Revolver recommendations

[FreeWillie]

I haven't owned a revolver since I was 20 (a very long time ago) and now I find myself wanting one as a backup carry.

I'm looking for something small, preferably coat pocket small, lightweight, +p and in 38 special/9mm. $600 tops.

If I buy used, what should I be looking for in wear?

Suggestions?

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[Palladin]

S&W 442

 

[Brin747]

S&W 642 or 442.

 

[bullseye]

Go for it, Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in the 454, 21/2 inch, its a hoot to shoot!

 

[FreeWillie]

Go for it, Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in the 454, 21/2 inch, its a hoot to shoot!

You're a very sick puppy

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[Gibbs]

You're a very sick puppy

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No, it's really not bad at all. Forget this "I need something small to carry" silliness. Get an Alaskan.

Or at least get this one.

 

[FreeWillie]

Come on guys I'm serious. I'm not going to hunt Grizzly with it. I just want a small, light revolver as a backup.

The S&W 442 looks good as does the LCR 9. Still looking around though.

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[M60]

Glock 42 with buffalo bore 95 grain jhp ammo . 1275fps I think.
Or a Ruger 2.5" super redhawk .454.
I like both.

 

[allen-1]

S&W Airweight. 5 shot .38 with bobbed hammer. Put a Crimson Trace grip on it.

It won't be a pleasure to shoot, but it's easy enough to carry, won't snag, and will get the job done.

 

[SeanC77]

I like my LCR .38. Good trigger for DAO and pleasant enough to shoot with the Hogue Tamer grips. Which brings me to my issue with it - the Hogue Tamers feel good and make the lightweight gun comfortable enough to shoot, but they are kind of big and made of a grippy material which can make drawing from a pocket tricky. Ruger makes a smaller "boot" grip for it, though I have no experience with it. Eagle grips also make what appears to be a really nice wood grip, though pricey at $90-$110. I recently picked up a nice G26 and haven't been using the LCR nearly as much. I go back and forth on whether it's worth keeping now that I have the G26.

 

[mark056]

I'd say S&W's 642 or 442, get one used in good shape. Proven and reliable. The new Rugers are probably good as are the new S&W Bodyguards but the 642/442 are plentiful and don't cost a bundle especially used.

 

[Davidk]

If you buy a Smith, get one WITHOUT a frame lock. J-frames are rock solid and used are a better value than new.

 

[fshalor]

I want an LCR in 9mm baaaad... But also will never sell the sw 637 I carry daily

 

[badgb21]

I just got a Smith 617' not suitable for carry, but I found some good YouTube vids to help me know what to look out for, worth a look.

 

[FreeWillie]

I just got a Smith 617' not suitable for carry, but I found some good YouTube vids to help me know what to look out for, worth a look.

I'll go look. Thanks.

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[Gibbs]

Come on guys I'm serious. I'm not going to hunt Grizzly with it....

You can't hunt Grizzly with an Alaskan.

(B'sides--don't you have a 9mm for that?!?)

By "backup" I assume you mean "already used up three mags of fifteen rounds in another firearm."

The Alaskan only has a six-round cylinder. That IS a backup!

 

[whacko]

Any j frame smith will fit the bill as well as a ruger lcr. But.......you might want to check out a ruger sp 101 before you go for the super small revolvers. It is slightly larger than the j frames and lcrs......in a good way if you like to shoot 357 mag as an option.

 

[AM13]

LCR XS Big Dot front sight

 

[jaypap]

I bought a used J frame air weight in .38 special +P for $300.00 used last month.

It looked unfired, many people buy them and turn them over. There is one in the classifieds now.

Great little carry guns IMO.

 

[whacko]

I bought a used J frame air weight in .38 special +P for $300.00 used last month.

It looked unfired, many people buy them and turn them over. There is one in the classifieds now.

Great little carry guns IMO.

j frames get carried often and shot little......no problem with that at all. They make great close up defense handguns.

 

[92G]

ruger LCR. awesome trigger out of the box. needs no 'smithing. if it feels to snappy get the LCR 357 version it's substantially heavier.

S&W 442/642 also great. i've never owned one but fired them plenty and also fantastic but by the time i'm done with getting the trigger job i could have purchased an LCR with a lasermax or whatever other accessories.

if you get an LCR checkout the bootgrip....it makes the LCR absurdly small and easy to carry.

 

[Greschner 4]

As pointed out, the LCR 38 +P is a great little gun. Great trigger out of the box. It's on the do not sell list.

 

[M60]

I have a stainless steel Smith .357 model 649 bodyguard that I like a lot. Bit heavier than alloy but honestly I don't know that its there when I carry IWB. I added a XS Big Dot front sight and lazer grips for night carry. Loaded with .38 +p it's an adequate small carry piece.

 

[mjbff]

sw 642 .