Lupinus
Member
.38 special has been enough and will continue to be enough
Is a .38 snubby enough?
- Thread starter megatronrules
- Start date
- Status
JMusic
member
I posted this on another sight just last weekend.
I've recently read about all the virtues of the semi automatic pistol. They carry more ammo, easier to load, compact. even pointability is touted as a plus. After doing some exercises with my J frames today I have my 638 back in my pocket. Yeah I only have 5 shots and a speed loader is bulky, but damnit I like them. Tonight I will be taking my bride out for our 17th wedding anniversary. I will depend on an outdated undercapacity wheel gun to defend her. What more can be said.
Jim
I've recently read about all the virtues of the semi automatic pistol. They carry more ammo, easier to load, compact. even pointability is touted as a plus. After doing some exercises with my J frames today I have my 638 back in my pocket. Yeah I only have 5 shots and a speed loader is bulky, but damnit I like them. Tonight I will be taking my bride out for our 17th wedding anniversary. I will depend on an outdated undercapacity wheel gun to defend her. What more can be said.
Jim
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
No thats why I had my 642 fitted with a 9mm cylinder, I needed 10 more fps... I still shoot it more with 38s than with 9mms
smith airweight is my favorite gun of all time. when i was a teen a friend had a zillion guns which he would then sell and buy a zillian more. i fell in love with his air weight and bought one when i was old enough. it has an exposed hammer which i had bobbed. if you pull the trigger you can grab the hammer and cock it . only thing is if you do it you have to shoot it. if you try to release it it puts dings in the primer.
anyway i bought an air light now (since i like the the ladder so much)
357 is a little heavey in a 10 ounce gun. guess what. i still carry the air weight instead.think I'm gonna sell the air lite.
my first 2 rounds are glaciers which i have shot into mant things. the light pullet don't kick much. I feel very confident with it. at close range say 20 ft i have no problem keeping 5 on the papper very quickley.
anyway i bought an air light now (since i like the the ladder so much)
357 is a little heavey in a 10 ounce gun. guess what. i still carry the air weight instead.think I'm gonna sell the air lite.
my first 2 rounds are glaciers which i have shot into mant things. the light pullet don't kick much. I feel very confident with it. at close range say 20 ft i have no problem keeping 5 on the papper very quickley.
OldSchooler
Member
Is a .38 snubby enough?
Allow me to weigh in with the thoughts that come to my fetid mind:
One supposes your question centers around stopping power. I guess it depends on you the shooter now, doesnt it? Jan Libourel is known for saying that "...a hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45." Im sure he isnt the only one. So it comes to mind that what you do with the arm, and how you do it, is paramount.
Given the right frame of mind and the proper ammo, I would feel blessed to have a .38 snubbie in my hands, when the SHTF - especially if the other choice were to have nothing.
They are ultra reliable, conceable, and they offer balanced, controllable power. These are the things that allow you, the shooter, to let your training take over and put the weapon to good use, instead of worrying about jams, flipping levers or succumbing to the worst doubt of all, "Will it be enough?"
Besides, surely youve noticed that every auto loading pistol these days is offered in a DA only version. This, of course stems from the attributes first embodied by such weapons as the DA revolver and it's handy, concealment variant, the .38 snubbie. In short, you "assess threat, point, and shoot." Could it get much more simple in times of life-threatening stress?
And, as said, with the right ammo (like Speer +P Gold Dots), they nowadays offer at least sufficient stopping power to seriously hinder - if not outright debilitate - a felonious offender. They remain a favorite of mine, and Im sure of others.
Consider, too, that there are no end of them, with every maker offering several of them in their line-up. That wouldnt be so if they were of no use, if they weren't "enough."
Allow me to weigh in with the thoughts that come to my fetid mind:
One supposes your question centers around stopping power. I guess it depends on you the shooter now, doesnt it? Jan Libourel is known for saying that "...a hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45." Im sure he isnt the only one. So it comes to mind that what you do with the arm, and how you do it, is paramount.
Given the right frame of mind and the proper ammo, I would feel blessed to have a .38 snubbie in my hands, when the SHTF - especially if the other choice were to have nothing.
