Modern bodyguard revolvers
Forget about your thousand comrades
And hundreds of other chimeras
You will never find a friend,
Than your combat revolver!
Adam Lindsay Gordon
And hundreds of other chimeras
You will never find a friend,
Than your combat revolver!
Adam Lindsay Gordon
stories about weapons. The previous material about compact pistols was generally liked by readers, but a number of questions were asked about it. First of all, about the source of information, like, “you didn’t write about everything” (it was about pistol cartridges). And the thing is that, as a rule, such materials are rewritten articles from various foreign magazines, in particular, the magazine “Ganz International”.
Of course, any topic can be expanded, and, moreover, expanded indefinitely. But is it worth it? In my opinion, it is much more useful to provide a readable text that can encourage the reader to independently search for the information that interests him. Not all of our "VO" readers receive this magazine, not all of them read it. So, it is better to have relatively small information than a "novel" of 25-30 thousand characters, which, in principle, cannot be read online. And there have been, are, and will be inaccuracies in any material, since they were in foreign authors. Everyone sees and writes in their own way. But to a certain extent, this is good, because it gives our readers the opportunity to show off their erudition and get satisfaction from numerous advantages. Well, there was also a request to read about pocket revolvers for everyday carry. We are fulfilling this request ...
So, let's look at the best 9mm revolvers for everyday carry (in the original, we are talking, apparently, about revolvers chambered for the 9mm Luger pistol cartridge). Let's remember that extracting spent cartridges with a modern accelerator - the Full Moon Clip - is quick and easy. Without it, it is questionable at best, and in some cases completely impossible, depending on the design of the revolver. True, pistol magazines are flat and convenient, but the Moon Clip with cartridges is bulky and, moreover, bends easily without them if stored improperly. But it is convenient to carry in a pocket or pouch.
But what do you get when you cross a time-tested revolver platform with the most popular centerfire pistol cartridge? The answer is a 9mm Luger revolver. The revolver is a timeless weapon that remains highly prized. And why not? Aside from the double-barrel shotgun, few firearms have had such a long history of use. Wild West gunslinger Wyatt Earp and modern-day New York lawman Jim Cirillo both used one in critical situations, and it held up well.
So the revolver is not outdated at all, it has stood the test of time. Although yes, the pistol is still more... "relevant" for modern shooters, and it is also constantly evolving into more convenient forms. But in any case, as a result of the use of lightweight aluminum frames and triggerless systems, one of the most popular types of concealed carry weapons is currently the 9mm revolver. Although, to be honest, this concept is not new at all.
Gunmakers have been squeezing 9mm and other semi-automatic pistol cartridges into revolvers for decades, creating many classics like the .45 ACP M1917. Moon magazines are the standard for revolvers in this caliber.
And this is how they are used to load pistol cartridges into a revolver cylinder!
In recent years, gunsmiths have created some excellent sport revolvers chambered for this cartridge. Competition shooters have especially benefited from the introduction of high-tech, well-designed revolvers to the market. Two such models come to mind are the Smith & Wesson PC Pro 986 and the Ruger GP100 Match Champion. However, concealed carry is not ignored by gunsmiths either. And although the choice of cartridges for such weapons is inferior to the revolver cartridges .357 Magnum and .38 Special, there are still options. That is why interest in 9mm revolvers continues to grow and their range is expanding. So, what is available to consumers of these weapons now? We will consider five options for 9mm revolvers suitable for concealed carry. And first among them is ...
Ruger LCR
With its matte-black frame and hornet's nest profile, this lightweight 9mm revolver (also available in .38 Spc. and .357 Mag.) isn't going to win any beauty contests. But it doesn't need to, because its sales record suggests that its appeal to buyers is based on such important factors as reliability and convenience, making it one of the most sought-after modern revolvers for self-defense.
The LCR's main advantage is its exceptional concealment, which few revolvers can match. Weighing just over 450 g empty, with a 4,5 cm barrel and an overall length of 16,5 cm, this revolver looks modest and is not at all bulky. Its frame is made of aviation aluminum, which means the material is strong enough to allow this revolver to serve as a backup weapon that can use semi-automatic pistol ammunition.
Despite the lightness of this five-shot revolver, it may feel clunky, but this is easily corrected with practice. The Ruger has a trigger pull of 4,5 pounds. And thanks to the use of clips, it reloads quickly. Overall, it deserves its place among the best 9mm revolvers. Price: $859.
Smith & Wesson PC Pro 986
Tradition, tradition, tradition… There’s no escaping them, so the design of this revolver is quite recognizable. Although, perhaps, this revolver does not quite correspond to the armed citizen’s idea of the ideal concealed 9mm revolver. The fact is that its cylinder holds not 5, but 7 rounds. By holding these 7 rounds in its capacious titanium cylinder, the 986 can compete with the capacity of many 9mm micro pistols that have become a hit in recent years. The frame is made of stainless steel. And the titanium alloy from which its cylinder is made allowed to reduce the weight of the revolver to 989 g without cartridges.
