Perfect carry revolver?
- Thread starter Alan
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dademoss
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Mostly I carry a S&W Airweight bodyguard, remarkably similar to 4th down in your photo .
magnum0710
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It depends on your intended use, IMO the perfect do all carry revolvers are what I refer to as Combat Magnums. I know that's an S&W term but I use it as a general term to describe revolvers that are similar to the current S&W Model 66 Combat Magnum. My criteria is a 3 inch barrel (2.75 is close enough also), medium frame, 6 round 357 magnum, preferably with a round butt and fixed sights but those last 2 are optional. Other examples would be older K frames like the 13 and 65, the Rossi RP63, Colt King Cobra and Viper, and my personal favorites the Ruger Security Six, Speed Six and Service Six revolvers. The 3 inch fixed sight GP100 is also an option but I think the smaller K frame size guns like the Six revolvers are more ideal in this role.
They're small enough to conceal yet big enough to maintain control with full power 357 magnum. Not too big, not too small, and they have enough barrel to get the 357 up to speed unlike a snubby. There's really nothing you can't do with it, ccw, home defense, woods carry, etc. It wouldn't be my first choice for hunting but it would certainly do the job if one was in a desperate situation. If I could only have 1 gun it would be a 3 inch 6 shot 357.
My EDC is a Ruger Speed Six, I opted for the Speed Six over the SP101 because it met all my criteria and I know how tough and reliable the Six revolvers are. I liked my 2.75 so much I decided to hunt down the full 3 inch guns. Ended up with a 3 inch USPS Speed Six and a rare 3 inch Police Service Six.
Here's my review on the 2.75, if you enjoy it like and subscribe and check out my other videos. I'll be uploading more soon!
They're small enough to conceal yet big enough to maintain control with full power 357 magnum. Not too big, not too small, and they have enough barrel to get the 357 up to speed unlike a snubby. There's really nothing you can't do with it, ccw, home defense, woods carry, etc. It wouldn't be my first choice for hunting but it would certainly do the job if one was in a desperate situation. If I could only have 1 gun it would be a 3 inch 6 shot 357.
My EDC is a Ruger Speed Six, I opted for the Speed Six over the SP101 because it met all my criteria and I know how tough and reliable the Six revolvers are. I liked my 2.75 so much I decided to hunt down the full 3 inch guns. Ended up with a 3 inch USPS Speed Six and a rare 3 inch Police Service Six.
Here's my review on the 2.75, if you enjoy it like and subscribe and check out my other videos. I'll be uploading more soon!
I've used/carried ca bulldogs for decades. IMHO, the 44spl is under rated being a real thumper in a snubnosed revolver. My bulldog with 220gr hbwc's seated backwards making huge hp's.
A close-up of that 220gr hbwc
I do test different loads from time to time. The last testing I did helping me decide to either keep or sell several molds.
That upper left test load was something that I've been wanting to do for awhile.
The fbi used a 158gr swaged hollow based hollow pointed swc in their 38spl load.
Buffalo bore has a +/-1000fps snubnosed 158gr 38spl load.
I made a 210gr hollow based hollow pointed swc by casting a hb swc bullet and then using a forrester hp tool to put a huge hp in it. The end result is a pretty impressive bullet.
A side view of that recovered bullet. Interestingly enough the base kept expanding after leaving the bbl.
Anyway, that ca bulldog snubnosed 44spl bring a lot to the table in a small package.
A close-up of that 220gr hbwc
I do test different loads from time to time. The last testing I did helping me decide to either keep or sell several molds.
That upper left test load was something that I've been wanting to do for awhile.
The fbi used a 158gr swaged hollow based hollow pointed swc in their 38spl load.
Buffalo bore has a +/-1000fps snubnosed 158gr 38spl load.
I made a 210gr hollow based hollow pointed swc by casting a hb swc bullet and then using a forrester hp tool to put a huge hp in it. The end result is a pretty impressive bullet.
A side view of that recovered bullet. Interestingly enough the base kept expanding after leaving the bbl.
Anyway, that ca bulldog snubnosed 44spl bring a lot to the table in a small package.
