Not trying to start a range war, but ..

[Russ]

I personally prefer a stainless revolver for harsh environment duty.
A S&W or Ruger 357 Magnum might be in order.
640/SP101 or 686/GP100.

My favorite revolver (Special K) S&W 65-3 M&P 3" Heavy Barrel

+1 on a stainless revolver. Hauling hay is dirty work and a revolver is going to hold up better to dirt vs a semi auto from any manufacturer.

I like the idea that a 357 can accept 38 rounds.

Russ

[Popeye]

+1 on a stainless revolver. Hauling hay is dirty work and a revolver is going to hold up better to dirt vs a semi auto from any manufacturer.

I like the idea that a 357 can accept 38 rounds.

Russ

Certainly can't disagree with this type of thinking from Barth and Russ. Simpler is usually better.

[TheTman]

I carry either a 6" .357 Dan Wesson Model 14, or my Charter Arms .44 Special Snubbie, with 2.5 inch barrel, depending on what chores I'm doing. The C.A. is nice and light and you hardly notice it's there, and I use it mainly while working close to the house to protect mostly from 2 legged varmints, while the Dan Wesson gives you the ability to reach out a lot farther and tag a coyote or one of these feral dogs that get pretty vicious after running alone or in a small group out in the country here. I remember going out my front door once and being growled at by a couple of wild rottweilers. it being a very hot summer day and not wanting to dig holes in the ground, took one shot towards their feet and sent them scampering. Thinking back, I probably should have tagged the pair, and possibly saved some young child from getting attacked getting on or off the school bus.
City Folks, don't dump your unwanted animals out here in the country. They are not going to run free and have a happy life like on Disney, they are just going to meet an unpleasant death, either from coyotes, or other varmints, or farmers protecting their livestock.

[Alfonse]

The revolver is certainly better for snake shot. I pocket carry my PM9 in dirty conditions and don't worry about it. I use a Stays-Put holster, which keeps it cleaner than the DeSantis did.

I crawl around under trucks doing maintenance, have it while on the tractor, mowing, or digging dirt. Frankly, if pocket carried, I still don't have to clean it very often. I try to shoot and clean it monthly (I shoot it after carrying for a month, then clean it). But, sometimes I go twice that long.

It has been at least 4 years now, and all is well. The thing still looks great too.

Almost forgot, I also wear it to nice, clean occasions too. I don't see any reason to change guns for different affairs.

[WLEEP]

I'm very new here and others are much more qualified to give advice but I'm with Mr. Surveyor. Good used stainless wheel gun. I'd get a Charter Arms in 2 or 3". They are not S&W's but they are serviceable and always go bang (I had one in the early eighties). Acutally gun mags have them in .44 bulldog, .357, etc. for low $400 list price. I'm sure some folks might hate on me for this low cost gun suggestion but for dragging around the hay, tobacco and strawberry patches with the mules, (been there) I think it would be a good option for you.

[muggsy]

I want you guys who are recommending revolvers to bury one in the sand and see if it will fire. Then do the same with a 1911. It might just open your eyes.

[WLEEP]

ONEMULE, if you look back to the cowboy days................

[Popeye]

Only problem I see with a 1911 muggsy is the size and weight. Sure don't think I'd want to be carrying one of them on my hip while working on a combine or under, or in some other piece of farm equip. Love 1911's but they do have there moments when there not the best choice. Now if it was just to have a firearm with me for the just incase. I'd leave the pistol home bring the Mini14 or 30/30.

[RevRay]

This is the second thread in less than a week from a new member who has got people going in a nice way with his very first thread. I'm not one who has anything to contribute, but I for one am enjoying reading all the responses.

[O'Dell]

Although my CW45 is my favorite carry gun over some much more expensive pistols I own, I wouldn't put it through the conditions you described. I don't think I would carry any semi in that environment.

[WLEEP]

ONEMULE, just to clarify a little bit, Glock has stated over and over that their guns have been run over by trucks, buried in sand, frozen in blocks of ice and dropped from helicopters and have still worked, and frankly, I don't much doubt any of that. I have five Glocks, 19, 23, 26, 27 and 36 and I just could not bring myself to subject them to that kind of torture. If I were, "In the Business," so to speak I probably would want to subject them to those tests for my own piece of mind.

However, in your case, just trying to think of a best, effective, economical answer for your problem.

By the way, I have a Springfield XDs .45 which I just this morning Fedexed to Springfield for the recall (feces happens). Glock has always claimed Perfection but we now know that's a tall order. I have no trouble whatsoever recommending The XDs for EDC. And fyi, for the past 12 years my EDC has been a Kahr P9 and It too has been flawless and a great carry gun.