They are ultra reliable, conceable, and they offer balanced, controllable power. These are the things that allow you, the shooter, to let your training take over and put the weapon to good use, instead of worrying about jams, flipping levers or succumbing to the worst doubt of all, "Will it be enough?"
Besides, surely youve noticed that every auto loading pistol these days is offered in a DA only version. This, of course stems from the attributes first embodied by such weapons as the DA revolver and it's handy, concealment variant, the .38 snubbie. In short, you "assess threat, point, and shoot." Could it get much more simple in times of life-threatening stress?
And, as said, with the right ammo (like Speer +P Gold Dots), they nowadays offer at least sufficient stopping power to seriously hinder - if not outright debilitate - a felonious offender. They remain a favorite of mine, and Im sure of others.
Consider, too, that there are no end of them, with every maker offering several of them in their line-up. That wouldnt be so if they were of no use, if they weren't "enough."
Pax Jordana
Member
I won't take credit for this
But it was said to me, in my day:
(in response to your question)
"...would you like to stand in front of one?"
and then when you don't, you have your answer.
5 rounds of 38 (and I'm not even throwing 158s like some of you guys.. I prefer hydrashoks) and a loose reload in my pocket is enough to hold the fort. It's more than enough weapon when paired with the brain, the cell phone and the running shoes.
Maybe some of you older fellas who can't sprint anymore would be more justified in carrying HiCaps.. suppressive fire to hold 'em down while you shuffle off to your car
...this is page 4. is the horse dead? can I stop flogging it?
But it was said to me, in my day:
(in response to your question)
"...would you like to stand in front of one?"
and then when you don't, you have your answer.
5 rounds of 38 (and I'm not even throwing 158s like some of you guys.. I prefer hydrashoks) and a loose reload in my pocket is enough to hold the fort. It's more than enough weapon when paired with the brain, the cell phone and the running shoes.
Maybe some of you older fellas who can't sprint anymore would be more justified in carrying HiCaps.. suppressive fire to hold 'em down while you shuffle off to your car
...this is page 4. is the horse dead? can I stop flogging it?
1911_CQB
Member
sure is enough. I know a few older gents in my hometown of Morgantown Ky that are alive because of a .38 snubby in the right place at the right time.
JMusic
member
Older fellows need loving too. Maybe I should carry my government Model Ar 15 with 2 30 rnd Mags. Not a bad idea, Thanks
Jim
Jim
SMLE
Member
NO! The .38 spec out a a 2" Bbl. is USELESS! Just ask any gunwriter. And with 158gnr LRN it will actually make your attacker stronger and larger! You MUST carry the absolute latest and greatest polymer/carbon fiber/tacticalicious magna-blaster you can get. No design that is more thant six months old is even leathal let alone effective for self defence. Why last week I shot a chipmunk 17 times in the head with a .38 snubby and he just picked up the slugs and ATE them! Do not let the fact that Colt and S&W have sold several million .38s over the last hundred years and probably thousands of people have been put 6 feet under with them delude you, the .38 snub is WORTHLESS! You MUST have a hi-cap 9mm in order to survive even 5 minutes on the street!
The above is SARCASM, I have owned a number of .38 snubbies over the years, mostly Colt Det. Specs., and I have no qualms about carrying one as my primary CCW.
Also FWIW; I had to go to the funeral of a friend several years ago. He was accidentally shot in the back of the right shoulder with a .38 snub loaded with 158grn LRNs. The bullet hit a bone, turned downwards and went through his liver. He dropped in his tracks and died in surgery.
As for the "ineffectivness" of the .38 in the Phillipines, there are documented cases of Juramentados taking multiple COM hits from 30-40 Krags and still killing the Doughboy who shot them. One even got into a Cavalry camp and killed 7 troopers, each of whom put at least one .45 LC into him.
The above is SARCASM, I have owned a number of .38 snubbies over the years, mostly Colt Det. Specs., and I have no qualms about carrying one as my primary CCW.
Also FWIW; I had to go to the funeral of a friend several years ago. He was accidentally shot in the back of the right shoulder with a .38 snub loaded with 158grn LRNs. The bullet hit a bone, turned downwards and went through his liver. He dropped in his tracks and died in surgery.
