I’ve finally come to the conclusion it’s now or never for a new carry wheel gun. I’ve decided on primarily .357 and it’s boiled down to the Ruger gp100 WC or S&W model 19 carry comp. From what I’ve been able to research both are solid tools that will perform above and beyond. Anyone who has either can you please let me know how you feel carrying during the day. Size, weight, comfort. And and all input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
I have a GP100 WC and a passel of S&W 19s, though not a Carry Comp.
LOVE Ruger, but the Smith is noticeably smaller and lighter and therefore easier to carry. So much so that I’ve seriously considered picking up a Carry Comp for the wheel-gun sort of days.
PS - the Smith K-frame, lock or no, is one of the best weapons crafted by the hands of man. Just is. It transcends “classic.”
Take a good look at a S&W 640 Pro
I’m leaning toward the comp19 at the moment due to the size comparisons I’ve been able to find. Couldn’t really get a good side by side of a 3” k frame next to the 3” gp100 I’m sure if I keep looking I’ll find one. But I’m my search for those comparisons I managed to see that colt is bringing back their king cobra in 3” also. Ah decisions decisions. What are your views/opinions on this returning favorite?
I bought the 3” GP100 in 10mm, once upon a time I was issued a 2 3/4” 66. If you get a chance to compare them GP100 is closer in size and weight to S&W’s L frame sized gun. The S&W 19/66 is a great carry gun that won’t pull your pants off. It won’t handle as much magnum ammo as the GP or L frame but who shoots cases of .357 magnum?
Think hard about a M&P9 (or a HK VP9, G19, etc).
Six rounds and no reasonable chance of a reload in a close quarters situation, vs. 18 in the gun and 17 more in two seconds. It’s your life we’re considering.
I like Smiths for carry, Ruger for hunting. Just my personal pref.
NOTHING wrong with that Mod 19 CC. It would suit you well. As Greg says, I’d also look at the 640 Pro, and for close to the same size and weight of that Mod 19… I’d look at the 7-shot S&W 686 Plus.
I don’t think the OP is meaning for his ONLY carry option. But… if your on target with the first six, odds are that you won’t need to reload. I carried a wheel gun on duty back in the day when it was normal. There are a lot of bad guys in the ground because of wheel guns. Most of them from measley .38 Spc…
<— This coming from a guy that has a 5-shot j-frame in the pocket as my ONLY on person EDC 50% of the time. I try to avoid areas where I feel the need for 12-17 rounds. Short of driving into the city or interstate trips, I just have the j-frame most of the time.
I mostly agree with Det-Sog, most of the time, about most things. The man has his feet on the ground, and his head out of his . . . alimentary canal. Most definitely.
But as a person who can’t possibly avoid such areas (Big City, TX) I have come around to the more-is-better school of ammo. I carried a compact 1911 for ages. No more. I took a good look at urban situations, and you’d be amazed at how quick you can get to slide lock and still need more to save your hide.
And study shootings: you could make solid hits with every slug out of a J-frame and the bad guy(s) won’t even blink: they will go on trying to do you in until they collapse due to exsanguination. I made the transition to double-stack plastic.
And forget that aspect of shooting that is ignored by law enforcement and concealed citizens alike: suppression fire. Shooting at the baddies to keep their heads down while you re-position or run for the next zip code. Not enough ammo. You’re either out by then, or you daren’t waste one of your precious five slugs on such. Not good to foreclose a very important but underappreciated tactical option.
And this business of reloading a revolver with speed strips or a speed loader? Nope! Hard enough to do at the range. Not going to happen when multiple armed thugz are shooting at you, or pummeling your person, or trying to run you off the road, or holding an ice-pick to the neck of your wife/girlfriend, or doing other nasty things, at close quarters. Whatever’s in that J-frame is what you’re betting your life on; there is no succour.
Get real on the mean streets. Carry plenty of ammo.
A person has to be very careful about suppressive fire in an area, in CONUS, where there are friendlies about. I can’t think of any place in CONUS that is classified as a free fire zone, so round accountability is important. If suppressive fire in a populated urban area is something that was taught to you by a respected instructor in recent past, I would like their name so I can attend one of their courses.
