suggestions??

[scottiemom]

hi guys! It has been suggested that in the future, after I obtain my concealed weapon permit, I may want to get a smaller gun than the S&W model 19 I now own - something in the .38 or .357 range. The problem I seem to have now is that the smaller guns are too small for my hands. I am a big girl! 5'11 and can palm a basketball....so the few I have tried, I could not get my hand to comfortably fit. Any suggestions? Many thanks!

[BruceB]

Welcome, and I have a couple of tallish ladies here that can handle full-size guns as well.

Do you want to stay with the revolver, or are you open to possibly transitioning to the autoloader?

One nice thing about the revolver is that it's fairly easy to tailor the grip to various hand sizes. Herrett's have made us some very nice custom grips over the years, and they DO fit the intended hand.

Also, I've seen many BIG cops with S&W J-frame revolvers with nothing added except a Tyler "T-Grip", a very inexpensive adapter which adds greatly to the feel and control of the small revolvers....less than 20 bucks, and available in different finishes. One thing about the J-frame Smiths...I would NOT get one in .357, all-steel or not. We have a 642 (2" .38 hammerless aluminum frame) and it's a prime gun for the purpose. If you want to stay with the .357 cartridge, I might suggest a Ruger SP101, which is half-a-step up the weight chain from the J-frames.

I'm a great fan of your M19, but it would be a problem getting it well-concealed in today's fashions. One thing....please, do NOT plan on carrying the gun in your purse, which is a mugger's first target. It took my wife several minutes to find her car keys in her purse this morning! A smallish gun in the same purse, and trying to find it under extreme pressure...???? I intensely dislike the scenario!

Modern fashions might lend themselves better to the much flatter-built compact autos, but the handling of such guns, loading, unloading, condition of carry etc. is more complex than the revolvers we love so much. Still, I carry autoloaders for town business, and revolvers for country business. Works for me.


www.corneredcat.com

is a VERY good website written by a lady, FOR ladies, on the subject of self defense and concealed carry. The author is also a moderator on

www.thehighroad.org

which is also an extensive and interesting Board to visit for shooting-related discussion.

Best of good fortune, and let us know what you decide, please.

[dubber123]

If you really like your current Mod. 19, (and whats not to like), maybe try a 2-1/2" Mod. 19 or 66. With the shorter barrel and round butt, they are much easier to conceal, but alot easier to shoot than a J- frame. They are quite a bit bigger, so it's up to you what works. I carry a J-frame, but only because it's easier to conceal, not because it's better.

[mooman76]

With your size I would consider a 44 mag or 44 special with something like a 2 1/2 inch barrel or if you want to go smaller for more control get bigger grips for the 38/357. What it all comes down to is what you are comfortable shooting with that you can conceal the way that fits your needs.

[Jim]

Scottiemom,
You mentioned getting your concealed carry permit. I'm guessing this is gonna be done at an indoor range and if that's the case, it's likely that there's a gunshop REAL close by. How am I doing so far? Take you mod. 19 in (unloaded and open, please!) and talk to the guys behind the counter. If the shop is of any decent size, there oughta be a good selection of revolvers they can show you and help you decide on what's gonna work well for you.
If you're gonna drop a few hunnerd bucks on another revolver, make sure YOU LIKE IT!

Jim

[waksupi]

Hi scottiemom. Hand fit is something we all deal with. I have some large frame pistols and revolvers that fit very well. Then again, there are some little mouse guns I kind of giggle when I wrap a hand around them, as they seem to get lost.
I would suggest for a carry gun, a Colt Commander, one of the lightweight models. Or, you may like the regular Combat Commander, that comes in a few ounces heavier. It is more pleasant to shoot, for practice. For self defense, stick with a .45 ACP, since you are a full size person. Don't let someone talk you into a 9 mm. They are only a placebo, until someone comes along with a real firearm to help you out.

