New pistol for carry

[JimS123]

Pardon me for being late in the game as well, but I rarely view this sub-forum and site problems of late have kept me off-line.

If you asked me the question 20 years ago, I would have recommended a wheel gun. Although a 2” Chief’s Special would have been my first choice, I could never get acceptable accuracy with any ammo formula. I switched to a 3” Model 36 and it was my preferred CC. In addition, with the right boolet and powder combo, it was a tack driver.

My choice of a revolver was based on years and years of less than perfect performance, even with high priced semis. How often do you go to a match and NOT see at least one alibi in one of the relays?

Then I came across two semis that changed my mind. A Bulgarian Makarov and an Austrian Glock. Both have had several thousand rounds put down the pipe with not one single malfunction. NOT ONE. Lead, jacketed or plated, makes no difference.

Sooo…., my recommendation for a compact carry would be a Glock 42. Nice small package. If it is felt that a .380 does not have adequate ballistics, then a Glock 43 in 9mm would be my second choice. Only very slightly bigger.

Truthfully, though, my personal choice is a LCPII. It is just so nice and comfortable in the pocket, and I personally do not have a problem with a .380. I realize some people have recoil issues with repeated firing, but then again the intended purpose is not a day at the range target shooting. Mine does have FTF and FTE issues with lead, but it runs 100% with self-defense ammo or anything copper.

Just remember, for PP, reliability is equally important to ballistics. But #1 is still the competence of the shooter!

 

[WIMUSKY]

I decided to resurrect this thread for a question. And who doesn't like to talk about guns.
My nephew just picked up a S&W MP Shield 9mm. He's going thru the classes etc. Thoughts on that firearm? I like to have something available as we crisscross the country...
Biggest issue I see is finding ammo... And it's only getting worse...

 

[southkogs]

I can't imagine it's a "bad" gun.

I haven't shot the S&W or the LC9. I bought my LCP before they brought the 9mm versions out. I did check out the S&W and the LC9 later though. What I found (personally) was that I think I would still stay with the LCP.

I gravitate to Rugers anyway. Sometimes they can feel a little klunky, but I have never had one (handgun or rifle) that I didn't like to shoot. I also found that the .380 fit the exact reason I was buying the gun: it was small. Even going up just a little to the 9mm made the gun just bulky enough that I wasn't carrying it as often. The .380 is easy to tuck away and comfortable to wear: so, I carry it. The S&W was a cool little gun, but I found that all of the extras were things I didn't need on a carry gun. When I found the Ruger cheaper, I opted to grab that.

The .380 with that short of a barrel isn't easy to control in terms of accuracy. I can hit the target just fine, but I can't get nice tight groups out of it. Not sure if the same gun in 9mm would change that.

 

[aspeck]

The LCP is a little small for my hands ... for my wife's also, and she is 5' nothing. The LCPII, however, has a very nice feel to it, as does the Shield. I am considering the M&P Shield as a next carry piece for myself and my wife, but we may stick with the LCP line-up and just get the LCPII. From all the reports that I have read and people I have talked to, the Shield seems to be reliable and well built, so it comes down to price and what feels best to you ...

 

[WIMUSKY]

Is Shield just a model of MP? Or, what is it? They got crazy naming handguns...

 

[southkogs]

^^^ Yup. I think they were the M&P line up was "Military & Police." I think the idea behind the shield was a good backup piece.

They used to have one called the "chief's special."

 

[aspeck]

Is Shield just a model of MP? Or, what is it? They got crazy naming handguns...

Yes, it is the M&P M2.0, the M&P Shield, the M&P Shield M2.0, the M&P Shield EZ Series, the M&P 15 Pistol Series, the M&P Bodyguard. Then you get into the SD and the 1911 Series.

 

[gm280]

Ammo is near impossibly to find. But the only ammo I purchase is 22's. Yea, I know 22's are gone as well. But I reload everything else, so until my supplies run out, I'm petty much set. And for those using 380 type guns, if you know how to reload, and have the equipment, the 380 can be loaded to do a major stopping job on a person. But you have to understand the limits and all the different loading powders and their burn rates and such. But reloading allows you to load any type round for mere plinking, or full blown stopping capability...within common sense. I'm been reloading and molding my own bullets for at least 45 to 50 plus years...

