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DebiB
Starting Member
USA
15 Posts |
 Posted - 08/02/2012 : 06:23:28
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I'm still very new to this forum and am trying to read all I can. Nathan's post about concealed carry for beginners was great! And his point about everything with CC being a compromise is very well taken. I'm hoping for some advice from more experienced folks on a compromise of my own. Right now, my carry piece is a S&W .357 mag (NOT the Ladysmith model) and I really Love it. My carry loads are .38 special +P 130 grain JHPs. I'm pretty recoil sensitive, but I don't mind weight either in the hand or when carrying. With this gun, I can blow away targets on the range all afternoon with minimal discomfort, so I have no difficulty getting in lots of practice. It's accurate and comfortable: just great. BUT. There's no way in the world I can carry it concealed on my person under anything less than a bulky winter coat. I'm 5'4", 135lb and fairly small framed. I've got a carry purse for it now and it works well tho I understand that on the body carry is always preferrable and the reasoning behind that makes perfect sense to me. Also it only has a 5 round capacity, which seems a little low.
So I'd like to find another carry piece that I can actually carry ON me. The whole reason I applied for a CC permit in the first place is that my job requires me to enter people's homes on a regular basis. Relative strangers - not friends - and altho I'm always expected, I'm not always Welcome, if you take my meaning. As it's part of my job, I have to wear at least "business casual" attire (dress slacks and a blouse or a dress. No jeans and sweatshirts allowed) and the visits are long enough that, in the winter, it would look very odd if I did not take off my coat.
Is there anything out there small enough for me to wear without it showing, that's also going to be light enough on the recoil that I have a hope of getting proficient with it?
Thanks all! |
D. Baugher |
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nmuskier01
Senior Member
USA
1845 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 06:30:22
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1) Ruger LCR .38
2) S&W Bodyguard .38
3) S&W 342/642 .38
it's a start. |
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samuelrp
Senior Member
USA
1934 Posts |
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hkguy
Advanced Member
USA
2094 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 07:09:20
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with a quality inside the waist band holsters (IWB) you can make most firearms disappear if you dress around them. what i mean by that is your pants are 1 size to big, this accommodates the extra 1-2 inches of width on your hip from the gun and holster. seems how your a tad on the recoil sensitive side (which can be overcome with a regular training schedule), i am not sure if the pocket .38's are your best option, i would shoot one a few times before committing to buying one. Dont get me wrong, they are fantastic (my wife and i each have one) but i think you may find the semi autos to be recoil friendly.
I would look at the following in addition to what nmuskier suggested.
Kahr CW/P 9mm
Ruger LC9
Walther PPS
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God created all men....
... Sam Colt made them equal |
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Rodeo_Mike
Average Member
784 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 10:12:58
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| +1 for what hkguy said and recommended the thin 9mm auto's i think are easier to conceal than revolers |
 OVERKILL IS UNDER-RATED  |
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1813Anschutz
Advanced Member
USA
2304 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 10:31:28
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What model S&W do you already have that you love so much? Not .357 magnum but what model number and also what barrel length is it? You may already have what you need and simply need to obtain a high quality holster for it.
Randy |
"The more I shoot,the LUCKIER I seem to get!" |
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1813Anschutz
Advanced Member
USA
2304 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 17:14:26
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Upon further reading of your initial post it sounds like you already own a S&W Model 60, probably a 2.5 inch barrel. If so,this is a GREAT choice for what you have described you useage as being.
As already mentioned a high quality IWB holster would be a superb method of carry that you need to dress around. Milt Sparks VM-2, Kramer #3, are 2 of my favorites followed by the offerings of (in no particular order) Bianchi, Galco, DeSantis, Gould & Goodrich, etc.
Off body carry is another alternative and one that is a fabulous choice is the Dillon Day Planner B which would totally in character and no one would pay the least bit of attention to. My lady uses one for her S&W Sigma 9mm and loves it.
Ankle holsters are VERY over-rated and have a lot of problems in useage and deployment so I would never recommend one, although there are those that use them.....
Purse carry is also not a great idea...too much clutter for one. (Some will use a purse with a designated section just for a handgun to eliminate the clutter aspect.)but if your purse is stolen so is your gun......
I often use a pocket holster (Kramer) for my S&W Model 36 which is nearly the same gun as a model 60. With a looser trouser fit I can carry and no one is the wiser, the holster does a fabulous job of breaking up any outline. No need or concern over removing a jacket etc...
If you end up using an IWB type holster with dress type suits (which is usually the BEST solution), I would strongly urge you to invest in a high quality sturdy dress belt to hold it in place. If you can fold it in half vertically it is TOO flimsy.
Don't know if I have helped you or not....hope something here will prove out to you.
Randy
NRA Certified Instructor since 1987
been Concealed Carry ever since.
