Hi All,
I'm reviewing CCW and carry in my truck options.
A while back I bought a GP100 w/ 6" bbl for target shooting. Love the durn thing. Very Accurate. Because of the .357's great reputation as a very powerful stopper, and my great experience w/ the above pistol I'm considering getting a 4" GP100. BUT, I've been giving this some major thought. The GP100 is kinda-big, a little klunky and hard to conceal, it only has six rounds. My Glock 19 (which I currently carry) it has a 15+1 capacity, is smaller, thinner and very easy to conceal and put in the truck. I know some might recommend a 3" GP100/SP101, which are smaller, but I think when you cut BBL length down to 3" in a 357 Mag, velocity is only a tad faster than a hot 9mm +P or +P+ load......why not stick with the G19. At this point I'm thinking I will stick with the G19.

Thoughts?

Some thoughts: (assuming having a loaded gun in the car is legal in your area):
1. If moving, the best defense is to drive out of trouble. Go faster, stop, slow down and turn, or run over the problem.
2. Driving or shooting..can't do both well. With a standard transmission, the shooting option removes shifting or steering.
3. Having touched off a full charged .357 inside of a car, can promise you it's a memorable experience. If you yell real loud as you fire, you might save most of your hearing.
4. Don't leave the gun in the car.

As for which gun, considering #4 , best to be one you can take with you.

Ramses,

It sounds like you are well on your way to making a good decision. I agree with you - that GP-100 is a big , heavy rascle. Your Glock 19 sounds like a fine sidearm for your purposes. I have carried a sidearm concealed for over a decade, and I have carried pistols and revolvers. At the present time, I have settled on a S&W model 66 with a 2.5" barrel. I carry it in a Milt Sparks PMK outside waisteband holster on a 1.5" gunbelt. I find this rig to be very comfortable. I have also found that I prefer revolvers to pistols. I have nothing against pistols, and I have some very good examples (S&W, Kahr, Glock, Sig Sauer,and H&K); but, revolvers just appeal more to me.

I don't concern myself too much with the cartridge other than its adequacey for personal defense. I want sufficient penetration (reliable expansion would be good, too). I test all the loads I consider for personal defense, and I've settled on the 38Spl. 158-grain LSWCHP +P load for my S&W 66. Sometimes I will carry my S&W 3953 (DOA compact 9mm pistol). This is a very nice pistol for concealed carry, and its trigger is very much like my revolver's. I have settled on Winchester-USA 147-grain JHP.

You had stated that you just might "stick with the G19". This sounds like a sound decision. The pistol is rugged, so it can "reside" in a hot and humid vehicle without much difficulty; and, it would be easy to replace if it were stolen. Besides, you are already familiar with its operation.

Happy Independence Day! :)
Rushbeau

I agree with above posters. Ribbonstones #3 has had my attention for a few years. I carry a short barrel .357 near all the time. It is loud even out in the wideopen. I carry it so I don't have to go get it when I need it.

I haven't needed it much for self-defence as of late, but it does get used for critter control pretty regular. Might not have time for earplugs(in my pocket). If I was going to go get muffs, I just as well grab a rifle while I'm at it!

I have taken to carry with the cylnder indexed to bring up two .38 specials first, followed by three magnums. I figure that if I need three(or more) to deal with whatever, I probably wont hear it anyway(reload).
My ears are pretty good to date. I do have confidence in my ammo selection. I stay as aware of, and as far away from trouble as I know how to be.

It is good that we have guns. Lets keep them badguys guessing?
Cheezywan

For those of you who have read this before, it's a re-run...but in this instance, worth repeating.

About 35 years ago, was using a S&W 4" mod. 28 as my car gun. When shooting in a gravel pit with firends, somehow the idea of actually shooting it from inside the car came up.

Now this was a 1966 VW bug. First off, with one hand to steer and one to shift, isn't much chance of shooting while driving. that got me to thinking about the usefullness of a car gun...would rather drive my way out of trouble, even if it were in a VW Bug.

Being winter the windows were rolled up...we "cheated" and lowered the passenger side window (in real life, it would have been up and I'd have had to shoot through the glass).

Now old guys will remember the VW ads where the guy drove one across the Mississipi river. New, with good rubber seals in the doors and bonnet, a VW is water proof and will float. New, you have a hard time shutting the door without cracking a window. This is very good in a flood pone area...but really magnifies the concusion of a firearm discharge.

So I got in...lined up on a target outside the passengerside window, and cut loose a 110gr. Super Vel load. To this day, i don't know if I hit the target or noe.

One of my Sunday school teachers was a WWII naval vet. from the Pacific..his advice for a really load noice without ear protection was to yell as loud as you can...idea being to get pressure on the inside of your eardrum to combat the pressure wave coming in from outside. It must have worked becasue I can still hear today (although I've lost the high ranges...agrrivates people to listen to my car radio as I've the base way dwon and the treble way up).

The muzzle flash left toated marks on the upholsery...the front windshild cracked (had a little rock chip...that became big spider web)...and I had a nose bleed.

Young and stupid just might go together for a reason.

I really didn't think I would have to include this in my post, but it's evident I must.

I am NOT looking for a gun fight, or in any way avoiding good judgement to use a firearm in self-defense. I believe is self-defense w/ a firearm ONLY if one's life or the lives of others are threatened AND there are no other alternatives (such as leaving or driving away). I will always be prudent and cautious, avoiding dangerous situations AT WHATEVER LENGTH NECESSARY. I pray that I NEVER have to shoot my firearm in self-defense. However, if I should have to, I would like to know that I am using a firearm/cartridge that will eliminate the immediate threat to my life or the lives of others.

