Help me pick a handgun

[Viper GTs]

[Viper GTs]

Long Barrel version

[Viper GTs]

I like this idea! Same piece

[jtaj77]

If I was in your situation I would look at something a little bigger, at least a .380 or .38. There are a lot of people out there carrying much bigger guns than what you are looking at. With a good holster an average size guy should be able to conceal a subcompact or compact semi auto pretty easy. If you find that you need a more specialized gun make that your next one, one gun is never enough.

[Robby321]

Al, ya gotta "bite the bullet"..(pun intended!), and simply get the "card out", go into debt, and start buying, as no way ya gonna stop at one! I don't know anyone with only one.

Anyway, been searching the best CCW. If I had the need a CCW..(retired, stopped the cross country bike rides, getting old), if away from the house, I would carry the following..don't get carried away how .."cute it looks"..(I hate the looks of a hammerless), but what ya want is simple function. Now if ya looking for home protection, like a few here have, like me, a simple Mossberg 12g, Scattergun, pistol grip, 18" barrel. Cabela's, about $250. Anyway, if I did a on the road CCW weapon..this be it...

The Smith and Wesson 638 Airweight revolver. This diminutive revolver is, as the name implies, very light but sports 5 rounds of 38 special +p ammo that will generally take care of business for any civilian needs. Fun to shoot and amazingly controllable and accurate, the little Smith revolver tucks away all day long in a Fobus Ankle holster without me hardly noticing it's there.


And a little more me. Try out a velcro gripped, nylon stretchy, "ankle holster". Feels weird at first, but once ya get used to it, ya feel naked without it. Needed, just whip up the levi pants leg, quick grab, and let loose.

[Robby321]

Should add a little more on that post. Any carry, the upper body, will need some clothing. Its 90° out?...well, even shirtless, ya still gonna be in pants. And if too hot long pants, ankle holster, get used to the "cargo shorts"..have had people here show me, what looked like zip in the cargo pockets, say, .."see what I just bought?" Then whips a piece out, and not a cell phone, as a 911 call, never be as fast as some slug, 1200 FPS..!

[CDave]

Thanks for all the info/opinions guys! I kinda have it narrowed down to the Kel-Tek P-22 .32, or the Rugar LCP .38...Opinions on either??? As far as revolvers go, does anyone know of a light, compact piece in the same weight range as these? 7-12 ounces! Also can anyone reccomend what type of rifle for in home/ property use?? Thanks...Al...

I second not getting the Kel Tec as your primary pistol. Light weight revolvers, look at S&W air weight and Taurus makes light weight revolvers too.
A rifle for home defense, get a shotgun. Like a Mossberg 500 with the short barrel.

Here are my equalizers,
Glock 23 with a Ghost "rocket" trigger spring, extended slide release, +2 mag extension, Meprolight tritium sights, Lone Wolf threaded SS barrel that I painted with Duracoat durabake and a LaserMax Saber laser. I like the dovetail the LaserMax adds. It improves the handling.

The Rem 1100 12ga. was my fathers. I cut the barrel to 21" honed the last 2" of barrel to .010 smaller than cly., drilled 7 holes on each side at the front of the barrel, added the pistol grip stock, added a mag extension, painted the barrel and receiver with Duracoat durabake, painted the forearm and added the front grip. I'm not sure I'm gonna keep the front grip. Still need to install the sights.
I cut the barrel to 21" because advice I got from a cop. He told me the 1100 handles better with a 21" barrel than an 18" barrel.

[Hydrophobic guy]

What you packin'? 410 or .45?

410's with a tripple flat slug. It's a public defender model which is more concealable it has a shorter cylinder and barrel so, I can't run mags thru it but, with the tripple slug load you really don't need mags. Good home defense gun that won't blow holes thru the walls. My other home defense gun is a Mossberg SPX tactical auto loaded with 00.

[mr.clean]

For my my money if you're going 22 pistol you should go Ruger MK II bull barrel. I personally wouldn't take a Kel-Tek for free!

[Robby321]

Dave, I will stand solid behind a "Taurus" for one reason. As a "lifetime guarantee", them. (Still, I don't know?) I bought my 9shot, .22 wheel, WAY back in the early 90's. Sucker never did have any straight aim, without the rear site clicked all the way right, at 50 feet. Then the plant shut down, me pensioned out, moved the west coast, and TWO YEARS AGO, figure 15 YEARS later, I sent them a email. Sucker has never shot straight. They said.."Send it back..(FL), . packed it, sent Registered, USPS, with the receipt. 3 weeks later, its at my door, with a "range target included", at 50 feet. Spot on, note on it said..'she's back in shape"..manufacture mess up".

Cost zip but postage there, they paid it back to me...

[Forkin' Crazy]

Yep on closing the eyes before the flash. Try and cup one ear too, or there goes the hearing too. And my cop bud says best a regular load, big slug, 44/45, just a good boom, rather than the sharp crack, a 357 Mag. Think an indoor range is loud with no muffs, try an enclosed room!

Well... I don't know. If I have to see by the flash, sobeit. Depending on where I am and what I am packing...

pop....pop.pop.... popopopopop!

[Robby321]

Well... I don't know. If I have to see by the flash, sobeit. Depending on where I am and what I am packing...

pop....pop.pop.... popopopopop!

AAAAAAHA!..heres the rub there..."what if two more outside", waiting?, after sending in the dumbazz?

[Forkin' Crazy]

AAAAAAHA!..heres the rub there..."what if two more outside", waiting?, after sending in the dumbazz?

All lights on around the complex (on all 6 corners and then some.. one switch) and load number 2 of 4 clips. Or grab number 2 gun... or 3.... or 4. I live out in the country so I can be armed in a matter of seconds depending on where I am in the houseyenda.

[CDave]

Viper GTs here's a review of a S&W Air Weight revolver.
http://www.christiangunowner.com/smithandwesson638.html
http://www.christiangunowner.com/bes...-handguns.html

Also, here is a pair of jeans made for concealed carry. There are pockets inside the jeans for concealed carry.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/511-74002.html

[Robby321]

All lights on around the complex (on all 6 corners and then some.. one switch) and load number 2 of 4 clips. Or grab number 2 gun... or 3.... or 4. I live out in the country so I can be armed in a matter of seconds depending on where I am in the houseyenda.

HA!.."gotya there!" Me too

My dog NEVER lets anyone near, without a "woof", her in or out..don't even have some "doorbell"..any "silent steps, near me", dog says ..."WOOF!".. ( we got zero noise me)..shes outside now, woofing at the old farts, simply going for a walk!..Probably saying, ''Theres that dumb azz dog again, wanting another free "cookie"..

And the damn old fart Possum, that goes back and forth, all nite, behind the shop, setting off the "motion lights", well, its cool. Gotta tell ya a quick story here. Park my Astro van in the back, under a tarp 10x20 canopy. Usual leave the drivers door window, half open. One nite, I get up to take a whiz, 4am, see the damn lights on the van. Grab the "normal, as what, no clue. Damn lights on, the "ding, ding, ding", buzzer coming out the ride. Seen many times, the .."neighbors cats paws", on the windshield. Zero threat to me now, open the door, shut off the lights, and the best I could come with, as the sucker got inside the van window, sniffed the "doggy cookies" inside, and the light switch, is way the left side, top the dash, and best I can see, a "paw", hit the switch on, back out the window!