Do You Carry a Snubby? Why? Prove it.

[.38 Special]

Like most folks here, I carry a revolver because that's what I've used. I actually would prefer to have more rounds on tap, but the amount of training it would take for me to become as competent with an auto is significant.

I will, though, gently push back on the topic by pointing out that, 1) a properly sorted auto is a very reliable thing, and 2) when a revolver jams, it really jams!

 

[Paul R Zartman]

Did I hear someone say Snubby...

 

[Blkhrt13]

I will need to take fresh pictures of my snubbies, I have my 442 and a 929. But the 22 is for pocket carry In the woods if I don’t want to carry my rough rider. The 442 is because it conceals well and with no hammer it doesn’t even need to come out of a jacket pocket if the need becomes terminal. @Tallball that 3 on the tree bit is hilarious. The number of people capable of driving that is very narrow!

 

[Tallball]

"@Tallball that 3 on the tree bit is hilarious"

1970 model Ford F100 with a homemade wooden flatbed.

 

[Blkhrt13]

"@Tallball that 3 on the tree bit is hilarious"

1970 model Ford F100 with a homemade wooden flatbed.

That’s sweet. I wish I had that! Totally off topic for the forum. But IM me pics? I love old fords even when they are beat up.

 

[Tallball]

I too am more comfortable shooting a wheelgun. I carried a 6" 686 for a time during winter months. I tried to do a snubbie in summer months...but I bought a Ruger Sp101 and dang that thing got heavy, and was fairly large for a snub nose. I'll have to try again with one of your choices someday.

LCR in the cargo pocket of shorts. I use a Desantis holster that fits the pocket snugly. It's so comfortable it's easy to forget it's there. A light revolver like the LCR doesn't make the pocket hang so low or sway so much. Easy to access sitting, standing, driving, etc. I drove from Memphis to up-state New York with a non-gun friend with my LCR in my cargo shorts pocket, and he never noticed.

 

[Anchorite]

Count me in the snubbie club. I carry one (640) for a multitude of reasons including:
The only safety is the 6 inches between your ears
Simplicity of operation …. Point and squeeze
Organic in shape (think the bulk of the cylinder - easy to pick up and never flat)
Easy to tell if it’s loaded or not
Everyone recognizes the business end
Can carry different loads in a cylinder
Enough rounds on board for the vast majority of needs
Simple enough for non-shooters to use (no fumbling with safety or optics)

 

[DWFan]

I carry a Dan Wesson M14-2 with a 3" EWK extra heavy shroud and barrel and factory combat grip. I carried the same revolver with a 4" factory barrel and a Pachmayr grip for years working armed security. It's simply what I'm used to. Current ammo choice is Barnes 140gr VOR-TX.
My wife began carrying a couple of years ago. Her choice was a SCCY CPX-2 with Federal 147gr HST's (standard pressure). She likes the long trigger pull similar to a DA revolver but with the 4 extra rounds of the semi auto.
Neither of us are target shooters, but we can turn off your lights at 50 feet, no problem.

 

[unclenunzie]

Lately it's been my H&R 732 with 32 S&W long hollow points, six rounds of soft shooting very controllable ammo in a "J" frame size package.

View attachment 1068461

I'm digging your uncommon taste in handguns, and the Topo Chico

My carry revolvers fit specific roles - pocket or second, 642, LCR. If I need to go where I must leave it in the car, Taurus 856. Out back in my little bit of woods, or mowing, a polymer judge (with diamondpro grip in a cheap nylon thumb strap holster). There are times when I think seriously about a snub for very close quarters. No personal experience but it's probably best in hand in a contact situation.

 

[aaaaa]

"@Tallball that 3 on the tree bit is hilarious"

1970 model Ford F100 with a homemade wooden flatbed.

3-on-th-tree is a blast, or as we used to call them when the linkage got really worn, Find Them or Grind Them. I had two column shift cars, a '63 Chevy Biscayne and a 1977 F100. I would love to have one now.

 

[bannockburn]

I really can't remember a time when I didn't have a snubby; typically a S&W J frame in .38 Special with a 2"or 3" barrel and having a round butt grip configuration. Currently I have two: a Model 649 which I bought as soon as I found one, and a Model 638 as a lighter alternative to carry in the warmer weather months.

