Interesting. Sharron Angle originally of the Tea Party says she carries a concealed .44 magnum...

[spin]

She's better known for advocating "Second Amendment solutions".

Sharron Angle Floated '2nd Amendment Remedies' As 'Cure' For 'The Harry Reid Problems'
First Posted: 06-16-10 09:41 AM

Sharron Angle, the Tea Party candidate turned Republican primary winner in Nevada, has taken heat for a number of extreme affiliations and policy positions. One of the more outlandish was a statement she made during a radio interview last January in which she floated the idea that the public would bring down an out-of-control Congress with "Second Amendment remedies."

***snip***

In an interview she gave with conservative talk show host Bill Manders earlier in the campaign, Angle conspicuously floated, once again, "Second Amendment remedies" to deal not just with the supposedly ever-growing "tyrannical" U.S. government, but to replace her now general election opponent: Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

***snip***

Manders cut to break after the statement. So there was no expansion on Angle's proclamation. Prior to that sound bite, however, Angle hinted that she was likely carrying a concealed .44 magnum model 29 during the interview. emphasis added

"Whoa," said Manders, "you're not carrying that today are you in here?"

"Well," Angle replied, "you know, as part of your test, they always say, 'Don't ever tell anybody if you're carrying because the bad guys don't need to know if you're carrying.' That's what makes that concealed carries effective."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/16/sharron-angle-floated-2nd_n_614003.html

I also found this:

A gun rights defender, Angle sometimes packs a .44 Magnum revolver as she travels the state campaigning in her 1989 GMC pickup, and the locked gun cabinet in her Reno bedroom is full of rifles owned by a family of avid hunters.

"Whether I'm carrying or not is up to me to know and for the bad guys to find out," says Angle, who has a concealed weapons permit.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/gop-senate-hopeful-sharron-angle-is-counting-on-conservative-credentials-88756137.html

It's extremely rare to find an individual who chooses to carry a S&W Model 29 .44 magnum concealed. Once my daughter told me that when she drove through the drive thru of a Farm Store to pick up milk, she noticed the female clerk had a large revolver in a shoulder holster under a unbuttoned jacket. When she asked what type of revolver it was, the clerk replied that it was a .44 magnum. That's the only incident that I have heard of or witnessed.

A .44 magnum revolver is, in my opinion, a poor choice for concealed carry (especially for a woman). The weapon is heavy and large and the caliber has a heavy recoil that slows follow up shots and if using magnum ammo has excessive penetration for use in an urban environment. This firearm might make a good self defense weapon in bear country.

Please note that I am in no way saying that a woman can't handle a .44 magnum. My daughter, who is 5' 2" and weighs just over 100 pounds, has fired my .44 magnum on the range without problem and has a S&W Model 25-2 .45 acp as her favorite house gun. The Model 25-2 is the same size as the Model 29.

But I live in Florida. Most people here carry "mouse guns" which are light and easy to conceal in the semi-tropical heat.

Choosing a Gun Size

An effective concealed carry gun must be able to be concealed. While Dirty Harry might be cool to watch on film, his Smith & Wesson Model 29 would be very impractical for concealed carry. If you've chosen a revolver, consider both hammerless revolvers and revolvers with a hammer. Hammerless revolvers have fewer moving parts exposed, can be fired from inside of a pocket if necessary, and generally have a short barrel. Look at revolvers with a 3 inch barrel and a grip big enough to fit comfortably in your hand.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Choosing-an-Effective-Concealed-Carry-Gun

I would be interested in what other people with a carry permit think of packing a Model 29. Somehow, I personally suspect that she doesn't know as much about firearms and concealed carry as she claims or is just a fool trying to impress people. Perhaps she is trying to portray herself as a female version of this guy.

[Skink]

1. Reid doesn't pack heat?

[panader0]

2. "Dirty Sherry"?

[spin]

29. Harry Reid might be able to use that comment in his campaign.

It might just make a great political commercial if coupled with Sharron Angle's statement about employing "Second Amendment remedies".

