Stainless or not

[tdt91]

Question for you guys that have been carrying for some time now.
I'm planning on carrying a S&W Air weight in a Sticky holster. Is it best to get a SS version or Carbon steel version in terms of corrosion from being stuck in my pants for long periods of time. I mean, Johnsons still gtg so.......

 

[Longhorse]

Can you even get an Airweight in something other than stainless? Stainless is going to have fewer issues with corrosion than carbon steel.

 

[Park ranger]

Isn't the frame Aluminum?

 

[Blaster229]

Where is everyone getting rusty guns?
Only rust I've ever gotten was on the grip screws to my p229.
Stop overthinking things.
Cylinders and slides aren't going to lock shut.

 

[4g64loser]

Had a 642 for over a decade. Every year or so I pop the side plate and blow the dust/pocket lint out, then douche with naptha and blow out again. The trigger is steel (smooth face Jordan combat trigger) so I wipe that with oil every now and then. The all stainless guns aren't air weight and they require even less work.

 

[LuckyShot]

The frame is aluminum...i would go stainless but in the end it wont matter if you keep it oiled from time to time.

But more importantly the sticky holster should be taken and thrown in the damn trash. What a terrible carry holster

If you like to draw and pull the holster and gun out at the same time go ahead. Or if you wear it in your waistband having to constantly adjust it if youre moving.

 

[Harrys]

Cleaning and oil comes to mind

 

[John from MD]

The airweight is an aluminum frame. As long as you don't scratch through the anodizing, it won't corrode. I used a M38 for years as a backup gun and it had the same frame.
Stainless guns will develop a patina if you don't keep them wiped down. If you are carrying on a belt, I would stay use stainless as it won't be a snappy as the aluminum frame guns. The Airweights can be quite painful especially those in .357.

 

[alucard0822]

The 442's barrel is blued stainless steel, frames are aluminum, the specs say the cylinder is carbon steel, but I'm not so sure, that might be stainless too, or at least have a really good finish. I carried one for a couple years in leather with little maintenence and 0 rust, barrel any cylinder seem to be the exact same color and material(slight purple bluing after a couple decades) I like the blacked out 442 vs the 642.

 

[Afrikeber]

Does a cerakoted pistol provide the resistance to corrosion your looking for?

 

[jet307]

Stainless, always.

 

[tdt91]

442
Cylinder Material Carbon Steel
Barrel Material Stainless Steel
Frame Material Aluminum Alloy

340
Cylinder Material Titanium Alloy
Barrel Material Stainless Steel
Frame Material Scandium Alloy

642
Cylinder Material Stainless Steel
Barrel Material Stainless Steel
Frame Material Aluminum Alloy

Excuse me for not being clearer, when I said SS or Carbon steel. I just figured there are so many gun experts here that one would understand.

 

[tdt91]

The frame is aluminum...i would go stainless but in the end it wont matter if you keep it oiled from time to time.

But more importantly the sticky holster should be taken and thrown in the damn trash. What a terrible carry holster

If you like to draw and pull the holster and gun out at the same time go ahead. Or if you wear it in your waistband having to constantly adjust it if youre moving.

Looks like we have an expert here today. I'm sure you have carried a J frame in a sticky holster or a pocket holster and had lots of issues. Please do tell us how long you tried this method and what brands of holsters you tried. Thanks for your expert advice, I'll just ignore what a long time NRA training instructor and personnel conceal carry / protection trainer told me and showed me about the Air weight and a pocket holster.

 

[LuckyShot]

Looks like we have an expert here today. I'm sure you have carried a J frame in a sticky holster or a pocket holster and had lots of issues. Please do tell us how long you tried this method and what brands of holsters you tried. Thanks for your expert advice, I'll just ignore what a long time NRA training instructor and personnel conceal carry / protection trainer told me and showed me about the Air weight and a pocket holster.

sticky holsters are known trash and most departments ban officers from carrying them off duty because of safety issues.

I occasionally carry a glock 36 in my pocket in a custom leather holster. Otherwise 3.5 years of carrying AIWB everyday.

Anyone can be an instructor doesnt make them a guru. First off you have no retention, right? If i want to get at you and push your ass to the ground what are the chances your revolver will fall out of your pocket? I've seen guys sit down with no retention and watch the gun back out of the holster thats in their pocket.

They dont hold shape for re holstering and are a major safety issue when it comes to accidental discharge. More so with semi autos not revolvers with 20 pound double action trigger pulls.

Since you're going to buy yourself a 600-700 dollar gun and have no carry experience..invest in a holster that isnt 25$

This isnt 1965 anymore, one google search and youll find 100 carry holsters for one gun.

EDIT: one look at our forums and you'll see most MD instructors dont know sh*t. Mine told me i cant open carry legally for god sake.
Do your own research on holsters that are safer and better construction

 

[jet307]

With a concealed carry retention isn’t the same issue as carrying exposed, like in uniform. I went through the Philadelphia Police Academy with a S&W model 64 and carried it until we switched to the Glock 17. I had the option to keep my wheel gun for duty but instead I bought it from the dept for $100. Even after switching to 9mm I always carried a j frame off duty and as a retiree. My first one was a blued model 36 that would show rust if u looked at. My second was a model 60 that I still have and love but it’s kinda heavy. I got a 642 whenever it was they first came out and the stainless cylinder makes a big deal. Body sweat and moisture in general is hell on blue steel. An airweight jframe is great to carry but sucks to shoot a lot. I’ve carried a jframe in a $10 IWB neoprene uncle mikes holster forever and a day. On duty we were issued safariland double and triple retention holsters but when you’re wrestling around in alleys with people wanted on murder charges you need a security holster - totally different ballgame. Sounds like you guys are pretty tacticool minded though. Even stainless will rust but blue steel, other than looking really pretty, forget about it. I don’t have that much oil or time for that in a Ccw.

 

[jet307]

Also with a double or triple retention holster police academy recruits spend 27 weeks practicing to draw. You have to be able to draw from a retention holster (doing 2-3 things simultaneously while pulling the gun out) while in a scuffle or fight. On average police recruits train like that drawing from retention at least 1000-1500 times before graduating. So if it’s not muscle memory and you don’t do this kinda stuff for real for real I’d keep away from a retention holster.

 

[outrider58]