I have my CCW, and it is legal in my state to have a loaded gun in the car if it is in a holster. I travel two to three times a month. The highways are long and sometimes I travel at night, which I try to avoid. If my truck breaks down, I don't want to be at the mercy of whoever or whatever, which has happened in my state and nearly happened to me, once.

I do NOT make a practice of carrying my gun in my truck or even on my person for that mater. Usually, only when I am traveling. I abide by all state and local laws while doing so.

I would certainly try to avoid shooting any firearm inside a vehicle. Only in an unavoidable and dire situation.

Sheesh.
:rolleyes:

There is no reason for you to justify yourself to me RamsesII. Or I to you. You asked a question on a public forum and you will get answers biased with personal opinion. Myself included. Is good that we discuss this here. It is much "food for thought".
You will decide for yourself what to do.
Cheezywan

Some real personal choices when carrying something that may or may not help ensure your survival in a worst-case scenario. You'll find some strong opinions, no doubt....

Carry what you are comfortable with, and you have confidence in.

I do carry a titanium snubbie .357... figure if the time comes to use it, whether or not my ears ring any worse will be far down on the list of problems being considered, right at that moment.

Have to say this.... out of all the handguns I could carry, the .45 ACP is the easiest on the ears. But it's a lot harder to carry a full sized .45 auto, than a snubbie .357 (which can't rust either, by the way).

Recent experinece has taught me that it DOES PAY to pre-think what you might need in a worst case bug-out. "Nice" goes out the window pretty darned fast.

Personally, in the last situation, I kind of "clinked" as I walked.

I've also been considering a defense weapon at home/car (CHL of course). I have a Taurus 41 Magnum that I love to shoot, but like someone said trying to use it as a defense weapon in the home or from a car would be deafening. So my question is what's about the biggest auto you can have in the home or in the car that won't blind you at night or knock out your hearing? How would the 40 cal Glock fit this discussion?

T. Kingfisher,

Your thinking about a handgun for use inside a dwelling seems to be on target :D . I know from experience that a 9mm (147JHP) launched inside the home is niether blinding, nor deafening. A .40S&W is quite loud, and so is a .45ACP. A .38Spl. would be the least noisy (of adequate defense cartridges).

But the reality is, you probably won't be training inside your house; and, if you were to expend ammunition for a serious purpose, you would not really be concerned about your ears at the time. If you like the Glock pistol and the .40S&W cartridge, by all means use them.

Best wishes,
Rushbeau

I don't think that any of us go out looking for a gun fight. Having said that, sometimes things come looking for us that we don't want.

I would pick a gun that fits your hand, as well as your skill level. I really like my 1911's in .45 acp, and my .44 mag revolvers the best, but my every day CCW carry piece is my Kahr Mk40. It's small enough to go everywhere with me, and I shoot it reasonably well.

As far as a gun for a vehicle, most of the car jackings I've heard about happened at times when you can't drive away, e.g. you're blocked in, and can't escape. Something you can quickly bring into action is necessary.

As much as I like my magnums, I think it would be really painful to shoot one in an enclosed space like a car or truck. You can really hear the difference between a low pressure round like a .45 acp and a higher pressure round like a .357 when shooting from a metal roofed shooting bench. I can even feel the shock wave from a .357 through my shoe tops when I'm shooting out in the open. I'll bet that would be really impressive inside a vehicle.

Ramsese II This is my personnal opinion. you sound like you have experiance with both revolvers and semi autos. As far as cartridge capacity don't worry about it. With S&W and Tarus having .357 mag revolvers that carry 7 & 8 rounds Capacity between revolvers and semi autos is almost meaningless. I have a ccw and like you I don't carry mine all the time. Some times I carry An s&W 696 .44 sp. and some times I carry my Glock 17. Most times that you have to pull your gun probably won't result in a shooting as the bad guy will decide to leave. If you do have to shoot you more than likely won't have to use more than 3 or 4 rounds. my best advise is get either a revolver or the Glock 19 (Glock makes good guns that are tough. I feel comfortable recommending Glocks.) It's really your choice get the one that you feel most comfortable with.

The M19 Glock is about the best carry gun. The 23 would also be good but I dont think theres enough difference to sell your 19 and get the 23. I use CorBon 115 grain ammo in my 9mm and dont worry about performance. Get a good inside holster and the 19 dissapears. Just my .02.

it is my opinion that the 45 ACP from a 5 inch barrel is not as loud as a 40 S&W from a 4 inch or so barrel. From a 3 inch barrel the 45 ACP is much louder to my ears.

Any compromise between concealability and power is going to limit your choices. Short barrels are LOUD, all of them. A 22LR from a 2 inch barrel is downright painful to me. My three-inch S&W M-65 is tolerable with warm 38 ammo, but is just plain brutal to be around with magnums. As far as flash and blast go, the 44 Special and the 45ACP are probably the kindest to your ears, due to lower chamber pressure. But they're ALL loud.

In a defensive situation, it's highly likely that you'd never even hear your own gunfire. Lordy, I hope that's true, I don't need to be flinching my shots wide when the bad guy is trying to kill me! But I also know that practice, GOOD practice, is still as much a key to survival as shot placement is.

Papajohn

As was said above, I also think the g19 is about the perfect size for carry.
9mm with the right ammo should be plenty. Unless of course you are like me and just want to buy more guns.
As for the noise, I wouldnt worry about it, your ears will stop ringing in about 3 days, if you survived the reason for shooting without hearing protection that is.