Revolver For EDC/Concealed Carry

[markiver54]

I broke some bones in my left hand back in early July. The healing process is moving slowly. I am out of my brace/splint but have realized that it's very difficult and painful to rack the slide of my EDC 9mm. I cannot even make a fist. Because of this I'm thinking I might have to resort to a concealable revolver. I feel like I may never have 100% use of my left hand again. I hope that is not the case.

Any suggestions or recommendations on a revolver to replace my 9mm would be appreciated. I don't really want to afford another handgun right now, but I don't like the feeling of being physically limited if the unthinkable should ever happen.

[Sir Henry]

I’ve had surgery three times for Dupuytrins contracture. During the healing process I could not rack the slide on my Beretta M9. I bought a Walther PK380 and I liked it because it was a semi and I could rack the slide. I know it’s not a revolver but it is an option.

[North Country Gal]

Sorry to hear that, Mark. I fight arthritis at times and that can be an issue racking the slide on an auto, too. There are so many small SD revolvers out there that it's hard to know what to pick.

For instance, I've had almost every model of S&W J frame, including the Airweights in 38 Special. They all make great conceal carry guns, but always keep in mind that you pay a price in accuracy and control with the really small and ultra light stuff. I recommend them only if you are willing to practice enough to be reasonably accurate and it does take plenty of practice to get that done, especially the Airweights.

I've also had great luck with the Kimber revolver series, but they are expensive. The aluminum frame K6sc has 6 shots and easier to see sights than the usual fixed gutter sights on the Smith Airweights. I posted a review around here on one at some point.

One of my favs over the years, though, has been the current production 38 Special Colt Cobra (not the King Cobra 357). Like the Kimber, it's a 6 shot. Very nice shooting revolver. Weighs about 25 ounces, so big enough and heavy enough to shoot well. Of course, still not cheap.

And then there's the Ruger polymer LCRs in 38, 357 or even 9mm. I've never owned one, but they do get good reviews and price is better than the others.

These days, I'm back to the slightly larger frame stuff for ease of shooting and control, something along the lines of Smith K frame snubbies or Commander or Officer size 1911s in 9mm. My current social SD carry is a Kimber KDS9c, 4" barrel and 15 shots in 9mm. Pretty amazing gun. My woods carry is a Dan Wesson 357 revolver with 2 1/2" barrel. I only rarely carry, though, so the weight factor isn't as big a deal for me. If I carried every day, different story.

One last option is going to a 380 auto for ease of racking the slide. Can't say I've ever carried a 380, but I have shot a friend's little Ruger LCP in 380. Very sweet gun to shoot. Going 380 auto does get you out of dealing with DA shooting in a revolver, at least, if you're not too good shooting a DA revolver in DA. As much as I love revolvers and love shooting them in DA, I shoot autos better.

Best of luck. Hope we can help.

[fortyshooter]

Wow sorry to hear about your hand injury and hope it heals back to normal. Check out the Ruger LCR line of small revolvers. They have a nice smooth DA trigger. I have the 357 version and mostly carry 38+P loads for SD use.

[BrokenolMarine]

Miss Tina decided to go back to a revolver from the autos she had been carrying, but wanted a steel frame rather than an airweight. She had a S&W Chiefs Special when we first met, but it was stolen. Replacing IT now was going to run close to $1,000.

I found the Taurus 856, quality, and six shots vs five. If you want a five shot, Taurus had the model 85. I did do a spring kit, to improve the trigger. The gun was less than half the cost of the Smith.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=16036&p=241216&hil ... 56#p241216

[BigAl52]

Hope your hand heals up and you can use it like normal Mark. I carry a Ruger LCRX in 38 special. It was one of the first ones to come out. I put a fiber optic front sight on mine. It has a good double action trigger pull on it. I carry it in my front pocket. They are lightweight and I carry a strip in my pocket that holds 5 extra rounds. They make it in 22 mag and 327 also and with those calibers you get 6 rounds. Like my 38 alot

[Mags]

....
Any suggestions or recommendations on a revolver to replace my 9mm would be appreciated. ...

Ah bummer on your injury!
I been eyeing Charter Arms revolvers in 9mm or .380. I think they start at about $430.

[BrokenolMarine]

The only other thing you might consider is PAIN levels, with your injury. If you try and buy a light gun to carry that you CAN rack the slide on, there is a trade off. The lighter spring that lets you RACK the slide on the semi-auto ... also does not absorb as much recoil as a heavier spring... this is because the slide isn't as heavy. The gun isn't as heavy. The rounds themselves may be lighter recoiling, but in a lighter gun, that recoil may be very sharp.

We picked up a Kimber Micro 9 for Tina and she loved the small compact size in a 9mm caliber. She disliked the gun once she had it for a while. The mags were a bear to load full. The recoil was snappy for her smaller hands and the gun was very hard for HER to shoot accurately. (She could, however, do evil things with the Glock 23 .40 caliber - she was just tired of the weight of the fully loaded Glock 23 and spare mag.)

The Taurus has enough weight to be comfortable to shoot, and the Speed Strip gives her 12 rounds total.

[GunnyGene]

Lot's of good suggs here, but I'll offer something a little different and a whole lot cheaper than a new gun - free in fact. It's a Handi-Racker, if you want to give it a try.

https://handiracker.com/

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXsem_vBkFY

I have a spare, I'll send you. No charge, not even for shipping. PM me with your mailing address, and the make and model of your 9mm.

[rickhem]

Another option would be those small semi-autos that have the tip-up barrel. I know Beretta makes them in .22, .25, and .380, but not sure if they do anything larger. Never understood that design until someone mentioned the difficulty some people have racking the slide on those small semis, and then the light went on. Actually a very clever work-around when you think about it.
That said, those small revolvers with a concealed hammer can be fired from right inside your jacket pocket, every pull of the trigger brings another round under the hammer, and there's not much simpler and easy to use.
I don't carry, but lots of good advice and personal experience so far in this thread.