Suggestions, advice? I used to have a snub nosed .38 special that I have been kicking myself for years now for getting rid of it.
Suggestions, advice? I used to have a snub nosed .38 special that I have been kicking myself for years now for getting rid of it.
Why do I live in Alaska? Because I can.
Alaska, the Madness! Bloggity Stories of the North Country
"Building Codes, Alaskans don't need no stinking Building Codes." Sourdough
Yes, I have wifi in my outhouse!
Those old .38s were nice. I remember my father buying one back in the 90s. He told me that when the police departments were phasing them out for the semi-automatics, the market price on them dropped. They were easy to grab up.
Last I heard, Smith and Wesson still made a .38 snub nose design.
This is going back to the Revolver VS Semi-Auto thing again. Which really Boils down to personal preference with no right or wrong.
Revolver Pro: Unless you have bad ammo, the thing will fire. If it doesn't fire, you have the simplicity of only having to pull the trigger to cycle to another round.
Revolver Con: Depending on the revolver, you either have 5 or 6 shots. (know some hold a few more, but the purpose of this thread is small and concealable. Not happening with a eight round 44Mag.) It then takes a bit of time to reload another cylinders worth of ammo.
Semi-Auto Pro: Ammo capacity is 7-12 rounds. Up to twice that of a revolver. Quicker reloading is also accomplished through additional, pre-loaded mags.
Semi-Auto Con: Laced with malfunctions. Although, it is my opinion, that semi-autos made by reputable manufactures in the last ten years are just as reliable as revolvers. Semi-Auto malfunctions can almost always be attributed to owner neglect. If you run a box of ammo through it a month and clean it properly, there should be no issues. Also, during much colder temps, an owner should take care that the gun oil they use does not freeze or gel up. The leads to another semi-auto con that they can be a little more high maintenance.
Really, it is personal preference. I chose semi-auto. More bullets, quicker reloading, and a little more maintenance to give me those shots reliably are worth it to me. I do own both though, and on times, why not a .38?
Being you are in Alaska, you also have big creatures to contend with. A revolver would allow you some more potent cartridges for those instances. A snub nose 44 special, perhaps?
”There's nothing glorious in dying. Anyone can do it.” ~Johnny Rotten
Oooo...itys about a concealed small gun...just reading the title gave me a different idea...ok...so its a gun...guns again..
I'm a Gramp who is not computer savvy, give me a slab and the rock ages tablet..I will do fine!
I gotta say Ruger LCR. It's just 13 oz empty and very small. The trigger is excellent on it and it's easy to shoot well. It's available in .38 Special, 9mm and .357 Mag. If I read you right then the .38 Special is probably your best bet (and the version I have). Presumably your concerned more about two legged predators if you're looking for something small, and the .38 Special version is 25% lighter than the other two. From a 2" pipe a .357 Mag mostly gives you a lot more blast and recoil for a very small gain in velocity. IMO you need to move up to a 4" barrel or so for it to be worth it. In any event even a .357 Mag would be a bit light for the bigger critters up there.
How small is small to you? *Crosses fingers*
No seriously, S&W Model 66 too big?
R.I.P.
SFC Raymond Munden
CPL Charles Gaffney
SSG Nolan P. Barham
http://s1357.photobucket.com/user/Wi...3126b.gif.html
Muahahahahahahahahahahaha....Sawyer little thing....
I'm a Gramp who is not computer savvy, give me a slab and the rock ages tablet..I will do fine!
My wife carries the LCR in .38. There is no hammer to get hung on anything if you want to purse carry. The .38 is a proven round and, as Phaedrus said, it's light weight. You can get it with a Crimson Laser, which my wife has. She likes it and is pretty accurate with it.
I don't think you could go wrong with a J Frame S&W. Also as suggested the newer LCR from Ruger is getting good reviews. Colt also made a fine revolver as well, not quite as small as the smith. I would avoid the Rossi/Taurus revolvers. Some are excellent more have issues of some kind. Charter can be spotty as well.
CW
Support our troops! We all owe a debt we cannot begin to repay, start with support of the PEOPLE in the uniforms.
My smallest CC firearm is a Smith & Wesson shrouded hammer 38/357 mag. Five shot. I like the choice of either 38 for practice or the 357 for greater effectiveness for two legged predators. For serious carry, I load with Speer short bbl hollow points. My second choice would be the Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 Special. The Ruger LCR is a good choice if you prefer a semi auto. My Semi auto CC gun is currently a Smith & Wesson Shield in 9mm.
Have, carry and like the K-LCR.....This one handles the .357, but is normally loaded with .38's........speed loader has the .357's.
.357 will handle most anything I would have to use it on around here...but I do understand the Alaska connection.....so yeah .44 mag, although kinda hard to conceal.
Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
Evoking the 50 year old rule...
First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27
Originally Posted by OP
You meant the LCP?
When these. discussions start, the suggestions seem to start small....and ended up getting bigger, and bigger, why is that?
Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
Evoking the 50 year old rule...
First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27
Yea this would be for two legged predator only, not worried about game for this one. Small and very concealable is on the top of the list here.
Why do I live in Alaska? Because I can.
Alaska, the Madness! Bloggity Stories of the North Country
"Building Codes, Alaskans don't need no stinking Building Codes." Sourdough
Yes, I have wifi in my outhouse!
LCR or LCP or the S&W version.......Both handy and "tuck-y"
Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
Evoking the 50 year old rule...
First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27
I have a few, I even have a Taurus. I like the revolvers, but don't carry one much anylonger.
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum. 351 22WMR
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum. Ruger SPEED SIX 357 Mag
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum. S&W 651 22 WMR
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum. S&W 638
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum. S&W 63
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum. H&R 922
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum. Taurus 941 22WMR
CW
Support our troops! We all owe a debt we cannot begin to repay, start with support of the PEOPLE in the uniforms.
I have a smith 638. I'd mightily appreciate it if someone knows of a speedloader that works over the cylinder catch...
Other than that, it's small and extremely lightweight.
If we are to have another contest in…our national existence I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's, but between patriotism & intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition & ignorance on the other…
~ President Ulysses S. Grant
Bookmarks