Looking for Small 38 Special Revolver for Carry

[Iroquois]

Charter used to make a .38 six shot snubbie . Check their website. I loved both the Charters that I have owned , light weight , reliable and surprisingly accurate. I would deffinetly have another if I was in the market.

 

[SigFan07]

Are Taurus and Charter Arms good quality gun makers?

I hope to get a 38 Special some time soon. I shot my brothers heavy cowboy revolver in 38 Special and I found the round plenty powerful for personal defense. The police/FBI may need more powerful rounds but after shooting
a 38 Special for the first time over the summer, I found it easy to handle and plenty powerful, like the 9mm.

 

[gregkl]

On the low cost end, its tough to beat the Taurus 85. The stainless version would meet your criteria. Bonus if you can find a concealed hammer version. You should be able to find one new for $330 or so, used in the mid to upper $200s depending on age and condition.

I am a S&W fan, but I have a Taurus 85CH in blue. I am happy with it as a car gun and would carry it to. It's small, works well and if I got it stolen or heaven forbid it was ever used to defend myself, I wouldn't be heartbroken when they took it into evidence.

Though for EDC I still haven't made up my mind what I will carry....

 

[AR15Jim]

I say s&w 642

 

[SSGSAD]

S&W, Charter, or Taurus, are all ok, you can't go wrong, with any of them .....

 

[mrjarrell]

Are Taurus and Charter Arms good quality gun makers?

I hope to get a 38 Special some time soon. I shot my brothers heavy cowboy revolver in 38 Special and I found the round plenty powerful for personal defense. The police/FBI may need more powerful rounds but after shooting
a 38 Special for the first time over the summer, I found it easy to handle and plenty powerful, like the 9mm.

I've got two Taurus firearms and one's my summer EDC. My winter EDC is a Charter Arms in .44 Special that I've had for many years now. I've had no problems with any of them.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I carry a S&W Bodyguard 38 almost every day like this:

www.galleryofguns.com - Gun Genie - Davidson's most popular and powerful search engine to find and buy guns at galleryofguns.com

It is easy to carry in a pocket holster. And it didn't cost anywhere near that list price as shown on that web site.

 

[chezuki]

Are Taurus and Charter Arms good quality gun makers?

My BUG is a late '70s Charter Arms Undercover. According to this guy:

Chez, Dont be a gun snob man.

I'm a gun snob, so I guess they must be pretty decent!

 

[SigFan07]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll start looking at small revolvers next week once I get over this cold I have. Looks like there are a lot of nice snub nose revolvers in the $400 and under range.

Didn't police carry snub nose 38 Special revolvers in the 1960s and 70s? Are there lots used police revolvers around anywhere?

 

[Dixiejack]

I carry a S&W Bodyguard revolver as my primary pocket gun. Whatever you decide on, the important thing is to draw and shoot it until it become a comfortable extension of your hand. When you get into a situation where you need protection, thinking about handling your carry piece is the lowest priority.

 

[bwframe]

At what range do all you snubbie guys shoot your guns accurately?
What if SigFan07's reason for actually needing his revolver is carrying a long gun?

 

[dhw9am]

I would go with the Taurus if I was looking cheap.
Their 38 snubbie Ultra Lite blued revolvers, are going for $289 - $299 just about anywhere now.
Hard to beat for that price.
Now, if you are planning on being a heavy shooter, then SW has to be the choice.

 

[Dixiejack]

At what range do all you snubbie guys shoot your guns accurately?
What if SigFan07's reason for actually needing his revolver is carrying a long gun?

Realistically 1 to 7 yards. I see no sense in having adjustable sights on a CCW. A laser sight is nice to have and one was factory installed on my Bodyguard. If it had not have been, I would not spend the extra money for one.

 

[rocker4x4]

I would go with the Taurus if I was looking cheap.
Their 38 snubbie Ultra Lite blued revolvers, are going for $289 - $299 just about anywhere now.
Hard to beat for that price.
Now, if you are planning on being a heavy shooter, then SW has to be the choice

I agree 100% I looked at both for the wife. The SW is a great made gun, even felt alittle better in the hand! But she wasn't going to be shooting this one very much, so I went with a Taurus I ran across at a price I couldn't pass up!

 

[45fan]

At what range do all you snubbie guys shoot your guns accurately?
What if SigFan07's reason for actually needing his revolver is carrying a long gun?

What is your definition of accurately?

Personally, I tend to evaluate my SD carry gun/loads at defensive ranges, keeping the bulk of practice under 10 yards. Beyond that I would think SD would become as hard one to prove.

As for how far I have stretched out ranges with my snub nose, I have, and from time to time still do, shoot pop cans at 25 yards or so, usually missing 1 in 5 at that distance. I would think that to be good enough for most situations.