S&W 642 VS S&W 686

[tombogan03884]

 Taurus also sells a large variety of very nice pistols, considerably less expensive than S&W, and without that stupid lock. Also, in side by side comparison, including shooting them, quality is the same, leaning toward the Taurus because they don't charge $150  for the trade mark.

http://www.taurususa.com/products/products-revolvers.cfm

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=11101&categoryId=15701&top=Y

[dsawi52695]

Thank you for the suggestion about Taurus. I did notice that they do have a large selection of nice revolers to choose from.  That being the case, would it be possible for you or someone else to help me narrow down my chioces?  Is there one model that you might recommend over another, and why? 

You also said that the Taurus. pistols/revolers are considerably less expensive than S&W.  If I went with a Taurus model, could you give me an idea what the price range might be? 

I was advised to maybe stay away from the Ruger SP101 chambered in .327 Federal, due to ammunition limitations.  Is that still the recommendation?     

Thank you again,

David 

[PegLeg45]

If I had to specifically have a revolver, I would go for a .357 and then practice with .38 specials. But that's just me.
It all depends on how you plan to carry (on your person or hidden on the wheelchair) and deploy the gun.
A good thing to do is try to find a range or individual that can let you test drive a varying selection if possible to get a better idea of what to do. A hundred people can give you a hundred different ideas and you could end up just as confused as when you started.

I would look at the Taurus 617. It is a small 7-shot .357 in stainless.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=260&category=Revolver


The 627 has a longer 4" barrel, but is ported and would have a heck of a blast.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=265&category=Revolver


The model 605 is a 5-shot .357.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=247&category=Revolver


If you have to have a .38, then there's this jewel...a 7-shot .38 rated for +P ammo, the model 817 Ultra Lite.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=287&category=Revolver

It's also hard to beat the standard Model 85...I had one and wish I'd never traded it...
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=319&category=Revolver


Taurus has 5 pages of CCW revolvers.....and it can get confusing......
http://www.taurususa.com/products/gunselector-results.cfm?page=1

[Timothy]

All great suggestions from PegLeg....and all of these guns MSRP is under 500 bucks, expect to pay about 15-20% less retail.

All of these recommendations are dependant on where you live and you don't mention it.  I don't believe that any of these revolvers are allowed in MA.

Just called my FFL and I was correct, not available to MA residents.

[dsawi52695]

If I had to specifically have a revolver, I would go for a .357 and then practice with .38 specials. But that's just me.
It all depends on how you plan to carry (on your person or hidden on the wheelchair) and deploy the gun.
A good thing to do is try to find a range or individual that can let you test drive a varying selection if possible to get a better idea of what to do. A hundred people can give you a hundred different ideas and you could end up just as confused as when you started.

I would look at the Taurus 617. It is a small 7-shot .357 in stainless.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=260&category=Revolver


The 627 has a longer 4" barrel, but is ported and would have a heck of a blast.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=265&category=Revolver


The model 605 is a 5-shot .357.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=247&category=Revolver


If you have to have a .38, then there's this jewel...a 7-shot .38 rated for +P ammo, the model 817 Ultra Lite.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=287&category=Revolver

It's also hard to beat the standard Model 85...I had one and wish I'd never traded it...
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=319&category=Revolver


Taurus has 5 pages of CCW revolvers.....and it can get confusing......
http://www.taurususa.com/products/gunselector-results.cfm?page=1

Nothing says I have to have a .38, I just thought that would be easier to handle.  I do not think I want anything less than a .38.

David

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

Nothing says I have to have a .38, I just thought that would be easier to handle.  I do not think I want anything less than a .38.

David

A .38 should definitely be fairly easy to handle. Not knowing your physical capabilities makes it hard to get too deep into specifics. I was confined to a wheelchair for a while once and had pins in my left hand and not much strength in my right. Anything bigger than a snub-nosed .38 would have been pushing it. I didn't have the dexterity or strength to manipulate a slide on a semi-auto. Once I got my strength back, I went with a Glock 27 sub-compact.

