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Charter Arms Professional Revolver

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charter arms professional

If you didn’t know, I spent the weekend at the Concealed Carry Expo put on by the USCCA held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That’s a show that goes on every year with an organization that’s growing bigger with each passing year.

While gun companies usually hold off on new releases until SHOT Show or the NRA Annual Meetings, there were a few things released at the expo, and this new .32 H&R Magnum revolver from Charter Arms is one of those new guns.

While I don’t know a lot about it, I do have some stats given to me by the company and can say that this is an impressive little gun. The Charter Arms Professional, which is what it’s called, is a 7-shot 32 H&R Magnum revolver with a 3 inch barrel. It tips the scale at 22 ounces unloaded with an OAL (overall length) of just under 8 inches.

In this setup, the double action revolver felt great in my hand, but did have what I’d call about an 11 pound tall trigger pull. This Blacknitride+ beauty comes with a green “LitePipe” front site, and has a lifetime warranty.

I, personally, own a Charter Arms revolver, and am a fan of their affordable, yet reliable revolvers. This is one that has my interest because I do have respect for the .32 H&R Mag handgun cartridge. Ballistics wise, it sits somewhere on the lower end between .380 auto and 9mm.

This gun and its MSRP are currently not even listed on their website, and the paperwork I was given doesn’t have it listed. I did see a press release where they say it’s about $440, likely to be found under $400 after it actually hits the stores. I’ll see if I can follow this closely to find out its price, its release date, and to see if I can get my hands on one to test.

You can find our handgun ballistics chart here, where we show off a couple of different combinations. You can visit Charter Arms here. Let me know your thoughts on the Charter Arms Professional revolver, in the comments below.

Top 20 Best 9mm Handguns

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FNS9-C

One of the questions I get asked most often, usually by folks new to the gun world, is: what is the best 9mm pistol to own? I’m going to attempt to answer that question in just a moment, but remember that what’s best for me, may not be what’s good for you. So, take what I say here with a grain of salt.

As always, if you have anything you’d like to add, please make sure you do in the comments section, at the bottom of this ridiculously long “best 9mm handgun” article (seriously, it’s over 3,500 words and took me several days to write) (usually around midnight after my day-job).

Before we get to the actual list, let’s go over some “housekeeping” issues just so you know where I’m coming from.

Why 9mm?

ammunition
Some common ammunition.

First, why is this all about the best 9mm handguns instead of .40 S&W, .45ACP, .357 Mag, etc.? Well, one thing we have to understand, is that the people who want to know the answer to this, won’t choose a hand-cannon as their first gun, and quite a few of the people asking me these questions are newer to the game without a lot of firearms handling experience.

My own research has shown that newer shooters generally start with 9mm, and move on from there, as they see fit. Will I do other calibers at some point? Most likely, because those same people will eventually ask other questions concerning other calibers. But for right now, we’ll stick with the best 9mm.

Requirements:

It doesn’t matter what action the gun has, what materials make it up, who makes it (you may find a few surprises here), or if it’s hammer or striker-fired to be included on this list. Meaning that there is a section for the best concealed carry revolvers, as well as other semi-autos.

To be considered as one of the top 9mm handguns, it needs to be reliable. If a gun hasn’t proven itself to be reliable, it is not listed here. Granted, no guns are perfect, and firearm can malfunction. But, what I’m talking about are continuous failures.

Furthermore, only being able to shoot certain kinds of ammo, or requiring to be cleaned after every single range session, are a means for disqualification from this list.

The best 9mm handguns need to be safe. Now, don’t confuse this term with a mechanical safety device. Some of the guns on this list have those, while some do not. Still, others, utilize the use of a passive safety or a lengthy trigger pull. But, having an actual safety device is not a prerequisite for inclusion. What is necessary, however, is that the gun only goes bang when you want it to.

In other words, while any gun can drop-fire, or shoot off a round when dropped from a high-enough position, it should not be a common problem with any of these guns.

Finally, I’ve categorized these top 9mm handguns based on type of gun: Full size, revolver, compact, etc., and are not listed in any particular order. Now, without any further ado, let’s get talking about which guns are on this best 9mm handgun list …

Best 9mm Pistol – Full Size:

This is going to be the longest category filled with a multitude of different types of guns, striker, hammer, DA/SA, etc. The main reason why, is because nearly everyone is in this game. Sure, some gun manufacturers only make sub-compacts (like SCCY, for example) but most of them do make a full-size service pistol, and this is a great place for someone new to this world to start because a big, recoil absorbing gun can boost confidence and is easier to learn on, than a much smaller gun is. For the sake of simplicity, the best 9mm handguns in this section have a barrel size of 4 inches and up, even though some gun makers would consider that to be “compact” in size. Here are the best full size 9mm handguns —

HK VP9 —

H&K VP9

The HK VP9 is one of the most ergonomically correct pistols on the market right now. It also just happens to be reliable, accurate, and pleasant to shoot. It comes with many of the features you’d come to expect from a modern-day pistol, like a polymer frame, comfortable grips, an accessory rail, a trigger safety that won’t allow the gun to fire unless pressed, and HK’s charging supports on either side of the slide’s rear serrations. It is not, however, an inexpensive gun, and is easily one of the most expensive guns listed on this best 9mm handgun article, at $719. In my opinion, though, it’s worth every penny. These guys have them in stock, currently starting at about $585.

Barrel Length: 4.09″

Overall Length: 7.34″

Capacity: 10 or 15

Weight: 25.56 ounces (empty)

MSRP: $719

Glock 19 —

Glock 19
Photo from Glock’s website

The Glock 19 doesn’t need any introduction. It’s one of the most popular handguns in the world, and is renown for its reliability in nearly every circumstance. While Glock was not technically the first one to make a gun of this type (that award goes to the HK Vp70), they perfected their own design with the G17, and eventually with the G19. The G19 is a 9mm, striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol that is known to be uber reliable and accurate. The Glock 19 is one of the most-chosen guns for both on and off-duty police officers, and it’s easy to see why: it’s one of the best 9mm pistols available, even if not the most aesthetically pleasing. These guys have Gen 5s in stock for $559.99.

Barrel Length: 4.01″

Overall Length: 7.28″

Capacity: 15

Weight: 23.65 ounces (empty)

MSRP: ~$600

FN-FNX-9 —

FNX 9

Rarely is a major gun manufacturer standing outside of the spotlight as often as FN is. What do I mean? Well, personally speaking, when most other gun enthusiasts talk about SIG, Glock and HK, my mind drifts to FN. I’m talking about a company that’s been around since the before John Moses Browning invented the famous M1911 with many years of making military weapons. The FNX series, available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP is one of the best full-size handguns on the market. It’s a hammer-fired DA/SA pistol with a safety/decocker, in a reliable package all at an MSRP of $699. These guys have them in stock starting at $580.00.

