Which would you carry between a 357, 5 shot snubby, or a 9mm single stack 7 round pistol

Status
Not open for further replies.
Nothing wimpy about that. The Taurus 605 I had years ago got sold because I hated shooting .357mag out of it, and my 2" Rossi 461 isn't much better. I also am not a fan of .38+P out of an ultralight revolver (like my 442), it is pretty uncomfortable and I can't imagine shooting magnums out of the even lighter (by 3oz) 340pd.

Been debating a S&W 442 for around house carry and then began reading how .38 SPL +P was uncomfortable to shoot. If getting some 50 round sessions was uncomfortable in the 442, I'd likely not find this package workable for myself to become proficient. If +P .38 SPL from the 442 feels like a .357, that's not a direction I can see taking. Maybe the Shield or other sub compact 9mm, the HK P2000SK is what I'd really like. The 9mm Star Firestar has been great though recently it has had some extraction issues so I have relegated that as a range plinker with the hope of finding a replacement.
 
With the great improvement in 9mm Luger in the last few years, I'd pick a small 9mm auto with 7+1 on board vs a 5 round revolver.

Personally, I carry a 9mm Shield, with a S&W 340, loaded with 38 Spl, as a backup.

Mike
 
I have a airweight 642 pro, that has a moon clip. So I have a quicker reload than a speedloader option. I like it for pocket carry. I can point shoot it and hit the torso target regularly at 5 yards. I look at it as a belly/point shooter.
Just picked up a smoking deal on a Taurus 85 I want to use for a boat gun, as I go late and sometimes I'm all alone at the landing coming in after the bass quit biting.

Now I am becoming interested in a small 9 to carry for my trips to the metro hot zones.
 
I carry Two J-Frames all day most every day. I tried a lot of semi-Autos over the years but always cam back to the Snubs. When I want a little bigger gun I add the 7-Shot Taurus. Most of the time it's Two off the J's. IMG_0942.JPG
 
Been debating a S&W 442 for around house carry and then began reading how .38 SPL +P was uncomfortable to shoot. If getting some 50 round sessions was uncomfortable in the 442, I'd likely not find this package workable for myself to become proficient. If +P .38 SPL from the 442 feels like a .357, that's not a direction I can see taking. Maybe the Shield or other sub compact 9mm, the HK P2000SK is what I'd really like. The 9mm Star Firestar has been great though recently it has had some extraction issues so I have relegated that as a range plinker with the hope of finding a replacement.
Mine has probably the worst possible grips for it (from a comfort perspective). I have some compact Eagle Secret Service style boot grips (may actually be Eagle, they were a special edition of the 442 a few years ago that came from the factory like that). They look great. They conceal incredibly well. But for range time, there is little to grab onto. They do indeed feel very similar when shooting defensive +P to shooting .357mag out of a steel frame snub. You can get rubber, or more hand filling wood boot grips and be better off, or get "combat" style grips and be much better off. Still, it will never be comfortable at the range. I think 9mm is a much better choice in the small guns (at least if you don't go too light), though if you want a .38 snub, go steel. It is still easily pocketable (except in the thin cloth of a pair of dress pants) and much easier to handle with +P loads.
 
I carry Two J-Frames all day most every day. I tried a lot of semi-Autos over the years but always cam back to the Snubs. When I want a little bigger gun I add the 7-Shot Taurus. Most of the time it's Two off the J's.View attachment 758941


Have you tried old G26. The standard capacity is 10 cartridges and aftermarket Dead Ringer tritium iron sights are only $50. Standard reload is 17 cartridge magazine.
 
I have a G26 with 4 G26 Mags, 4 G19 Mags, and 4G17 Mags. I installed Tro Glow Night Sights. It's ok, I like my J Frames better.
 
This is just for around the home, not when travelling any distance, Basically for hanging out on your property or just at the pool? I have been carrying a PM9 for around the house the past 8 years, because it weighs very little and is reliable, and easy to hide in a pocket. But picked up a Taurus 357 and still can't get into carrying a Revolver again. Shootability wise I can shoot both accurately, it's really 5 powerful rounds vs 7 or 8 less powerful rounds
I also use a speed loader when carrying the snubby and 2 spare mags for the 9. "it weighs 16 ozs vs 24, that is really the determining factor, but if I have to let a 357 go, it will have a lot more stopping power considering decent shot placement. I carry 38+p and 5 more 357 in the speed loader..

I would carry the S&W Shield with Apex trigger and action enhancement kit + night sights. 8-9 rounds, shoots quite well, quick reload, thin all the way through no cylinder protruding, short grip
 
The 5 shot .357 snub.

Titanic stopping power, the .357 is the greatest manstopper yet ever invented. It is a one shot stopper on any human. The snub is also ungodly reliable and unfailing under all circumstances.

The 9mm single stack is a peashooter. Sorry, but even with modern JHP round, it still PALES in comparison to the .357 magnum. Also reliability is extremely poor and will fail you in the most important times thanks to Murphy.

;)

Jk LOL, I'd pick a good single stack 9mm over a .357 snub every day of the week. Nearly the same ballistically, greater mag capacity, much faster reloading, often less recoil, thinner and easier to carry, the list goes on. Too many good single stack 9mms to even bother with a .357 magnum snub nose revolver.
 