I often travel on business to inner city areas, in Chicago and St. Louis, armed with a J Frame and two speed strips. For a person who trains hard and often, a revolver is a viable self defense firearm. There may be better options, but a revolver can get the job done.
If a person is relying solely on a firearm for self defense, I believe they are committing a critical error.
Having had two Sp-101’s, two Gp-100’s, a S&W 442, the eight-shot S&W, and a few other Rugers and S&W revolvers, I’ll tell you my favorite.
The Ruger LCR. I have three of them currently, no other revolvers. Two are .357’s and one is a .327. I prefer the .327.
One of the .357’s is a bit worn. (end shake) I’m not going to fire this one much anymore and no .357’s. IIRC it only took about 1500 rds (I forget exactly) about 1/3 each of standard .38, +P, and .357. So I can’t say they’ll take a pounding like an SP-101 or larger, heavier gun. That’s not a big deal because my hands have grown tired of .357, too.
But the triggers are great, they are 19 oz loaded (The .357 model) and very accurate.
I can’t bring myself to carry just a revolver without a second gun. Carry a strip or two of ammo but you most likely won’t be able to use it until the danger is passed.
AWESOME advice.
Everyone that carries 50 rounds just
To go to Starbucks needs to read this.
As a former LEO it’s been drilled into me over and over how you’re accountable for every single round sent down range. The more you carry, The more you will be tempted to launch. You might get the bad guy, but if just ONE round goes through a window 300 yards away and hits an innocent…
The best tool that you have is situational awareness. Univibe Touched on this also. Keep your head out of your butt and on a swivel, odds are you’ll never need anything. THAT is my goal. As a now just plain civilian, my goal is to live the rest of my life and NEVER even let someone else know that I’m even carrying.
When I went for my CCW the instructor pointed out to us that every round you fire has 2 lawyers attached to it. Yours and whoever you hit ( or their next of kin ). Suppressing fire for a civilian is what is called a bad idea where I come from. Not knocking having plenty of ammo, my EDC is a BHP with a spare mag. But I’m not going to spray and pray like some TV actor.
Suppressive fire talk, in this context, on M4C? Sheesh, didn’t think I’d see the unfortunate day.
Anyways,
OP, I have my sights set on a Model 19 Carry Comp too. Played with one at a local store, just amazing. The GP100 in 10mm that I ALMOST bought was great, but a tad too large.
Bro, you have gone off the deep end the last 12 months.
And study shootings: you could make solid hits with every slug out of a J-frame and the bad guy(s) won’t even blink: they will go on trying to do you in until they collapse due to exsanguination. I made the transition to double-stack plastic.
And forget that aspect of shooting that is ignored by law enforcement and concealed citizens alike: suppression fire. Shooting at the baddies to keep their heads down while you re-position or run for the next zip code. Not enough ammo. You’re either out by then, or you daren’t waste one of your precious five slugs on such. Not good to foreclose a very important but underappreciated tactical option.
Im guessing you live in either Yemen or Somolia nd deal with crazies hopped up on khott every day…
Lmao.
Suppressive fire. :lol:
OP,
Try and pick a lighter revolver.
Carrying a 40 oz handgun isnt pleasant. It seems many people are willing to carry about 32 oz (Glock 19)
20 oz us light enough you can actually “forget you have it”.
Just something for you to consider.
The 640 Pro has been mentioned, and an excellent choice. The 66 is as well, tho’ it is a little bigger. Both will respond well to a little slicking and a new rebound spring. It ain’t rocket surgery.
As regards suppressive fire, someone has been watching too many action thrillers. That said, Uni vibe is entirely right about using a gun to let you get the hell out of Dodge…just not in a hail of defensive bullets.
As regards rounds needed, we are civilians. We don’t need to ride to the sound of the guns, nor catch the bad guys. A revo and some reloads seems reasonable.
Now if you really want ‘small’ and ‘rotsa shots’, there is always the P365.
Moon
I don’t know anything about the Colt, but I have a 642. It’s a convenient form factor, useful in some carry situations, but I hate that little gun with a passion and shoot it only enough to be semi-competent with it at 7 yards or less. Preferably less.