 

[WIMUSKY]

Yes, it is the M&P M2.0, the M&P Shield, the M&P Shield M2.0, the M&P Shield EZ Series, the M&P 15 Pistol Series, the M&P Bodyguard. Then you get into the SD and the 1911 Series.

You forgot M&P Shield Plus....
Crazy having all those models. There must be slight differences between ea? I suppose there is different calibers for ea too?

 

[aspeck]

You forgot M&P Shield Plus....
Crazy having all those models. There must be slight differences between ea? I suppose there is different calibers for ea too?

M&P | Smith & Wesson

www.smith-wesson.com

 

[WIMUSKY]

M&P | Smith & Wesson

www.smith-wesson.com

Dang.... Not sure why all the models from a single manufacturer. I see cops still carry 9mm. This one would work in a .223...... Not that I could get ammo..

 

[WIMUSKY]

Been researching LCP and LCP ll. Looks like the ll is the one to have. I have a bunch of .38 rounds, but they're .38 special for my wheel gun. LCP uses ACP..

 

[aspeck]

LCP II is definitely the way to go between that and the LCP

 

[WIMUSKY]

I c the M&P Shield weighs twice the amount as the LCP ll

 

[WIMUSKY]

Nephew bought this with a 13 shot clip

M&P Shield Plus | Smith & Wesson

www.smith-wesson.com

 

[BWR1953]

I carry a Taurus TCP 738 in 380ACP. This is my second one. I was happy with the first one and I'm happy with this one.

It weighs 10.7 ounces and is pretty much invisible. I think it weighs less than my phone in its case. It's tiny and fits in the palm of my hand.

The thing about this little Taurus is that you have to shoot it like a semi-auto revolver. The trigger must be fully extended after shooting for the mechanism to reset. No problem for people who are used to wheel guns.

Guys who are used to short throw triggers (like Colt 1911 guys) have a problem with it, but that can be overcome with proper training.

 

[southkogs]

@WIMUSKY - I like that .38!

The LCP is like that Taurus. My 9mm is a Taurus. It took me a while to get used to it, but in the long haul, I'm happy with that one.

 

[WIMUSKY]

@WIMUSKY - I like that .38!

The LCP is like that Taurus. My 9mm is a Taurus. It took me a while to get used to it, but in the long haul, I'm happy with that one.

Thanks. I acquired it when my dad passed. It's a Great American Arms .38 Special. Made from '54 - '64. Supposedly you can chamber a .357 mag. Not sure I'd try it.

Here's a very brief history....

The Great Western Arms Company (GWA) was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1953 to produce an American-made copy of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver. Colt had discontinued this model in 1940. The Great Western revolver was sold by mail order in the 1950s and early 1960s, and was used in many Western movies and television shows.[1]

 

[gm280]

Thanks. I acquired it when my dad passed. It's a Great American Arms .38 Special. Made from '54 - '64. Supposedly you can chamber a .357 mag. Not sure I'd try it.

Here's a very brief history....

The Great Western Arms Company (GWA) was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1953 to produce an American-made copy of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver. Colt had discontinued this model in 1940. The Great Western revolver was sold by mail order in the 1950s and early 1960s, and was used in many Western movies and television shows.[1]

If that pistol isn't marked for 357 man ammo, then a 357 will not fit. Now if you have a 357 mag pistol, yes a 38 special will certainly chamber. The difference between the two is a 357 case is ~.14" longer then a 38 special. So while you can safely shoot 38 specials, even 38 special P+ ammo in a 357 pistol, you can't shoot 357 ammo in a 38 special pistol. Hope that makes sense. So if you can easily load a 357 mag cartridge into your 38 special pistol, it has to be a 357 mag pistol... JMHO

 

[WIMUSKY]

Here's where I read it, gm.....

Rollmark: .38 SPECIAL

Models / barrels: All models were made in .38 except the Sheriff. No Sheriff’s have been observed in .38. It’s unlikely but not out of the question that a Sheriff in .38 will be encountered.

Build / Construction: Note the following that is particular to the .38:

Many Great Western .38 revolvers will chamber .357 Magnum.