Mine has probably the worst possible grips for it (from a comfort perspective). I have some compact Eagle Secret Service style boot grips (may actually be Eagle, they were a special edition of the 442 a few years ago that came from the factory like that). They look great. They conceal incredibly well. But for range time, there is little to grab onto. They do indeed feel very similar when shooting defensive +P to shooting .357mag out of a steel frame snub. You can get rubber, or more hand filling wood boot grips and be better off, or get "combat" style grips and be much better off. Still, it will never be comfortable at the range. I think 9mm is a much better choice in the small guns (at least if you don't go too light), though if you want a .38 snub, go steel. It is still easily pocketable (except in the thin cloth of a pair of dress pants) and much easier to handle with +P loads.

Appreciate your perspective, that give-take process among these. 9mm for practice is reasonable, the 38 SPL is in that $.28-$.35/round pricing. Granted this isn't a plinking gun to run the round count up though. To remain proficient regular practice comes in so there is some cost factor among the various considerations.
 
You'd actually consider carrying a sissy 9mm or a wussy 5-shot obsolete gun with that round thing in the middle?!?!? Oh my lord, the ice caps are going to melt! Don't you love your family?!?! Okay, I am just kidding.

Honestly, I think everyone has hit on the good advice of "Carry whichever you shoot best and are most comfortable with". I have carried both types. Heck, sometimes I still stick my Dad's old Model 37 Smith J-Frame in my pocket if I am running up to the local convenience store for a "Daddy, we're out of milk" trip. You really can't beat the 38, 9mm, 40, 45, 357 ammo available today in premium defensive loadings and the practical difference between them is negligible at best. We truly are living in the best of times for ammunition/gun combinations that were unheard of as recently as 20 years ago.

When I went to the academy WAY back in the late 80's our department was a revolver department. We were issued a K-Frame Smith Model 19, and tradition was that the family bought us a J-Frame snubby for graduation, so I am comfortable with the wheelgun. I still shoot them in IDPA BUG matches on occasion, though I also shoot my favorite 9mm compact, the Kahr CM9 too. I am a Glock man as I have carried one on and off duty for 25 year plus a couple now...but daggum if I don't really like the Kahr as a compact single stack, followed by the Shield, then the Glock 43. I know, blasphemy and heresy, but I think it just proves that it's all about what you function with best.

Be safe.
 
The 5 shot .357 snub.
I prefer more than five shots. Six is better, seven is better still, or eight...

Titanic stopping power, the .357 is the greatest manstopper yet ever invented. It is a one shot stopper on any human. The snub is also ungodly reliable and unfailing under all circumstances.
I would never rely upon the possibility of a "one shot stop".
 
I would never rely upon the possibility of a "one shot stop".[/QUOTE]



Yea, i would hope nobody would. It appeared to be a joke.
 
I wouldn't bother with a snubbie .357 unless it were loaded with the old.38+p SWCHP FBI loads.
 
There are people who an shoot snub nose revolvers well. I read about them all the time on the internet, but have never seen one of these people in person. I am not one of these people. I find snub nose revolvers much more difficult to get hits with, especially follow up shots, and especially with 357 magnum.

Overall, of just about any gun you can name, I would rather have it than a snub nose revolver. I dislike them with a passion.
 
The one that I shoot the best with!

I wonder, how many people actually shoot a snub revolver better than a semi auto. A lot will depend on what the person normally shoots and the specific gun, but, I bet the vast majority will shoot the semi auto better
 
I wonder, how many people actually shoot a snub revolver better than a semi auto. A lot will depend on what the person normally shoots and the specific gun, but, I bet the vast majority will shoot the semi auto better

There are a lot of people who shoot snub nose revolvers well on the internet, but in close to 40 years of shooting, I have never met one of these people in the real world. I am sure they are there, and would love to meet some day.
 
This is just for around the home, not when travelling any distance, Basically for hanging out on your property or just at the pool? I have been carrying a PM9 for around the house the past 8 years, because it weighs very little and is reliable, and easy to hide in a pocket. But picked up a Taurus 357 and still can't get into carrying a Revolver again. Shootability wise I can shoot both accurately, it's really 5 powerful rounds vs 7 or 8 less powerful rounds
I also use a speed loader when carrying the snubby and 2 spare mags for the 9. "it weighs 16 ozs vs 24, that is really the determining factor, but if I have to let a 357 go, it will have a lot more stopping power considering decent shot placement. I carry 38+p and 5 more 357 in the speed loader..

I would take a 7 shot snub by 357, by taurus .
 
There are a lot of people who shoot snub nose revolvers well on the internet, but in close to 40 years of shooting, I have never met one of these people in the real world. I am sure they are there, and would love to meet some day.
If you're ever in Wichita look me up, I'm a fair shot with a snub, although I shoot autos well too.
 
Snubbie. It's lighter and smaller than most single stacks. It is also as reliable as a hammer and well suited for pocket carry. BG380 makes for a good pocket carry too.
My theory is that any gun in your pocket is better than the double stack you left in the safe.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top