Snubby Secrets....what have you discovered?

if you carry it concealed, use your thumb to ride over the hammer spur during the draw.

sped loaders are faster than speed strips.

centennial guns allow you to use a higher grip, thus minimizing recoil.

practice "piont shotting" at close range, once youve got it down somewhat, extend the range.

+1 for point shooting. Do it at home with an empty cylinder and dry fire while you do it. Repeated dry firing (with snap caps if you prefer) will smooth out the action.

Pocket carry is good, the cylinder width can print but they truly disappear into the right IWB holster.

Although I don't own one, I've shot one a handful of times and I have to say that if you get a S&W J-Frame, VZ grips make a hell of a difference: https://vzgrips.com/gun-grips/s-w-j-frame

The thing I discovered is that, for me, a 4" is just as easy to conceal as a 2", and much easier to shoot. This may not apply to everyone, just my opinion.

The thing I discovered is that, for me, a 4" is just as easy to conceal as a 2", and much easier to shoot. This may not apply to everyone, just my opinion.

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This is definitely true, to an extent. Speaking only for myself of course, I find that the length of the barrel doesn't really change anything about how easy a gun is to conceal. However, the longer barreled revolvers also tend to have larger frames and longer grips, which does effect it.

I put a Crimson Trace laser on my airweight. The activation button in right under your middle finger on the inner curve of the grip, it's perfect.

This is the best training aid for the snub. During dry-fire practice you can draw and point shoot, and not only see exactly where you are shooting but you can also see what's pulling you off target. Bad trigger pull? Poor presentation? Point of aim changing as you squeeze tighter? The laser shows you exactly where the gun is pointed during the whole sequence.

Amazing how far you can hit something if you shoot em enough.....or how far you can miss something if you don't......

I have had some folk talk down on a j frame 38 sp snub carried in cross draw holster leather vest....such folk have told me it is not enough ammo, too light a bullet, too long to reload and point shooting does not always work. However after listening awhile to various theories I have been known to take the 357 mag SP101 snub out of the left pocket for a New York Reload. After 5 Hornady critical defense go in the same black circle at 15 yds all I seem to hear is the sound of silence. I have had some tell me that dropping the J frame is detrimental but gravity gets it out of my shooting hand quicker than anything else I have tried. If it really matters I am not concerned about the long term viability of a j frame, I am just really happy being still functional enough to get hold of the Ruger. People have said I am a little spooky when I practice, then again it has always worked for me in the past.

blindhari

I have discovered how much harder it is to put 5 shots in a 50 cal ammo can at 100 yards with a snubby now then it was when I was 26 years old and shooting for 5th. Army AMU!

At 69 years old, none are nearly as accurate as they used to be then.

rc

The stainless steel is good to use as " brass knuckles ". Best to have 2, one in pocket, one on ankle, as they only hold 5 shots each.

Snubby's are hard guns to shoot fast and accurate, especially at longer ranges.

So, you need to practice very often.

I have a 340SC, with night sight, for the carry gun and my old 642 is now the practice gun. I shoot it weekly and I sure don't target shoot with it.

If you can, get a .22 understudy. I have a 2 inch 34 .22 LR snub for that purpose.

You might even get one of those lasers that fit in the grip and functions by a pressure switch. Very handy for practicing hip shooting without firing a bullet.

And lastingly, get a snub 'non gun'! That is an all metal version that fits the same holster. This allows you do to much gun handling at home without any risk of an accidental discharge. And yes I have one of them to!

Deaf

g_one said:

+1 for point shooting. Do it at home with an empty cylinder and dry fire while you do it. Repeated dry firing (with snap caps if you prefer) will smooth out the action.

Pocket carry is good, the cylinder width can print but they truly disappear into the right IWB holster.

Although I don't own one, I've shot one a handful of times and I have to say that if you get a S&W J-Frame, VZ grips make a hell of a difference: https://vzgrips.com/gun-grips/s-w-j-frame

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you sir just cost me $75 at payday glad its 2 weeks away so i have time to decide which set i want in my 640 pro

my new 640 pro takes moon clips but i still carry a couple strips because they lay flat and hide way better than a speed loader or moon clip. I bought these because you can get the 8 rd and load it with 5 or 6 and have a inch or better to actually hang onto with the extra empty slots. It really helps with the reload to have that good solid grasp on the strip

http://www.tuffproducts.com/home.php?cat=265&sort=orderby&sort_direction=0&page=2

I wish the recoil was like on TV, everybody blasting away and the gun not moving....Those are snappy little buggers.

