So I have a couple of revolvers and I'm trying to set up my 640-1 for CCW. I have a harry's holsters revolver IWB, but when I try to carry appendix, the 640 with the full length Hogue grips prints a lot...and I mean A LOT...

Any advice on holsters, or better grips to use on the gun...something to handle the 357 recoil.

Thanks in advance!

What are your other revolver options?
I prefer to carry a 642 in .38 special with Craig Spegel boot grips in an Alessi leather appendix holster. Comfortable for me and not heavy at all. I have the 640-1, but really never carry it because of the extra weight. Both are great revolvers.

Hogue Boot grip or the Pachmayr pop out one. It's the same size as the boot grip, but when you grip it a pinky rest pops out he bottom.

Boot grips. And +P’s only. 357 will make you find religion.

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Originally posted by libby477:
What are your other revolver options?
I prefer to carry a 642 in .38 special with Craig Spegel boot grips in an Alessi leather appendix holster. Comfortable for me and not heavy at all. I have the 640-1, but really never carry it because of the extra weight. Both are great revolvers.

I also have a 642 - and our issue ammo for .38’s is the 135gr +P load from Speer Gold Dot. Maybe that’s a better was to go...

I've got a Ruger GP100 Match Champion in 10mm with a 4.2" barrel on the way. Love to carry it but the times between shots is pushing me to continue carrying my P229 in 357 sig.

Get a good leather pancake holster. I'd look at the Sourdough OWB holster by Simply Rugged. May get one just for the times I'm at the range outdoors.

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I also have a 642 - and our issue ammo for .38’s is the 135gr +P load from Speer Gold Dot. Maybe that’s a better was to go...

That's a good load. I'd get some boot grips and stick to that. While bearable in small doses with .357, those little J-frames are much more tolerable in .38+p. I'll take a decent load that I can place rapid, accurate shots with over painful, flinch inducing hand-cannon loads with massive muzzle blast that make you afraid you're going to blow the gun apart.

I traded in all my air weights for a couple of model 60's. Combined with the Gold Dots in 38 special it makes a comfortable, shootable set up. I use locally made ver simple IWB index holsters.

Another vote for the S&W 642.

I'm fat, so "Appendix carry" is out for me due to my "Dickiedo Disorder". As in "My belly sticks out more than my Dickie Do".

I carry my revolvers in an OWB on my strong side at the 4:30 position. I like Nate's holsters from Ugly Bald Guy holsters. I carry a SpeedBeez reloader on my weak side at the 7:00 location.

If the grip is printing that much maybe try another holster or better belt. Sounds like the grip is canting out away from your body. If that doesn't work, boot grip and 38+P.

With a 640, rubber boot grips should work fine for the recoil and may reduce the printing. I prefer the old Uncle Mike's boot grips, model 59010. They seem to fill out my hand better than the current factory S&W boot grips. You can still find them on forums and E-Bay. I bought my last ones on E-Bay as new/old stock.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bobandmikako,

I'm thinking our discussions are dominated by the various factions with the loudest mouths. You know them, the 45ACP shooters, the 357 Sig fanboys, and the rest of the gaggle. One discussion we don't see or that doesn't get heard much are the more practical group of average guys. Once, in response to them, I even bought a "Grock" model 27. It was a mistake, more akin to a lump of coal than an accurate firearm. I guess one could become proficient with it, but to the exclusion of other, useful firearms. So after what I thought was a sufficient time, the darn Grock wasn't really an accurate firearm for me. A waste of money, no less.

So maybe we should speak of the advantage of multiple hits with, say, a 32 or even a 38 wadcutter vs. misses with an earth shattering .40 or .357 Sig. Anyone can miss with anything. And sure, with enough practice you can even improve. If you can find ammo, the time, or a place to shoot. But will those skills transfer to other guns you own? We've let the loudest among us dominate the conversation for too long.

I'm not really into appendix carry, but if you really want to have the most concealability with your choice of firearm (a J-frame S&W), I'd suggest you consider using a Tyler T-grip with the factory grips on your 640-1. It bridges the gap between the front of the grip and trigger guard, so you'll have the right feel and ability to control the shot(s), while adding no increase to the overall bulk of the gun's grip. http://www.t-grips.com/ Here's a look at a 70's vintage Bodyguard I've put a T-grip on and compare it to the (perfectly usable alternative) "Bootgrip" by Esmeralda used on my Model 640-1:



For IWB carry, I generally prefer using a Milt Sparks' Summer Special 2, since it allows easy, one-handed re-holstering. For OWB, my preference is a snap-detachable "Pancake" design such as those offered by (SF Member) Ryan Grizzle and Tim Thurner (at TT Gunleather). Kramer makes a very nice "Pancake" too, that doesn't print much, but doesn't have the easy on-off capability of the offerings by Sparks, Grizzle, and Thurner's holsters and (as we all know) cops have to take off their holsters while using the toilet facilities too!



3" Model 36 shown for OAL comparisons with 2" alternatives (I prefer the longer barrel for IWB carry) and the Herrett's Detective stocks.

I don't appendix carry but I found this clip that has changed how I carry my 638 for the better. I used to use the normal pocket holster but didn't like having to put my hand all the way into my pocket for retrieval. With the clip, the gun rides high inside my front pocket & the grip sits outside just under my belt. Draw times have increased exponentially for me & it is easily covered by any un-tucked shirt. (T-shirt or otherwise) These VZ grips give me a 3 finger hold which is much better than the two fingered grip I had from the factory rubber boot grips.

I am not tactical at all. I have had no formal training. I probably don't practice with it as much as I should. I am not particularly svelte. I also frequently wear bib overalls with no belt. I carry my 640 in a Mika Pocket holster.

I like a shrouded revolver for pocket carry, 2" barrel, with boot grips. A 642 has been a regular in my pocket for some time, these days mostly supplanted by a Sig P365 or Glock G43.

With the 642, I carry +P ammunition. .38 special is anemic, especially in a short barrel.

In a short .357, I usually carry .38+P, too.

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Originally posted by Delta-3:

What cartridges are those?

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What cartridges are those?

They are 130g JHP HST's. They work very well out of a short barreled 38.

<cue entrance of “That Guy” here>

Revolver CCW? Go big or go home, baby!



Ha-ha...

Hardly a conventional concealed-carry choice, I realize. This is quite rarely my own choice, but the Barranti Summer Classic actually does make carrying a five-inch S&W N-frame like this 27-2 possible.

quote:

Originally posted by Delta-3:

quote:

What cartridges are those?

They are 130g JHP HST's. They work very well out of a short barreled 38.

Indeed, the micro HSTs work very well. Not much kick either.