Foreign experts emphasize that this revolver is designed for competitions. In double-action mode, it works very smoothly and has a lighter trigger than most production models, which significantly increases its accuracy. The revolver works quickly thanks to the trigger travel limiter, which is very useful during rapid shooting. In addition, the revolver is equipped with an adjustable sight, which significantly increases accuracy.
But this revolver is still quite heavy and… expensive. Price — $1259. In addition, the sights and hammer spur can get stuck when extracting. That is, the "986" is good as a 9-mm revolver, surpassing many models in its class, but this weapon is not for everyone.
Charter Arms "Pitbull"
The US arms market also has a cartridge called .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also widely known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc or 10,9×29 mm. This is a purely centerfire revolver cartridge with smokeless powder. Moreover, it was developed by Smith & Wesson back in 1907 and introduced in 1908. Well, if there is a cartridge, then there will always be a revolver for it.
The Bulldog became such a revolver for self-defense and concealed carry - a revolver developed by the founder of Charter Arms, Doug McClenahan, back in 1973. The name "Bulldog" was a tribute to the Webley revolvers of the same name. In the 1980s of the last century, it was the best-selling weapon in the United States, and it became the calling card of the Charter Arms company. By the mid-1980s, more than half a million units were produced, and each year this number increased by about 37 units. However, the production of "Bulldogs" has been suspended several times since 000 due to the company's bankruptcy.
Here it is, the famous "Bulldog" from the Charter Arms company.
Well, time flies, and there is a great desire to enter the market. So, another company, Charter Arms, decided to release something similar to the popular Bulldog, but in 9 mm caliber. That is how the Pitbull revolver appeared ten years ago!
Its creators have abandoned moon clips - full or half - in favor of spring extractors. The cartridge inserted into the cylinder of this revolver is simply clamped in the chamber and will remain until ejection, like a cartridge with a flange. It is believed that those who have dealt with moon clips, especially frequently used and warped ones, will appreciate the advantage of such a system. In addition, this feature makes the weapon compatible with belt loaders, which, although not the fastest, are among the most convenient.
All Charter Arms revolvers, starting with the Bulldog, use a trigger bar. The hammer strikes the trigger bar, which in turn strikes the firing pin, firing the round. The stainless steel finish is matte and sandblasted, the front sight is canted, the rear sight is integral, and the trigger is, of course, not polished. The hammer spur is rounded, which, with some skill, allows the hammer to be drawn without interference. The price of this 5-shot revolver is $520.
Rock Island Armory AL9.0
Interestingly, when it comes to Rock Island Armory, most people see it as a purely American company. However, it appeared in the States only in 1985, and was created in 1905 in the Philippines. The Rock Island Armory brand was simply bought by the Filipinos at that time. At first, the company produced 1911 Colts, but a few years ago, a universal 9-mm revolver joined the product line of this company, which is certainly suitable for defensive purposes. The AL9.0 drum holds 6 Parabellum rounds, and it is quickly reloaded using moon clips.
The downside of the AL9.0 is its size. Although its width of 3,80 mm and barrel length of 7,62 mm are more than acceptable, the revolver weighs 865 g without cartridges, which does not make it light. But overall, it is very comfortable to shoot, especially considering the already well-proven 9 mm caliber. It has a comfortable grip and an adjustable rear sight, although the latter raises questions. The only thing is that the AL9.0's trigger spur protrudes noticeably from the body. The price of the revolver is $899.
"Taurus" 905
The Brazilian company Taurus also makes 9mm revolvers. The 905 is considered to be a more than effective self-defense weapon, and it is user-friendly. Sure, this steel-frame revolver only has a five-round cylinder, but that is pretty standard for most concealed carry revolvers, regardless of caliber. The 905 compensates for this by being lighter and slightly narrower (3,5 cm) than other 9mm revolvers. It is also quite streamlined, with an integrated rear sight (with a slanted front), and all its edges are well-rounded.
The only downside, at least for some, is the trigger pull, although it’s not a deal breaker. Conveniently, the 905 uses Taurus Stellar Clips (and moon clips, too) to hold the rounds in place, a neat engineering solution that makes loading easier than traditional moon clips. Like any 9mm revolver that uses this type of loading, it’s quick to reload with practice. The only downside to the 905 is its hefty 5,5-pound double-action trigger pull. There’s a 905 with a concealed hammer, but it’s only available with a 76,2-inch barrel. It’s still a carry option, but it’s a shame the company didn’t make a similar model with a 5-inch barrel. The revolver retails for $410.
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