I’m getting my CCW permit soon and my SW40VE semi-automatic pistol wouldn’t be comfortable to wear all day.
I’m thinking about getting a lightweight .357 revolver since it would also shoots .38 special. I’m not partial to brand, but I want a high quality gun that is reliable.
Any recommendations or a small-ish .357/.38 revolver that I could carry around all day?
I bought a S&W 642 a few months ago from a local dealer for $350 “out the door”. It’s a concealed hammer type, which I would recommend for most CCW methods.
My other CCWs are semi-autos.
I’m not familiar with the S&W 642, but any small concealed hammer revolver is a pretty good choice. The Ruger LCR in .357 is a good carry revolver IMO.
I’m partial to the Walther handguns. The PK380 is 19.4 oz.
nitpick - CCW Gun? concealed carry weapon gun. Isn’t that a bit redundant.
Well not really. In my state you need a CCW permit to carry a knife with a blade more than 4 inches long… so it doesn’t necessarily refer to just a gun, although I agree in most cases that’s what it’s used for.
According to their website, the S&W 642appears to be in .38 special only.
I’ll check that one out…
I have a S&W 38 Special Airweight, concealed hammer. Nice grip, light weight.
How much did you pay for your Airweight?
The small S&W revolvers are all very nice pieces. All you really need to decide is whether you want the capability for thumb cocking or not. Most modern thought on the matter is that it is superfluous on such a gun, but I like having it. Be aware that the scandium framed models are vicious kickers with more than moderate loads. Full house .357’s out of most any snubby can be hard to control and have a lot of muzzle blast and flash.
I like the .357 so much that I own three of them, but they are all full sized revolvers with barrels at least four inches long. I don’t think the round is really played to its strengths from a snubnosed revolver. Having the ability to fire .357 cartridges out of the gun is one of those debatable things. It doesn’t hurt anything, except possibly accuracy, since the .357 and .38 revolvers are built on the same frames and weight the same. .38’s can be fired from .357 revolvers, but a fair number of .357’s don’t like .38’s and won’t shoot them as accurately as they will the longer cartridge.
My daily carry piece is a 30-something year old blue steel S&W Chiefs Special .38 that I load with +P hollow points. Don’t be afraid to check out the used guns. You might find something you like there.
Great advice Scumpup… I have a .357 Blackhawk with a long barrel. I hadn’t thought about the fact that I would be buying a snubby this time…
It was around $400
+1 QFT. Hoo-lordy, kicks like an angry mule.
When I was weighing my purchase of the 642, I considered the .38 vs .357 issue, but as others mentioned: the difficult control with the light, short gun using the .357 meant that, in practice, I wouldn’t be carrying that round…so it didn’t make sense to pay extra for a gun with that ability (you can argue that a .357 would theoretically be more durable, I guess, but I don’t think that has any practical benefit for me).
I also have a model 37 Airweight from the days when I used to work undercover; it has the exposed hammer. Initially I thought the idea of a shrouded hammer icky, and thought the look of the gun goofy (and I still kinda do) - but in practice, it is great. I can pocket-carry my 642, something I’d be crazy to do with the model 37.
More great advice. You guys rock.
My wife carries a S&W 442 with Crimson Trace laser grips. I have a 642 as well.
While we’d all like to have a featherweight .357 that holds 24 rounds, it just doesn’t exist!
The 5 round snubbie .38 is a bit of a compromise - mostly in rounds - but I carry one often.
The airweights are small and light and fit perfectly in a front or back pocket, or your windbreaker pocket. Push comes to shove, you shoot through your jacket pocket, and no hammer will get caught. Same for pulling one out of your front pocket - no snags.
Practice with wadcutters, but pack +P ammo when you go out, and you’ll be set for critters of all sizes.
I notice that S&W now have their versionof a laser grip with the laser higher up. Frankly, I like it better than the Crimson Trace because when you aim the gun with your finger off the trigger and along the frame like you’re supposed to, you can block the laser. You have to drop your finger to the trigger guard or trigger to get it out of the way, and I don’t like that. A lefty like my wife? No problem!
Taurus makes fine gunsas well, and at a somewhat lower price point than the kids at Smith et al.
Either way, get one, get practice, and be safe!
Another vote for the 642. Nice guns.
Did you ever notice that revolvers tend to rattle a little when you walk? Maybe it’s only me. 
I usually pack a Kahr PM40 auto loader or a Sig P238. Yeah, quite a difference in power right there. I call the Sig my “wedding gun” as it’s a bit lighter and flatter than the Kahr.