Barrel Length: 4″

Overall Length: 7.4″

Capacity: 10 or 17 rounds

Weight: 21.9 ounces

MSRP: $699

CZ 75 —

cz 75b

The CZ 75 is not only one of the most versatile and copied pistols ever made, it also hasn’t changed much since its inception back in 1975. When I say it’s versatile, I mean that it’s configured to be carried cocked and locked like you would carry a 1911, or you can carry it in DA/SA with a long, first trigger pull as your safety. I don’t personally own a CZ 75, yet, but all of my friends who do swear they’ll never sell it. It’s a great-shooting gun, and while large, is quite concealable with the right setup. Some would argue this is the best 9mm pistol of all time, and while I wouldn’t necessarily go that far, it deserves to be here. These guys currently have the compact in stock starting at a decent price.

Barrel Length: 4.6 inches

Overall Length: 8.1 inches

Capacity: 10 or 16

Weight: 2.2 pounds

MSRP: $612

 M&P9 —

M&P 9

Smith & Wesson’s M&P series is one of the most popular polymer pistols (say that 5 times fast) on the market. They just released the new 2.0, and so far I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Personally speaking, I only have limited trigger time behind the 2.0, but this striker-fired pistol is getting great reviews, and I’ve got nothing bad to say about the first model. Overall, it’s a great mid-priced 9mm pistol that gets the job done. These guys currently have the M&P in stock for about $380.

Barrel Length: 4.25″

Overall Length: 7.4″

Capacity: 17+1

Weight: 24.7 Ounces

MSRP: $599

Sig Sauer P320 —

best 9mm pistol

Here is another one that needs no introduction. The P320 was just chosen to be the military’s sidearm of choice until it’s time to replace, yet again. I’m not even sure where to start because the P320 is so modular that you can literally have a compact 9mm pistol one day, and a full-size .45 ACP the next. Some folks don’t see the positive in this, and if you’re one of them that’s fine. But for people who live in a state where it’s a PITA to own multiple guns, having one modular one with different options may be the way to go. There is no doubt that this is one of the best 9mm handguns out there, right now. These guys currently have them in stock starting at $450 depending on the model you want.

Barrel Length: Have it your way

Overall Length: Depends

Capacity: Depends

Weight: Depends

MSRP: Starts at $679

S&W SD9 —

S&W SD9

No bells … no whistles … Nope, sometimes you’re broke but need a solid shooter to defend yourself with. If that’s the case, then the polymer-framed, striker-fired SD9 from Smith-Wesson is a great option. The MSRP is right at $389, and the magazines are 16 rounders. This is not a perfect pistol, but it works whenever needed, and is cheap. The trigger is far from the best on the market, but you’ll be able to pick one up for a lot less than the advertised MSRP. That’s a good price for a good gun from a decent gun manufacturer with 16 (+1) potential bad-guy stoppers. This would easily be one of the best 9mm handguns if I had an “inexpensive” category, which I don’t so I’ll stick it here.

Barrel Length: 4″

Overall Length: 7.2

Capacity: 16+1

Weight: 22.3 ounces

MSRP: $389

Best 9mm pistol – single stack:

As the name implies, these are 9mm pistols with a single stack magazine. The ones that fit in here are are not necessarily a pocket nine or a micro-compact, though one of them does have the option to utilize a 3.3″ barrel. I also did not include 9mm 1911s in this section, either, even though they’re technically single stack 9mm pistols. You can find the best 1911 section below. So, what are these good for? Well, if you are unlucky enough to live in a state where there is a magazine capacity ban, a single stack gun makes sense because it carries fewer rounds. Or, if you are just in the market for a super thin gun that conceals excellent, this is a great way to go. Either way, here are the best single stack 9mm pistols —

Kahr CT9 —

Kahr Arms CT9

The thing with Kahr’s pistols, is that even the “value priced” guns don’t feel cheap. The MSRP on the CT9 is right around the $450 mark, but can be found for much cheaper than that out at your neighborhood FFL dealer. The CT9 is a single-stack, polymer-framed pistol that can be carried concealed and has an excellent trigger. I say excellent because the trigger pull is smooth without any grit or false breaks. I’ve had plenty of time with Kahr’s pistols, and can say that, while they don’t always favor steel-cased ammo, I have never had an issue with brass or even aluminum ammunition.

Barrel Length: 3.965″

Overall Length: 6.5

Capacity: 8+1

Weight: 18.5

MSRP: $449.99

Springfield XDs —

Springfield Armory XDs

Springfield Armory did just get caught doing something stupid, and that cannot be disputed. Whether it was purposeful or an accident isn’t the point, and this isn’t a politics article. Rather, this is a best 9mm pistol article, and the XDs is a great single stack pistol. Many people call this a pocket pistol or a micro, but I don’t. Available in both 3.3 or 4 inch barrel variants, the passive grip and trigger safeties help ensure the gun doesn’t go bang when it isn’t supposed to. Of course, there is no replacement for a competent, safe shooter, and passive safeties like these have been known to fail from time to time. I do want to say, here, that the grip on Springfield Armory’s XDs is an acquired taste, and isn’t my favorite to shoot. Still, this is a great gun that I would trust my life to.

Barrel Length: 3.3″ or 4″

Overall Length: 7″

Capacity: 7 or 8

Weight: 25 or 26 ounces, depending on mag

MSRP: $599

Best Concealed Carry Revolvers in 9mm:

You didn’t think I’d only have semi-auto pistols on this best 9mm handgun list did you? Feast your eyes on the beautiful simplicity of the revolver, complete with its long trigger pull as a safety feature. There aren’t a lot of 9mm revolvers out there in the world, but those on this list, are of exceptional quality, and deserve to be here. Keep in mind that, while revolvers work well I prefer mine to not require anything extra to work (like moon-clips). There is one on this best 9mm handgun list that does not require moon-clips to function, and you have to wonder: what’s taking everyone else so long to figure out how to make it work? Either way, here are the best concealed carry revolvers chambered in 9mm. Here are the best concealed carry revolvers in 9mm —

S&W Performance Center 986 —

S&W 986 9mm

The Performance Center 986 is one of my absolute favorite revolvers. It has a 2.5 inch barrel and a capacity of seven rounds. For a revolver, that ain’t bad. The 986 conceals well, but isn’t cheap. Of course, they can be found cheaper than the $1,129 price tag, but finding one in your local gun shop won’t be an easy task. This isn’t a Glock or an M&P, and you’d likely need to have your FFL dealer special order it for you. Overall, a revolver in SA/DA is a good option for concealed carry, and if aesthetics were graded, this one would get an A+. Of course, it does require a moon clip, which is an issue for me, so I’d stick with one of the rimmed revolvers, like a PC 686 (very similar) that’ll throw .357 or .38SPC down range.

Barrel Length: 2.5″

Overall Length:  7.5″

Capacity: 7

Weight: 31.7 ounces

MSRP: $1,129.00

Ruger LCR —

Ruger LCR9

Much more affordable than the previous 9mm revolver, is the LCR chambered in nine. This snub-nosed revolver has a barrel length of under 2 inches and only weighs 17.2 ounces making it great for pocket carry or deep concealment like a backup on your ankle. Then again, I know plenty of people who carry a Ruger LCR as their every day carry piece. Whatever floats your boat. In this case, floating your boat is a snub-nosed double action revolver with an internal hammer. Keep in mind, also, that smaller snub-nose revolvers can be a handful to hold onto, if you’re not used to shooting, yet. You know what? Scratch that. I’ve been shooting for years and my snubs are still a handful for me whenever a short grip is installed. Opting for a longer one, where your pinky-finger isn’t held out to dry will help tame the revolver that much more.

