An all around handgun

[Tucson T4R]

Oh my! What a large caliber you have!

If I have trouble, could I call you with coordinates?... fire for effect!

I may be compensating for something. Send me the coordinates and I'll drop a few rounds in for ya. :sombrero:

Cool thing is it also shoots the .454 Casul and .44 long Colt ammo for when you don't want to fire a hand howitzer.

 

[Metcalf]

I don't think that there is a perfect firearm for everyone. Each person is going to have a different idea of what they need or want.

For ME I have settled upon the 1911 platform in .45 ACP. Specifically I used a midsized pistol, basically a commander length barrel and officers length frame. I think this provides the perfect package for ME. I currently carry an early all steel Kimber Compact ( 4" bull barrel with officers frame ). I like the all steel version I have and mine is early enough to be 'pre series II' so it has a normal firing pin and safety arrangement.

I have been shooting .45 for years and I like it. The recoil is heavy, but not as sharp as something like 10mm or 44mag. My advice is to find what works for YOU. Get out to a gun shop and handle everything you can. Narrow it down to what feels comfortable for you along with what 'points' well for you. For most people a 1911 frame or springfield XD frame comes up and into the sights easiest. Whatever you get, make sure you shoot it before you carry it. I would suggest a MIN of 100 rounds as break-in and familiarization. Don't just practice shooting, practice reloading, practice malfunctions, etc.

Best of luck.

 

[Gone2Baja]

I think you made a fantastic choice, a .38 +P is a snappy round and with a 3in barrel you should get a bit more velocity than a 2/2.5 barrel also with the longer barrel the ejection rod should be long enough to fully eject the spent rounds unlike a true snub nose.

Have fun with it and be safe.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I agree with your choice of a small revolver but for just a little bit more than that Rossi you could have gotten a Charter Arms, a Taurus or a used Ruger or S&W.

The only Rossi revolvers I've ever seen were of pretty poor quality. To be fair I haven't shopped them in a while, just saying that cheaper is not neccessarily better when you are talking about a tool that you will have to trust your life to.

 

[Abel Villesca]

I'm going to agree with Metcalf. I've been carrying 1911 pistols for so long I can't imagine carrying anything else. It might have something with that old dog / new trick thing.

 

[Metcalf]

I think I must of been using them in another life....because I'm only in my early 30s and can't tear myself away from the 1911 platform. I also have a strong draw to M14/M1A rifles, so I vote for the past life thing.

 

[Abel Villesca]

I think I must of been using them in another life....because I'm only in my early 30s and can't tear myself away from the 1911 platform. I also have a strong draw to M14/M1A rifles, so I vote for the past life thing.

Sounds like it. Do any faces seem familiar when you watch "Band of Brothers" or "Saving Private Ryan". :sombrero:

 

[robert]

The .38 is a good platform for all around use. Sure there are better, just like there's always a better vehicle, better hat, better stove, better whatever, but for most folks use it'll do what they need it too. There was a time when it was considered a powerful cartridge and most people carried .32s of various sorts- John Browning reportedly carried a .32ACP. With a little practice I don't think a snubbie is too difficult for most people within the ranges most intend to shoot it. Just load it with some good quality ammo such as Speer's 135gr +P short barreled .38 for everyday use (provided your gun shoots them well). If you need more penetration you can always go with a hard cast semiwadcutter or something similar.

I carry one every now and then (S&W642) and it's still my favorite backpacking/hiking gun. I'm really not too worried about anything the animals that walk on four legs or crawl. JMHO

 

[mjmcdowell]

Carry gun in woods/camping

.02 worth.... any gun worth having on your person that could be used to meet a threat outdoors will have it's own set of issues if you will, cost, size, caliber, action, spare ammo carry, durability, carry method, etc. It is a choice to be made after much research and if you can by shooting, trying out various rigs. With that said although for the last 35 or so yrs. a 1911 .45 has never been too far from me except in the woods, camping or exploring with my truck, then it's my 12 ga. sxs coach gun loaded with a 23/4" slug in one bbl. and 00 buck in the other, more than enough for any "critter" with bad intent on there mind. Also I have some 71/2 birdshot and some heavy shot, 4's which makes this little 36" oal. 6 pound gun very usable for many situations. A butt cuff with 5 rds of mixed shells (more in a canvass bag) and a sling. I just have gotten used to having it very close to me, morning, noon and night, but then I am a gun person so that was not hard for me. Your milage may vary on your choice and habits but remember this, practice and more practice until you become well versed with your choice, obey your local firearms laws an BE SAFE, the latter cannot be stressed enough. mjmcdowell

 

[KSJeep]

.38 is a good round, heck, Law Enforcement used it for many years and only changed for higher capacity firearms when they started getting out gunned.

Your only problem will be finding rounds right now. The .40 is the only round you can still find fairly regular.

 

[BIGdaddy]

.38 is a good round, heck, Law Enforcement used it for many years and only changed for higher capacity firearms when they started getting out gunned.

Your only problem will be finding rounds right now. The .40 is the only round you can still find fairly regular.

I've got a box of .38special that I'll sell for $100.00.

:sombrero:

 

[maximumrob]

Your only problem will be finding rounds right now. The .40 is the only round you can still find fairly regular.

Ah phooey! I can get all the 9mm I want. In fact, the only round I can't ever seem to find is .44 Special. Here in the Dallas area, the ammo craze has passed and even Cabela's is running specials. Even the elusive .223 is back on the shelves.

I use the disclaimer that any area can have a hard-on for any particular cartidge, so your hometown might not have anything but .40.

 

[chrslefty]

Can’t go wrong with the sw.40.
My carry/hiking /camping gun is a 4" xd 40. I’ve found it to be extremely reliable super easy to clean, and it’s a blast to shoot at the range. After 600 + rnds I’ve yet to have a single miss fire or jam, and it will shoot just about manufactures round or reload with out any problems .and the price was to bad either. I picked mine up for 350 . And it came with a case a holster and 3 clips .I’m still looking for a better holster though.
I’m not knocking the wheel guns my grandfather always carried a 357 .and my grandmother a snubby in the same caliber. I’m not a great shot but I’m not to bad either and all I can say is I could never hit squat with that snubby if it wasn’t about a foot away from me .and for about the same weight as the bigger rig I carry twice the ammo in a singe clip. And the xd dose come to point rather well and quickly.
I know it’s not what the OP has but it might help someone else out and give another prospective on what’s available along with some pluses and mines.
Just my 2. hope it helps

 

[el_jefe]

I agree with your choice of a small revolver but for just a little bit more than that Rossi you could have gotten a Charter Arms, a Taurus or a used Ruger or S&W.

The only Rossi revolvers I've ever seen were of pretty poor quality. To be fair I haven't shopped them in a while, just saying that cheaper is not neccessarily better when you are talking about a tool that you will have to trust your life to.

^^^ That.

I have been shopping off and on for another revolver, and find that if it doesn't say S&W, Colt or Ruger on the side of it that the quality is just too marginal. Functional, sure, but when you compare some of the lower cost weapons side by side, there is a difference.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

^^^ That.

I have been shopping off and on for another revolver, and find that if it doesn't say S&W, Colt or Ruger on the side of it that the quality is just too marginal. Functional, sure, but when you compare some of the lower cost weapons side by side, there is a difference.

I've got a Rossi knock-off of a Smith 627, the trigger needed a bit (actually, a lot) of work but other than that I've seen factory made S&W's from the 80's that were worse pieces of work.