Small revolvers as Backup/Carry Guns?

[John from MD]

Certainly if you need that.

My best friend has caught j frame sickness from me and now owns multiple scandium frame models. They ain't fun to shoot. But you do not carry them for fun.

On a pointless note, one of my favorites is the centennial that I got (steel, 38, early fifties I believe). It's history makes it cool to me. It has wear, some rust that I try to keep under control, and was carried by a good man while he rode the river (sorry blaster, it was his backup gun, hehe).

Only joking. A friend bought one when they first came out in the '90's. He let everyone try it at the range. Most only fired one shot.

 

[RFBfromDE]

I’ve hung up my .357 hat.

.38 +P is all I can take.

And that’s out of the SP101!

 

[4g64loser]

Only joking. A friend bought one when they first came out in the '90's. He let everyone try it at the range. Most only fired one shot.

A lady I taught to shoot told me to bring things with more recoil on the second trip.

She shot five out of the j frame 357 after a 45 1911 and an n frame 44 mag. That was as far as the recoil fetish went.

Want some nasty recoil? A 500gr Nosler safari bullet loaded to lever gun plus pressure in a 45-70 case. Then shoot it out of a BFR with a 7.5" bbl. The fireballs are awesome.

 

[Benny]

I have a S&W snub nose 38 sp that would be perfect as a back up carry but it was my father’s and I would be heart broken if it ended up in an evidence locker.


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[Baccusboy]

For those who care:

Out of a 640 pro, on a cold day.

357mag fiocchi 125sjsp A:1161 ES:44
357mag hornady 158xtp A:1067 ES:35
357mag speer GD 158hp A:1102 ES:31

For comparison, a nice mild 38 load (158 plated, 3.5 titegroup) is A:597 ES:45

Not, a 357 mag won't make peak power in a 2" barrel. That said, it ain't a joke either. I like my subcompact 357sig as it can do some pretty respectable numbers and carries twice as much ammo but the OP asked about revolvers.

And you'll get almost the same numbers out of a 9mm round coming out of a Ruger LC9 OR 9S, without the flamethrower and muzzleblast-- just an FYI. A 9mm 124gr round will be just over 1100 fps.

I used to carry the LC9, and also a Ruger LCRx. The size was comparable. The LC9 has more rounds and more firepower. Both were front-pocketable in a thin kydex holster, for my Dockers (not skinny-type).

I shot them both similarly, with the edge going to the LCRx, due to the larger grip purchase.

 

[Park ranger]

Back up is a loose term to me. Go on vacation, have a primary gun and primary wardrobe. But there may be times when a j frame is better than your glock 26. Let the dog out at 3 am in your camo shorts, model 37 might be the answer.

 

[python]

I own only one "J" frame revolver. This is a model 649 ("Bodyguard") in 38 Special. For me it's the perfect "BUG". Stainless steel with a shrouded hammer that be thumb cocked. Carries great in the pocket, and doesn't print in this Galco horsehide pocket holster. For a gun this size, 38 special is the largest caliber that I'd be interested in shooting.

 

[The Saint]

What in the world are you talking about?

You ever see a prosecutor hold up a little J-frame with a small caliber round in court and try using buzzwords like "assault weapon" or "weapon of war" to describe it in an effort to win an emotional appeal to win over a jury? Me either....but I HAVE seen them hold up semi-autos with "high capacity" magazines and "large caliber" (the classic 10mm case) rounds to deceive to those on the jury who likely have no idea how guns work in real life. That's what in the world I'm talking about.

 

[Park ranger]

I own only one "J" frame revolver. This is a model 649 ("Bodyguard") in 38 Special. For me it's the perfect "BUG". Stainless steel with a shrouded hammer that be thumb cocked. Carries great in the pocket, and doesn't print in this Galco horsehide pocket holster. For a gun this size, 38 special is the largest caliber that I'd be interested in shooting.

I get the shroud hammer, but I've never said " thats sexy".

 

[Bullfrog]

Anyone have any experience with the Kimber K6?

Handled one a while back... felt solid and well made, holds 6 rounds of .357 in the same size as a J frame.