As for the "ineffectivness" of the .38 in the Phillipines, there are documented cases of Juramentados taking multiple COM hits from 30-40 Krags and still killing the Doughboy who shot them. One even got into a Cavalry camp and killed 7 troopers, each of whom put at least one .45 LC into him.
What? The 1911 was developed and stopped Moros in one shot, even when it hit them in the big toe. We all know that.
Pocket snubbies great guns for the realistic CCW type in some circumstances!
Texas heat being one of them.
Pocket snubbies great guns for the realistic CCW type in some circumstances!
Texas heat being one of them.
TonyB
Member
I hope it's enough..I carry a 642 w/ 135gr +p's...
Now if today I knew it was the day I had to defend my life...would I like 38 or a 45.......I think I'd just stay home and hide in my basement instead.
Now if today I knew it was the day I had to defend my life...would I like 38 or a 45.......I think I'd just stay home and hide in my basement instead.
Deaf Smith
Member
If you are a very good shot, yes the .38 is enough. If you are a rotton shot, it won't matter. It's only in between were a better weapon will make a difference.
When ever I can, I take my Glock 26 in a kyndex IWB, but in the hot Texas summer, walking the dog, my Smith 640 is the deal. My P3AT is only a backup, never primary. And I'm expert with all categories of pistols in IDPA (and I don't use game guns in IDPA either!)
When ever I can, I take my Glock 26 in a kyndex IWB, but in the hot Texas summer, walking the dog, my Smith 640 is the deal. My P3AT is only a backup, never primary. And I'm expert with all categories of pistols in IDPA (and I don't use game guns in IDPA either!)
johnny blaze
Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2006
- Messages
- 381
In Columbus Ohio a few years ago, there was a person gaining access to women's apartments/houses, and raping the women.
He ran up against one lady who kept a 38 snubby with her at night.
The rapist gained access to her house. The lady drew her 38 when he approached her in bed. She emptied the 38 on the intruder, hitting him in the torso several times at very close range.
He still managed to almost strangle her to death before his demise.
He ran up against one lady who kept a 38 snubby with her at night.
The rapist gained access to her house. The lady drew her 38 when he approached her in bed. She emptied the 38 on the intruder, hitting him in the torso several times at very close range.
He still managed to almost strangle her to death before his demise.
carpettbaggerr
Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2003
- Messages
- 1,676
Almost isn't good enough. He's dead and she's alive.
And if she had used an auto which went out of battery beneath his weight, she'd probably be dead
And remember, the .38 Special ended the Miami shootout.........
Speaking of flogging dead horses
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
No, you need to have 2 or 3 and a few K frames to go with it.
Read this article. The snub nose .38 is a fine weapon for close range fighting and easy concealment.
here is the link. I cut and pasted the article itself below
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/classics/ct0507/index.html
fromGuns & Ammo
July 2005
Colt Detective Special
Colt Detective Special
Beloved by generations of plainclothesmen, this classy little six-shooter is the epitome of the .38 snubbie.
By Steve Comus
Seldom has a gun's name been more suited to its role than Colt's legendary Detective Special.
It may be common to find older Colt Detective Special revolvers that show a lot of carry wear, but relatively few have been shot a whole lot. Convenient carry was the reason this model existed. In fact, the six-shot Detective Special is little more than a Colt Police Positive with a short barrel and non-snag grip size/design. The Police Positive and the Detective Special even shared serial numbers after 1927.
My fondness for snubnose Colt revolvers dates back slightly more than 50 years, to a time when the very last thing I needed or even could have used much was a short-barreled pocket revolver. But there was something about those snubbie Colts at the time that simply mystified me. Although my dream gun then was the Colt Cobra, that infatuation had more to do with the name than the real difference between the Detective Special and the Cobra (the Detective Special has a steel frame; the Cobra, aluminum).
Although I never have been a serious Colt collector, I've had occasion to own and shoot scores of them. My Detective Special is among them. This particular specimen has spent most of its life in a dresser drawer. It hasn't been shot or even carried that much. And that's fine; therapeutically, the peace of mind it has afforded by just sitting around has more than justified its price to me and everyone who has owned it since it was made in 1963.