Snubnosed 357's can be a handful with hot loads. Especially the smaller/lighter revolvers they have out. Start running some of the ammo out there over a chronograph in those short bbl'd revolvers and the results aren't very impressive considering the challenges of things like recoil with these light weight revolvers.
I decided to take a different route with a snubnosed cc 357mag and went with a ported revolver. More specifically, a 7-shot S&W 586 l-comp.
It actually has a 2 1/2" bbl with a 3" bbl shroud (including comp), a round butt & holds 7 shots. It's nothing to use/shoot full house 357mag loads in this revolver 1 handed/weak handed along with easy follow-up shots. I keep it loaded with 170gr rnfp's chronographed doing 1200fps out of this revolver.
All in all, a good thumper that's extremely easy to control.
I decided to take a different route with a snubnosed cc 357mag and went with a ported revolver. More specifically, a 7-shot S&W 586 l-comp.
It actually has a 2 1/2" bbl with a 3" bbl shroud (including comp), a round butt & holds 7 shots. It's nothing to use/shoot full house 357mag loads in this revolver 1 handed/weak handed along with easy follow-up shots. I keep it loaded with 170gr rnfp's chronographed doing 1200fps out of this revolver.
All in all, a good thumper that's extremely easy to control.
Browningcollector
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I prefer 3 inch J frame stuffed with 125 grain hollow points.
Kelly
Kelly
Tony
New member
I am a big S&W N-Frame fan, but those are just too large and heavy for daily carry - regardless of how I try to convince myself otherwise. I stick with a S&W 686-Plus with 125gr XTP magnum rounds. The stock rubber grips are great as far as taming some of that recoil. I find as I get older and more arthritic, heavy recoil is not as much fun as it once was.
magnum0710
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I'm pretty sure we just talked in my thread over on Cast Boolits about the 170 grain Keith SWC right? Which reminds me I need to make a stop over on CB tonight also.I've used/carried ca bulldogs for decades. IMHO, the 44spl is under rated being a real thumper in a snubnosed revolver. My bulldog with 220gr hbwc's seated backwards making huge hp's.
A close-up of that 220gr hbwc
I do test different loads from time to time. The last testing I did helping me decide to either keep or sell several molds.
That upper left test load was something that I've been wanting to do for awhile.
The fbi used a 158gr swaged hollow based hollow pointed swc in their 38spl load.
Buffalo bore has a +/-1000fps snubnosed 158gr 38spl load.
I made a 210gr hollow based hollow pointed swc by casting a hb swc bullet and then using a forrester hp tool to put a huge hp in it. The end result is a pretty impressive bullet.
A side view of that recovered bullet. Interestingly enough the base kept expanding after leaving the bbl.
Anyway, that ca bulldog snubnosed 44spl bring a lot to the table in a small package.
Yes we did, I like the 170gr weight. Just like the rnfp bullet design better. This is the 170gr rnfp bullet that I cast. The same mold cast the 158gr rn hp pictured below.
That bullet has 2 crimp grooves. This not only aids in accuracy, the top crimp groove makes the bullet usable in the shorter n-frame/colt cylinders.
That bullet has 2 crimp grooves. This not only aids in accuracy, the top crimp groove makes the bullet usable in the shorter n-frame/colt cylinders.
magnum0710
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I was pretty sure that was you when I saw the picture of all the different bullets.Yes we did, I like the 170gr weight. Just like the rnfp bullet design better. This is the 170gr rnfp bullet that I cast. The same mold cast the 158gr rn hp pictured below.
That bullet has 2 crimp grooves. This not only aids in accuracy, the top crimp groove makes the bullet usable in the shorter n-frame/colt cylinders.
magnum0710
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- Jun 29, 2025
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Hopefully they make one in 357 mag with a 3 inch barrel, that'll be my new EDC and I can retire my Speed Six. I have a rule, I don't buy 38 only revolvers. Every time I a buy a 38 I regret not buying a 357 instead, I've done it twice now and both got sold in short order. Lesson learned! The only way I'd be a 38 only is if I found an S&W 38/44 HD or a Ruger Speed/Service Six. If it can handle 38/44 loads I'm happy but I just can't help but want to hot rod the 38. Its capable of so much more than the current watered down loads.
