Possible carry gun switch up

[Jem45472]

I've been carrying my ruger lc9s for the last couple years, and feel it's a perfect ccw piece. Small, light, 8 rounds of 9mm on tap, and a really nice light striker trigger.

I have recently inherited my father in laws j frame model 36 which was his personal bug. I find myself wanting to make this my new primary ccw as it obviously has sentimental value and is basically the same size and weight. It's obvious limitations are 5 rounds of standard pressure 38 special, the sights are not as good as the ruger, and a fairly heavy double action trigger. (Although the single action is very nice)

I don't get out to shoot very often, and know for a fact that even with practice, I will always be able to shoot the ruger better. Will I be making a mistake by switching to the ultra reliable revolver vs the easy to shoot, 9mm with more capacity. I pretty much know the answer to my question, but really do like my new acquisition.

 

[misunderestimated]

I used to carry a colt detective special in the 80's Now I carry a semi Auto with back up magazines.

All that being said good luck with your choice and try and get more range time in. I got into competitions to get trigger time in

 

[Marine Cpl]

Yes. It will handicap you if you ever need it. I would just use it as a range gun and keep it as a memento. But that's just me.

 

[minderasr]

Why not carry both? Use the Model 36 as a BUG.

 

[Mk44]

OP... "I don't get out to shoot very often, and know for a fact that even with practice, I will always be able to shoot the ruger better."

Carry what you can shoot well with/comfortable with. In a life/ death situation, you'll need to depend on that weapon.
Congrats on inheriting the S&W. Nice.

 

[FLA45fan]

I love j frames and carried one for years. But I find comfort in the extra round count and accuracy of both my Bodyguard 380 and Glock 43. If I had your choice I would stick with the Ruger. Don't choose sentimental over practical. Not to mention the weight factor, doesn't the Ruger weigh less?

 

[Criticalt]

For awhile I had the same issue as you.
For a year and a half I carried my Shield 9mm exclusively. I had the 8 round mag and a 7 round backup mag.
Then I bought an SP101 .357 5 shot.
I really, really liked the look and feel of the SP101, so I wanted to carry it. I bought a nice holster which wss comfortable.
After a few FOF and cover training I realized the 5 rounds just didnt make me feel safe. I tried speed loaders but they were bulky to carry and not very speedy compared to magazines.
I do still carry the SP101 sometimes when Im just out and about in our small community but carry the Shield everywhere else.
Ive had some people say you should carry the same gun all the time so not to confuse you it a time of pressure.
After several combat deployments and a job that is very stressful, Ive got pressure nailed.

 

[Jem45472]

Thanks all for stating what I really knew anyways. Sometimes just need to hear it from others. I've decided I'll stick with the ruger and carry the j frame only when pocket carry is called for. Strangely, they are pretty damn close to same size, but the ruger can't squeeze into my jeans, while the revolver can.

 

[Bob]

Don't choose sentimental over practical.?

This. But for another reason.
If you have to shoot someone with it, it'll be taken from you as evidence. It'll be poked and prodded, maybe disassembled, maybe not reassembled correctly. If you're convicted, you'll never EVER get it back, and you'll lose the chance to pass it on to someone special. If you're acquitted, you may or may not get it back, and it may or may not be in working order.

Sentimental guns are best kept at home, shown off, and stories told about. Keep the workhorse as your EDC piece.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[Bananabandit]

My j frame is my normal ccw. Carry whats most comfortable for you.

 

[prambo]

I used to carry a colt detective special in the 80's Now I carry a semi Auto with back up magazines.

All that being said good luck with your choice and try and get more range time in. I got into competitions to get trigger time in

Yup, me too. And a S&W PD340 with 2 speed strips.

To quote the Eagles in "Life In The Fast Lane" - "...everything all the time."

 

[Darth]

I see all negatives and no positives?

I don't buy the "revolvers are more reliable " nonsense.

 

[misunderestimated]

I see all negatives and no positives?

I don't buy the "revolvers are more reliable " nonsense.

I can tell you I also never paid any mind to a revolver being more reliable then a semi auto. I practice all kind of drills to work thru a jamb.

Then one day I was at the range running thru a box of Walmart Winchester white box ammo and I fired my gun and it was quieter then normal and locked up solid. the gun was useless. What happened was the casing never had its primer port drilled so when the primer went off the was no room for the energy to go so the primer pushed itself out of the cartridge and wedged it self against the breach requiring the assistance of some firm whacks with a leather mallet to get the gun opened again. The first any only time I ever had a semi fail and it was un usable . Allthough I mostly carry a semi ,and would rather take my chances with a semi. I have seen first hand how a simple problem as a blocked primer could render a semi useless

 

[Darth]

I can tell you I also never paid any mind to a revolver being more reliable then a semi auto. I practice all kind of drills to work thru a jamb.

Then one day I was at the range running thru a box of Walmart Winchester white box ammo and I fired my gun and it was quieter then normal and locked up solid. the gun was useless. What happened was the casing never had its primer port drilled so when the primer went off the was no room for the energy to go so the primer pushed itself out of the cartridge and wedged it self against the breach requiring the assistance of some firm whacks with a leather mallet to get the gun opened again. The first any only time I ever had a semi fail and it was un usable . Allthough I mostly carry a semi ,and would rather take my chances with a semi. I have seen first hand how a simple problem as a blocked primer could render a semi useless

I've had literally the same thing happen with a revolver. Primer wasn't seated enough. Locked the whole thing up. Real PITA to fix.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I've had literally the same thing happen with a revolver. Primer wasn't seated enough. Locked the whole thing up. Real PITA to fix.

