What do you consider to be the perfect carry revolver, and why? I'd love to hear from those of you who carry revolvers regularly about what performs best in everyday situations.
There will be as many answers as posts. A lot depends on the "carrying individual". Summer. Winter, heavy individual or skinny (like me). Recoil sensitive or not. Big hands or small. Man or woman. Personally I carry a Ruger SP101 (39 SP/ 357 MAG), or a Charter Arms Pit Bull 380, or a Charter Arms .45 ACP.
My first carry gun was a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special (ballistics like a .45ACP). Carried it for several years, but the cylinder thickness made it a little hard to conceal at times.
The idea of 'perfect' is really just a matter of personal taste. Some want a super lightweight gun and deal with the snappy recoil. While others like a bit more heft for better control, even if it means lugging around something less comfortable all day. For me, I’m with a .357 that I can load with .38 Special for practice sessions, but then switch to .357 when I need that extra power.
If I was planning on carrying a revolver I would probably opt for a 5 shot 9mm or 357 with a 3" barrel. I think the 3" would give practical accuracy and have enough barrel so the powder wasn't all going to the fireball instead of actually moving the bullet.
My first carry gun was a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special (ballistics like a .45ACP). Carried it for several years, but the cylinder thickness made it a little hard to conceal at times.