Yep . . . its hard to hit accurately with a S&W snubbie!
I bought this old S&W snubbie in the fall of 2007, and took it to the range to see what it would do. Next to me was a Georgia Probation Officer practicing hard for annual qualification with the issue Glock Model 23 (.40S&W)
I set up one target at ten yards . . . a personally created (on my computer) target with 1" black squares to shoot at 10 yards. Here's the FIRST target I ever shot with the Model 36
Loading the snubbie, and standing @ ten yards, unsupported, I put all five rounds into roughly a 1" group . . . right into the 1" black square.
The Probation Officer was ALL OVER THE PAPER . . . probably 4"-5" groups at the same distance!!!
I put my little snubbie down and simply chatted . . . didn't want to discourage the officer on the upcoming quals and thought it best not to shoot more targets til the officer left.
FOR CONCEALED CARRY, IMHO there's no comparison . . .
Only the snubbie revolver can be very discreetly pocket carried at all times. Everything bigger and/or wider will have to be left behind in some cases.
My "always" pocket revolver is this S&W Model 37 . . . the Airweight version of the Model 36 pictured above. It also shoots comparatively well, I just don't have targets to upload from that revolver.
I've gotta go revolver here. My safe has a bunch of autos in it . . . but through the years I've come to realize that I need to carry a handgun that I can shoot very well . . . and that will always be small enough and light enough to carry no matter what I'm wearing . . . and that's a S&W Airweight snubbie!
Frankly, when I hit the road, the Model 37 is in my pocket, and a big ol' S&W Model 25-2 .45ACP revolver (chopped to a 3 1/4" barrel) is my main self defense revolver (in the glove box). Here's what it does to a 1" target at ten yards (standing/unsupported) if I do my job . . .
PS: The small holes were made by a Ruger Mark II Target Model .22 pistol . . . the S&W snubbie is only pictured here for size comparison.
BUT . . . I fully understand that trouble comes on a man with no warning, and when the predator thinks it/he has an advantage. That means that I'll almost surely NOT be armed if/when a predator attacks . . . except for the snubbie that he won't know is there!!! That's what a snubbie is for . . . everything else might be too big.
I've only needed my revolver once against a two-legged predator . . . who surprised me as I was unpacking my car to go into a motel room at 1:30 in the morning. The result was a total success . . . the thug decided he didn't want any part of me and disappeared as quickly as he came into the night. That's a good thing . . . and the ultimate goal!!! I'm glad he made the RIGHT decision!!!
Good luck on your personal choice and don't fret what the first one is . . . attaining handguns is a lifelong pursuit! Most end up in the safe . . . and the snubbie in the pocket!
The bigger and heavier the handgun, the less opportunities one has to carry it!!!