The date of manufacture makes this specific revolver a member of what is known as the "Second Series" of Detective Specials. This refers to the serial-number series used. The First Series went from 1927 through 1946 (a square butt was standard through 1933), the Second Series from 1947 to 1972 (plastic grips from 1947 to 1954 and wood grips after). The Third Series started in 1973 and continued until 1986, and the Fourth Series started in 1993 and continued until 1995.
The author's 1963-vintage Detective Special (top) features an unshrouded ejector rod as opposed to the shrouded rods of later models (below).
A couple of notes about the look of the Detective Special over the years: A shrouded ejector rod became the norm with the Third Series, and the Fourth Series had an alloy frame. The Fourth Series also included what was known as the Bobbed Detective Special, which featured a bobbed hammer and was double-action-only. Grip design and materials varied through the years, with wraparound wood grips beginning with the Third Series and plastic/composition grips in and out of the line in the Second Series and then back with the Fourth Series.
Other variations included barrel lengths and chamberings. Most Detective Specials have 2-inch barrels and are chambered in .38 Special. But there are exceptions. For example, the Second Series was available in .38 Special, .32 New Police and .38 New Police, and although most had 2-inch barrels, a small number sported 3-inch tubes. Both nickel and blue finishes were available in the first three series, and there was a hard-chrome option in addition to blue/black in the Fourth Series. Fixed sights have been standard throughout.
The full six: The Detective Special (left) features a six-shot cylinder as opposed to the five-shot cylinder of Smith & Wesson J-frames (right).
Outwardly, there isn't much to distinguish the very early Detective Specials from ones made decades later. Certainly, the newer models with the barrel shroud for the ejector rod changed the profile enough to make for a different appearance. Being an offshoot of the Police Positive line, the Detective Special incorporated what is known as the Colt Positive Safety Lock mechanism that was designed to preclude accidental discharge. The system incorporates a solid-steel bar 1/10 of an inch thick that rests between the hammer and frame, except when the trigger is pulled.
It's noteworthy that the Detective Special continued as a standard offering as late as the 1990s. One might suppose that much of its staying power in later years had more to do with the inertia of being there than anything else. Although the civilian market for the Detective Special continued, the law enforcement market for them was clearly evaporating during the 1980s as semiautos gained ascendancy.
Yet for the purposes for which it was intended, the Detective Special is close to perfect. It remains as useful now as it was the day it was introduced. It is, after all, a handgun for police officers (and civilians) whose primary mission does not involve the daily use of a handgun but who need to have one close at hand at all times. With the increased interest in civilian concealed carry handguns, the Colt Detective Special should be seriously considered by anyone who wants the luxury of carrying a loaded firearm that is in no way cocked while carried, yet will deliver the goods instantly, with nothing more than a double-action pull of the trigger.
The author's Second Series model features checkered walnut grips and a round-butt configuration.
Although snubbies earn or lose their stripes based upon how conveniently they carry, they still are, of course, firearms and must be able to perform when called upon to do so. The Detective Special comes through with flying colors on the shooting front as well. Although it's not a revolver that one would expect to deliver tiny groups at ranges of 25 yards or beyond, if you do your part, it's not uncommon to achieve rather impressive groups from a Detective Special.
Realistically, however, it's an "up-close and personal" handgun that serves its purpose well if it draws smoothly, points quickly and can hit a torso-size target at distances from the end of the barrel to 20 feet or so. In other words, the Detective Special is a defensive--as opposed to an offensive--proposition.
The Detective Special is the perfect marriage of size and weight (21 ounces with an overall length of 63?4 inches), balance and mechanical timing. All of these factors combine to make the Detective Special easy to use effectively when pointed instinctively and fired in the double-action mode. And speaking of DA mode, Colt once offered an optional hammer shroud that could be installed on the Detective Special. It was essentially a metal hood over the hammer that made the gun even more snag-resistant when drawing from pocket or concealed holster.
