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CCW -Walter ppks OR 642 2" .38 hammerless OR M&P 340?
- Thread starter rufunky
- Start date
why not get a .357 snubby and have the small package with a little more power than a 38?
I keep reading that the 357 is painful to shoot from such a light gun therefore making it hard to practice so I would most likely only use 38 +P's. I am open to other opinions on this. Not sure what I want yet ..
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
I keep reading that the 357 is painful to shoot from such a light gun therefore making it hard to practice so I would most likely only use 38 +P's. I am open to other opinions on this. Not sure what I want yet ..
Well the neat thing about a .357 is that it can shoot 38's as well.
The S&W has my vote. It's an utterly reliable carry piece. The PPK is not something I would bet my life on.
Not sure what the price diff is. That will be a factor for now.
642. 100% reliable and there's better defensive ammo available in 38+p than 380. The hurtyourhandium smith snubs aren't worth the extra cost imo. I like shooting the PPK, but I dunno that I'd bet my life on one.
W
wolf223
I've had both and would only go with neither.
PPK/PPK-S: do a search on here, SOME of them can be jamomatics with JHPs
642/442: my hand hurts just looking at the picture![[laugh]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/012.gif "Laugh [laugh]")
I suggest you try them both BEFORE you buy.
The snubby's can be little beasts to shoot with the 10+ trigger pull and the small grip made it really awkward for me to shoot. I had posted some stuff on here a while a ago on hitting the target 5 times with 50 rounds![[rofl]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/013.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
What would I get?
something in 9mm or .40 for a little more ooomph than .380 / .38
M&P9c or 40c, Glock 19/23/26/27, Sig 239 or maybe a 232 (looks similar to PPK's if you like .380)
PPK/PPK-S: do a search on here, SOME of them can be jamomatics with JHPs
642/442: my hand hurts just looking at the picture
I suggest you try them both BEFORE you buy.
The snubby's can be little beasts to shoot with the 10+ trigger pull and the small grip made it really awkward for me to shoot. I had posted some stuff on here a while a ago on hitting the target 5 times with 50 rounds
What would I get?
something in 9mm or .40 for a little more ooomph than .380 / .38
M&P9c or 40c, Glock 19/23/26/27, Sig 239 or maybe a 232 (looks similar to PPK's if you like .380)
I keep reading that the 357 is painful to shoot from such a light gun therefore making it hard to practice so I would most likely only use 38 +P's. I am open to other opinions on this. Not sure what I want yet ..
no pain no gain!!!!
IMO, the recoil should be the last consideration so long as you plan to practice with your carry peice enough to be good with it. It may be painful, but you can practice with it in 38 and 357 to get used to the gun, then carry with 357. Trust me, in a high stress situation like a gunfight, you won't even feel the recoil.
Every grouse I ever shot, i never felt the recoil of the 12ga and barely heard the shot. When you're "in the moment" you won't either.
I have both. I always carry the 642 in summer.
I never carry the PPK. Ever.
I never carry the PPK. Ever.
None of the above.
I concur with prior opinions rejecting the PPK as a defense carry weapon.
I own several J-Frame S&W revolvers, but I'd never carry any of them. For a whole bunch of reasons I find them not only unpleasant to shoot with any round of enough power to be suitable for a defense carry weapon, but also hard to control.
For what (if anything) it may be worth, most of the time my carry handgun is either a SIG auto (e.g., P239 in 9mm) or a 3" or 4" K-Frame S&W (e.g., Model 66).
The key to the portability and comfort parameters for a carry weapon is not, in my judgment, the size and weight of the pistol, but rather the design of the holster. Find the holster that is right for you and you can carry a decent auto or 4" revolver all day, every day.
I concur with prior opinions rejecting the PPK as a defense carry weapon.
I own several J-Frame S&W revolvers, but I'd never carry any of them. For a whole bunch of reasons I find them not only unpleasant to shoot with any round of enough power to be suitable for a defense carry weapon, but also hard to control.
For what (if anything) it may be worth, most of the time my carry handgun is either a SIG auto (e.g., P239 in 9mm) or a 3" or 4" K-Frame S&W (e.g., Model 66).
The key to the portability and comfort parameters for a carry weapon is not, in my judgment, the size and weight of the pistol, but rather the design of the holster. Find the holster that is right for you and you can carry a decent auto or 4" revolver all day, every day.
Executive
NES Member
The J frame is an excellent deep concealment or back up firearm. For daily CCW, barring the need for deep concealment, you would be better served with a M&Pc, Glock 26, 27, 29, or 30, S&W 6906 or 4013TSW.