I actually grip my lcr .357 mag lower then most (who grip way high almost off the top of the grip in the rear). It's impossible for me to get a smooth trigger press trying to press the trigger up and back. Maybe if I used my middle finger on the trigger the high grip would work.

With my grip a bit lower I can shoot it just fine, and the recoil doesn't chew my trigger finger up. I shot 200 rounds of .357mag in one sitting with it and shot very well with it. Very accurate gun but it takes more then a wish to shoot one hole groups with it. Every other gun I own I can borderline shoot in the general direction and shoot one hole groups. Not the lcr, you do have to focus to get accuracy out of it.

Hello friends and neighbors // Practice your reload.
I purchased a Lewis lead remover kit to help keep the chambers slick and clean the forcing cone.
The short extractor can get sticky on my 1 7/8" ,S&W 442, EDC and 5 rounds could go fast.


Know your limitations and practice AMAP with the load you carry.

Shoot a few .38special American Eagle LRN cylinders then drop your hotter carry round in a couple of random chambers. The POI can be much different, even at 10- 15 ft.

I carry the 442 much more than my exposed hammer snubbies.
After seeing a friends dog jump up to greet him and cock the hammer on the IWB S&W 36... carried in the wrong holster ,yes...but talk about a careful extraction.

Speed strips, 2 in pocket for reload.

I've never had a problem with accuracy. My J frames and Colt Detective Special are just as accurate as any of my other guns. Practice is the key. As an LEO/FA Instructor, I've been qualifying with and carrying snubs since the mid 70s.

I have owned several S&W Model 60s, my most recent (60-9) was claimed by my wife. Oh well, she's a shooter and liked it, what was I to do.... I replaced it with a first year issue Model 649. I really like the little hump back. Although, I rarely use a pocket holster, the shrouded hammer makes drawing a "little simpler." But then, a thumb over the hammer does the same thing. With the 649 you still have the option of single action shooting if you want.

Some time back I came across a NIB 1978 issue Model 36-1. Mine is a round butt heavy barrel (3 inch). This gun has soared to the top of my list of carry revolvers. The 3 inch heavy barrel really tames the recoil of the J frame.


I personally don't care for the hotter rounds out of my snubs. If anything has changed with me over the years - I now prefer the standard velocity .38s. Less recoil, faster follow-up shots, and more fun to shoot.

I found getting hits on silhoulette targets @ 100 yards was 't that hard! 2.5" K38 w/ adjustable sights. The adjustable sight snubby K38 is somewhat rare.

I agree on all counts, PRM.
My personal favorite is a S&W 940 9mm 3"bbl. with moon clips. Moons carried nestled together in a soft speed loader pouch gives me 20 rds. of reloads.
Practice is the key and, even with the tough ammo situation, daily practice is possible if you are willing to just think outside the (ammo)box.

How about a small squirt gun and the family cat?
Or dog? Or, at least once...the wife ?
Great for point shooting practice and the marriage counselor's income. Just make sure you give her a better squirt gun.
Our English Bull Terrier thinks it's the greatest game possible.

hedrok said:

Or, at least once...the wife ?

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...The problem is how long it takes one to heal, so one can resume one's shooting practice...


.

I started with Model 36s, 37s, 60s, and moved on to Airweights (442/642).

Given 'em all up, and if I pack a revolver, it's either a 2" Model 10, 2.5" Model 66 or 3" Model 13. Took me years to figure out that the six-shooter K-frame snubbies were just as concealable (for me) as the J-frames, and far, far easier to shoot well.

A great resource for you snubby revolver fans:

http://www.snubtraining.com/

Mr. de Bethencourt is a unique individual. He has spent a lifetime studying the snubby revolver and has some great insights on the topic of the snubby as a fighting handgun.

His videos are interesting as well as thought provoking.

Regards.

RJ

I found that my hold I use with my 4" K frame had to be changed to get the snubby to shoot on paper

I have found:

1) Nice, smooth, wood grips (like Hogue J-frame Round Butt monogrips) print even less than rubber or phenolics (G10, Micarta, etc.). They don't "stick" to fabric so a shirt etc. slides naturally over it as the body moves.

2) Full-house .357 can best be described as "shaking hands with The Devil," regardless of the gun's frame material. Ouch.