My Favorite Wheel Guns

Do you even carry a wheel gun? Today many people carry what they view as “maximum” kill power and the largest ammo capacity they can get their hands on. I don’t look down on that idea by the way, I just prefer simple, reliable wheel guns for Every Day Carry (EDC).

There are a large number of manufacturers to pick from and I’m not going to walk through them, you know who they are. Everyone has their favorite as do I. That being said I’ll jump right into two that I carry. Both have their purpose and I trust both to always work flawlessly.

My favorite for EDC is my Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight. It’s a perfect pants pocket carry although many prefer to carry it Inside the Waistband (IWB) or ankle. This doesn’t have an exposed hammer making it snag-free which is important for quick deployment when needed.

 

 

I also like that although this is a 38 special, you can fire + P rounds in it bringing it very close to 357 Magnum performance if you choose. I reload all of my ammo and have had great success with 125gr lead and jacketed hollow points. Just a fun gun to shoot regardless of which round you choose.

 

I find the gun to be 100% reliable under harsh conditions, fires every time even after shooting all day long without cleaning. It’s probably one of the most used “J” Frame revolvers on today’s market. They come in blued & stainless models. I would rate the workmanship on my model as a 10 out of a 10 point scale and the functionality as the same, a 10. A beautiful firearm that backs its looks up with reliability & functionality!

 FEATURES

• Lightweight Alloy Frame for Easy Carry
• Stainless steel barrel and cylinder
• Snag-Free Enclosed Hammer
• Rated for Continuous +P Use

 

Specifications

SKU: 163810
 

Model: Model 642

Caliber: .38 S&W SPECIAL +P

Capacity: 5

Barrel Length:

Overall Length: 6.3"

Front Sight: Integral

Rear Sight: Fixed

Action: Double Action Only

Grip: Synthetic

Weight: 14.4 oz / 408.2g

Cylinder Material: Stainless Steel

Barrel Material: Stainless Steel

Frame Material: Aluminum Alloy

Frame Finish: Matte Silver

Purpose: Concealed Carry, Law Enforcement & Military, Personal
Protection, State Compliance

 

 

My second choice of carry revolver covers extreme conditions but is a much larger model. It’s the Taurus Model 4510TKR-3SSR. Stainless, Ported hand cannon. If you know anything about the Judges, they fire both the 45 Colt cartridge (slightly lighter than the 44 Magnum) & the 410 shot shell with so many configurations of ammo that it can stand against almost anything.

 

 

This five-shot wheel gun isn’t an easy “concealed carry” gun however I can pull it off during fall, winter & early spring. I can carry all year long if I choose to open carry which is legal in my state if you have a conceal carry license. Be aware that this bigger gun weighs more than two pounds empty and therefore you need a good holster to carry comfortably all day.

Again I reload everything that I shoot so the 45 Colt rounds and the 410 shot shells come off my reloading bench. There are so many configurations between the two types of ammo that I can stop rattle snakes to the most tweaked out coke heads if needed. Easy to handle with any round loaded this is such a fun gun to shoot, easy to aim & control.

 

Most people think of short barreled hand guns as nothing but close quarter protection however this one is so smooth, I can reliably pull from holster and quick fire five rounds of 45 Colt into 16” target at 50 yards.

Although this model is no longer manufactured, there are plenty of new models of similar design ready for purchase. I would rate the workmanship on my model as a 9 out of a 10 point scale and the reliability & functionality as the same, a 9.

 

 

Specifications

Model: 4510TKR-3SSR
Finish: Matte Stainless Steel
Status: Discontinued
Caliber: 45 Colt/410-ga (2.5" chamber)
Grips: Rubber Grip
UPC: 7-25327-60712-0
Capacity: 5
Weight: 34.56 oz
Barrel Length: 3"
Frame: Medium
Action: SA/DA
Front Sight: Red Fiber Optic Fixed
Length: 9-1/4"
Grooves: 6
Safety: Firing Pin Block, Transfer Bar
Trigger Type: Smooth