Concealed carry opinions. lcr 38+p or.....

[spclark]

...I saw police shooting videos of how full sized 45's DON'T ALWAYS STOP CRAZED DRUGGIES.

There's something to be said for 185 grain HP's in this situation, if they're proven to penetrate a layer or two of denim & still open up. Mandates frequently specify ball / FMJ 230 grain which don't produce much of a wound cavity / hydraulic shock at 900 fps.

I agree on 40's though, or 357SIG. Choose your factory load for low/no flash & proven fabric penetration. Practice with hand loads loaded to match velocity if you want to but if push comes to shoot you want factory ammo doing the talking for you. Hand loads will just give the DA more fuel to feed the fire under your feet.

If you haven't already, you might find it interesting reading what's collected here:

http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/

- for our viewing pleasure. It's a little old though so Hornady's Critical Defense product isn't mentioned.

 

[357Mag]

Chevy -

Howdy !

IF you use 425ft lb as a threshold for adequate stopping power ( for example: .45ACP "Ball" ammo ), you can sort out all those cartridges that won't deliver that level of energy.
Some .38 Super ammo will, also many .45ACP, most .357Mag; and of course multiple ammo choices in .40 S & W. These can do it, and
also have proven good " stopping" power data to back up their performance.

9mm and .38+P ( I believe ) will fall short of the threshold value. There's a very few factory ammo choices for .44Spl and .45LC
that make it to the mark. One might get there w/ a select .38-40 load; but gun choices are slim. Not too many have decided to carry
a .41 or .44Mag.... shooting lower-power loads in those cartridges. And, the handgun size required for these cartridges limits their potential to be chosen for carry use.

I'd recommend against an LCR or other short/light .357Mag. As barrels lengths go shorter & shorter than 4" long, muzzle blast becomes more & more offensive. Shooting full-tilt 125gr HP ammo in just a 4" barreled .357Mag ( even an "N"-frame ).... and shooting it well; is enough of a challenge as it is ! 2" "K"-frame ? AAAaaaackkkk ! I might be wrong, but I don't believe any "L"-frame .357Mags
out-weigh an "N"-frame of the same barrel length ? No matter, as in the real world.... .357Mag "L"-frames fit more shooters better,
and are also more likely to get chosen for carry a whole bunch more too.

If you are considering an semi-auto, it's not hard to see why those chambered for .40 S & Ws are selling like hot cakes.
Stopping power, round count, comparative controllability, modern reliability, accessories; to name a few. And, it's most likely easier for
the average shooter to shoot a .40 S & W auto better than they can a 4" .357Mag.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Raythemanroe]

The gun is the tool, the weapon is between your ears! I would carry any of these guns after I got comfortable and about warn it out..

 

[CoverDog]

No matter what you are carring from a 22WM to .45acp you have to be comitted to carry all the time when legally able to do so. So get something comfortable to carry and use. And by all means, practice ... practice drawing from any position you may be in when needing to defend yourself.

 

[Joe Maisto]

No matter what you are carring from a 22WM to .45acp you have to be comitted to carry all the time when legally able to do so. So get something comfortable to carry and use. And by all means, practice ... practice drawing from any position you may be in when needing to defend yourself.

Coverdog;

I enjoy your thinking on the potentially life changing matter of using a firearm
on another person. Life changing it will be for sure. You are not the first to realise that , but many do not. I shudder to think about using mine on another, but then, this is not Korea and I am in fact 80.

 

[Hopkins]

The best ballistic argument in the world falls apart if the weapon chambered in it is too bulky to have on your person when its needed. A .22LR in your pocket is worth a lot more than a .40S&W in your safe,drawer or glove box. I have carried 3" S&W 19 RB, S&W 36, Colt Commander .45acp, Walther TPH .22LR and 23&27 Glocks. The only one I ever had to use was the TPH and that ended a mugging attempt. Find something so comfortable that you will carry it reflexively.

 

[Raythemanroe]

The best ballistic argument in the world falls apart if the weapon chambered in it is too bulky to have on your person when its needed. A .22LR in your pocket is worth a lot more than a .40S&W in your safe,drawer or glove box. I have carried 3" S&W 19 RB, S&W 36, Colt Commander .45acp, Walther TPH .22LR and 23&27 Glocks. The only one I ever had to use was the TPH and that ended a mugging attempt. Find something so comfortable that you will carry it reflexively.

+1

 

[stool]

yep..if it aint comfortable, it aint on you, if it aint on you...you lose.

 

[chevytruck_83]

And this is exactly why I'm drawn to the lcr over my m&p for every day carry. Now if I think the areas im in has real potential of a problem well the the full size options out weigh confort.

 

[Raythemanroe]

The XDM compact .45 looks like it would smart a little

 

[VaniB]

The best ballistic argument in the world falls apart if the weapon chambered in it is too bulky to have on your person when its needed. A .22LR in your pocket is worth a lot more than a .40S&W in your safe,drawer or glove box. I have carried 3" S&W 19 RB, S&W 36, Colt Commander .45acp, Walther TPH .22LR and 23&27 Glocks. The only one I ever had to use was the TPH and that ended a mugging attempt. Find something so comfortable that you will carry it reflexively.

And may I ask from the varied assortment of pistols and calibers you have carried, which pistol do you prefer to carry today ?





BTW,
Raythemanroe....a Springfield XDS and and XDM are both available in 45cal. Do you prefer the larger XDM over the XDS?

 

[Raythemanroe]

I don't prefer either, I carry a .380 lcp and have thought about a SR40c, same weight as the XDS but made in America

 

[VaniB]

The XDM compact .45 looks like it would smart a little

 

[Raythemanroe]

Small .45 caliber..

 

[stool]

maybe one should ask the question..."practical concealed carry"
i have carried a 1911 in 45acp and a para p1640 converted to 10mm....after a while i did not consider either "practical".

which is how i ended up where i am today. small/medium 38 special and the star bm in 9mm, both with handloads

while the small 45's with 185's are good, you give up the round count of the 9mm...personal choice again at that point.

 

[jonbearman]

You can laugh or mock me ,but I carry an old model 39 in 9mm.It is alloyed frame and trigger and decocker make it a fun gun to have around.

 

[Raythemanroe]

That is a nice classic looking gun Jon, I would bet your pretty comfortable with it

 

[Hopkins]

Depending on how I'm dressed and where I'm heading I choose between the Glock 27 , The Walther and the S&W 36.

 

[MrMajestic]

You can laugh or mock me ,but I carry an old model 39 in 9mm.

I'll bet the poor soul you're pointing it at won't laugh Jon! ;D With the current cost of ammo I can't afford to fill one of them Hi-cap mags! At least with yours I could carry it fully loaded! ;D Nice gun by the way.

 

[Shynloco]

You can laugh or mock me ,but I carry an old model 39 in 9mm.It is alloyed frame and trigger and decocker make it a fun gun to have around.

That's a great weapon. Just make sure you have "Controlled Expansion" rounds in her for stopping power. When those babies impact, the bullet mushrooms out and leaves a trail the size of a .45 hole.