OT...Concealed Carry...

[Hankster]

How many here, if any, carry a SAA style gun as opposed to the auto's everyone seems to want to carry??? I have a 9mm carrygun, but there are times I wonder.... I naturally shoot a SSA (mines a Uberti) better than the auto.... don't seem to have to "focus" as much to "drop em in there".....
and if so, WHAT do you carry it in, holster style wise??

[OI phones in...]

My primary carry is an SP101. My duty gun is a G17. I have a G19, but I keep a .22 upper on it for cheap trigger-time... So, no, I don't carry an SA revolver, but I do prefer to carry a revolver for defensive purposes...

[Hillbilly]

I have heard that a few rural agencies still allow the SAA for carry in the West, Southwest parts of the US.

Not problem with the caliber... a 357 is a 357.. but the SAA is slow to reload if you have to. 45 Colt would be a decent choice also.

Keep in mind the 1911 is a "traditional western gun" in the mind of many of us. If I came up against a gremlin with a Glock or Hi Point (lol) I figure a good DA revolver or reliable, major caliber, semi auto would level the feild.

Scott T... who used to post here often had a very nice Storekeeper's SAA made up for his daily carry gun... and some ccw holster for it.

[adirondakjack]

I've carried em all, big and small, wheelguns and bottom feeders from a Tomcat to a Virginian Dragoon. In the end my go-to gun is a BERSA Thunder .380 (ppk clone). It's never even threatened to hiccup, feeds anything, and shoots where I point it. I trust it more than the 1911 and it packs better than a revolver. For the woods, I favor a blackhawk or vaquero in .45.

[AJMD429]

Back when it was a choice between a Ruger Mk I in .22 LR or a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Magnum, and I worked evenings and nights in pharmacies and hospitals, I chose the Super Blackhawk and a Bianchi shoulder holster. Since I was in Ohio, which at the time had a 'safe haven for violent criminals' law banning concealed carry, I was always nervous the big gun would be seen, but I was lucky.

Another concern would have been if I had to use it, the accusation would surely be that I was playing 'Dirty Harry' and seeking, rather than avoiding, conflict, and juries are notorious for falling for that kind of drivel.

Eventually I got a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special, which was more sensible.

After 30 years of cycling through everything from North a American Arms .22 LR to a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum, a Calico 9mm (100 round magazine, no less), and a SP101 in .357 Magnum , I finally came back to a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special, just like the 'old days' - only in stainless.

[BigSky56]

Only have wheel guns I usually carry a ruger 22 mag for work and pleasure, if I am in the backcountry with just a belly gun its a 45 colt. danny

[JerryB]

My grandson and I both carry sixguns for CCW fairly regular. I carry a 1957 Colt .45 5 1/2 " in a Mernickle and he carries a Ruger NV .357 4 5/8 or what ever it is, either in a Mernickle or mexican style.We both feel that we are not at a disadvantage with them.

[David]

Nope, Sig P225 in a Crossbreed.

[Rusty]

Years ago before the popularity of all the wondernines most law enforcement shootouts lasted something like 3.2 rounds. Given that number I doubt a body would be at that much of a disadvantage with a SAA. Now with the spray and pray mentality I'd say those number have gone way up. If YOU have confidence in your SAA and your ability to use it then it's most likely your best choice. I think I would practice my tactical reloads with it though, if you even carry spare ammo.

[COSteve]

Depends where I'm CCW my rig and what I expect to need it for.

My primary CCW is a 40s&w Glock 23. 14rds of 180grn Speer Gold Dots is comforting. However, when I'm hiking around in the Rockies I carry my 10mm 6" slide Glock 20L under my coat with 18rds aboard.

I might just carry my new 357mag 7.5" Uberti '73 in the woods when I go out with one of my 357mag leverguns. While only 6rds aboard, because it uses the same ammo as my rifle, it would simplify things in that respect.

You know, I just love to have these choices!

[fordwannabe]

It just plain depends on the situation. I normally carry a 1911, but have used a model 66 and a ruger SBH with 4 5/8 oh yeah sometimes my sig 229. For a number of years I carried a tiny single shot 410 with 000 buck not easy to reload but at table distances it was devasting on watermelon, and went with me everywhere. I would rather have that than nothing was my thought Tom

[Hankster]

Well my current "carry gun" is a CZ75BD....15+1...... good gun, but I'm a "cowboy" at heart.... I have a Cattlemen .357 5 1/2 SA.... also a Taurus 689(never a problem) 6" .357... plus my kid wants the CZ.... I want a Rossi 92 in .357... so the "trade" value is good, but I'm torn between letting it go for the rifle, or having to wait a good while for cash... i'm now between jobs so... cash is in short supply for toys! ARRGH! 4 months ago things were rosy...... decisions decisions.... I hate em!

[Lobo]

Hi All,

Here's a high ride holster that you could carry your revolver in.....

http://www.mernickleholsters.com/ps/bwcc_saa.html

I like it !!

[AJMD429]

You know, I just love to have these choices!

I'll second that...!

[TedH]

G36 in a Supertuck.