Anyway, thank you for starting a lively debate and good luck with your finale choice.

Best,
bp

[garyb]

I've been looking for a single pistol to serve as a concealed carry weapon in general and as a (open or concealed carry) personal defense weapon on my farm. My work gets pretty dirty at times, and I have to crawl in the dirt under machinery sometimes. And then there is plenty of chaff, dust, and grit when making hay, and sometimes sudden rain storms, and in the winter, intense cold and deep snow. So, I thought I needed a Glock.

Then I came across a Springfield Armory XD-S in .45 and loved the size and ease of concealment. It felt so trim and hid so easily compared to the baby Glocks. I could look past the problems people reported, but Springfield has just issued another recall, which is honorable of them but does not make their gun more appealing to me. So, I started looking again.

A retired highway patrol friend of mine asked me if I had considered a Kahr. I hadn't even heard of Kahr, so no. But I checked into the Kahrs and really like the looks of the CW45 and even more so the PM45, both of which look better on paper at least than the XD-S, and either of which should work for cc.

So, now I'm wondering how the Kahrs hold up to a dirty environment. Whatever I carry on the farm is going to get pretty gross from time to time, even though I will attempt to protect it, but I may really need it to work someday when it is dirty or wet or very cold. I hear that Kahrs are manufactured to very tight tolerances, which is great except that that could make them more vulnerable to dirt or water.

I wish I could afford a Glock 30S and a PM45, but that is not likely to happen in this lifetime. I would try to scrape together the money for the PM45 if I thought it would work even in the dirt the way a Glock is reputed to do. But if not, I may have to purchase a (comparatively bulky) Glock and forgo cc off farm much of the time.

So, do you have any experience or insights into the reliability of the CW45 or PM45 in a dirty environment, relative to the reliability of a Glock?

To answer your question: Both are reliable, although some guns are lemons. They all get dirty and wet and they all get cleaned. Everybody is different in preference. When I purchased my first handgun, my trainer refused to tell me what to buy...depends how you plan to use it and how you plan to carry it, etc... It is like buying a boat. You know what I mean? You might first decide those things and then narrow it down from there. Handle them and shoot them if you can. I would not buy a gun without handling it first. There is no one perfect gun for everything. I've been happy with my Kahr PM. It is small, light, easily concealed, reliable, accurate. It was not cheap. It carries nice. It gets filthy at times and I could not tell you if it would have worked or not because if I see it filthy, I clean her. I'd expect you will do the same thing. Best of luck with your decision.

[ltxi]

I've been looking for a single pistol to serve as a concealed carry weapon in general and as a (open or concealed carry) personal defense weapon on my farm. [B]My work gets pretty dirty at times, and I have to crawl in the dirt under machinery sometimes. And then there is plenty of chaff, dust, and grit when making hay, and sometimes sudden rain storms, and in the winter, intense cold and deep snow. ....................

Vietnam is why god invented the the M60 Smith. Worked out pretty well. So that or an M65 would be my choice. Glocks work well dirty, but I don't trust their trigger system for crawling around/in/under stuff like you're doin'.

[jocko]

have to agree

Although my CW45 is my favorite carry gun over some much more expensive pistols I own, I wouldn't put it through the conditions you described. I don't think I would carry any semi in that environment.

withO'dellon this, I would not trust any semi, U could take 10 different makers and certainly onewill be on top when all testing is done and one on the botom, but to me it doesn't mean tha tthe top gun is gonna work when u need it. Just to many things in a sh!tty enviroment that a semi just cant handle, let alone u predict what itis gonna do based on past testing etc.

Sure would not be my choice, . that being said it would be my choice for most allutter scenario's. cleanliness is next to Godliness. We can't blame a semi when it gets in a crappy enviroment for not working.

I would think the glock line would come out close to the top of my crapy tests but again, top does not mean it is gonna be the best choice for the job. Course wheel guns have their drawbacks. so WTF.. live with it.

[JoeyG]

If one of your choice guns is a Glock 30s, like you said, why are you concerned about concealing it? Sure, it's thicker and not as easy to conceal as the Kahr but still very doable. Many guys conceal this and larger handguns every day. I have no problem concealing a Glock 17 in a crossbreed Super Tuck or a VMII. You just have to dress around the firearm. The same could be said for a revolver. You could carry one in the field as well as for normal cc situations. Sure, it'd be nice to own a gun for every situation but it sounds like that's not in your budget. Just a thought...