Barrel Length: 1.87″

Overall Length: 6.5″

Capacity: 5

Weight: 17.2 ounces

MSRP: $669.99

Charter Arms Pitbull —

best 9mm revolver

The Charter Arms Pitbull is an interesting take on the 9mm revolver. While most revolvers that are designed to shoot semi-auto rounds utilize a moon-clip to work properly, the Pitbull does not require anything extra. Thus firming up its reliability as it removes a part that is so easily breakable or bendable. A bent or broken clip can cripple the use of a 9mm revolver. It holds 5-rounds of ammo, down from 6 after a recent (two or so years ago) redesign. Overall, the Charter Arms Pitbull is a reliable offering from a company that doesn’t get the respect it deserves at an MSRP of $502.00. The ability to chamber rimless cartridges alone is enough to get this revolver on my top 9mm handgun list. Everything else is just icing.

Barrel Length: 2.2″

Overall Length: 

Capacity: 5

Weight: 22 ounces

MSRP: $502.00

Best Sub-Compact and Pocket Pistols:

I kind of lumped these two best 9mm pistol categories together to save on space because I can tell already that this article is going to be epic (in size, anyway). These are smaller guns with lower capacity, but make up for that fact by offering up excellent concealability. I generally put guns in this section with a barrel length starting at about 3″ and going up to about 3.5 inches. Here are the best small 9mm handguns —

Sig Sauer P365 —

sig p365

The Sig Sauer P365 is the latest entry to this top 9mm pistol article that I’ve put together, and has caused me to republish this old piece to push back to the front. I’ve got a considerable amount of time with one of these, and some of my counterparts over at concealedcarry.com have 4,000+ rounds through theirs without failure. Sig really hit a home-run here, no matter what your thoughts of them are as a company. Capacity is unmatched in a very concealable package. I know these guns have been hard to get in some areas, if that’s you, these guys have them in stock as of this writing for $499.

Barrel Length: 3.1″ 

Overall Length: 5.8″

Capacity: 10+1 (or 12+1)

Weight: 17.8 ounces 

MSRP: $599.99

Ruger LC9s —

Ruger LC9s

Small enough to fit in your pocket, carry for deep concealment, or use as a backup gun with a decent price point is the Ruger LC9s. This pistol is sort of an upgraded, striker-fired version of their LC9. Instead of a trigger pull so long you could run to China and back before it breaks, the LC9s has a great, smooth trigger that lends itself to great target practice. For a tiny gun chambered in 9mm with 7+1 rounds, that ain’t bad. These guys currently have them at one of the best prices I’ve ever seen at $259.

Barrel Length: 3.12″ 

Overall Length: 6″

Capacity: 7+1

Weight: 17.2 ounces 

MSRP: $479.99

Sig Sauer P938 —

Sig P938

Disclaimer: I have a Sig Sauer P938 that I’m experiencing issues with right now. If you didn’t know, I’m the managing editor for ConcealedCarry.Com, and the review will be getting published over there at some point in the coming months. However, I do believe that this is just one of those lemon issues, specific to only a few of these guns. Still, I’d feel remiss if I didn’t at least mention that I do have a 938 that experiences malfunctions. When it works, it’s a great gun that’s a blast to shoot. Starting in the $800.00 range depending upon your options, this pocket nine is a breeze to shoot, and is aesthetically pleasing. The Sig 938 is a micro compact, hammer-fired, SAO that’ll make 1911 lovers feel at home in a smaller package. These guys have plenty in stock starting at $679 depending on your options.

Barrel Length: 3″

Overall Length: 5.9″

Capacity: 6+1

Weight: 16 Ounces 

MSRP: ~ $800.00

Walther PPSM2 —

Walther PPS m2

If you’re in the market for a small conceal carry gun with arguably one of the best triggers on the market, look no further than Walther’s PPSM2. While Walther has been the brunt of a lot of jokes as of late with recent recalls, to my knowledge there aren’t many issues concerning the PPSM2, and I’ve personally not had any issues when firing them. As a an added bonus, I find the PPSM2 to be ergonomically pleasing over many of the other guns on this list of this size. Overall, this is a great option, and, for the price, you really cannot do much better.

Barrel Length: 3.18″

Overall Length: 6.3″

Capacity: 6 or 7 +1

Weight: 21.1 Onces

MSRP: $469.99

SCCY CPX-2 —

SCCY CPX-2

I’m about to turn a lot of people off, but hear me out. Just because a gun is inexpensive, doesn’t mean it isn’t reliable. Seriously, I just listed an $800 Sig with reliability issues. Many of the stories you’ve read on SCCY and the problems they face are unfounded. All of SCCY’s pistols are double action only, and come with a 9-pound trigger pull. I do also want to say that, while there are two 9mm models, I only mentioned the CPX-2, which does not have a mechanical safety. With a trigger pull like the SCCY has, I don’t see a need for a mechanical thumb safety. But, to each their own. Either way, don’t let the simple fact that you can pick one of these up for dirt cheap fool you, because they go bang when they’re supposed to. These guys have them in stock for a little over $200, depending on your chosen mode.

Barrel Length: 3.1″

Overall Length: 5.7″

Capacity: 10+1

Weight: 15 Ounces

MSRP: $314

Best 9mm pistol – compact:

For those of us who want more ammo in a small-enough to conceal package, are guns that come in at the compact size. These guns generally have a barrel length in the 3.4-4″ range, and usually hold anywhere from eight to 17 rounds with an extended magazine. Here are the best compact 9mm pistols —

FNS9-c

best 9mm handgun

Stay tuned for a handgun review on this one. FN sent me an FNS9-C in FDE two months ago, and I’m knee deep in it right now. I’ve got enough jacketed lead through it right now to confirm that this is a fantastic pistol, so much so, that I’m going to be buying one when I’m done with the review. It’s easy to conceal and comes with one 12-round magazine and one 17-round mag. I don’t want to say too much about it now, except that it is one of the best 9mm compact pistols on the market, right now, even if I can’t find a holster to save my life. Stay tuned for my review. These guys have them in stock in different variations at $499.

Barrel Length: 3.6″

Overall Length: 6.7″

Capacity: 12+1 or 17+1

Weight: 23.4 Ounces

MSRP: $599.00

Glock 26 —

Glock 26

The G26 has a barrel length of just 3.4 inches, and a capacity of 10 rounds. Then again, Glock’s magazines are interchangeable and I know plenty of Glock owners who carry a G26 with the 10-round magazine while concealing it, with a G17 mag for backup. There isn’t a lot that needs to be said here, it’s a Glock–certainly not the best-looking guns around, but definitely one of the best and most reliable. These guys have a G4 Glock 26 in stock for $499.