[tman]

colt ssa is a thing of beauty. colt 1911a1 is a thing of beauty. but ,if your butt is on the line, a glock 27 .40s&w with a 13 shot clip is gonna save you

[Hankster]

That Mernickle is GREAT looking!! Bookmarked it for future reference! I'll probably keep the CZ.... and WAIT for the 92, bummer. You're probably right, in todays world, hi cap is as important as accuracy given the stuff ones adversary most likely will have. Pity..what's the world coming to!?!?! Glocks are nice, but I cannot fault the CZ!! In the Hankster torture test, i could not make it FTF, stovepipe, jam, misfire, or ANYTHING! It's stone reliable! Designed like a 1911, as in a MILITARY sidearm.... loose fit, doesn't jam.

[20cows]

Most of the time I carry a Kimber compact (1911), but there are times in cool weather (it's blued and I sweat) I carry a Uberti SAA in .45 Colt.

[JerryB]

Hankster, the Mernickle PS6SA is the holster that my grandson and I carry. My big Colt .45 carries real nice under a sports jacket on Sunday.

[Cruise]

I primarily carry Colt LW OFC in either Mernickle PS6SA or Milt Sparks IWB (summer). Also have Ruger 45LC, Birdshead with 3" bbl in a Mernickle PS6SA. Prefer the Colt. Sometimes substitute the a Colt Govt (1943) model for the LW Ofc Model, especially in winter. Don't shoot the Govt. too much as I understand the slide is not the best metal for long term hard use.

Stoke the Colts with ball for the first 4 rounds followed by HP. Reverse the load in summer. Reportedly, ball handles thick winter clothing better. No experience factor in this.

The important thing is not what you carry but that you carry.

[Lastmohecken]

I have carried a Colt clone, 45 colt, with a 5.5 inch barrel on occasion, usually on the farm, or in my truck. I might carry it more if I had a good CCW holster for it. I have no problems with carrying a single action, as I feel much more confortable with it's 5 rounds of big 45's, vs 5 rounds in a Chief Special or any number of smaller autos, but I carry them all on occasion. However, my favorite CCW gun has usually been a Lightweight Commander, but I just got a sweet shooting Kimber Tatical Ultra 3 inch 1911, and it is very quickly becomming a favorite with me, as it packs a better punch then most smaller guns, and is still very concealable, and not too heavy.

This little Kimber so far has been 100% reliable, and if that keeps up, it will retire most of my other carry guns, to the back of my safe, it's that good.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Everday carry is an old m22 glock police trade in up dated with an NP3-ed slide and Troglo TFO sights. But, when it's cool enough for a sports coat and the occassion calles for it I'll carry this 45lc SAA as one of my Bar-B-Que gun in the Speed bucket shoulder rig.

[COSteve]

colt ssa is a thing of beauty. colt 1911a1 is a thing of beauty. but ,if your butt is on the line, a glock 27 .40s&w with a 13 shot clip is gonna save you

Not in the woods it's not! In truth, a 40s&w round shot from the short barrel of a G27 isn't powerful enough to do anything but annoy a dangerous 4 legged animal. Defense against 2 legged you are OK with one, but against a dangerous 4 legged (big cat or bear) as we find in the Rockies, you are grossly under gunned.

A 6" barreled 10mm with hot hardcast loads is really only the bare minimum against something dangerous in the woods. I feel fine with my custom G20L and 17+1 rds of hot 200grn hardcast hunting loads when I walk the Rockies no matter if it's for 2 or 4 legged defense but I wouldn't mind it if I had the same platform and capacity in a 44mag either.

[Doc Hudson]

Until I managed to loose my favorite fanny pack holster in a move, I regularly carried a4.75" Italian SAA in .44 S&W Special. Even without the fanny pack, i often carry it in a belt holster
Even now, I occasionally carry a cut-down M-1851 Colt Navy Mason-Richard Conversion in .38 S&W Special.

In fact, I am much more likely to carry a single-action revolve concealed than I am a semi-auto. I can shoot a single-action better, and I don't worry about a jam.

One thing, if you are packing an SAA for CCW, carry a pocket-pistol as backup. It will be lots faster drawing a second loaded gun that trying to reload you hogleg. Most of us ain't as fast as Jim Taylor when it comes to shucking empties and reloading.

My preferred backup for my .44 Italian SAA is an S&W M-640 in .357 Magnum

[Rexster]

I'll second Doc's recommendation to carry a small spare gun with an SAA or other SA sixgun. (BTW, guys, what is an SSA?) When I toted revolvers, it tended to be two of them, anyway. I now tend to tote two autopistols, the same personally-owned P229 pistols I carry on duty. Sometimes, it is one auto and one revolver. I don't carry an SA sixgun presently, for social purposes, because my chief won't let me qual with one, but within a decade, I will be retired. An SAA, along with a compact spare pistol, should be an easy-packin' combo.

[Hankster]

(BTW, guys, what is an SSA?)

>>>A TYPO!!! OOOPS!!

[Rexster]

(BTW, guys, what is an SSA?)

>>>A TYPO!!! OOOPS!!

Yep, that happens. Two posts contained "SSA," so I thought I'd mention it.

[Rexster]

Scott T... who used to post here often had a very nice Storekeeper's SAA made up for his daily carry gun... and some ccw holster for it.

ScottT's sixgun is a bit longer-barreled than a Storekeeper or Sheriff's Model, and a bit shorter than the normal 4-3/4". He just posted a pick of it on another forum. IIRC, it was from a run of sixguns made by USFA to commemorate an anniversary of the Shootists. The front sight has serrations on the rear face to cut down on glare. His holsters include a Summer Special, made by Milt Sparks, and what definitely appears to be a Sparks 200AW.