which revolver??

[jbirdy1]

Hello;
I'm looking for a revolver for CC. I'm looking for something not ridiculous large, (size and weight) but large enough that I can enjoy taking it to the range and shooting 50 rounds without punishing my hand (like some of the ultra light ones). But yet able to carry easily.
I'm looking for something more than a 22lr, but not as much as a 357 or 44 mag. (something were ammo is easy and affordable).
I'm looking for a revolver that is accurate enough at 15-20 yards if I want .
I'm wanting a revolver that has a track record of dependability and quality but is not going to cost me an arm and a leg..

what do you recommend?

[CPW1265]

You sure have a lot of things that you would like your CC to have. But in my opinion there is no perfect all around gun for target and CC. Here are a few questions you must consider as well: What is your body frame? (thin, med, heavy set) Are you a business owner and this is primarily for protecting life and money? Any particular reason why you are looking for a revolver?

To help answer some of your questions:

1.) Revolver not too big for CC by size and weight would be a .38 cal. (S&W 442, 642, Ruger LCR, etc) and also dont get an Airweight or titanium and go with Stainless steel frame.

2.) Most encounters where you will be using your firearm for personal defense will be within 5 yds.

3.) A revolver for target shooting i would recommend a .22lr because of the low cost to shoot for hours on end. approx $20 for 500 rds. It could last you for 2 days at the range. If you want a bigger caliber for target practice i would recommend then a Used S&W Model 10, Model 64 or a new S&W 686, 627, or any revolver with a 4" barrel or longer.

4.) Also for accuracy its not only the firearm but also the type of ammunition you use in it. Dont forget there is no price on your life. Some recommended manufacturers are Speer Gold Dot, Hornady.

5.) S&W in my opinion are the most dependable and reliable handguns, both revolver and automatics.

Hope this helps.

[Naybor]

Stainless steel Ruger SP101 .357 w/3 1/16 barrel. We have the 2 1/4 barrel but the extra length of the 3 1/16 would be a better compromise for the range with it's longer sight picture. There is no difference to me in carrying. You can also use lower power .38 Special in the .357 that is not priced too high and fun to shoot. Also, .38 snake and birdshot is available and will definitely take out a rattler. Very versatile gun and caliber.

Just my opinion but speaking from experience.

[Woody1960]

I agree with Naybor but I would go with the 2 1/4 barrel.Speaking from exprence.

[oldbanjo]

I carry a SP101 Ruger.

[442js]

S&W J Frame is a good choice. A 442 or 642 (stainless version of 442) is small and reliable. It is .38 special only, but it sounds like a good choice for what you want. Can't go wrong with the SP101 either.

[jtg452]

Hello;
I'm looking for a revolver for CC. I'm looking for something not ridiculous large, (size and weight) but large enough that I can enjoy taking it to the range and shooting 50 rounds without punishing my hand (like some of the ultra light ones). But yet able to carry easily.
I'm looking for something more than a 22lr, but not as much as a 357 or 44 mag. (something were ammo is easy and affordable).
I'm looking for a revolver that is accurate enough at 15-20 yards if I want .
I'm wanting a revolver that has a track record of dependability and quality but is not going to cost me an arm and a leg..

what do you recommend?

A 4 inch K frame Smith .357 with either a heavy barrel of a full underlug.

Why that gun?

Easy to feed- it will take .38 Specials all day long OR you can load it up with .357's and not beat yourself to death with it.

K frames are the original 6 shot .38 frame like the Model 10 (or the ORIGINAL Military and Police). Light enough to carry, heavy enough to actually shoot. Smith didn't sell millions of K frames all over the world for nothing.

A 4 inch barrel instead of a 2 inch snub- it balances better in your hand and you have a bit of weight out front to help cut down on muzzle climb. With the heavy barrel or a full underlug, it is actually muzzle heavy by a little bit, and that is conducive to good DA revolver shooting. The increase of 2 inches in barrel length also will improve accuracy due to a longer sight radius AND the 4 inch barrel will give you a good deal more velocity. Longer barrels like a 6 inch are more accurate but they get to be unwieldy when trying to carry them. The 4 inch length is the best compromise.

There are a million accessories out there and they are EVERYWHERE and usually reasonably priced. These guns were the Chevy 350 of the pistol world for decades. Everybody made something for them. Leather, speedloaders, grips, sights, .... are all out there.

[Lowjiber]

I've carried a S&W titanium, J-frame, 38spl +P for years. S&W no longer manufactures it in titanium anymore, opting for the scandium/ti combination instead...likely because the cost of titanium became a real issue a few years ago. It's hardly a target pistol, but at seven yards, it's awesome.

My wife carries the Ruger SP-101 .357mag (2.25" barrel), stainless...very nice gun. If you opt for this model, I recommend changing out the trigger spring, as Ruger revolvers have a heavy pull. A spring kit with two lighter springs costs about $20 from Ruger and is a snap to install.

Like others above, I fail to see a connection between personal defense CC weapons and accuracy beyond the classical seven yards. If, God forbid, you were to engage a bad guy at 15-20 yards, there is a strong likelihood that you might face a prosecutor who disagreed with your decision to use deadly force.

I have a .22 Ruger Mark III that will drive tacks at 20 yards and is cheap to shoot. You can have a lot of range fun with something like that.

[jbirdy1]

I've carried a S&W titanium, J-frame, 38spl +P for years. S&W no longer manufactures it in titanium anymore, opting for the scandium/ti combination instead...likely because the cost of titanium became a real issue a few years ago. It's hardly a target pistol, but at seven yards, it's awesome.

My wife carries the Ruger SP-101 .357mag (2.25" barrel), stainless...very nice gun. If you opt for this model, I recommend changing out the trigger spring, as Ruger revolvers have a heavy pull. A spring kit with two lighter springs costs about $20 from Ruger and is a snap to install.

Like others above, I fail to see a connection between personal defense CC weapons and accuracy beyond the classical seven yards. If, God forbid, you were to engage a bad guy at 15-20 yards, there is a strong likelihood that you might face a prosecutor who disagreed with your decision to use deadly force.

I have a .22 Ruger Mark III that will drive tacks at 20 yards and is cheap to shoot. You can have a lot of range fun with something like that.

all good points..I agree that a CC need not be accurate at 15-20 yards (nor cheap to shoot).
I guess I'm thinking that any gun for CC, I'm going to take to the range a LOT and get really comfortable with..so that's why I was looking for those qualifiers. (basically something fun to shoot at the range too)
I think in the end I need two more guns (at least..) a S & W J frame 38spl (or Ruger Sp-101) and a Ruger mark III, which I've been wanting for awhile anyway...(Saw a used one at a local shop just two weeks ago...hmmmm)
anyway, Thanks all for the input.

[Echo_Four]

Saying that you don't need a gun that accurate beyond 7 yards may quite possibly be the most asinine comment I've read on any forum at any time.

It is true that most of the time you won't need a weapon out beyond 7 yards. But, if we go by the law of averages, chances are you won't need the gun in the first place. Since we tend to look out for the things that are less likely to happen, why limit yourself in this instance? Active shooter at the shopping mall? Active shooter in your church? Both have happened in the not so distant past, and both are times when being able to touch someone beyond 7 yards would be important.

And, almost as importantly- if the gun cannot be accurate beyond 7 yards it is a piece of junk. I wouldn't trust the danged thing not to blow up on me. But, when I read things like this I usually suspect that it isn't the gun that isn't accurate beyond 7 yards, more than likely it is that the shooter isn't able to hit beyond that range, and then likes to hide behind comments about a DA coming after you if you shoot from beyond that range as an excuse not to learn to be better.