Carry Handgun 9mm, 357, and 10mm. Glocks and S&W only

Question

I'm deciding on a CCW handgun. I'm 5'10", athletic, and have no problem with recoil.I prefer S&W 357 snubnosed revolvers and glock 9mm/10mm pistols. Just need your opinion on capacity, storage, ups and downs, reliability, etc

Thankyou!

Answer 1

I used to carry the Glock G22 (full frame .40 cal) around, but it was big and bulky for a CCW, so I later picked up the G27 (baby Glock .40 cal) and it is much smaller and easier to tote around, although it can feel weighty at times. Hip or small of the back, in many holster choices.

The capacity is fine, the shorty 3 finger grip length takes some getting used to, but it works just fine.

Glocks are dependable as $#!+ too! :D

Answer 2

The most reliable gun of all of them is the revolver.  When you life is on the line you don't have time to clear a jammed semi-auto.  Since you won't have as many rounds in the gun I would suggest you become very proficient shooting the gun.  A well placed shot works much better then the spray and pray method.

Now if you decide to go with a Glock than, make very sure it will feed what ever ammo you plan to carry every time.  

Shot placement is more important than most people think.  Practice with the sights but also practice natural point of aim as well.  You might not be able to use the sights when the time comes.  The gun should fit your have very well when you pick it up.  If you have to play with the grip to be able to shoot natural point of aim you need  a different gun.

Answer 3

Boone,

I've carried J-frame S&W revolvers for about 15 years.  First a Model 49 Bodyguard in .38 SPL, and for the last 12 years or so I've carried a Model 640 Stainless Centennial in .357 Magnum.  I routinely recommend these revolvers to people looking for a pocket revolver.

I trust these revolvers with my life and I can not think of a higher recommendation.  They are compact, they carry easy in pocket, purse, f***y pack or sporran.  They are powerful, and reasonably accurate.  They won't win bullseye competition at Camp Perry, but they will shoot to minute of bad guy out to 50 yards with no trouble, and even out to 100 yards if you practice enough.

As for reliability, in over 30 years of shooting S&W revolvers I've never had any reliability issues.  If it is loaded with good ammunition, it will go bang when the trigger is pulled.

Doc

Answer 4

Since you seem to like Glocks (9mm or 10mm) and S&Ws (.357s), I'll keep my opinion to them only...

Glock 17

- capacity - excellent

- reliability - excellent

- maintenance - simple

- ammo - inexpensive for a self-defense round

- sights - not the best, but decent

- home defense - good

- camping/hiking - good for human self-defense; poor for animal defense

Other Choices:  S&W .357 Magnum Revolver w/ 4 inch barrel

Glock 20

- capacity - excellent

- reliability - excellent

- maintenance - simple

- ammo - expensive

- sights - decent

- hunting - ??? - I don't know, never hunted with a handgun

Other Choices:  S&W .357 Magnum Revolver with a 6 inch barrel

S&W 357 snub-nose

- capacity - ok

- reliability - decent

- maintenance - simple

- ammo - can get pricey, but can also shoot .38s

- sights - decent

- conceal carry/defense - excellent

Other Choices:  Glock 26 or Glock 29

  

Whatever you choose, be safe and have fun.

Answer 5

i'd suggest the S&W .357. those rounds will pack a punch, and you can go down to the range shooting .38 specials. i would also suggest the glock 17, 9mm. just fire one before you buy. you might not like their safety mechanisms.  

Answer 6

I own a Glock 26, the 9mm subcompact.  I had a 1911-style safety installed, of the type designed by the great pistolsmith Joe Cominolli.

If a qualified gunsmith installs it, Glock will not void your warranty for one of these.

I know Glock purists get all hot and bothered about the safety, but I don't care.  I I have begun to use an inside-the-waistband holster in the front of my pants under my shirt, and I'm NOT going to carry a gun ready to rock with one in the pipe, and no manual safety, pointed straight at my genitals!

Here's a list of approved installers -

http://www.cominolli.com/installers.html

The 26 is small and easily concealable, lightweight, rustproof, accurate, reliable as heck, easily disassembled, cleaned and serviced, and they will shoot anything but wadcutters (bare lead is bad for polygonal rifling, which both Glocks and CZ-82s have).  I've shot maybe six hundred rounds with it, everything from regular 9mm Luger (both hollow points and full metal jacket) to 9mm NATO military rounds, to civilian +P and +P+ rounds, with never even ONE hiccup.  No failures to eject, no failures to feed, ZERO problems.  So I am very pleased with it.

Once the safety problem is dealt with (yes, I know, Glock purists say there is no problem.  But this is MY opinion), the only drawbacks are the short grip, which leaves my pinky hanging, and that standard magazines only hold 10 rounds (but since my first handgun was a six-shot revolver, I see that last as not much of a problem).

If you use the standard 10 round magazines, I would recommend the Scherer or Pearce aftermarket floorplates, which will deal with both drawbacks at once - they give a little grip area to rest your pinky, and they also have ones that are not just grip extensions but will also add the capacity for two more rounds.  If you use the ones that add rounds, you should NOT do it the cheapo way - lay out the money for new springs too.  What's the point of adding rounds but having a magazine that may not feed properly?

New Glocks all come with two magazines.  The experts say you need four - one in the gun, two on your belt, and a spare at home in case you need to replace one of the others.

I would NOT recommend the aftermarket grip extensions that fasten onto the longer 17 round capacity mags that protrude below the grip of a 26.  These devices are secured to the magazine with a simple holding s***w, and if over-tightened the end of that s***w will penetrate the mag and interfere with its operation.  Also, the top of the mag attachment and the bottom of your pistol's grip will never quite fit together properly no matter how carefully you try to line them up before tightening the s***w.  Then the gun's grip will seem to squirm in your hand when you grasp it.  NOT a good thing, in my opinion.  Learn from my mistake and save yourself trouble and expense - don't bother with them.

Just use the 10 rounder with the grip floorplate, or use the other floorplate model and a spring and have a 12 rounder.  If you want higher capacity in a 9mm, you shouldn't use a small gun like a 26 -- use a 17 or 19.

With the caveat that you get a Cominolli safety installed, I would highly recommend a Glock 26 for concealed carry.

Answer 7

I'm a Glock 19 fan. My carry ammo is 147 Grain Ranger T bonded.

I think that 9mm hollow point bullet technology has come a long way since the 80's and I trust my life with this setup.

9mm also gives me the oportunity to practice a lot because it's about the cheapest centerfire ammo out there.

I think 10MM is great but it's really expensive and it's a bit harder to find in my particular area. I can get 9mm almost anyhwere.

YMMV

good luck

Kurdis.

Answer 8

The Glock 9mm is a great gun to carry. I had a 45 yet traded for the easiness of the 9mm to conceal.

I have never had any let downs with the Glock 9mm. As far as stopping power, buy the ammo made for stopping power.

When I took my CCW we were all taught to fire 2 to the chest and 1 to the chin.

The 9mm will work just fine.

Answer 9

Go with the Glock 9mm.. Personally i carry either my Glock 27 (40 cal.) or Colt Defender (45 cal) they both have limited capacity but if i need it, it only takes one. 9's are usually great on capacity but i like the stopping power of the 45.