Trigger-pull dynamics are critical for any handgun and are magnified when the piece happens to be very short; even a tiny misalignment becomes major the farther out one gets from the muzzle.
With its 6 3/4-inch overall length and 21-ounce weight, the Detective Special provides a controllable size-to-power ratio.
In shooting my Detective Special, I was struck with what a masterful job the Colt factory did. Everything about it is smooth and responsive. And the group size is almost identical whether the handgun is shot in the SA or DA mode.
The author regularly achieves impressive rapid-fire, short-range groups with his Detective Special.
I've been able to get three-inch center-mass double-action groups with it firing as fast as I can return the sights to the proper point of aim. And that's fast.
Many shooters seem to think that just because a handgun has a short barrel, it's inherently inaccurate. Quite the contrary. The short handgun more often than not is more accurate than the pilot flying it. Such has certainly been the case with me and the Detective Special.
Another thing to keep in mind is that .38 revolvers can be controlled by most shooters; they don't buck and snort enough to cause any adverse problems.
The Detective Special, as its name implies, may have been intended primarily as the primary firearm carried daily by plainclothes investigators and other non-front-line law enforcement officers. Throughout its history, however, it also has been used as a backup piece. For example, if one wanted to retain the Colt theme, it's totally correct to pair a Detective Special with a Python or Trooper for combined carry.
The short sight radius of the Detective Special requires the shooter to really bear down on his sight picture. This does not mean that shorter barrels are inherently less accurate than longer ones.
Contemporary wisdom often discounts .38 revolvers like the Detective Special as being too wimpy. OK, a .45 ACP the .38 Special is not. But with proper bullets the .38 Special--even loaded to original nominal velocities--can and will get the job done, especially at close quarters. It's somewhat baffling that two applicable concepts seem to be lost in the fray. They are bullet placement and successive-shot delivery. The Detective Special holds six rounds, and they are all available for instant delivery as quickly as the shooter can pull the trigger.
Such repeated hammering, assuming reasonably placed shots, should be sufficient, especially considering that all it has to buy the shooter is a few more feet of exit room or a second or two of reaction time from the other direction. Or, put another way, for most social situations, if that won't do it at five to 10 feet, it probably won't get done with anything much less than a 12 gauge.
Again, keep in mind that the Detective Special was never intended as a mainline carry gun, nor was it intended to bowl over hordes of drug-crazed Vikings. Rather, it is a handgun that is there to help its owner get out of a bad situation. And that it does magnificently.
For many civilians who now have concealed carry permits, the Detective Special is something worth considering. There is nothing to worry about at the last minute, like taking off a safety. Just pull out the Detective Special, point it, and pull the trigger. It doesn't get simpler than that.
here is the link. I cut and pasted the article itself below
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/classics/ct0507/index.html
fromGuns & Ammo
July 2005
Colt Detective Special
Colt Detective Special
Beloved by generations of plainclothesmen, this classy little six-shooter is the epitome of the .38 snubbie.
By Steve Comus
Seldom has a gun's name been more suited to its role than Colt's legendary Detective Special.
It may be common to find older Colt Detective Special revolvers that show a lot of carry wear, but relatively few have been shot a whole lot. Convenient carry was the reason this model existed. In fact, the six-shot Detective Special is little more than a Colt Police Positive with a short barrel and non-snag grip size/design. The Police Positive and the Detective Special even shared serial numbers after 1927.
My fondness for snubnose Colt revolvers dates back slightly more than 50 years, to a time when the very last thing I needed or even could have used much was a short-barreled pocket revolver. But there was something about those snubbie Colts at the time that simply mystified me. Although my dream gun then was the Colt Cobra, that infatuation had more to do with the name than the real difference between the Detective Special and the Cobra (the Detective Special has a steel frame; the Cobra, aluminum).
Although I never have been a serious Colt collector, I've had occasion to own and shoot scores of them. My Detective Special is among them. This particular specimen has spent most of its life in a dresser drawer. It hasn't been shot or even carried that much. And that's fine; therapeutically, the peace of mind it has afforded by just sitting around has more than justified its price to me and everyone who has owned it since it was made in 1963.