I don't need one, but I was very tempted to get it.

 

[llkoolkeg]

This one disappears in my hand and was at least good enough for Henry Hill to pistol-whip his girl's handsy neighbor into submission with.

 

[RFBfromDE]

Gotta admit, it turned me on!

 

[Park ranger]

De

This one disappears in my hand and was at least good enough for Henry Hill to pistol-whip his girl's handsy neighbor into submission with.

Diesel fit

 

[4g64loser]

And you'll get almost the same numbers out of a 9mm round coming out of a Ruger LC9 OR 9S, without the flamethrower and muzzleblast-- just an FYI. A 9mm 124gr round will be just over 1100 fps.

I used to carry the LC9, and also a Ruger LCRx. The size was comparable. The LC9 has more rounds and more firepower. Both were front-pocketable in a thin kydex holster, for my Dockers (not skinny-type).

I shot them both similarly, with the edge going to the LCRx, due to the larger grip purchase.

Semis are better. I typically carry them. But since OP asked about revolvers, I won't try to talk him out of them. I'll answer his questions by offering what information I have and let him chew on it.

Those are velocity numbers off the box that you are citing. If you have a 9 124gr load that does well over 1100 in a 3" or less barrel and doesn't muzzle blast, I would be interested to try it and would post the radar chrono results. While I won't argue that a semi is better, do keep in mind that what's on the box ain't what actually happens with most loads, especially in short barrels. When I was testing some stuff in a friend's LC9, the 115s that normally hit 1220-1250 in my glock 19 and 1500-1520 in my PCC were barely getting to 1100 (and with plenty of muzzle signature).


Temp mid thirties, glock 19 is spitting 124 out 1103 avg. Glock 34 ups that to just under 1150. I've cranked 147 SXT and Silvertip (handloads) up to 1180 (no I won't post the load) in the glock 19. When tested, they don't really work any better than they do at 1000.

 

[rbird7282]

You ever see a prosecutor hold up a little J-frame with a small caliber round in court and try using buzzwords like "assault weapon" or "weapon of war" to describe it in an effort to win an emotional appeal to win over a jury? Me either....but I HAVE seen them hold up semi-autos with "high capacity" magazines and "large caliber" (the classic 10mm case) rounds to deceive to those on the jury who likely have no idea how guns work in real life. That's what in the world I'm talking about.

So you rather carry a .22mag instead and possibly put your life at greater risk?
Do you know of any case where someone was convicted in a self defense shooting because of the caliber of the gun they used?

 

[John from MD]

I have a S&W snub nose 38 sp that would be perfect as a back up carry but it was my father’s and I would be heart broken if it ended up in an evidence locker.


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In the good old days, many didn't make it back to the Precinct.

 

[The Saint]

So you rather carry a .22mag instead and possibly put your life at greater risk?
Do you know of any case where someone was convicted in a self defense shooting because of the caliber of the gun they used?

Never felt unsafe with .22WMR, so yes. Have yet to meet someone who wants to stand in front of it and tell me now ineffective it is after.

And yes, the famous 10mm case where the man was convicted because he used a 10mm to defend himself.

 

[Bullfrog]

Never felt unsafe with .22WMR, so yes. Have yet to meet someone who wants to stand in front of it and tell me now ineffective it is after.

And yes, the famous 10mm case where the man was convicted because he used a 10mm to defend himself.

Harold Fish.

Reversed on appeal but he died deep in debt from legal bills.

 

[python]

I get the shroud hammer, but I've never said " thats sexy".

Sexy? Who said it was sexy? I think it's butt ugly. Functionality, however is another story.

 

[python]

Anyone have any experience with the Kimber K6?

Handled one a while back... felt solid and well made, holds 6 rounds of .357 in the same size as a J frame.

I don't need one, but I was very tempted to get it.

I held one for the first time the other day. Fixed sights with a 3" barrel. I did not fire it. Felt OK in the hand. Seemed to be well made. Six rounds in essentially a "J" frame size. I am a revolver guy, but I didn't like it enough to buy one, especially at the $1150 asking price.