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. And she drives a GMC truck like Scott Brown's

I wonder if she wears a brown barn coat, too.

[onehandle]

4. A 44? You're right. She's full of shit.

A male consultant had her memorize the details.

[benEzra]

6. Quite possibly!

Reid, on the other hand, is genuinely pro-gun, and has the record to back it up. It's easy to say whatever you think your audience wants to hear in a campaign interview, but to actually stand up to the MSM and the ban lobby on the issue is quite another, and Reid has done that consistently.

[spin]

26. I personally like Harry Reid. I hope he gets reelected...

if Sharron Angle wins it will a tragic loss for our party and the country.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

5. Abgle packing heat is a MAJOR Gun Control issue

Dumb-asses like her should definitely be background checked and refused a permit!

[PavePusher]

9. Refused on what grounds?

Because you don't like her politics?

You really don't want to go down that road...

[cowman]

19. So because she a dumbass

she is disqualified to own or carry a gun? What a dumbshit comment.

[amerikat]

7. 44 Magnum packs a powerful punch and

and an equally powerful recoil. I'd like to see her shoot that gun.

It would be her Michael Dukakis minute.

[mvccd1000]

16. My sister-in-law is a slender 5'2", and that's always her choice.

Any time my brother travels out of town for work and they borrow a pistol, she always asks for the .44 Magnum. Every time we've gone to the range, that's her favorite gun to shoot. Although the straight back jolt to the wrists is harder, it doesn't kick around nearly as much as the other pistols she's shot. She's able to retain her aim better and follow up more quickly with the .44 than with anything else she shoots, so she prefers it.

Obviously, this says nothing about this particular politician. She could be even loonier than she appears in the news, and completely fabricating the concealed carry stories. I'm merely pointing out that "girls" can (and do) shoot .44 Magnums with no problems.

[DissedByBush]

34. I shot a .44 mag when I was about 10

It doesn't kick that bad, especially in a large pistol like that.

A lot of .44 mag is Dirty Harry mythos.

[msongs]

8. RKBA poster girl nt

[PavePusher]

10. It's quite possible she could carry the 4" version....

possibly loaded with .44 Special, or just some general light loads.

But it would definitely have some bulk to it. Not to difficult to conceal under buisness garb, or general daily wear, or in a purse.

[madrchsod]

11. i really do`t get concealing a weapon...

pretty hard to conceal a 44 in the summer.....

[MidwestTransplant]

12. She's obviously trying to make up for having a small penis.

[spin]

25. But some might say she has big balls. Maybe that's why she says she carries. (n/t)

[X_Digger]

13. Yeah, it does stretch credibility.

Especially so, if she carries on-body.

[Kringle]

14. 44 Magnum, excellent choice

most shootouts are only
one or two shots.

[krispos42]

15. Seems to be a pretty hefty chunk of steel for concealed carry.

Maybe she carries in her purse?

[spin]

20. That is a possibility ....

Purses are made especially for concealed carry, and a N frame S&W would probably require a heavy duty purse. A 4" Model 29 might work well in such a purse.

The Cornered Cat web page has an article that talks about carrying in a purse.

When carrying in a purse, the most important issue becomes the gun's weight, rather than its size. If you decide to go with purse carry, gun weight will very likely be your limiting factor when you are selecting a firearm. When carrying on the belt, provided you have a sturdy belt designed for the task, there's little appreciable difference between a heavy gun and a lighter one which has the same overall dimensions. Not so when carrying in a purse. For a purse, you'll want the lightest handgun you can have, because you'll notice every ounce.

***snip***

Whether you decide to go the regular-purse route or to carry in a holster purse, be aware that literally nothing else can share a compartment with the gun -- not your lipstick, not the car keys, not a piece of paper. Even a double-action revolver can get caught in all the other clutter when it's dumped into a crowded purse, with messy and perhaps disastrous results.

