Home defense revolver help me choose.

[Shooter11]

Hello All,

I have been on the hunt for a Smith & Wesson home defense revolver for a while now. I don't want a revolver with barrel length exceeding 4 inches. Also, I am staying with the calibers 40 to 45 acp including 44. Using moon clips don't bother me. Therefore, I have narrowed my decission down to 629 carry comp, 625JM with different grips and a 610. So tell me what you think I need. Give me pros and cons, accuracy comparison, ammunition availability or basically any reason to get one model over the others.

Thank you,

Shooter11

[karen429]

Given the parameters you laid out I'd go with a 629 mountain gun with the appropriate self defense type ammo loaded into it. I carry this gun all the time in the Alaskan bush with 300 grain cast loads for bear and moose protection. But It will make a decent home defense round with the right ammo.

[bigghoss]

ammo and practice. 629 would be good if you use .44spl for HD though that might be a bit much, I'm not real familiar with the .44spl.

625 would be good but then you don't get the dual use out of it like the 629

[Keltyke]

Look at the venerable S&W Model 19. It's the perfect .357.

[Majic]

Since it's for HD then why must you have a big bore?

[bstokes]

If you are going to get a .44 Mag for home defense, best think about over penetration of rounds. Clint Smith touts the .44 Special, which of course can be fired from a .44 Mag. If you are willing to consider a .45 ACP, I can't see any reason not to get a Colt Commander (or equivalent) and gain two rounds. If you are lucky you might find a used S&W model 57 or 657 in a four inch barrel, a few were made with 3 inch barrels. The .41 Mag was touted as the ultimate police revolver cartridge. Here, too, over penetration can be a problem, but the recoil is more manageable to me over .44 Mag rounds.

One interesting home defense choice is the Taurus Judge. It will fire .45 Colt rounds, and either 2-1/2 inch .410 shotgun rounds or up to 3 inch .410 magnum shotgun rounds. Think about the 2-3/4 inch .410 buckshot rounds that put five #4 buckshot down range with each pull of the trigger. At home invasion distances this type of weapon could be devastating.

With any of the S&W guns (minus the .45 ACP) prepare to spend many hours learning to reload with speed loaders. If you go that way, stash loaded speed loaders all over the house. Unlike detachable magazines, they don't lose their tension if left loaded for long periods of time. Get a dozen or 18 dummy cartridges and pull through the trigger six times, then open and dump the cylinder, insert dummy loaded speed loader, close cylinder, and repeat. And repeat. Then start all over. Oh, you need to do this while watching TV, not looking at your hands, since you wouldn't really want to take your eyes off the bad guy to reload.

Just FYI, the Viet Nam ex-military guys I know have pump action 12 gauge shotguns for home defense, with the tubular magazine loaded and an empty chamber. Both loop a shotgun shell bandoleer over the gun so that when you grab the shotgun, you get about 25 extra rounds to take with you.

Let us know what you end up with and why. I am most curious.

[Threefeathers]

Do you live in a rural setting? No spouse? For yourself a good selection in these situations. Keep us informed.

[Bill DeShivs]

A .44 mag is really overkill for HD. Too much flash, noise, and recoil.
BTW- detachable magazine springs don't get weak when left loaded. This is a myth.
A S&W 4" model 10, .38 special is an ideal HD weapon.

[jibjab]

For home defense hand guns here are my favorites
36194 Colt 70 ser gov. .45, and a S&W 696

I don't have a S&W 3-4" 45acp but I'm sure it would be another favorite :)

[nate45]

Using moon clips don't bother me. Therefore, I have narrowed my decission down to 629 carry comp, 625JM with different grips and a 610.


I've never owned a 610, so I will not comment on it.

Lets see then, pros and cons of the 625 vs the 629.

The .44 is more powerful, for HD and carry I use either the 210 grain Gold Dot or the 240 grain Gold Dot. I load these myself and they are full power loads.

As you can see by this ballistic gelatin test (http://www.brassfetcher.com/Speer240grainJHP.html). At close range the 240 grain Gold Dot, at magnum velocity, produces rifle like effects and penetration. Not many people would remain standing for long after a good sternum hit by this round. However this level of handgun performance comes at a price, that price is increased recoil, muzzle flash, noise and slower follow up shot time. It takes a lot of practice to master the .44, for defense type shooting.

'Over penetration' should not be worried about, unless you like worrying about things like shark attacks, lightening strikes and winning the lottery. Most handgun rounds .38 special and up, that miss their intended target, will all easily penetrate drywall and other wall boards. After the 210 or 240 Gold Dot penetrates someone's thorax and expands 1.7 to 1.75 times in diameter, it is not going much further.

So the biggest pro for the .44 is power.

Biggest cons, slow follow up shots, loud noise, hard to master for combat shooting scenarios, relatively expensive ammo.

The 625 fires a good dependable defense round the .45 ACP. There is a lot of premium SD ammo that is available to choose from. The full metal jacket 230 grain is also a lot less expensive for practice than .44 ammo. The .45 ACP is a far easier round to make follow up shots with than a .44 Mag. The full moon clip is the fastest way to reload a revolver, if that became necessary.

So the pros are, wide range of defense ammo to choose from, less expensive practice ammo, faster follow up shots, less noise and muzzle flash.