That being said, my opinion (which, when added to a dollar might buy you a piece of gum) is that you should go with as large a caliber as you are both comfortable and competent with. Could be a .44 special, .357. or .38 or whatever.

There are several general rules of thumb (there may be exceptions) to remember when choosing a CCW gun:

1. Smaller guns conceal easier, but as a general rule, are harder to shoot well in larger calibers.
2. Larger guns tame felt recoil better but are harder to conceal well.
3. Pick a caliber/gun combo that you can shoot accurately. A powerful gun that you can't hit with is no better than a rock.
4. Whatever you choose, practice, practice, practice.......(note: .38 ammo is probably cheapest to do so with).
5. If you can afford it, get quality training.
6. Understand the CCW laws of your state.
7. Practice, practice, practice.

I've CCW'ed for twenty years but I'm by no means an expert, and I'll never claim to be. There are others here considerably more learned than I.



As a side note:
My personal first choice is a full size all steel 1911 in .45 ACP, and I carried one for many years. I never had a problem with concealment with a good IWB holster. But nowadays, with bad hips, knees, and such I have scaled back to the previously mentioned G27 in .40 caliber. It is smaller, lighter, and I shoot it very well. I wish I had popped the money for one of the light weight sub-sized 1911's when I had the money and the chance.
I'd trade my Glock in a New York minute for an EMP or a Warthog....but don't tell Ericire.   

[m25operator]

98% good info so far, your original request, 642 vs 686 I think has been answered, maybe the next best question, is what is best for my condition, regardless of caliber and pistol?? By condition, I mean the condition it will be carried and employed, how do you hide it, and how do you get it out and make it work for you.  I'm not a big Ruger fan, but the 327 is a good revolver and I would not tell you no, ammo availability is hard across the board, you might find it easier to get .327 than .38 or .357. Demand I would think would be lower, but production may be just as low.

[dsawi52695]

Nothing says I have to have a .38, I just thought that would be easier to handle.  I do not think I want anything less than a .38.

David

Hi Everyone:

How would you say the Taurus CIA Model 850 .38 Spl. Revelver would compare to the models mentioned below by PegLeg45 and why?

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=298&category=Revolver

I would look at the Taurus 617. It is a small 7-shot .357 in stainless.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=260&category=Revolver


The 627 has a longer 4" barrel, but is ported and would have a heck of a blast.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=265&category=Revolver


The model 605 is a 5-shot .357.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=247&category=Revolver


If you have to have a .38, then there's this jewel...a 7-shot .38 rated for +P ammo, the model 817 Ultra Lite.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=287&category=Revolver

It's also hard to beat the standard Model 85...I had one and wish I'd never traded it...
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=319&category=Revolver


Taurus has 5 pages of CCW revolvers.....and it can get confusing......
http://www.taurususa.com/products/gunselector-results.cfm?page=1

Also, as sugested by m25operator, let me pose the question.  What is best for my condition, regardless of caliber and pistol?? By condition, I mean the condition it will be carried and employed, how do I hide it, and how do I get it out and make it work for me. 

Again, any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

David

[tombogan03884]

Your life style will play some role in how you conceal your weapon, for example I'm a factory worker, I live in Sweat shirts and golf shirts, untucked I have no problem concealing or drawing a 1911 or full size (4"barrel) revolver on my 160 pound frame. Others on here however work in environments where an untucked shirt is simply not an option, they have to come up with other things such as pocket holsters

[PegLeg45]

David,
Looking back at my post for reference, my original listings were more based on gun size and caliber options than for concealment alone.
The 850 is roughly the same size as the ones on the original list, with the exception of the 617 and 627, which are both larger. The main difference between the 850 and the others is that the 850 has a shrouded hammer, thus making it double action only to fire it. It is probably the best option of the group for pocket carry and all around concealment because there is no exposed hammer to snag when drawn.

As to carry options, sitting in a wheelchair or even a motorized cart or scooter would limit carry options to, in my opinion:
1. Cross draw
2. Shoulder holster
3. Hiding the gun on/in the chair with something like a DeSantis bag:
                             http://www.desantisholster.com/storefrontB2CWEB/browse.do?action=refresh_browse&ctg_id=4927