.

 

[Rancher Will]

The above offers much to consider. For over 50 years my wife has carried a Charter Arms .44 Special in her purses. Hers in a 4-inch but I believe Charter also makes the same gun in a 2 or 3 inch also. She carries it in her special purses that are very small and I checked to see if hers would fit in my pocket. Except for the four inch barrel her .44 would completely fit in my front pants pocket.

I have always carried a revolver, openly on my belt. I believe that a person not a police officer, (even most police officers), would have no problem carrying a revolver with five or six rounds loaded, provided training and practice results in the shooter being able to hit the target in close quarters. A private civilian is not going to get into a gun fight at long range. I can't remember hearing or reading of a private citizen shooting in honest self defense at over about 30 or 40 or so feet, and those are very rare. Fifteen feet or less is most common.

If you, or anyone else carries in a pocket or concealed under clothes, then forget about fast draw. Make sure you are continually aware of your surroundings and hope to identify trouble with your gun out before the bad guy(s) target you. Carrying half a box of ammo in your self defense gun is a waste of weight and a sign of poor ability to hit the first shot, even against multiple perps. Modern technology has developed very good self defense ammo for proper guns so a proper hit with the proper ammo is the key, not spraying shots in self defense.

 

[contender]

Just a few days ago,, I had a call from a casual friend. He'd just gotten his CCW permit. Now,, he's a bird hunter. If it flies,, he likes to hunt it. He's good with a shotgun.
Handguns,, well, he owns just one. A Ruger MKII .22. He got it,, and after his first attempt at disassembly & cleaning,, he found out the frustrations many have with the re-assembly. I fixed that.

Now,, he's been asked to be part of a church congregation men's group for security. He wanted handgun advice. We discussed multiple options that would work for him & the group. We are looking at a couple of things. One,, he's going to visit me & get some more handgun training. Two,, we are going to get his men's group to also get some training & such at my range.

One thing we did discuss was the church shootings in recent times. The first one,, where so many were killed & how a guy outside the church followed & engaged the killer. The distance there was more than normal SD cases.
The second case was where the shooter shot 2 people,, & was engaged & killed by a member of the congregation,, with one round, killing him. Again,, a bit further than normal SD instances.

While both of these horrible acts required citizens to act because the police can not be everywhere it was also pointed out at how infrequent these cases are. But many churches are now looking at their members to be the front line security BECAUSE of the fact they are the immediate, on scene responders & can act as soon as a threat happens.

With that scenario, I did recommend that he find a firearm HE was comfortable with,, AND that he should devote time & money into practice with lots of dry fire & actual ammo burning. And NOT just the occasional stand & deliver target paper punching.
And once again, I did recommend a good quality revolver,, in a caliber he can handle,, with a good solid self defense load.

He thinks he needs a semi-auto,, but has promised to let me introduce him to a lot of different guns,,, both semi & revolvers to find what he is comfortable with.

But I will be working with him & the group at distances up to 25 yds,, AND adding movement, draws from concealment, speed reloading & most importantly, accuracy. NOBODY wants to be engaged in a firefight & hurt an innocent. Especially one of their own,, even a family member.

 

[vito]

If you let your imagination run free, its easy to come up with scenarios where no reasonable capacity is adequate for the task. Carrying a Glock 17 with 18 rounds and 3 extra mags would give you 69 rounds total, which likely would not be enough when that 30 man Mexican cartel hit squad attacks you while you are mowing your front lawn. Real data seems impossible to come by, but I have yet to read about some concealed carry citizen being found dead from gun shots with an empty j-frame lying at his side because he ran out of ammo, although I don't doubt that this could happen. And making too big an issue between a 5 round snubbie and a 6 round snubbie doesn't seem to make much sense to me as well. When I carry OWB I have 8 rounds available (lc9s) or 13 rounds available (Glock 26) but when I pocket carry it is normally a S&W 642 with 5 rounds of 38+p ammo and I feel quite comfortable. Normally I don't even have an extra mag or speed strip with whatever I am carrying. Maybe someday you will read about me being that guy dead on the ground with an empty j-frame, but I doubt it.

 

[gramps]

Vito are you off your meds again? Reality is, a large percentage of gunfights are close range and over in seconds with few shots fired. We are NOT LEO, we have no duty to engage, except to save our selves/loved ones. As a former LEO, my risk assessment reveals that my primary ,44 spcl/5 shots, and .380 BUG 7 shots are adequate. I am 69, I have not needed to shoot anyone. As an LEO, I drew my weapon on three occasions with instant compliance. As a civilian, I have not needed to clear leather. Situational awareness, de-escalation of anger are very real skills that will keep you safe. Learning empty hand combat skills also give confidence to your step. Yet another deterrent to the victim selection process. Good luck.
gramps

 

[vito]

Vito are you off your meds again? Reality is, a large percentage of gunfights are close range and over in seconds with few shots fired. We are NOT LEO, we have no duty to engage, except to save our selves/loved ones. As a former LEO, my risk assessment reveals that my primary ,44 spcl/5 shots, and .380 BUG 7 shots are adequate. I am 69, I have not needed to shoot anyone. As an LEO, I drew my weapon on three occasions with instant compliance. As a civilian, I have not needed to clear leather. Situational awareness, de-escalation of anger are very real skills that will keep you safe. Learning empty hand combat skills also give confidence to your step. Yet another deterrent to the victim selection process. Good luck.
gramps

Your comments are confusing me. I was saying, clearly I thought, that I do not feel under gunned with a 5 round revolver. You seem to be saying the same thing. Am I missing something or are you confused?

 

[powder smoke]

Ask 5 individuals about carry guns and you will receive 5 different answers.Living the country as I do a 5 shoot revolver is what I carry more likely to shoot a rabid fox
than a life threatening human. Country living is a whole different ball game!
That's why country living is suited for me! Trip to Bangor or Augusta still use the 5 shot revolver. ps