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357 mag 4" barrel
victorlvlb
Member Posts: 5,004
I'm headed to the gun shop this friday.I'm looking for a 357 mag for concealed carry.Would a four inch barrel be small enough to conceal?
Comments
There are some 357 and 38's with 3 and 3 1/2 inch barrels. It also depends on other parts of the gun such as the frame which may affect overall size.
You might be better off with a 38, and load it with +p, or +p+ A .357 isn't needed for concealed carry unless you have a barrel of 2 inches or less.
Regards, John
This may not matter at point blank range - but if you are attacked by someone 10 yards away, it damn sure will
Look for a S&W model 13-4. They're military and police 3" 357 mags built on a K frame. From what I understand back in the late 80s the FBI sawed off one of the then current 13-3 four inch models for concealed carry experimental purposes. The FBI liked the results so much that they then contacted S&W and then the S&W 13-4 3" was born. I have one, picked it up here earlier this year, the bluing on it is perfect. It's a sweet little shooter but can kick some with heavier loads, but still less kick than the current short barreled airweight magnums.
Regards, John
Actually, a Maryland State Trooper ( who had a gun shop ) by the name of George Wessinger cut off the very first 4" barrelled Mod. 13's to 3" for the F.B.I. F.B.I. then ask S&W to manufacture the guns in 3" configuration for them. I seen the actual documentation in Mr. Wessingers books. While working on a Colt Python for me I later showed him the 13-3 gun below. It was not his work according to the ser. no. Those rare cut down guns could be distiquished by the lettering on the barrel not being centered and front site work. Mr. Wessinger lived about 20 mile from my home and passed away just a few months ago. He was one great registered pistol guild. The 13-3 3"below is unfired , unturned.
I have carried a gun on and off-duty for 20 years. Back when we were issued 4 inch revolvers as duty guns, I almost never carried it off duty. When I did, I carried in a shoulder holster with a jacket or sweatshirt over it. What a pain!
Depending on where you live or your self protection needs, I would recommend the following.
A 2 or 3 inch J-frame Smith & Wesson in 38 or 357. The 357's are heavy except in the scandium version. I like and have carried a model 642 and a model 38. I just slip the gun in my right front pocket as I head out the door. Never carry anything else in that pocket so you don't have to worry that something may catch on the trigger and or foul up the hammer (on the 38). Remember a speedstrip with extra ammo. I usually carry that in my right rear pocket.
On the occasion that I headed to Detroit for an evening, I usually carried my Sig P229. Now that I am retired and can carry what I want, I usually take my Glock 23 or my Kahr 40. The Mini Glocks or a lightweight 45 Commander-syle gun would also do fine.
A 2 or 3 inch model 19 or 66 Smith & Wesson would also do the job quite nicely but the Glock carries more ammo and is faster to reload.
Buy anything heavier than that and I doubt you'll carry it very often-just too much trouble. I put the lightweight as the priority or you will not have it when you need it. I still carry even when I go pick up the kids or go out to the mailbox (1/8th mile) or to walk the dog on my few acres.
for what it's worth....
I carry a S&W 640 in .357 magnum. It is 5 shot with a 21/2 barrell. I usually carry it in an ankle holster. Due to the fact that you can't realy get true .357 velocity out of the short barrell I just load it with .38+p. If youre going to buy one with a barrell under 31/2 inches you might as well get a .38 special. As far as extra ammo goes. I hope you never to reload. But I carry a Kel Tec and some times a Rossi model 88 as well. I guess I would just swap guns instead of reloading if it came down to it. 3 guns might seem like overkill to most but Mom always told me to bring enough to share.
That statement is exactly what the F.B.I. did on the Model 13's. Issue ammo was .38+P's cause the women couldn't qualify with the .357's. However , claiming a .38+P and a .357 ballistically are the same out of a 3" barrel is not correct. The .357 has WAY more get up and go... On the other hand a 2.5" snubbie does not have a long extractor rod under the barrel. Empties can get hung up in the cylinder upon empty of the gun. Whereas a 3" gun up uses a full length extractor..[:)]
That statement is exactly what the F.B.I. did on the Model 13's. Issue ammo was .38+P's cause the women couldn't qualify with the .357's. However , claiming a .38+P and a .357 ballistically are the same out of a 3" barrel is not correct. The .357 has WAY more get up and go... On the other hand a 2.5" snubbie does not have a long extractor rod under the barrel. Empties can get hung up in the cylinder upon empty of the gun. Whereas a 3" gun up uses a full length extractor..[:)]
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My bad I meant to put 3 inches but hickuped after I put 21/2 inches earlier. Should have proof read a little better or typed a little slower. Anyway good catch and youre exactly right. The .357 is better out of 3 inch barrells.
Even though criminals are often charged with murder if someone other than their intended victim dies as a result of something related to their crime - you would, at minimum, at least be sued in civil court for accidentally hurting or killing someone with a cartridge that was never designed for self defense.
Two in the chest from a .38 might or might not do it, one in the head though ends the arguement.
This is usually true. This depends if the bullet passes through the brain, and if so, what area of the brain.
Much harder to aim for a head shot though when someone is trying to kill you.
A .357 doesn't make use of its potential powder charge out of a barrel 2 inches or less. However, it is still going to produce more energy than a 38 +p And you definitely need more enegry out of such a short barrel. I don't think I've heard of any 38, not even a +p+ producing more than 250 foot pounds from a 2 inch. In fact, I think most loads are less.
To be really picky about this a .357 doesn't get to its full potential even out of an 8 inch barrel. Its a very inefficent round and its why .357s from rifles shoot much harder.
Here's a nice piece on .357 vs 38 from a snubnose:
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38vs357snub.htm
The problem with using the round from short barreled guns is the "cost" of that extra power is a *LOT* more muzzle flash and blast with the powder not used to propel the bullet burning in front of the muzzle. Personally, I don't think the ballistic advantage is worth the increase in noise, flash, and recoil, especially when this is something you are most likely going to be using at point blank range.
To address your other point, the best .38+P rounds can do 275 foot-pounds out of snubbies. Here is one documented at 280 ft-pounds:
http://www.thegunzone.com/speer135jhp38sp.html (scroll down)
I'd bet there are probably combinations of individual 2" guns and +P ammo that could give you 300 foot pounds. . .(which is still LESS powerful than standard 9mm ammo, by the way). Advantage over 9mm is that 38 can shoot heavier bullets (158 grain), and the revolver is intrinsically more reliable.
With respect to the original question about concealed carry of a 4" barrel revolver. I've done it, and I'll add that while *possible* to do it, its a big heavy gun and you're basically limited to doing so under a coat or other thick covering garment. Wouldn't be my first choice.
If you want a .357 gun for concealed carry try one with a 2.5 inch barrel.
Don't mean to be rude, but try again.