J-frame / LCR suitable ccw?

[RedRiderF26]

Are small revolvers like this a rational choice for ccw? Or is it only smart to use them as a BUG?

They have a great size and weight for me fits right in my pocket , cons are capacity and realoding (easier to just reload a mag) .

I always ride my motorcycle and personally wouldnt want anything bigger than a shield or cw9. Those are definitely bigger and heavier than the revolvers. And My vest or jacket cover my waist , so thats where pocket carry may be an advantage.

What do you you guys think would be the smarter choice?

[ICONIC]

I got the LCR to use as my gun for camping and backpacking. For ccw you need to use the gun you are most comfortable shooting. Don't try to force a gun to fit your needs.

[desertjosh]

Sure. I loved my LCR. Get the .357 mag version?
On another note, have you felt a LCP? It feels like a cell phone in my pocket...way smaller than a LCR.

[Cpetersen]

Sounds like you already have a reasonable idea of the pros and cons.

If it were me, rounds without reloading are pretty important. Id go with a shield, or like a glock 26/27.

I say that because thats what i go with on mine.

Best of luck.

[Marquand]

Small alloy-framed revolvers have been top picks for CCW for years now. They are small, easy to hide, not impossible to shoot, and extremely reliable. As for reloading I would argue that a lot of sub-compact pistols are not exactly quick to reload either. Solution? Carry two J-frames and do a "New York Reload".

[_Nick_]

Once I get approved (knock on wood) I'll be carrying my J frame. I too have thought about it's effectiveness and capacity. I've been researching self defense shootings and noting how many shots each player fired. Unfortunately I can not find a database to include the number or rounds fired. I found this, which does give some good information, but not exactly what I was looking for: http://www.vpc.org/studies/justifiable15.pdf

An attacker may not be armed with a gun, they may have another weapon, or no weapon at all. If they do have a gun, chances are it's a semi-auto pistol. If it's an active shooter situation, they're most likely carrying a semi-auto, or fully auto, rifle. They will most certainly have more rounds than you. Most victims I have found online fire at least 5 shots before pausing. There are many cases in which a LEO shoots a man 9, 10, 11, 12 times before he stops advancing on them. Massad Ayoob describes one case in which a man was shot in the heart, and THEN lunged towards the officers. In a separate interview he describes the best placed shot as being the pelvis, because it will stop the attacker from walking. In any case, if you have only 5 or 6 rounds in your cylinder, I'd use selfdefense ammo like the Hornady FTX, or even the RIP. Make them count.

If I ever have to use my CCW for self defense, I want to reload the J frame with lightning speed, which is why I am going with a machined cylinder and moon clips. I have an HKS speed loader, and I'm not impressed with my own time reloading it. (There's free app's with shot timers to practice with using your phone)

For me, J frame + FTX + moon clips = enough to ease my worry if I ever need to use it. If you put enough holes in the swiss cheese, you'll never settle and wind up never leaving your house.

EDIT: Should I ever place myself into a situation where I want more protection, I'll take my Glock. It's got a bigger capacity. I've considered this after selling or buying a car with cash. I'm not leaving the house with 10 grand and no gun.

[Twiki357]

It all depends on what you are comfortable with for the kind of area you’re in. I’m perfectly comfortable with a “J” frame and a speed strip.

[Cpl_Peters]

Once the novelty of carrying a duty sized gun with a tac-light in some kydex monstrosity that prints even in an Alaskan winter coat wears off....the j frame or a pocket .380 is the inevitable choice. you carry a CCW to immediately protect your life in an upfront an personal situation, the j-frame keeps you honest in that respect. plus it is a realistic choice to carry. Dont listen to those keyboard commandos that show their "pocket dumps" of three flash lights, two watches, 4 extra mags, 2 knives, and a glock 17. thats not reasonable self defense or easy to conceal unless you are a huge fat guy. j-frame is the way to go. i've been carrying CCW for over 8 years now and like i said before, once the novelty wears off, you want something that is easy to conceal, because chances are you will do a lot more living then you will gun fighting.

[gunsandrockets]

The nice things about a snubby revolver is absolute reliability, the ability to load whatever ammunition is comfortable to YOUR recoil tolerance, grips customizable to YOUR hand, and a better DA or SA trigger than any small automatic.

Go with a Ruger .38 LCRx, and you won't regret it.

[bluesmoke9]

I'm a retired police officer and I almost always carry a gun with me. It can be as small as a NAA .22 magnum or could be a S&W 642 or could be a Shield. Depends on where I'm going, how I'm going to dress, how much comfort I want to give up and what the potential "threat" might be.
It's unlikely, at least where I live, I'll ever be in a situation where I need it so I don't over do it. If someone wants to have two Glock 19's in their underwear and four extra magazines at all times, make yourself happy. That just doesn't work for me. I don't leave the house putting high odds at doing battle with an ISIS cell at the local mall. It's more likely I'd win the lottery. I also downplay the odds of having to take a head shot on someone at 25 yards while they're holding a hostage. I have seen it, in the movies. What I do foresee is a street criminal, within 5-8 feet, with a knife or cheap handgun demanding my wallet. That's what I plan for. And, it's a lot more about situational awareness (anticipating the threat) than it is about how big your gun is, at least in my experience.

[Gun Kraft]

For what it's worth, I'm current LE and have been carrying for almost a decade now. Most of the time it's a J-frame (currently a 340). Now and then I'll switch it up and carry something small like a PPS or large like a full-size 1911, but the J-frame is my go-to. Keep in mind that any time you use a shorter barrel you need to up the (rated) velocity to compensate.

[bk23103]

I'm a retired police officer and I almost always carry a gun with me. It can be as small as a NAA .22 magnum or could be a S&W 642 or could be a Shield. Depends on where I'm going, how I'm going to dress, how much comfort I want to give up and what the potential "threat" might be.
It's unlikely, at least where I live, I'll ever be in a situation where I need it so I don't over do it. If someone wants to have two Glock 19's in their underwear and four extra magazines at all times, make yourself happy. That just doesn't work for me. I don't leave the house putting high odds at doing battle with an ISIS cell at the local mall. It's more likely I'd win the lottery. I also downplay the odds of having to take a head shot on someone at 25 yards while they're holding a hostage. I have seen it, in the movies. What I do foresee is a street criminal, within 5-8 feet, with a knife or cheap handgun demanding my wallet. That's what I plan for. And, it's a lot more about situational awareness (anticipating the threat) than it is about how big your gun is, at least in my experience.

I couldn't agree more with your outlook sir.

[Rcjackrabbit]

Small revolvers are BUGS. Don't be lazy. If you are faced with a muslim terrorist shooting people, you want a real weapon you can make head shots with. Shoot for the head. He might be wearing an explosive vest.

[Dano3467]

YES

[bk23103]

Small revolvers are BUGS. Don't be lazy. If you are faced with a muslim terrorist shooting people, you want a real weapon you can make head shots with. Shoot for the head. He might be wearing an explosive vest.

Copy. I'll wear my AR pistol under my coat.