Revolvers as CCW guns?

[Adam Helmer]

I wonder what the opinions are about revolvers as CCW guns? The law enforcement community has pretty much gone to the semis for duty use, but some think revolvers still have their place with civillians.

As a firearms instructor, I begin novices on revolvers and transition to semis. Most of my students buy revolvers as their first gun. I like old Smith revolvers and Colt 1911automatics and feel comfortable carrying either. What do other CCW folks think and what do you carry?

Adam

[Tater]

I think revolvers are easier for newbies because they have fewer moving parts which means less problems such as feed jams. I like autos for the extra capacity but they take a little more practice so you can handle those possible feed jams automatically. I've usually carry my GP101 .357 for this reason as I haven't had the training to deal with jams on my .45 auto to feel comfortable. I know I can shoot it but if a problem comes up it should be 2nd nature to clear it and continue.

[kt]

yes i agree, for civilians revolvers are still a great choice. i will say i mostly see snubbies where with semi autos a fair number of people are carrying every thing far pocket autos to mid full size guns. there is some stat out there that the average gun fight is 2 or less shots? something like that, so if thats the case the 5 shot pocket revolvers are wayyy adequate. now i have said it here before i love glocks but do we have the leeway to have a stove piped round or any of the other occassional semi screw ups when we need it? and as for 13 rounds in a clip, thats the kind of thing that makes some people say, "today i dont feel like carrying the wieight" and the gun stays home. i like my choices of semi calibers better thought. good thread. S&W is selling a boatload of those nifty 642's

[kt]

some one fix this for me please, it is a response to adams revolver thread, after5 or 6 years i still dont have the whole posting thing down i guess ;)
kt

[BILLY D.]

kt

no problem, we got the word. one other fact to add to your post, most gunfights happen within 20' or about 7 yards.

[TreeDoc]

Originally posted by kt
some one fix this for me please, it is a response to adams revolver thread, after5 or 6 years i still dont have the whole posting thing down i guess ;)
kt

Done deal! ;)

[BILLY D.]

treedoc

you are a gentleman and a scholar.

[gregarat]

My snubby gets the most carry time of all my CCW handguns.

My town isn’t all that violent, and has a huge police presence. When I’m running errands during the day, I don’t see any need for anything more (I hope that’s a safe assumption). At night, and when in Tampa or Jacksonville is another story. Then it’s a BUG;) .

I find appendix carry the most comfortable way to carry, and easy to access, with a small handgun. Snubbys are also very easy to point shoot, compared to other handguns. I’m confident that I could draw and accurately shoot my snubby the quickest of all of my handguns at 10y or less.

[Hawkeye6]

I like my .44 Mag Ruger SRH with a 7.5" barrel, but its awfully hard to CCW it. :D

OK, now that I've been a SA this morning -- Yes. I have used Ruger and S&W revovlers for CCW carry guns. The disadvantage that I see (comaring to, say, a 1911) is the bulk of the cylinder.

Some folks say the semi gives you greater firepower due to the magazine with 7-15 rounds. Also that its easier to change mags than to reload a revolver whether you use speed strips or speed loaders. Both of these are probably true, but I fervently hope that I need the difference between 6 and 15 -- or to reload. If I do, I'm not sure a handgun is what I'd really want anyway!!! :eek:

H

[Adam Helmer]

Very thoughtful responses guys.

kt & Tater,

I agree with you that newbies handle revolvers better than semis because most folks have shot water pistols and capguns in their youth and the knowledge is applicable to DA fire. Many semis have a confusing array of safeties, decocking levers, grip safties, etc. that a newbie will forget to overcome in gravest extreme.

I like my 2-inch M10 Smith, 2-inch Cobra (nickel) and 3-inch M65 Smith for CCW carry because I can get them into operation single handed, with either hand. I know folks who carry a M1911 with the chamber empty and thus they need two hands to get their gun into action. When we went to the Glock M17/M19 back in 1989, many old agents refused to carry the Glocks chamber loaded per regulations. I advised them that racking the slide is a noisy operation that would immediately draw hostile fire when faced with an armed assailant(s). Several old revolver-oriented agents insisted on an empty Glock chamber so management allowed them to carry revolvers until they retired.

Adam

[HuntinDoc]

My Ti taurus .38 gets more actual carrying time than either of my .45s simply because of convienence. It is very easy to pocket (with a wild bills pocket holster) and rides well in a ankle holster. If going to one of the bigger cities I usually still carry it as a backup to my Kimber. Always carry reloads.