In the news awhile back was the tragic-comic story of an off-duty policewoman who dropped her purse in a crowded fast food restaurant. The gun discharged, and while no one was hurt, great pandemonium ensued. The police officer panicked and fled the scene, leaving her purse behind. Someone called 911 to report shots fired. When other officers arrived at the scene, they found their co-worker's newly-ventilated purse on the floor, with her driver's license and all other identification still in it. Oops.

Safety Issues -- Security and Gun Retention

One of my biggest concerns with purse carry is that it is very socially awkward to treat the gun purse with the respect it must be treated. Because it is socially awkward to give the firearm-containing purse the respect it must be given, the human tendency is to disregard the safety rules "just this once" and leave the purse and its gun in an unsecure location. One problem with this is that "just this once" is literally all the time it takes for an unexpected tragedy to strike. And the larger problem is that "just this once" has a nasty tendency of turning into an ongoing bad habit.

For instance, few women keep their purses literally on their laps the entire time they are visiting friends, even friends with children. Most women toss their purses casually over the back of their chairs in a restaurant (with the attendant risk of walking away without it). We shove our purses underneath our desks when we get to work, and don't think about them again all day. We plunk our purses into the shopping cart in the grocery store, then turn away to pick out tomatoes. But it literally only takes a split second for a purse-snatcher to do his thing -- and even less than that for a child or grandchild to get into your purse when mommy's not watching as carefully as she ought. There is literally no safe place to set a gun purse down if it is not locked up. But physically holding onto your purse all the time will definitely earn you some odd looks from your friends. You must be prepared for this fact, and consider ways to cope.
http://corneredcat.com/Holster/purse.aspx

[krispos42]

28. Smith& Wesson make lightweight .44 Mags.

Maybe she's packing one of them, although god help her if she actually has to fire it. Although I suppose an Airweight .44 Mag loaded with .44 Specials would be pretty reasonable.


With the purse issue, I guess a woman would have to treat is as more of an article of clothing than as a bag. Just as you wouldn't take off your shirt, don't take off your purse. Except that is really hard to do in real life.

I guess this is why they make Thunderwear.

[spin]

31. I would imagine that firing a lightweight .44 mag ...

using full power ammo would feel somewhat similar to holding a hand grenade in your hands when it exploded.

I understand that under a real life or death situation, you might not notice the recoil. Still, becoming proficient with such a weapon would be difficult.

[krispos42]

32. YouTube is full of asshole boyfriends...

...who think it's cute to have their novice girlfriends fire a .44 Mag as their very first firearm. Revolvers go flying across the shooting range, hammers are slamming into foreheads, etc.


Real fuckin' masters of comedy, huh?

[Euromutt]

17. I've fired a Ruger Super Redhawk belonging to a range buddy of mine

Said range buddy, I should point out, is a fairly slender (albeit quite wiry) woman, though she is originally from rural Wyoming, so it's not like she doesn't know how to shoot. Fun gun to shoot, and the recoil was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting, but it's a handful to wield. Great for taking down small ungulates, but it would not be my choice to carry as a defensive firearm.

[pipoman]

18. I believe there is a 3" M29-2, and there may be an

Alaskan 3" M29 produced more recently..she sounds like a Palin wannabe which would make the Alaskan more likely. Otherwise, I could maybe believe a .44 Spl, like a M296. No matter what it is, the lightweight .44 revolver isn't a pleasant gun to shoot, therefore people don't practice as much as they might with a more user friendly gun. I would guess most .44 carriers are either very experienced shooters or semi stupid who don't understand the desired effect of firearm control and rapid recovery after a shot.

[spin]

21. If she does carry a Model 29 .44 magnum, she might be wise to load it ...

with .44 special ammo. Far less recoil and still a good self defense load.

[pipoman]

23. Yea, that would help, it still isn't a fun gun to shoot

I have a 6" M29 and it isn't really fun beyond a couple of cylinders..a lighter short barrel would be even harsher. I was thinking about this after I posted. Does S&W even make a M29 or are they all M629 (stainless) now?