Barrel Length: 3.4″

Overall Length: 6.41″

Capacity: 10+1

Weight: 21.7 ounces

MSRP:

Best 9mm 1911:

I know what you’re thinking, 9mm 1911s shouldn’t even be a thing. Well, they are, and some people love them. In fact, I own one from Springfield Armory that I’m going to stick on this list even though it’s bound to piss half of my readers off after the stunt they just pulled. But, it’s one of the best shooting 9mm 1911s I’ve ever seen, and I cannot deny that fact.

Springfield Armory EMP 4 —

Springfield Armory EMP4

As the name implies, the Springfield Armory EMP4 is a 1911 with a 4″ barrel. I feel confident in saying that this is likely one of the best 9mm 1911s I’ve ever fired. Its smooth, short, crisp trigger pull is exactly what you’d expect from a 1911 in the $1,200 price range. I own one of these, well, it’s my wife’s, and it’s a great confidence builder for her because the recoil is low, the pistol is accurate, and the single stack 9mm magazine carries 10 rounds of hollow points. It has an aluminum frame, steel slide, cocobolo grips, fiber optic sights, and the list goes on. It does require a tool for take down, which can be a pain when in the field, but a simple paper clip will do the trick, and I’ve even used one to make sure. As an added bonus, this gun isn’t bloodthirsty for gun oil, like just about every other 1911 I’ve ever fired.

Barrel Length: 4″

Overall Length: 7.5″

Capacity: 10 rounds

Weight: 31 ounces

MSRP: $1179

Conclusion:

That about does it this time around. Which firearms would you liked to have seen included on my top 9mm handgun list? Please let me know in the comments below. I had several others on here that got chopped, due to length, but I may add the TP9 and the G43 back in at some point. Stay tuned, because this may grow over time.

Make sure you check out our USCCA Review, next.

Why Speaking To Anyone After Defensive Gun Use Is A Bad Idea

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Defensive Gun Use

It’s never a good idea to speak your mind freely to the press after you’ve been involved in any kind of shooting, even if it’s a defensive gun use that is likely to be justifiable in a court of law.

Of course, we cannot determine what is or is not justifiable, here, on our little blog. What we can do, however, is speculate on the outcome and learn from what happened in an effort to never make the same mistakes, ourselves.

Over a year ago, Mr. Bowers of Peoria, AZ, was the victim of arson. He pulled his revolver, shot the suspect, and could have created a huge mess for himself with his loose lips.

The only thing you should ever do after a defensive gun use, is call the police, and then your lawyer. (please note that I’ve included the video interview at the bottom of this article)

Now, I’m not an attorney so nothing I say here should be taken as legal advice, but I do know some firearms-specific attorneys who all agree on something:

Under no circumstances should you ever speak to the media or the police about what happened, no matter what anyone tells you.

The main reason for this is because you’re likely a mess of emotions after you pull the trigger and you may or may not be able to recall the events of a critical incident right after it happens.

The only words that are ever acceptable to say to the police, is a description of the perp who got away. That’s it.


Don’t ever tell them why you pulled your gun out, how many times you fired, or anything else for that matter because it all goes on record.

Read what I’m about to say next very, very carefully: If you say the wrong thing, even by accident, you may incriminate yourself later on down the line and not even realize it.

Many people don’t realize this, but most police departments require a specified amount of time to pass before they allow a cop who has discharged his weapon to make any statements.

The main reason for this is because recalling events right after is a hard thing to do. No matter what they tell you, you don’t have to say anything until you’ve spoken to your lawyer.

In fact, once you ask to speak to your lawyer, they have to stop asking you questions. You have rights as an American citizen. If you ever need to use your weapon in self-defense, make sure you use them.

Anyway, back to the Peoria man with the big mouth …

There are two main issues with how he handled his DGU, the first one was going on camera with the media about his defensive gun use, where he describes in detail exactly what happens. Here’s a small paraphrasing of what he said:

He was at home when he walked in on someone setting his house on fire. He had his .357 Magnum revolver and he shot him once in the house.

The wounded arsonist got up and ran away.

However, where the Peoria man went wrong, is where he said, on camera, that he thinks he unloaded the gun on the arsonist as he ran away across the field.

That’s bad juju for a couple reasons.

First, he’s not sure if he unloaded it. Did you catch that? He “thought” he unloaded it. He was unsure, unable to recall the events, and should have kept his mouth shut. (again, check it out in the interview at the bottom)


Second, in order for the defensive use of a gun to be considered “defensive” your life should be in imminent danger (please learn the laws in your state, and don’t take what I’m saying as Gospel, because I can’t know all laws in all states).

This means that, yes, during the time when his house was in the process of being lit and he shot the first round off, he was likely to be justified in a court of law.

Where he may have ran into a jam, are the five shots that he unloaded at the arsonist after he fled the scene.

Life was no longer in danger, and instead of shooting at the bad guy five more times in an open field where other people may have been, there are other things he could have been doing.

Then again, if he just kept his mouth shut, like he should have done to begin with, you and I wouldn’t even be having this discussion right now because we never would have known that he emptied his entire cylinder on a fleeing man.

Did you catch that part? He shot at a man who was running away. Not only did he do that, but the .357 Magnum is not a joke of a self-defense round. In fact, the maximum effective range of a .357 Magnum while hunting a deer is considered by many to be 100-150 yards.


What was on the other side of that field?

See where I’m going with this?

If you take away nothing else from this article, I hope it is these two very important things:

First and foremost, your life needs to be in danger for you to use deadly force, and always know what your target is and what’s around it.

Second, for the sake of your freedom, keep your mouth shut or you could incriminate yourself, even if you were in the right, just by saying something you should not have with a foggy brain. It doesn’t matter if it is the police or the media. It’s all on record, and can be submitted in court as a statement. Don’t do it.

Do you agree with what I said here? If not, what would you add? Remember, the point of this website is to teach others, so don’t hold back. Let us know in the comments below.

Our top picks for 22 rifles

Here is a link to the source article and video.

Charter Arms Review: 38 Special Revolver

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Charter Arms Off Duty
My travel gun. Charter Arms Off Duty, .38 SPL.

To travel without having the ability to defend yourself against an attack is not a smart idea. No matter where I go, I try to pack a firearm with me, just in case I’m ever presented with the need for self-protection.

I have a firearm dedicated to travel, and I thought it would be prudent to do a follow up to Todd’s article on how to fly with a gun, to just go over what I looked for in my dedicated travel gun. This article is part Charter Arms Off Duty Gun Review, and part information on what you may want to look for in your dedicated travel gun.

Full body shot of the gun, on top of my Sticky Holster

My Travel Gun from Charter Arms:

My travel gun is nothing more than a 5-shot, snub nose .38 Special revolver. To be more precise, it’s a Charter Arms Off-Duty. It’s perfect for what I need it for, but I do also carry it around town, from time to time, and even in my house whenever I need an lightweight handgun.

Charter Arms .38
This older photo shows it needing a good cleaning.