I actually bought it used after a woman purchased it then returned it to the shop a week later because her CCW instructor told her she needed a Glock. So after one cylinder worth of ammo I got it for $100 less (and the rest of the box).

[Adam Helmer]

HuntinDoc,

I agree with you about pocketing a small revolver. Last Christmas my wife gave me a Colt Cobra, nickel, 2-inch with hammer shroud. I have long been an old Smith revolver and Colt auto fan, but this little Colt is just the thing for a jacket pocket. I "crossed over" a bit and like this Colt revolver. She also gave me a Browning M1903 .32 auto pistol her uncle brought back from WWII, with capture papers where the company CO gave approval for shipment home. This pistol shows some wear and is now oiled up and in the vault with other historic arms. While small, I would not carry a .32 unless that is all I had available.

Adam

[TreeDoc]

Kind of like this one Adam? ;)

I would absolutely LOVE to carry this little gem. It's even chambered in .380 but the drawback is it's in 100% virtually unfired condition and resides in it's original box with 2 original magazines, price tag, and cleaning brush. It's vaccuum sealed and in my safe at the present time. The bluing is just immaculate. What appear to be inconsistancies at the guide rod area on the muzzle are threads from the rag stuck to the Eezox coating that I keep on the gun!

I've seen a couple in moderate condition that I almost bought for carry and wouldn't feel bad about it but they carry to high a price for their condition considering I have one already and numerous other suitable carry guns.

[jmarriott]

I love my little Rossi 357 2 inch for personal carry. Stainless and I paid under 150 dollars for it. accurate enough for personal protection. I used to carry full load 357's in it all the time.

Then my mother in law came over one night complaining of a skunk getting in her trash and basicly stinking up the place and he is in the trashcan right now. I went and grabbed the rossi and walked next door. A couple of well tossed rocks got the llittle stinkers attention and a well placed shot to the chest dispatched him but i could not see that i hit him for almost one minute. I had never fired that little pistol at night and the muzzle blast was far to blinding for any follow up shots. I picked up some milder loads in 38 and shot it a bit more at night that week so i could get off more than one good shot.

[WyoShooter]

Most of the time I carry my .45 auto.

I sometimes carry my 4 5/8" barrel Ruger SA .44 mag. It's just a tad heavier than the slide pistol, especially when the unfluted cylinder is full of 300 grain XTP's.:p

Anyone have a Kukuri knife? My brother sent me one, same as military issue, straight from Nepal and I carry it in my truck. You know a pistol can be intimidating but what kind of reaction do you think you'd get from a bad guy when he get's a look at that blade coming at him and the thought of losing an arm or half his head.:D

[Adam Helmer]

TreeDoc,

Nice photo of a fine gun! My .32 is about Good+ condition. That pistol came in .32 and .380, as you probably know. I got a nice, new brown flap holster for my .32 and carry it afield when working on the farm. It is kinda like a watch fob, I never know I am carrying it.

Adam

[RUMLUVER]

I think both revolvers and autos are appropriate to carry concealed. I also believe that the weapon carried should be matched as well as the caliber chossen to the person and thier skill level/experience. I have a S&W 696 3"barreled 44spc. and a PARA Ordinance Tac Four LDA double stack .45 auto that I carry. I feel comfortable with both and think both fill the need of a personal defence weapon. To me as with all shooting and firearms go with what feels good and take the time to learn that weapon inside and out ,respect your personal safety enough to become proficient with your weapon, but most of all practice practice and when you think your good practice some more! Aways remember only perfect practice makes perfect results!

[Montana Cowboy]

Howdy All
My carry gun is a snub nose .38 made by Taurus. It is easy to carry and get into action if need be. I've never had to pull it out in 28 years, and hope it stays that way.
My reason for this type of gun as a carry gun is that it is just about 99.9% dependable. At times I do carry a extra ammo,but feel in most situations I won't need to reload. Also if you ever do have to use it to defend yourself the police are going to confiscate it and you may never get it back, so, I would rather they confiscate a $190. (what I paid for it) gun than my $700. colt .45 auto.
All situations are different. I carry what I feel comfortable with. I'm not a law enforcement officer therefore I'm not in no where near the situations they face on a daily bases. MC

[kt]

i was just reading on another site about the number of people who carry their revolvers on empty chambers, what struck me as funny was if your carrying one of the little snubbies which only has five holes in the wheel and now you emptied a chamber well math says you are down to 4 shots, 4 is better than none, but seems strange to do if you ask me. any one have input?
kt

[Adam Helmer]

kt,

You make a fine point: Why do normally intelligent people carry DA revolvers with an empty chamber UNDER the hammer? If they had a single-action, then I understand, but the hammer block in the DA renders such undo caution as idiotic!