 

[lincen]

An occasional carry for me that is getting a bit more time in my pocket. Ruger LCR in 327 magnum in an Aholster. Normally have Hornady Critical Defense 32 H&R magnum FTX loaded in it.

 

[EMC45]

Models 30, 31 and 36. In no particular order. Mostly the Model 31 since it's a snub and holds 6 rounds.

 

[driz]

I’ve got a LCP and a 642. I just can’t bring myself to give up the LCP for the wheelgun. Remember that old Polka Song “ She’s Too Fat For me”

That’s the inevitable conclusion of this old boy. I can put the LCP in a pocket and it looks like a cell phone . The spare. At gives me 15 in much less space that the revolver giving me 5. My big concession with the snubbey is they are far safer for folks who don’t shoot regularly.

 

[38Mike]

Here’s mine getting ready for cleaning after short range session. Found out that I can shoot this a lot better than G26 that I used to own; I just like revolvers better too...

 

[earlthegoat2]

Our favorite carry critic will love this answer but I often carry a snubby because it is easy. Wouldn’t carry otherwise though so which is worse?

 

[Slamfire]

Used to carry a Colt Detective Special but DS's became collectable and Colt gunsmiths became as hard to find as watchmakers.



Then I went Interarms Rossi



Then Taurus Ultra light. I however, was getting tired of hammers snagging on clothing.



Local gunstore had a sale on these





And pretty much the hammerless versions are what go in the pocket or the between the pants holster.

Still when I can, I will acquire on of these,



and it still shoots great



Truck gun

 

[GBExpat]

What is the barrel length accepted to qualify as a snub nose? ...

These days the "definition" has drifted a bit ... but languages are dynamic creatures, after all.

Back in the day, "snub nose" was a reference to the look of the tiny barrel compared to the rest of the pistol. A snub nose or button nose was a small nose for the face that was often turned up a bit.

Find a pic of a vintage S&W Mod36 with a 1 7/8" barrel and you will be looking a classic SnubNose.

===

That said ...

When you are dealing with larger-frame pistols and, especially, under-barrel shrouds, the LOOK, the same "Visual", can be presented by a pistol with a somewhat longer barrel.

My 2¢ ...

 

[DR505]

Well, here are some short barrel N-Frames I carry...they shoot well, hit hard, and conceal great.



Model 625-3 .45 ACP


Model 657 .41 Magnum

 

[Pat Riot]

I have an S&W 327 Night Guard with a 2 1/2” barrel so I guess it’s an N frame “snub nose” but it sure ain’t a pocket gun by any means.

 

[JJFitch]

What is the barrel length accepted to qualify as a snub nose? I always heard that it was less than 3" barrel, but have never seen it defined.

As I recall at the National Police Shooting Championships the "little gun" class was 2 7/8 th inches!

Smiles,

 

[Old Dog]

My all-time favorite snubby is the 66-4 2 3/4" barrel. For a time, for BUGs, I carried a Model 60, then a 637, then a 442, but frankly, none of them are really pleasant to shoot and the Airweights can be downright painful when one is trying to get meaningful training done (meaning enough rounds downrange to acquire proficiency). The only snubby I own that still gets any carry time is this 3-incher:


Strictly a range toy, but fun to shoot (a b*tch to clean, though) is the nickel Model 10:

Have two of these (love 'em, but don't give 'em much love, although one daughter has adopted one for a carry gun).

 

[ontarget]

"@Tallball that 3 on the tree bit is hilarious"

1970 model Ford F100 with a homemade wooden flatbed.

Is it for sale? That is what I learned to drive with. 300 six cylinder? Dad's was brown.

 

[Ethan Verity]

My pair of snubby guns, both get some carry time now and then. The Model 642 is my around the house gun, and the 22 Short is my front shirt pocket protector backup.

 

[mcb]

I love revolvers but sort of hate snubbies, despite the only gun I carry with any regularity being a S&W 442. They might be easier to carry concealed but in general they are just are not as much fun to shoot and not nearly as shoot-able as bigger full size revolvers. I like full size revolvers being a fan of N-frames with 5+ inch barrels. I carry the 442 because I use a revolver for nearly everything else so I might as well use all the training and muscle memory with my carry gun but I am not a fan of short barrels or J-frames compared to my N-frames and Webleys.

The grips might be the ugliest thing I have ever done to a gun but they make it significantly more shoot-able with only marginal compromise to concealability.