It’s main purpose right now, however, is as my travel gun. I’ve been traveling for work a lot lately, and it serves this purpose well. There are a few reasons why it’s a good gun for me to travel with. First, it was a cheap handgun. If I remember correctly, I walked out of my FFL, gun in hand after taxes and transfer, for $325. For a brand new, fully functioning self-defense weapon, that ain’t bad.

This is important because, while the last thing I could ever want to happen is to have my gun stolen by TSA, having a $300 gun stolen won’t hurt as much as having a $700 gun stolen. Seems like a no-brainer to me, and the Charter Arms Off Duty fits the bill well, for this “cheap gun” requirement.

Sight view of the Charter Arms Off Duty. Snag Free.

However, I do want to say here, that it’s always important to do as much to prevent theft, as possible, by using a high quality case and following the directions of your airline.

Second, it’s a small and easily concealable pocket revolver, with a long double action only trigger. I have a Sticky Holster that allows me to drop it right in my pocket, tucked out of the way. This is perfect for those states that allow me to conceal a firearm, but not carry one out in the open, or even have brandishing laws.

Please note that my revolver is filthy in all of the photos, because pocket carry is dirty. You may not realize it, but your pockets are filled with lint, and it tends to stick to guns. Clean your pocket pistol or revolver often, to make sure it functions properly if and when you need it to save your life.

Sticky Holster revolver

I’d like to point out that proper training to make sure you can draw from the pocket holster with your gun, is all important. If you don’t train with it, drawing it from the holster, don’t carry that way. Why? Because drawing from a pocket holster is a different kind of animal and takes a lot of practice to become proficient.

charter arms cylinder
Cylinder Release

Third, the Charter Arms snub has a capacity of just 5 shots. While this is less than ideal in many situations, it keeps me from breaking the law in any of the less gun-friendly states I’m traveling through, if I’m driving, or my destination is a state that doesn’t allow higher capacity weapons.

Charter Arms 5 shot snub
Loaded cylinder

For example, I live in Pennsylvania, and we are surrounded by the blue sea. Literally, we are surrounded by NJ, MD, DE, NY, and if I want to go anywhere, the only gun-friendly state is Ohio. I rarely go that way. Therefore, to make sure I don’t go to jail, I want to make sure I’ve got as much on my side as possible, to include a small capacity firearm, like the Charter Arms 38 in all these photos.

hollow point in gun
Business side of the loaded cylinder.

At the Range:

To say that the Charter Arms Off Duty is a handful is less than an understatement. At only 12 oz, this aluminum framed revolver doesn’t do a lot to mitigate felt recoil. And, when +P cartridges are involved, it gets to be even more fun to hang onto.

This is me trying to show you how small the gun is, and that this setup doesn’t have room for my pinky finger

Still, for what the Charter Arms Off Duty is, a pocket revolver or backup gun, it’s a fantastic option as my go to travel self-defense weapon. I am combat accurate with it up to 10 yards, the maximum distance I’d ever consider shooting with a firearm with a two inch barrel.

Snubby Barrel

Please note that mine is configured with the short grip, and there is an option to put an extended grip on this 38 revolver, so you can get your pinky finger on it to tame it more. Of course, if I were to do this, I’d lose some concealability, and may not be able to pocket it anymore. As with all things in the self-defense lifestyle we live, there are gives and takes.

Other side of the snub

Downsides:

The main downside to this self-defense gun, are also some of it’s positives. It’s small and sleek. When I say sleek, I mean that the trigger guard is small, and tends to beat the snot out of my trigger finger whenever I shoot it. In fact, on numerous occasions my finger pops off the trigger and smacks the guard. After numerous shots it chews my knuckle up.

I do want to point out that this isn’t the only revolver I have a problem with, and is one of the reasons I’m looking forward to Colt’s new Cobra. The trigger guard is nice and big, which is perfect for my fat fingers.

charter arms trigger
Here is the small trigger guard that my finger has a hard time getting into.

After training with it on several different occasions, I have been able to modify my shooting so it doesn’t happen as much. My fingers are quite a bit bigger than the average shooter, and that, coupled with the overall small size of the trigger guard are a recipe for chewed up fingers.

Carrying Charter Arms Off-Duty:

She may not be the sexiest, but she still gets the job done!

The overall small stature of the Charter Arms Off Duty pocket revolver makes it an excellent choice for concealed carry or even as a backup gun. As an added benefit, the internal hammer helps prevent any snags on the draw. Which is perfect for me, because I tend to pocket carry this revolver whenever I wear it.

Grip

Conclusion:

The Charter Arms Off-Duty is an excellent choice for concealed carry, and I tend to use mine as my travel gun because it’s small, affordable, and easily concealed on my person. It goes bang every time, and fits the bill for exactly what I need. It’s not all puppies and rainbows because my finger snaps off the trigger when I shoot causing it to bleed, but I’d much rather have the a bleeding finger than be in a ditch somewhere, dead.

Do you own any of these no frills revolvers? Let me know in the comments below.

Top 5 Best Guns To Have When SHTF

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FIVE GUNS NOT TO BE WITHOUT WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS

Let’s pretend for a moment that the world of tax-funded public safety and well-stocked grocery stores are a thing of the past and you, perhaps with a handful of family and friends, must fend for yourself in a tough and perhaps hostile environment. Among the considerations for survival are, of course, firearms. Which would you choose?

The most critical consideration for firearms in our scenario would be reliability … does it go “bang” with every trigger press? Does it cycle the widest possible spectrum of ammo available in that caliber? Is it simple to maintain? What ammunition is likely to be found in the area? It’s a given that one of each major civilian classification of firearms will be needed—a handgun, a rifle, and a shotgun. Our task here is to pick an ideal group of five.

THE TOP THREE

Carbine

AR-15 Carbine and a Glock 17, a good combination. Photo by Kirk Wheeler

A carbine, with its shorter barrel, offers maximum portability as well as the capability of reaching out to larger game, within limited range, to provide for food. Larger capacity magazines and quick reloading capability may be necessary to defend against attackers of the two-legged variety.

My choice for a long-term carbine partner is the AR-15. The platform is proven as reliable, and most owners have accumulated a supply of spare parts. Ammunition and magazines as of this writing, are readily available.

The .223/.556 cartridge is admittedly not the most ideal for down range energy. Thanks to the other virtues named here, though, it garners top billing on the list. I have personally taken deer sized game with the .223/.556, and feel that it works well in many different situations.

Handgun

A Glock 17, Ruger Bearcat, and Kel-Tec PMR30

The Glock 17/19 has a long track record of reliability and the other criteria here. While Glock offers a wide variety of calibers and models the 9mm is a commonly available cartridge worldwide, and less pricey. Like the AR-15, parts are currently ubiquitous, and many are interchangeable between models/calibers.

As a true aficionado of the 1911, it’s hard to think of turning my back on that old standby. Indeed, it’s more accurate. But it falls behind, quickly, where ease-of-maintenance and magazine capacity are concerned. Newer models are, in my experience, less reliable than Colt originals

Concealability, which may or may not be a consideration in this scenario, isn’t easy with the G17 but the Glock 19 can bridge this gap.