[spin]

24. The S&W web page shows a Model 29 ...

as a "classic" revolver. It is available in blue or nickel in 4" and blue only in 6 1/2". The list prices are above $1000.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_757779_-1_757751_757751_image#http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smith-wesson.com%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FCategoryOnlyResultsDisplayView%3FuseFilter%3D%26top_category%3D757751%26parent_category_rn%3D757751%26beginIndex%3D16%26langId%3D-1%26storeId%3D750001%26filterResults%3D%26pageView%3Dimage%26catalogId%3D750051%26pageSize%3D16%26categoryId%3D757779%26categoryId%3D757779%26identifier%3D1281980938573
Note: the Model 29s are on the second page of the link.

[DissedByBush]

35. I have a .44 Bulldog

A very light .44 Special pistol with about a 1.5" barrel.

It's the most fun pistol I've ever shot.

Makes .380 and 9mm boring in comparison.

[SteveM]

27. .44 SP is considered on a part with .45 ACP in terms of stopping power...

I think she is trying to impress somebody by passing gas about her gun.

[Hangingon]

22. I can see this as a concealed weapon carried in the truck

That's where I carry my .45 1911 4" barrel clone. Carrying in fishing or golf shorts requires something like a KelTec 9 mm for concealment. A .44 even with light loads is a lot of gun. The shorter the barrel the harder it would be to handle. Still my grown daughter shoots her husband's .44 4" ported barrel with target loads.

[spin]

30. There is no doubt that a Model 29 .44 mag using full power ammo ...

is not the best choice for a beginner.

But an N frame S&W revolver is also a poor choice for an experienced smaller framed shooter as a self defense weapon, as it is hard for a person with small hands to shoot double action. Many such shooters use it as a target handgun by cocking the hammer and shooting single action. This slows the rate of fire considerably and a better choice for this single action style of defensive shooting for shooters with smaller hands, in my opinion, would be a single action Ruger Super Blackhawk with a short barrel. Women often have smaller hands than men, which is one reason why I question Sharron Angle's choice of a Model 29 for concealed carry. To be honest, I can't find any info about Sharron Angles's height. If she is tall with large hands, she may well be able to handle a S&W .44 mag in double action.



Recoil from the Ruger Super Blackhawk can be handled by letting the weapon roll back in the hand. I have watched some very experienced shooters cock the hammer as the weapon rolled back and they were able to fire follow up rounds almost as quickly as I could shoot an S&W Model 29 double action.

Reloading a revolver is usually slower than a semi-auto pistol which uses a magazine, and reloading a single action revolver such as the Ruger Super Blackhawk is even slower. Since most defensive encounters statistically end with less than six rounds fired, this MIGHT not be a major problem.

Still for self defense use, since I have small hands, I prefer to use a smaller revolver such as a S&W J, K, or L frame. I find the smallest S&W revolvers (the J frame series) fit my hands perfectly, but I can still fire the slightly larger S&W K and L frame revolvers in double action mode without major problems. If I try to shoot double action using the large N frame series of S&W revolvers, I have to shift my grip a good deal for my finger to reach the trigger. This makes accurate double action shooting more difficult. While single action shooting can work for self defense, double action shooting is to me the better choice.

I have no problem shooting a full sized 1911 style .45 acp pistol with a single stack magazine. Large caliber pistols with a double stack magazine present the same problems as a large revolver. (I personally prefer a revolver for self defense because of the KISS factor.) I guess I'm old and set in my ways.

Basically, a self defense firearm should fit the hands of the user.

I may have lost most of the people who might not understand handguns or shooting along the way. Shooting a handgun is far more difficult than it looks in the movies. I believe most experienced handgun shooters will understand what I have said and I welcome comments.

[Pullo]

33. I'd love to see a video of her shooting that thing

Round after round. Come on, Sharon. It'd be a great campaign commercial, you standing at the range popping off rounds with a voice over espousing your love for concealed carry. Maybe shoot one handed even?