carry options for [email protected] 637 airweight 38.

hicap36 said:

I have been thinking about buying a light weight snubbie for some time and finally decided to buy one. :biggrin: For those of you who carry one on a regular basis or just want to pitch in,I would like some input on carry options.iwb or inside the pocket or ankle holsters would be how i would carry it.any opinions would be appreciated.Also Ammo of choice for personal protection.

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I think you'll really like it. I almost, almost bought the 637 but found a good deal on a 642. They're basically the same gun in most regards.

It's the gun I actually carry the most often. I've only made one change and that was switching out for some new grips which made a world of difference. The 637 and 642 come with the same grips unless you have a 642 that came with the Crimson Trace grips from the factory.

I tried the ankle route and just couldn't find a way to make that work for me. I found it too inacessible most of the time.

I normally carry it in a pocket. I use a Mika's pocket holster. Don't let the low price fool you these are custom made by a veteran beat cop who knows what works and what doesn't.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/index.html

This is not a factory holster it is a custom made holster made just for your gun just for you to your specifications. I have purchased several of his products and can vouch for the quality, speed, and excellent service I received. I need to get around to having him make me a couple more holsters actually.

I do have a Mika's IWB holster which comes in handy once in a blue moon. I think I've used it twice.

With a gun in a caliber this low powered with such a short barrel selecting good ammunition is key. The good news is you have several respectable choices.

I personally use a Speer Product. I have included its specifications and ballistics chart as an attachment to this post. Some people feel that the bullet design of the Hydrashok is superior however, but I think they're both good choices.

I find it reassuring that the muzzle energy out of a 2" bbl is reported to be 222 ft lbs, which compares very favorably to the 485 ft. lbs I am probably getting from my .40 Golden Sabers. Of course what the heck does all that really mean in the real world anyway, YMMV, batteries not included, etc.

A front pocket holster allows you a distinct advantage on the street: If someone approaches you and you feel threatened, you can slide your hand into your pocket and attain a firing grip without attracting any attention or causing the situation to escalate. If the potential BG turns out to be a non-threat, then you merely take your hand back out of your pocket. If a threat does materialize, then you can have it in the BG's face, with a bullet thru his nose easily in a half second. There isn't another concealment holster on the planet that can do that.
I have been making pocket holsters for years, and really feel them to be probably the best carry system for those that like small guns and wear clothing that permit their use (ie: Dockers/cargo shorts/suits/dress slacks). However, They don't usually work worth a crap in jeans.
Ankle rigs are great if you are seated (ie: in a vehicle) but are otherwise too slow to allow you to be anything but a dead guy with a gun on his ankle.
Shoulder rigs are really special purpose tools for those that are seated a lot (ie: pilots, chauffeurs, stake-out personnel and executive/dignitary protection types.) They have a lot of drawbacks for general defensive use (ie: they cause you to typically swing the firearm past the target, and take precious time to re-align your sights, and make it very easy to be disarmed and killed with your own weapon.)
The other carry method that I would strongly recommend is a strong side IWB or OWB holster. It will typically allow you to use only an un-tucked shirt as a cover garment and allows you to draw and present the weapon in a straight line with your target - which is much faster than a cross-draw of any kind - including shoulder rigs.
Most shooters spend a lot of money trying a bunch of different carry systems that end up in a box in a closet some place. I hope that perhaps I can help you avoid these problems and find something that works well for you the first time around. Please feel free to call me for a free consultation @ 423.733.1779. Good luck!