Shotgun

shotguns
Mossberg 500 and Remington 870

This was the easiest choice. A shotgun in general has nearly endless applications based on the variety of loads available, especially if one has reloading equipment. The Remington 870 pump action, chambered in 12 gauge, has endured as one of the most reliable shotguns in history. It’s inexpensive, made for utility, and rugged. Semi-auto shotguns abound on the market today, but none have the reliability or simplicity of the 870. The gauge selection is due to the wide range of loads available in 12 gauge.

The Mossberg 500 was a close runner-up, but the 870 edged it out thanks to personal experience and the references of friends in law enforcement. It’s capable of earning its keep by obtaining large and small game and is an effective defense weapon.

Traditional hunting models are probably the most common 870s in civilian homes. The police model, with its shorter 18-inch barrel and larger magazine capacity, offers more practicality. Either one will serve the owner well, with greater reliability than most semi-auto shotguns. I have taken everything from birds to varmints to big game with a 12 gauge 870. Not to mention the shotgun is an effective deterrent against two legged pests.

TWO MORE

Now imagine for a moment that we have the luxury of two other guns at our disposal. To me, the ideal ones are—

A Bolt-Action Rifle

Remington 700
Remington 700 in .308 with custom shortened barrel.

As with the AR-15, the brand and model are less important as there are many choices with legendary track records. It’s comforting to know that, with the assistance of an optic, the little arsenal includes something that can be effective at long distances for most game and any precision shooting needs. The ideal caliber would be .308 or 30-06, both of which are more or less commonly available. Both can effectively take any game in North America and of course provide greater long range precision capabilities.

Rate of fire and weight are potential drawbacks with this firearm. In comparison to others here, this platform requires greater knowledge and time investment on the part of the operator to accomplish the long-range feats it’s capable of.

A .22 Rimfire

The Ruger 22, the Bearcat revolver and 10/22 takedown

There’ll be plenty of nay-sayers for this cartridge as a final choice, but the .22 has been a ballistic tool of choice for hunters, assassins, farmers, and housewives for over a century. It’s eliminated countless barnyard varmints and more good and bad guys than I care to count. If we as consumers discount the memory of the days when .22 was three cents per round, the cost and availability factors aren’t as dire as it once was just a mere year ago.

Notice there’s no make and model named in the subheading—that’s a reflection of how difficult it is to choose among the many candidates. In the end, utility is king. Some my favorites are the Ruger 10-22 takedown, Ruger 22 Bearcat, S&W Model 17 Revolver or the KelTec PMR or CMR 30 in 22 magnum (if you have a good supply of 22 mag ammo). Choices in this category are endless and should boil down to what you have experience and confidence in. Another consideration, five hundred rounds of .22 is portable in comparison to other calibers.

Many will likely argue that a .22 rifle is preferable to a .22 handgun. And I’d not argue back much, especially when discussing a firearm for a beginner to use effectively. In a world where the return on investment of both resources and calories is key, perhaps a .22 should be at the top of this list.

IN CONCLUSION, this is obviously one person’s opinion. There are virtually endless choices and considerations—for example, what if the environment was urban or in a foreign country? List your own version of this TOP 5 in the comments.

6 Commonly Misused Gun Terms

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misused gun terms

Here are six commonly misused gun terms, and what to say instead

One thing that nobody ever likes, is to look dumb for not knowing the lingo in any hobby. The gun industry, while generally filled with a nice bunch of people, has a few bad apples with a primary life mission of correcting people who use wrong terminology when it comes to guns.

I’m a firm believer that if you’re going to do something, you may as well do it to the best of your ability, which includes using the right words when talking to others who share your affection for whatever it is you’re talking about.

That being said, if after reading this you still want to use the incorrect words, do whatever floats your boat.

One thing I wanted to do, was compile a list of popular misused gun terms, and the more acceptable words you can use, instead, to help you out a bit. This list is meant for everyone both new to guns, and those of you who have been around for a while.

Is it a clip or magazine?

I volunteer my time at a local gunshop a couple days per week, just to get out of the house and have some adult conversation. Whenever someone comes in and asks me for a clip, I have to admit that I do get a little confused and ask for clarification.

While many people from younger generations will tell you that there is no such thing as a clip, there actually is. It’s just not the part of the gun you think it is.

On modern firearms, the part where the ammo is actually held and fed into the gun is not actually called a “clip.” The proper word for that thing, is called a magazine.

Where it can get a bit confusing, is when you realize that there are gun parts that utilize a clip, and it does have to do with ammo.There are things called “stripper clips,” and some older rifles made use of a clip.

But, your AR-15s, Glocks, 1911s, and almost all other firearms use a magazine of some sort, whether internal or external. “Magazine” is the correct terminology to use when talking about it.

Is it a bullet or cartridge?

Okay, so when you go to the store and buy a box of ammo, each individual thing inside of that box is technically called a cartridge. Calling it a “bullet,” while everyone should know what you’re talking about, is technically wrong.

The cartridge is the whole thing from the primer and the case, to the bullet and the powder.

The bullet, on the other hand, is just the part that shoots out the barrel of the gun. Let’s make it a bit more confusing, by telling you that the word “bullet” can also be interchanged with the word “projectile.”

Again, that’s the part that you hope to hit your target or assailant with, when you put the squeeze on the trigger.

When we speak about ammunition on our humble little website, we actually use the term “self-defense cartridge” or just “cartridge” because that is the proper term for it. There will be many more articles about ammo and self-defense cartridges in the future.

Assault Rifle As An AR-15?

Something misconstrued by many on the left, and those new to the gun world because they listen to them, is the term “assault rifle.” That type of rifle is something used by the military, and is generally not something made available to the public on a mass scale.

The AR-15s found in all gun-owner’s safes are in fact a variant of the first rifle of this type, made by a company called Armalite. In fact, the AR doesn’t stand for “assault rifle” but “Armalite Rifle.”

To expand on this a bit more, an “assault rifle” is something that is usually a selective fire weapon, meaning that it can shoot semi-automatic, or automatic depending on which setting is selected (hence the term, selective fire).

If I were you, I’d just nix that term from my vocab completely, if you use it. Instead, refer to them as “rifles,” AR-15, or AK-47.

Suppressor, Silencer, or Can?

Personally speaking, I hate the word “can.” A “can” is an object that holds food or something else to be used at a later time. A suppressor, on the other hand, is an object used to muffle sound.

However, more people are calling them “cans,” which, even though it drives me nuts, is apparently an acceptable description for a “suppressor.”

What a suppressor does not do, however, is “silence” a firearm. Because there are physics behind the explosion of the gun powder in your cartridge that have nothing to do with the suppressor itself, it cannot silence everything. The action of the firearm, for example, cannot be silenced.

It can be quieted with different ammunition, but never totally silent. Therefore, many folks scoff at the term “silencer” when talking about a suppressor.

Calling it a silencer in some company is unsafe, while calling it a suppressor is always safe.