I said I would not comment on the 610, but at least as far as ammunition goes, it would also be more expensive to shoot that the .45 ACP. Accuracy wise for defense range shooting ,all would be comparable.


So all in all, the better choice for HD would in my opinion, be a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with #1 Buck.:) Sorry I couldn't help myself.


In the end only you can decide, but I personally believe that of the three, the 625 would be the better choice for HD.

[glockopop]

I will add to the previous post that the 610 can fire .40S&W as well as 10mm, so ammo cost isn't really an issue over the .45. For me, I'd use a K frame .38, but if you're dead set on a big bore, I'd go with the 625. If I did get a 629, it'd be loaded with .44 Specials. Ballistically, .45ACP vs. .44spl is basically a wash. Both would be more than adequate.

[nate45]

he 610 can fire .40S&W as well as 10mm, so ammo cost isn't really an issue over the .45

I knew I should not of commented on the 610.:)

If I did get a 629, it'd be loaded with .44 Specials.

The .44 Special would probably be the better SD choice , the 200 grain Gold Dot for instance would work very well. I was thinking too much about what I like. If I'm going to use one of my .44 Magnums, I want that extra power.

[salvadore]

Given your criteria, I would opt for a mod. 60 3" with 125gr hollow points.

[stevieboy]

I used to own a 625. A great gun. Accurate, the moon clips made reloading almost instantaneous once you got used to them, and 230 gr. 45ACP ammo shoots out of that gun with about the same recoil as .38 special in a K-frame Smith. Which is to say, not bad at all. As for defense, remember: the 45ACP was developed as a defensive round and was the defensive round of choice for the U.S. Army for about 70 years.

[Cerick]

Im sorry this isnt going to exactly fit your description but whats wrong with a smith M&P R8? 8 shot 357? WOOT!

[FireForged]

44 for Home Defense? I think that is a little much for inside the home and at close range. If you must have that cal then that is your taste I guess and I respect it. As far as make goes, I have always prefered Smith&Wesson revolvers.

[Tankist]

Sounds like what your are looking for is a S&W 629 with a 2 5/8" barrel. There was also a short run of Lew Horton Specials built on this platform a few years back.

Yes, they are big and loud and will produce a huge flash with most ammo. Beautiful guns, may be a bit hard to find but will sure fit the bill.

[Superhouse 15]

I love my 610. 2 moon clips fit in the same speedloader pouch that will hold a single .44mag speedloader. I have 135gr Double tap in it, but it's not a HD gun, I carry it (exposed) sometimes. As for the .44, I have Cor Bon's 165gr Urban load in it. A "more than a special, less than a magnum" load. sd44m165
http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/corbon/convjhp.htm
I keep plain old 230gr Hydra Shok in my 1955, 1917, and 625 S&W. Based on what you have said, that would be my choice for HD.

[B.N.Real]

44 magnum gun will work o.k. if you load it 44 special self defense rounds.

Personally,like Mr. DeShivs said,I have a Smith Model 10 4 inch barrel ex police revolver,that I trust with my and my wifes life and I'm sure it won't let me down.

(as long as I do my part).

And dammit,they just came through here with a batch of them cheap in the gun cases and I did'nt buy another one.:mad:

[Socrates]

The amount of bull in this thread could start a herd.:mad:

NOTHING WRONG with a 44 magnum for HD, other then being politically incorrect.

A 44 magnum, loaded correctly for home defense, gives you a tremendous amount of fp energy on target, with no chance of overpenetration. It does give you mild recoil, as well. How?
The master of the 44, lee jurras, used 185 grain bullets in his 44, and, adjusted the jacket thickness to the game.
It's really amazing how fast you can push a 180-185 in a 44, without getting ADEQUATE penetration. I know, nobody believes me, but, look here:
http://www.brassfetcher.com/180grHorn44mag.html

Going nearly 1600 fps, the 180 grain XTP only goes 12.6"
in gello!!! Plus, the XTP is designed to open up slowly. A Gold Dot at such velocity might open up faster, and penetrate even less. Diameter is good, at .743". I estimate you could up the velocity to 1800 fps, and, get penetration at around 14" of gello.

You'd need ear muffs, by the way. Embrace the noise, and, the flash. In HD situations, if you miss, you light the guy on fire, deafen and blind him.

"Officer. You can tell the bad guy, because he's staggering around blind, with his hair on fire. Be careful, he can't hear either...";)

As bullet weight goes up, the 44 does act as some have said above.
http://www.brassfetcher.com/Speer240grainJHP.html

My choice for HD is a 44 Mosin Nagant. Recoils 1/4 of a combat shotgun, with 000 buck, uses high velocity, rather then low velocity half 38 bullets, and turns stuff to gello.
Also, if the BG has armour, chances are REAL good the 7.62 x 54R is going to get through, where the shotgun will not.
It also requires electronic muffs, and, it's got blinding flash as well, as does a shotgun. Plus, I've got a bayonet...

However, going around the house, a 45 Super/ACP, or, one of the 5 guns is easier to hold, and check things with then the rifle, or a shotgun. 475 Linebaugh gives 375 H&H
power in a handgun...

[J32A2]

S&W 329 with 200grn. gold dots 44 special.