Chris
Chris
The Goose
NES Member
I am a big fan of the snubby revolver in .38 special. I carry one every day and have for years. It is all well and good to say it is about the holster and the belt, but when you cannot wear a holster that goes out the window. At work I wear a work shirt tucked in and a pair of Dockers. The j frame is in my pocket. It is unobtrusive and readily available. If I want deep concealment I wear an ankle holster. If I go to a venue, like a concert, where I might get a cursory search I wear it on my ankle until I get inside then go to the men's room and transfer it to my pocket. When I work late at night and am headed into an empty parking garage in the wee hours I transfer it from my pants pocket to my coat or jacket pocket where I can actually walk with my hand on it. I have also practiced shooting through a coat pocket. When I have to wait for a client in a really bad neighborhood it is incredibly comforting to have that little j frame in my hand in my jacket pocket.
I have posted many times before about this topic. I often go from a boardroom presentation to a jobsite where I have to take my coat off and crawl over, under and around things. Or pull myself up over things. OWB and IWB are out. Tuckables are a joke when you are moving and active as described above. Deep concealment like Thunderwear are really slow. I believe that for many average Joe's seeking a realistic mode of personal protection the snubby offers the qualities that will insure that you in fact carry it every day and do not end up leaving it at home because of circumstances.
So what about accuracy and shootabilty? I have seen individuals who can consistently shoot 3 - 4" groups at 50 yards. I cannot, but hell I can't hit much with any handgun at 50 yards. I do know that I can reliably put 5 shots in a target the size of my palm at 20' firing as fast as I can. At 12' I can do a little better. I am only marginally better with a full size handgun. For self defense purposes this is adequate. I hate .357 snubby's, period. They hurt to shoot and recovery is very slow. My own gun is an ancient S&W 36 flatlatch with a bobbed hammer and almost no finish left. I carry 158 gr. LSWHP +P's.
I have owned a Walther PPK, it has little or nothing to recommend it.
I have posted many times before about this topic. I often go from a boardroom presentation to a jobsite where I have to take my coat off and crawl over, under and around things. Or pull myself up over things. OWB and IWB are out. Tuckables are a joke when you are moving and active as described above. Deep concealment like Thunderwear are really slow. I believe that for many average Joe's seeking a realistic mode of personal protection the snubby offers the qualities that will insure that you in fact carry it every day and do not end up leaving it at home because of circumstances.
So what about accuracy and shootabilty? I have seen individuals who can consistently shoot 3 - 4" groups at 50 yards. I cannot, but hell I can't hit much with any handgun at 50 yards. I do know that I can reliably put 5 shots in a target the size of my palm at 20' firing as fast as I can. At 12' I can do a little better. I am only marginally better with a full size handgun. For self defense purposes this is adequate. I hate .357 snubby's, period. They hurt to shoot and recovery is very slow. My own gun is an ancient S&W 36 flatlatch with a bobbed hammer and almost no finish left. I carry 158 gr. LSWHP +P's.
I have owned a Walther PPK, it has little or nothing to recommend it.
I have a 442 and a 640 .357. When I first got the 640, I could only fire it with .38 caliber. But as I continued to fire it, and the 442, both with .38 Special 158 grain, I found I could shoot a few .357's with no ill effect.
Each practice found me shooting a few more .357's. Now two years later, I can fire the .357 for a couple of 50 round boxes and my hand doesn't hurt.
I think the 442 and the 642 are perfect carry guns, especially in a good pocket holster. If you don't mind a little extra weight, the 640 is excellent. I like the hammerless models. I don't need to worry about the gun getting hung up in my clothes, and I can shoot several shots through a coat pocket if I want to. I don't think the PPK can do all that.
Each practice found me shooting a few more .357's. Now two years later, I can fire the .357 for a couple of 50 round boxes and my hand doesn't hurt.
I think the 442 and the 642 are perfect carry guns, especially in a good pocket holster. If you don't mind a little extra weight, the 640 is excellent. I like the hammerless models. I don't need to worry about the gun getting hung up in my clothes, and I can shoot several shots through a coat pocket if I want to. I don't think the PPK can do all that.
seanc
NES Member
I'd go for a J frame..
I have the m&p 340. I like it. It is not going to win any beauty contests. But it works well. having the 357 as an option to the 38s is very nice too (practice w/ 38 and carry 357).. The trigger is really heavy. But, it is smooth and managable.
I have the m&p 340. I like it. It is not going to win any beauty contests. But it works well. having the 357 as an option to the 38s is very nice too (practice w/ 38 and carry 357).. The trigger is really heavy. But, it is smooth and managable.