Is it a pistol, a handgun, or revolver?

This one can be tough, and I find that it really depends upon the age of the person doing the talking. The revolver is obvious, and refers to a “wheel gun” that makes use of a rotating cylinder to fire each round.

A pistol, on the other hand, generally refers to any handgun that is considered to be semi-automatic. (please note that I say “generally,” because there are exceptions to every rule)

A pistol can also be something that looks entirely like a rifle, but qualifies as a pistol from the ATF.

And, once again speaking generally, a handgun can be used to talk about all of the above.

What’s the diff between semi-auto and automatic?

A semi-automatic firearm is one that shoots one round per trigger function. In other words, when a round is in the chamber, and the trigger is pulled to the rearward position, the gun goes “bang.”

On the other end of the spectrum is a firearm which shoots many rounds with one function of the trigger. Or, when there is a round in the chamber and the trigger is pulled to the rearward position, the gun goes “bang bang bang bang bang” until the trigger is released, like the one in the following video:

This is important, because the media and gun-grabbers would love to have you believe that a semi-auto firearm is an automatic death killer ray gun from the future that shoots 47,000 rounds per minute and can zap bolts of lightning from the sky at people on the other side of the planet.

Idiots.

Which of these 6 misused gun terms have you heard before? Are there any that I missed? Which ones have you used in the past? Please fill me in below, in the comments section.

Check out my buddy Eric’s website, Pew Pew Tactical for more information on NFA items. 

 

Concealed Carry Revolver: A Tale of 2 Six Guns For Everyday Carry

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When it comes to firearms I have wide and varied tastes. From antiques to the latest tactical lead-slingers, if you can use it to put steel on target then I am in. I have owned many different firearms over the years from single action black-powder Colt replicas to Gen IV Glocks, flintlock Pennsylvania rifles to the Colt M4 and everything in between.

My love affair with big-bore handguns started at age 13 when my step-dad and his cousin thought it would be funny to have me touch off a .44 Rem Mag from a Thompson Contender. The recoil was substantial, the muzzle blast was deafening, and I was hooked. Since then I have owned and shot countless handguns in calibers ranging from .44 S&W Special to the mighty .454 Casull and beyond.

While my everyday carry piece has been a variety of semi-auto pistols for several years now, I have been toying with breaking into the safe and dusting off one of my trusty wheel-guns to do daily duty. Now I have read and heard all the arguments in favor of the semi-auto for defensive carry and for the most part agree wholeheartedly with them. However, there is still an argument to be made for the simplicity and inherent reliability of a double action revolver.

When I started digging through the safe I settled on two of my favorite revolvers, a S&W Model 22-4 Thunder Ranch and a Ruger Redhawk both in .45 ACP. Now choosing a favorite between these two revolvers is like trying to choose a favorite between my kids. So I figured I would do a full comparison of the two on their merits to figure out which would reside in my holster for the foreseeable future.

A little background.

The Smith and Wesson model 22 traces its lineage back to the beginning of the last century in 1908 when S&W introduced the .44 Hand Ejector, First Model “New Century”, better known as the “Triple Lock”. These were the handguns that Elmer Keith used to develop .44 Special loads that eventually gave rise to the .44 Remington Magnum.

The First Model was discontinued in 1915 and was replaced by the Second Model which was adapted to fire .45 ACP by using half-moon clips. Dubbed the M1917 by the Army Ordnance Department it was adopted to supplement the M1911 during World War I and saw service thru the Vietnam War. It was sold commercially as the Model 1950 and was reintroduced as the limited production Thunder Ranch revolver.

The Ruger Redhawk was first introduced in 1979 by Sturm, Ruger and Co., Inc. The Redhawk was initially chambered in .44 Magnum and was produced to compete with the S&W model 29 which were in short supply due to the popularity of the “Dirty Harry” movies of the late seventies.

The Redhawk is a beefier, scaled up version of the Security Six line of revolvers. It was unique in that it used a one piece frame, unlike other double-action revolvers that had removable side plates giving it unsurpassed strength. In 2015 Ruger introduced the Redhawk with a 4 inch barrel and round butt in a .45 Colt/.45 ACP chambering that had the cylinder machined from the factory to accept .45 ACP using full moon clips.

On the bench.

The Thunder Ranch measured out with the following dimensions using my own “scientific” equipment; steel ruler, dial caliper, trigger pull gage, and my wife’s digital kitchen scale.

Overall Length – 9 3/8 inches

Overall height – 5 ¼ inches

Width at cylinder – 1.715 inches

Stock width @ grip screw – 1.2 inches

Single action trigger pull – 4.5 pounds (average of 3 pulls)

Empty weight – 36.7 ounces

 

The Redhawk measured out to the following dimensions with the aforementioned equipment.

Overall length – 9 3/8 inches

Overall height – 5 ¾ inches

Width at cylinder – 1.78 inches

Stock width @ grip screw – 1.285 inches

Single action trigger pull – 6.5 pounds (average of 3 pulls)

Empty weight – 45 ounces

On the range.

 

Shooting these revolvers is a blast to say the least. Felt recoil was surprisingly light due to factors like weight and grip design. Both revolvers were fired at ranges of 7 to 25 yards in both double and single action modes. I have 2 sets of aftermarket grips for the S&W, but due to an extremely limited aftermarket for the round-butt Redhawk (read non-existent) I put the factory stocks back on for the comparison to compare apples to apples.

I have owned the Thunder Ranch for a couple of years now and it came used with the Hogue monogrip installed. I have also purchased a Pachmayr gripper grip for it as well. I have shot it extensively with both and have found it to be less than comfortable. Both of the aftermarket grips for the Smith always seemed to direct the recoil right into the meaty part of my hand between my thumb and trigger finger. After a couple of cylinders of hardball I would start to anticipate the pain that I knew was coming, leading to less than satisfactory shot groups.

This was my first time shooting the Thunder Ranch with the factory stocks and I have to say that at first they felt a little funky in my hand while holding the revolver. I am used to grips on a revolver that put my trigger finger a little more in line with the trigger. The factory stocks seem small and my trigger finger at full extension lay across the gap where the bottom of the cylinder and frame meet. I know why the Tyler T-Grip is so popular for these models. However; when it comes to felt recoil, whoever designed these stocks should be given a promotion. The width of the factory stocks spread the recoil out into my hand to the point where after 150 rounds of factory FMJ I had no tenderness in my hand whatsoever.

In addition to what I would call mild recoil, the muzzle flip was controllable to the point that I had no issues getting off double-taps and running a Mozambique drill (two to the chest, one to the head) was also within the realm of reality. The rudimentary sights (grooved top-strap and half-moon blade up front) were quick to line up and surprisingly easy to see. The wide blade up front makes it relatively easy to focus on your front sight when you are putting lead downrange. I was able to keep all but one in the black at 10 yards when I ran several double taps. Having never qualified past sharpshooter with the M9 during my career in the Marine Corps, I was surprised by how accurate this handgun was in my hands.

