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.

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!!!

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.

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.