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"The more I shoot,the LUCKIER I seem to get!" |
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DebiB
Starting Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 05:09:12
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Yes, it's a S&W Model 60 - my bad - shoulda said that in the first place. Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I'll still probably check out a semi auto, since I love them (and never miss an excuse to go shopping for a new gun) but it sounds like I probably can carry my beloved S&W with the right holster. (More shopping: Yay!) The purse I have is specifically made for carry with a separate, locking compartment and internal holster for the gun and no, I'd never put anything else in the same compartment for all the obvious reasons but, as you say, if my purse is stolen, the gun's gone too and as a consequence I find myself always walking around clutching it in a death grip which probably looks a little weird. Not to mention making my hand tired after a while. I'll start looking for holsters and maybe invest in a nice dress jacket to cover it.(I'm a girl - I'm allowed to love shopping  )
But HKguy made a statement that raised another question: that a regular training schedule could overcome the recoil sensitivity. My problem with recoil is that it hurts my wrist(frankly, I think it's related to arthritis because it's not just shooting that bothers it. Getting old sux!) I can, as I say, shoot my S&W practically all afternoon with just some minor tingling but after 3-4 clips through my Beretta 92FS, I need to take a break. Does anyone out there experience the same problem? And if so, what do you do about it? I never miss an opportunity to shoot, but it do get painful after a while. |
D. Baugher |
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samuelrp
Senior Member
USA
1934 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 07:28:40
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| Concealed carry is a journey. Trial and error, and experience, you will have it figured out soon enough, and then it will become routine. |
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1813Anschutz
Advanced Member
USA
2304 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 08:05:25
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So much of the perceived recoil thing can be attributed to fit in your hand and grip design/material. Changing the grip panels of the Beretta to a set of Pachmayers/Hogue/ Uncle Mikes might do wonders for you. Keep in mind that the Beretta is a wide frame due to the double stack magazine and that alone can make things uncomfortable for a small handed person.
Not much you can do about the grip angle however. That is why you will hear/read in my posts about the importance of fit. It is truly paramount. There is a possibility that you are gripping the Beretta with TOO much pressure. A good firm "nice to meet you" handshake is all that is needed. Too little and you are inducing limp wristing and the possibility of dropped guns.
If you can find one....you might take a serious look at the S&W 3rd Gen. 9mm single stack that was designed originally for ladies...hence the name "Ladysmith" This is the 3913 and is a fantastic handgun for anyone not just ladies. S&W had a serious home run with this model 20 years ago and is my favorite daily carry handgun. It rides in a Kramer #3 IWB holster.
I have loaned my 3913 to a number of ladies when I am doing classes and they all just love it and begin the adventure of finding one. Might be on your list to watch for. They really are THAT good.
Until then, find a high quality holster for your M60 and know full well that you already have one of the finest CCW revolvers on the market today. I use them both depending on my circumstances...pocket carry my M36 and IWB the 3913.
Randy
PS....Design a practice routine that involves more than just standing stationary and blasting away. Introduce movement and actually drawing the firearm from the set up that you are really going to use in the clothing that you really are going to wear. Also add to your training reloading drills so that you are adept at that skill as well.
I would also seek out a well qualified Instructor to assist in your training. The NRA courses are excellent. Start with Basic Pistol, then Personal Protection Inside the Home, and lastly Personal Protection Outside the Home and then leap into some of the other course offerings like Thunder Ranch, Gun Site, Lethal Force Institute etc.
Also check in your area for any IDPA shoots, a great way to practice all of what i mentioned and have a blast all at the same time!! |
"The more I shoot,the LUCKIER I seem to get!" |
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DebiB
Starting Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 06:00:01
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Thanks Randy! I really appreciate all the good advice from you and everyone. I've got lots to think about and try now. So nice to have a place like this where I can ask and learn.
We are starting to work on drills, draw/shoot/reload/shoot again, shoot/change position/shoot again etc. and I am working on drawing from my bag. Nice to know we're on the right track with our training.  I'll start looking for holsters so I can loosen that death grip on my purse now. (And I'll be looking for that 3913 too) |
D. Baugher |
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1813Anschutz
Advanced Member
USA
2304 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 08:44:52
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There are a couple on GunBroker right now.......BTW, holsters are very easy to find in ANY configuration as well as additional magazines.
Glad you have a set of drills to work on...most don't.
Randy
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"The more I shoot,the LUCKIER I seem to get!" |
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hkguy
Advanced Member
USA
2094 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 09:11:25
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| you may want to consider a Ruger SP101, its about the same size, has the same capacity, but weighs slightly more than your model 60. It might be something to consider down the road if recoil does become a problem. |
God created all men....
... Sam Colt made them equal |
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Looking for a gun to carry on the body