Adam

[Hawkeye6]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
kt,

You make a fine point: Why do normally intelligent people carry DA revolvers with an empty chamber UNDER the hammer? If they had a single-action, then I understand, but the hammer block in the DA renders such undo caution as idiotic!

Adam

Adam:

You assume they are intelligent.

hawkeye

[Skinny Shooter]

I carry the S&W 686+ snub with speed strips on occassion. Having that 7th shot just might be a surprise for a groundhog or other "varmint" some day... ;)

[Aim to maim]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
kt,

You make a fine point: Why do normally intelligent people carry DA revolvers with an empty chamber UNDER the hammer? If they had a single-action, then I understand, but the hammer block in the DA renders such undo caution as idiotic!

Adam


A large percentage of the people to whom you refer simply don't know any better. All they know about firearms is what someone (daddy, uncle, brother-in-law) passed on to them. There was a time when most revolvers were single action and the precaution was a wise one.

It has lived on far past universal applicability. I try to enlighten folks when the opportunity arises, but at least find it encouraging that they were erring on side of caution.

[gregarat]

I cant understand the reasoning behind carrying withought a round in the chamber:confused: .
It makes as much sense as hunting, with an empty chamber. Atleast while hunting, you will just miss an oprotunity to bag game. For CCW its your life!

[Hawkeye6]

Originally posted by gregarat
I cant understand the reasoning behind carrying withought a round in the chamber:confused.

It goes back to the old days when there were only single action revolvers. While they were "6 shooters", safety dictated that you not carry a round in the chamber under the hammer. If the hammer was down, the firing pin and primer were either in contact or clse proximity. A solid bump could set off the gun.

Today, DA revovlers have "safetys" incorporated in their design to make this kind of accidental discharge highly unlikely.

Apparently some folk haven't learned this.

H

[Adam Helmer]

Aim,

I agree, many folks got their gun smarts second hand, and many got it from TV shows! I knew federal agents who did not carry spare ammo and only 5 rounds in their M-10 6-shot S&W revolvers. I told them they were reducing their life expectancy by one-sixth by leaving one round out of the cylinder. I assume nothing anymore....

Adam

[gregarat]

It goes back to the old days when there were only single action revolvers. I understand, but that was the old days. Im not only talking about only revolvers, people do it with autos too.

[Aim to maim]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
Aim,

I assume nothing anymore....

Adam

Excellent

In my humble opinion, the single most important trait for any firearms instructor.

[Adam Helmer]

gregarat,

You make an excellent point about folks carrying autos with an empty chamber. I know of an off duty cop who loved to carry a .45 auto with the chamber empty. One Friday morning, payday, he was in a small branch bank when two bank robbers appeared with weapons drawn. The cop cycled the slide on his .45, one of the robbers dropped his gun, the other fired a round into the area near the cop and both robbers fled the bank.

The moral of the story is cranking the slide is noisy and can get you shot while getting the auto into firing condition.

Adam

[gregarat]

I know of an off duty cop who loved to carry a .45 auto with the chamber empty. That’s just silly. 1911's have several safeties.

[Slim-Zippy]

I carry a Ti S&W 38 special with the hammer bobed. It is a very convenient and quick to tuck in a pocket. It is so loud that people will move away from me on the pistol range. I joke with my frienbs that if anyone puts me in the position that I have to shoot them then I will empty the gun as my hearing will be destrroyed after the first shot any way.

My most used cary gun is a 1911 type with a commander slide and barrel on a Officers size frame. I have used it so much that I have complete confidence in it and very easy to conceal.

[8X56MS]

I do love my semi autos for CCW, but I also appreciate a fine revolver, and often carry one. I guess the ones that gets the most carry time are a S&W Model 60 3 inch heavy barrel in .38 Special, and a Model 65, again with a 3 inch heavy barrel, and in .357 Mag.

[gregarat]

8X56MS,

Hey there man. Are you back in town? If so, drop me a line. So we can go to the range, or get a beer.