[mag_01]

My Colt Python has good size grips (357) 4 inch. --- But if ur serious about personal protection I would go with a larger cal. like 45 ACP In revolver or auto---- A true story--Women shot her husband 5 times with a 357 (he was in the shower) and he was able to crawl to the phone for help.----Mag

[Dale53]

My preference when I need "light and small" is an airweight S&W "J" frame in .38 Special (I am full size and have large hands). I am not particularly recoil sensitive but a .357 magnum in an S&W Air Weight or, worse yet, Scandium is just downright painful! I do NOT consider these pieces viable hardware.

However, the Air Weight S&W in .38 Special works really well for me and I believe that it would work well for you. However, I would recommend one change. Since you have large hands, you'll be more comfortable with Pachmayr Compac Grips. The Compacs are only slightly larger than the issue grips but are MUCH more comfortable for someone such as yourself. I can really control my little gun with these grips. They are made of semi-soft rubber that not only allows you to hold on well, but absorb the recoil that these lightweight pistols exhibit.

If you prefer something larger than the lightweights, then a Commander size 1911 or maybe my choice, the Kimber Ultra CDP II. The Kimber is kind of pricy, but is extremely concealable and gives up very little in power (.45 ACP in a 3" barrel).

You can see the Kimbers, here:

http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/cdp/ultracdp.php

However, as has been pointed out here, the autos require more dedication and practice to get and keep your proficiency at the high levels that they should be for ANY handgun used for concealed carry.

Good luck!
Dale53

[Scrounger]

Ruger SP 101

[Lloyd Smale]

another vote for a 2 in J frame smith. Hard to beat as a ccw gun in steal or alloy

[Bass Ackward]

I don't know. I always worried about concealed carry when I was carrying illegally.

When you have a permit, who gives a $hit how well you hide it? Might be a better deterrent, especially for a woman, if they CAN sorta see it. You can always buy a purse with a pouch for it if you have the discipline NOT to put other things in there.

I say keep the Mod 19 if you are comfortable using it. Gain weight if you want to hide it better. :grin:

[Bass Ackward]

Double post

[Four Fingers of Death]

One advantage of the J frame is not immediately obvious. I was on an escort to the Supreme Court some years back and one of the very powerful big, underworld figures got real ornery as we were unloading the van. Us guys who were unloading the prisoners had stored our guns and two armed officers stood back and supervised. One was a real fiesty lady. She had her gun out in a flash and was hollering at the guy to stop struggling. I was wishing that I could put my fingers in my ears because she looked like she was about to shoot the guy as he was as strong as and was starting to get an upper hand in the proceedings. The trouble with these guys is they psych themselves up for hours and it's hard to keep up with them starting from cold. Next thing I saw was my female colleague walk up, reverse the gun into her palm and she warapped her fist around it and slugged the guy right between the eyes. Man, he went down like a ton of bricks. From the crunch when she hit him, I didn't expect him to come to. Didn't get a peep out of him all morning. When court recessed for lunch, he politely asked me for some asprin. :D

I knew why she always grabbed the J frame after that. She reckoned that growing up with four elder brothers on a farm she learnt to hold her own. She was welcome to ride beside me anytime. Got the other officer shipped out though, he was as handy as two blokes off sick.

Mick.

I think I'd prefer to carry a K frame all the same.

[walltube]

Hello and welcome to CastBoolits, scottiemom,

My Dearly Beloved Janie, has as her choice of pistols a Ruger SP 101 3" bbl. .357 mag. It wears a Hogue grip. Admittedly heavier than the S&W shorties listed here, the s'steel SP101's extra weight dampens recoil. The Hogue also contributes to recoil control. Janie has fired the short bbl. lightweights with +P .38 Spl. and found the recoil not to her liking. Even 'hot' reloads in the Ruger are less a bother to her. It's all subjective (I think), scottiemom.

Janie now stands over my shoulder as I write this: :coffee:

"Try every gun you can get your hands on. If possible, fire as many different rounds available for each gun. Then decide."