I remember you posting on that. Wasn't that on your .500? It didn't work with a certain brand of ammo and you had to send it in.

 

[Darth]

I remember you posting on that. Wasn't that on your .500? It didn't work with a certain brand of ammo and you had to send it in.

Nope, but that was another revolver failure.

Turns out it was the ammo.

 

[Exonautic]

This. But for another reason.
If you have to shoot someone with it, it'll be taken from you as evidence. It'll be poked and prodded, maybe disassembled, maybe not reassembled correctly. If you're convicted, you'll never EVER get it back, and you'll lose the chance to pass it on to someone special. If you're acquitted, you may or may not get it back, and it may or may not be in working order.

Sentimental guns are best kept at home, shown off, and stories told about. Keep the workhorse as your EDC piece.

Just my humble opinion.

this was also my first thought when you said that you love the gun. never carry something that you would want to be able to pass down.

 

[Calculon]

Keep it at home and the range and enjoy it there. I have a blued model 36 (your stainless looks sweet) which I like a lot but I would probably only carry it as a bug. I'd rather have the extra rounds in my EDC with back up mags.

 

[Doc8404]

Yes. It will handicap you if you ever need it. I would just use it as a range gun and keep it as a memento. But that's just me.

Same unless you carry both.
Whatever you carry, make that your primary for practice. On the advice of a well known instructor, I stopped bringing 3-4 pistols with me to the range and just shoot my ccw.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Same unless you carry both.
Whatever you carry, make that your primary for practice. On the advice of a well known instructor, I stopped bringing 3-4 pistols with me to the range and just shoot my ccw.

That's what I do. I don't shoot pistols as a hobby. I never like it compared to a rifle. That I could shoot all day. So when I do shoot pistol, I only shoot my CCW to get better at it.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I'm on the other side of the isle, I go shooting on a regular basis and my prefered shooting is handguns. I'll take a couple of rifles in 22lr, 17HMR or 22mag. But I'll take at least five to seven handguns.

As far as the original post goes, I'd carry the Ruger and leave the nice Model 36 at home and just use it for a pleasure gun at the range.
Like posted, if you do have to use it for any reason they will take it until all legal action has been completed and then some time before you get it back, if you ever do being in the Communist State of New Yorkistan.

If you want to carry a J-Frame go out and buy a Smith 642 Airweight, under $500 and a hell of a nice carry gun. I've carried mine EveryDay/AllDay for over six years now and wouldn't go back to any semi as an every day carry gun.

To each their own, there's pro's & con's in every type & caliber of gun out there. So carry what YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

I have an older friend in his early eighties that carries a small North American Arms Mini-22lr revolver. He's happy and feels safe with it so good for him.
Another friend in his late sixties carries a 22lr revolver that folds in to the plastic grip with the belt clip. He feels the same was as the older gentleman does so go be happy my friend.

 

[Darth]

That's what I do. I don't shoot pistols as a hobby. I never like it compared to a rifle.

That's almost as un-American as being left handed!

You disgust me!

 

[stokes]

Thats a mod 60,the 36 was the blued version.I've been carrying a 60 for over 30 yrs.I do also carry a Glock 19 and a Springfield xd in .45.I'm comfortable with all three.

 

[HighlandLofts]

If you want a j-frame to carry the Smith model 37 is the air weight model of the Smith 36.
I picked both models up a couple of years ago after doing a couple of dove releases, my dove release money accounts for some of my gun money.

 

[Jem45472]

Thats a mod 60,the 36 was the blued version.I've been carrying a 60 for over 30 yrs.I do also carry a Glock 19 and a Springfield xd in .45.I'm comfortable with all three.

It's a 36. They came blued and with a nickel finish. The 60 is stainless, and I would like one of those eventually.

 

[stokes]

Didnt know the 36 came in nickel,thought the one in the pic was stainless.

 

[Jem45472]

Didnt know the 36 came in nickel,thought the one in the pic was stainless.

Wish it was stainless, easier to take care of.

 

[Jem45472]

I used to carry a colt detective special in the 80's Now I carry a semi Auto with back up magazines.

All that being said good luck with your choice and try and get more range time in. I got into competitions to get trigger time in

I used to shoot archery competitively years ago and thought I would join a pistol league, unfortunately my work schedule interferes.

 

[Acer-m14]

carry both .. NYC reload .. my dad had a snubby 32cal revolver , you couldn't hit a outhouse with it from 6 feet away .. he told me its a rib sticker thats why ..
stick it in his ribs ... bang .. LOL ..

 

[FLA45fan]

Thanks all for stating what I really knew anyways. Sometimes just need to hear it from others. I've decided I'll stick with the ruger and carry the j frame only when pocket carry is called for. Strangely, they are pretty damn close to same size, but the ruger can't squeeze into my jeans, while the revolver can.

Yeah, that is the one thing about a revolver, because of the taper of the barrel and grip they sometimes fit a bit better and print less. My wife can spot the auto way before the snubbie.