Perfect carry revolver?

Alan

Alan

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Moderator
Joined
Feb 21, 2025
Messages
65
What’s the perfect revolver for everyday carry in your opinion, and what makes it stand out? I’d love to hear from those of you who regularly carry revolvers and what you have found to be most effective in real-life situations.
 
A 3" or similar stubnosed 357 with some 38's in it. It has to be able to stop the action of aggression in the most dire of circumstances. I dont like .25 or .32's because it just isnt that big a round.
 
For self-defense concealed carry I like the S&W 37-3 at the bottom.


42c2f62f-4f33-4565-a817-fea1d6cf4817.jpg
 
At age 76 with arthritis in both hands I no longer tolerate recoil as well as I once did. EDC is a 1966 light alloy frame Colt Agent. Cylinder is carried loaded with wadcutter. Speed loader friendly reload is Winchester SG38W 130grain FMJ flatnose, which gives 750 fps from a 2-inch barrel and shoots to the same point of impact as 148 HBWCs.

Trusted old friend.
1734564605609.webp
 
Last edited:
Creeker said:
For self-defense concealed carry I like the S&W 37-3 at the bottom.


42c2f62f-4f33-4565-a817-fea1d6cf4817.jpg
Click to expand...

Curious what ammo you carry in your 37?
If I am correct these are not +P rated like the 642 and later J-frames and tend to develop end shake if fired very much with +P. B-C gap on new S&Ws sometimes observed as large as 0.010", causing a 50 fps velocity loss compared to a gun at Mean Assembly Tolerance of pass 0.005 / hold 0.006".
20250612_181708~2.webp

A 642-1 prior to Hillary Hole. Windage on light frame cannot be corrected by turning barrel without risk of frame damage. Police armorer file-dressed 0.010" off the side of the front sight in the direction the POI needed to move for a 3-inch correction at 25 yards.
 
Outpost75 said:
Curious what ammo you carry in your 37?
If I am correct these are not +P rated like the 642 and later J-frames and tend to develop end shake if fired very much with +P. B-C gap on new S&Ws sometimes observed as large as 0.010", causing a 50 fps velocity loss compared to a gun at Mean Assembly Tolerance of pass 0.005 / hold 0.006".
View attachment 14
A 642-1 prior to Hillary Hole. Windage on light frame cannot be corrected by turning barrel without risk of frame damage. Police armorer file-dressed 0.010" off the side of the front sight in the direction the POI needed to move for a 3-inch correction at 25 yards.
Click to expand...
If you look close my picture, the barrel has .38 S&W SPL +P. I'm shooting the NEI 150-358 with 3.5 grains of HP38.
f9a18603-ce1a-4d2e-abc1-16671edae5ff.jpg
 
S&W 642 in 38+P is what I carry. Light, hides good, and it'll go bang every time. Load it with 135gr Gold Dots. Got some rubber grips on mine cause the recoil was killing my hands. What about you, @Alan?
 
Carried a Smith model 60 and later a 442 every day with the FBI load, factory ammo.

Now it's a Ruger LCR with the FBI load. typical practice loads are standard 38 special with wadcutters or 158 SWC's in lead.

Snubbyfan, what's attached to the sideplate of the holstered revolver in the top pic?
 
30calflash said:
Carried a Smith model 60 and later a 442 every day with the FBI load, factory ammo.

Now it's a Ruger LCR with the FBI load. typical practice loads are standard 38 special with wadcutters or 158 SWC's in lead.

Snubbyfan, what's attached to the sideplate of the holstered revolver in the top pic?
Click to expand...
It's a LaserLyte side mounted laser. I use it more for dry fire practice than anything else.
 
Alan said:
What's the perfect revolver for everyday carry in your opinion, and what makes it stand out? I'd love to hear from those of you who regularly carry revolvers and what you have found to be most effective in real-life situations.
Click to expand...
For everyday carry, I'd go with a small-frame Smith & Wesson J-frame
 
Depending on your options such as holster or pocket you may want to look at the Taurus 856 Defender model. I purchased a steel frame version, have taken it out a couple times and so far it doesn't seem too bad. 3" barrel, black finish with a Hogue grip and night front sight from the LGS for a little over $400. Also included a Taurus small rubber grip and a ramp front sight in the filler section of the box.

Truthfully I was reluctant to get one as there's a high percentage that go back for warranty work but they do have a life time warranty except on the grips and finish, which are covered for 1 year.
 

Similar threads

W
Hello From North Central WV
Replies
2
Views
117
snubbyfan
snubbyfan
Alan
Best Folding Knife Recommendations
Replies
4
Views
193
Outpost75
Outpost75
E
Best 9mm Carry Ammo Recommendations
Replies
4
Views
164
pasound
pasound
Alan
Deer Season Photos and Stories
Replies
0
Views
97
Alan
Alan
Alan
What’s Your Daily Go-To Hot Sauce?
Replies
5
Views
161
Wvcruffler
Wvcruffler

Latest posts

Back
Top