Hope to have been of some help.

Regards,

Walltube & Janie

[Jim]

If I was 5' 11", and could palm a basketball, I'd be toten' a BFR!!:roll:

[RugerFan]

Geeze I'm 5'10" and can't come close to palming a basketball. I like Scrounger's and Waltube's thinking. The SP 101 is really sharp.

[Scrounger]

And the SP 101 will take full power .357 loads for a long time without getting loose like a little J-frame.

[Char-Gar]

There is an easy solution to your problem. Pick the sixgun you like and have Herretts make you a set of grips that fit your hand. They will want a tracing of your hand. I would suggest their Detective model and have it finished smooth with no checkering. They have been making grips for me since 1959. There is nothing like a good sixgun with made-to-measure stocks for your hand.

www.herrett-stocks.com

Oh yes.. I had a pair of Scotties (litter mates) for many years. I do so miss them. I now have a Cairn Terrier. The Cairn is a very stout dog that doesn't have the health problems that many of the Highland breeds do that were breed off the Cairn.

[Kraschenbirn]

scottiemom...

+1 for the SP-101 with Hogue grips...either in .38 or .357...so long as it "feels right" to you. I've got pretty fair sized hands, myself, but am quite comfortable with my 3" Ruger. Shooting DA, it's no great trick to keep all five rounds inside the 9-ring of a standard PPC silhouette at 25 yards...with 125 gr. +P JHPs.

Bill

[leftiye]

How bout a .44 Charter Arms Bulldog? Just kiddin'.

[scottiemom]

thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions and advice - it is much appreciated. I have written it all down and will be making a trip to the gun shop soon!! Thanks again.

[StrawHat]

If you like the S&W M19, stay with it.

Or find something you like. My wife's first shooting partner tried to convince her the "J" frames were what she needed. Turns out she is most effective shooting the M19, 2" with full loads.

Go with what works for you, there is always a way to conceal it.

[Ricochet]

Hey, that's a nice little pistol. I bought one 30 years ago. (Charter Bulldog .44 Special.) Put Pachmayr grips on it right away. My wife took it over. I sneak it out and shoot it now and then.

[scrapcan]

as part of an instructor team I get this question alot. My first response is to handle as many handguns as you can. If a shop will not let you handle a gun, go somewhere else. Ask everyone you see at the range if you see a gun you have not seen and would like to handle and or shoot, then ask most people understand what it is like to want to test drive before plunking down the cash ( I routinely take 4 to 5 handguns to class and make them available to students). You may even teach most of them something about safe gun handling.

Another thing is to get a gun you will shoot. For you to shoot it you need to be able to reliable handle the recoil. All the power in theworld will not get you much, if you cannot hit something with it due to flinching. One shot stops don't happen very often (you can look at the statistics to verify), so you better be able to get the followup shot on the mark.

Anyway look for the most gun you can handle, afford, and that you like. You will thank yourself every day thereafter.

[Redleg99]

There may not be anything wrong with your M19 at all – I’d recommend trying concealing it first.

If that doesn’t work out, as others have said, try a many different guns as you can.

Since you are looking for a step down from your K-frame, the J-frame Smiths are probably worth looking at.

Here is a great article about them:
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Making%20J%20Frame%20Work.htm

I have an S&W 642, and it definitely conceals better than anything else I own.
However, with full-power loads (38 SPL +P), its small size and light weight make it a somewhat unpleasant gun to shoot.
It’s a tradeoff I accept.

[Mk42gunner]

Scottiemom,
You didn't mention the barrel length on your Model 19; so I am guessing it is either 4" or 6". If you want a revolver that is easier to conceal think about a Model13- three inch barrel, full size ejector rod and fixed sights, (not necessarily a bad thing). Or for a slightly smaller overall size one of the various D frame Colts, still six rounds.

Food for thought,

Robert