 

My first impression upon picking up the Ruger Redhawk was “this thing is a frigging tank”. At 45 ounces empty, it is without a doubt a heavy revolver. It is very well balanced though and points easily. The stocks are also very well designed to do a very good job of spreading out felt recoil. The weight helps soak up a lot of the felt recoil and muzzle flip as well. The double action trigger is a hair smoother than the Smith and I could actually feel the cylinder lock up during a long, deliberate double action pull. That being said it was very easy to shoot rapidly in double action mode.

The adjustable rear sight and red blade up front make it very easy to line up the sights and the quick change front sight will make it easy to swap for a fiber optic front sight in the future. My Redhawk grouped about 1.5 inches to the right of center and unfortunately I didn’t bring a screwdriver with me to the range so I wasn’t able to make any sight adjustments. The Ruger grouped just as nicely with the 230 gr FMJ as the Smith. My 10 yard double taps were surprisingly not as tight as with the Thunder Ranch and I apparently started to anticipate the recoil and push into it. However even with my pushing and jerking it still retained pretty good accuracy for a close range gunfight if it ever (God forbid) comes to that.

 

Overall impressions.

I was pleasantly surprised by the manners of the Thunder Ranch revolver even though I shouldn’t be. It was, after all designed to be a fighting revolver. The Ruger on the other hand owes its lineage to a revolver designed to soak up full power magnum loads and ask for more. It was designed originally for handgun hunters and was over-engineered in that respect. The fit and finish on both is what you should expect from these companies without a doubt.

The brushed stainless and checkered hardwood stocks on the Redhawk are just plain sexy in my opinion, although I have a built in bias towards stainless firearms as I think they just have a clean, sanitary look. The bluing on the Thunder Ranch however belies its true intent. It is deep and rich, definitely one of the nicer factory bluing jobs I have seen in a while. The Cocobolo wood contrasts nicely with the bluing and really makes this revolver almost more of a collector piece than a fighting handgun for carry.

Of course good looks aren’t everything and as they say in the car world “Chrome don’t get you home”, hits are the only thing that counts in a fight and both handguns are definitely capable of getting you home. The adjustable sights on the Ruger are much better suited for hunting in my opinion. Personally I just prefer fixed sights on a carry gun, as there is less chance of Senor Murphy showing up and screwing up my day. While I may have to try out different ammo to find one that shoots point of aim, once I do, game on.

Since I carry all day every day, weight will be another huge factor and the Thunder Ranch is the obvious winner here at almost 9 ounces lighter than the Redhawk. Remember we are going for concealed everyday carry here. As they say in the Infantry “ounces equal pounds, pounds equal pain” and if I don’t have to carry around an extra half pound strapped to my waist I’m not going to.

I am a Diesel Mechanic by trade and live by the adage of using the right tool for the job. My firearms are no different. If I am out in the woods in bear country the Ruger Redhawk would be my handgun of choice. It has the versatility of using both .45 ACP and .45 Colt and I would not feel under-gunned if I was carrying some Buffalo Bore 325 gr LFN ammo. I would also not be concerned about concealment while hiking or hunting in the woods and would probably be carrying the Redhawk in a hunting shoulder holster.

Since the job here is everyday concealed carry of a fighting handgun, I have to go with the Thunder Ranch for the win. With fixed sights that won’t work themselves out of alignment due to screws coming loose, lighter weight that won’t pull my spine out of alignment after 12 plus hours on my hip and quick reloads of accurate and powerful .45 ACP thanks to the use of full moon clips. The Thunder Ranch is what a fighting handgun is supposed to be: simple, accurate, and reliable enough to bet your life on.

Now I just need to wait for El Paso Saddlery to ship my holster …

Do you carry a revolver for your everyday carry? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you’re a revolver person, check out this interview with one of Colt’s VPs on their newest .38 wheel gun.

Colt’s New Snake Gun: 6-Shot Cobra .38 Revolver

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I had the chance to catch up with Paul, one of the VPs of Colt, who agreed to go on camera and talk about their new double action revolver, the Colt Cobra.

Colt Cobra
Colt Cobra

I first saw this .38 Special +P, 6-shot revolver at SHOT Show. Sadly, I didn’t have time to shoot it at the range, but I wish I had. At first glance, while walking around their booth in Vegas, I thought that it was just another .38 revolver as if the world didn’t have enough of them already.

I had some misgivings about it, like why isn’t it polished up for its demanded price tag? Where is the .357 Magnum revolver at? Why not give us what we really want, which is another .357 Magnum Snake Gun? (think Python, Anaconda, etc., not those guns designed to kill slithering serpents)

I do have to admit, though, that my thoughts changed after talking to Paul about it and really getting my hands on it. This isn’t just another .38 revolver …

First, let’s get the price out of the way. $699 is a decent chunk of change, especially when there are plenty of others on the market for a lot less than that. Then again, this is a small-framed 6-shot .38 revolver capable of handling the extra pressure the +P cartridges provide.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe any of the other major gun makers currently offer .38 revolvers in a 6-shot platform in a gun of this size. This, by itself, is a huge benefit of the Colt Cobra that seems to fill a gap in the market.

After all, if given the choice between five or six cartridges in my self-defense gun, I know I’d pick six all day long.

Revolver VS Pistol, which is better?

Let’s move on.

One thing that drives me absolutely nuts about most revolvers, and why I don’t own as many of them as I’d like, is the overall small size of the trigger guard. Most of the revolvers out there right now offer a very narrow gap between the trigger and the steel that protects it.

I have huge hands with sausages for fingers so you can imagine why this would be a problem.

In fact, I can barely get my finger inside those small guards, and the size of the gun doesn’t really seem to matter because even the bigger revolvers tend to have a very narrow guard.

Extended shooting periods, especially where rapid fire is involved, tend to chew my trigger finger up on the only revolver I have right now, a Charter Arms Off Duty.

Compare the guard of the below picture, with the Colt Cobra above, and you’ll see what I mean:

Charter Arms Off Duty
Charter Arms Off Duty snub in .38 Special

The Cobra is a bit bigger than many of the other revolvers in this category. It’s got a snubby 2” barrel, but Colt extended the grip out a bit more, increasing the overall length enough that you wouldn’t want to stick the Cobra in your pocket holster.

Overall length is 7.2 inches with a height of 4.9 inches, and it weighs in at a hefty 25 ounces (empty). I say “hefty” because the average snub nose revolver is in the 14-17 ounce range.

While the Colt Cobra seems heavy, remember that you’ve got a cylinder that’s a bit bigger, with all steel construction. Most others are an alloy.

Here’s another offering from Colt, while at SHOT Show 2017:

Plus, when it’s all said and done, that extra weight will only help the operator manage the recoil of the higher pressure +P self-defense cartridges.

While I wasn’t impressed at first, I’m currently pleased that Colt decided to offer this small snake gun up. The next step for me, is to actually get my hands on one to solidify my argument for it. What do you think? Is this a home run for Colt? Or, should they have gone in a different direction? Let us know in the comments below.

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They also just released their newest snake gun, the King Cobra in 357 Magnum. Check it out.