The date of manufacture makes this specific revolver a member of what is known as the "Second Series" of Detective Specials. This refers to the serial-number series used. The First Series went from 1927 through 1946 (a square butt was standard through 1933), the Second Series from 1947 to 1972 (plastic grips from 1947 to 1954 and wood grips after). The Third Series started in 1973 and continued until 1986, and the Fourth Series started in 1993 and continued until 1995.
The author's 1963-vintage Detective Special (top) features an unshrouded ejector rod as opposed to the shrouded rods of later models (below).
A couple of notes about the look of the Detective Special over the years: A shrouded ejector rod became the norm with the Third Series, and the Fourth Series had an alloy frame. The Fourth Series also included what was known as the Bobbed Detective Special, which featured a bobbed hammer and was double-action-only. Grip design and materials varied through the years, with wraparound wood grips beginning with the Third Series and plastic/composition grips in and out of the line in the Second Series and then back with the Fourth Series.
Other variations included barrel lengths and chamberings. Most Detective Specials have 2-inch barrels and are chambered in .38 Special. But there are exceptions. For example, the Second Series was available in .38 Special, .32 New Police and .38 New Police, and although most had 2-inch barrels, a small number sported 3-inch tubes. Both nickel and blue finishes were available in the first three series, and there was a hard-chrome option in addition to blue/black in the Fourth Series. Fixed sights have been standard throughout.
The full six: The Detective Special (left) features a six-shot cylinder as opposed to the five-shot cylinder of Smith & Wesson J-frames (right).
Outwardly, there isn't much to distinguish the very early Detective Specials from ones made decades later. Certainly, the newer models with the barrel shroud for the ejector rod changed the profile enough to make for a different appearance. Being an offshoot of the Police Positive line, the Detective Special incorporated what is known as the Colt Positive Safety Lock mechanism that was designed to preclude accidental discharge. The system incorporates a solid-steel bar 1/10 of an inch thick that rests between the hammer and frame, except when the trigger is pulled.
It's noteworthy that the Detective Special continued as a standard offering as late as the 1990s. One might suppose that much of its staying power in later years had more to do with the inertia of being there than anything else. Although the civilian market for the Detective Special continued, the law enforcement market for them was clearly evaporating during the 1980s as semiautos gained ascendancy.
Yet for the purposes for which it was intended, the Detective Special is close to perfect. It remains as useful now as it was the day it was introduced. It is, after all, a handgun for police officers (and civilians) whose primary mission does not involve the daily use of a handgun but who need to have one close at hand at all times. With the increased interest in civilian concealed carry handguns, the Colt Detective Special should be seriously considered by anyone who wants the luxury of carrying a loaded firearm that is in no way cocked while carried, yet will deliver the goods instantly, with nothing more than a double-action pull of the trigger.
The author's Second Series model features checkered walnut grips and a round-butt configuration.
Although snubbies earn or lose their stripes based upon how conveniently they carry, they still are, of course, firearms and must be able to perform when called upon to do so. The Detective Special comes through with flying colors on the shooting front as well. Although it's not a revolver that one would expect to deliver tiny groups at ranges of 25 yards or beyond, if you do your part, it's not uncommon to achieve rather impressive groups from a Detective Special.
Realistically, however, it's an "up-close and personal" handgun that serves its purpose well if it draws smoothly, points quickly and can hit a torso-size target at distances from the end of the barrel to 20 feet or so. In other words, the Detective Special is a defensive--as opposed to an offensive--proposition.
The Detective Special is the perfect marriage of size and weight (21 ounces with an overall length of 63?4 inches), balance and mechanical timing. All of these factors combine to make the Detective Special easy to use effectively when pointed instinctively and fired in the double-action mode. And speaking of DA mode, Colt once offered an optional hammer shroud that could be installed on the Detective Special. It was essentially a metal hood over the hammer that made the gun even more snag-resistant when drawing from pocket or concealed holster.
Trigger-pull dynamics are critical for any handgun and are magnified when the piece happens to be very short; even a tiny misalignment becomes major the farther out one gets from the muzzle.
With its 6 3/4-inch overall length and 21-ounce weight, the Detective Special provides a controllable size-to-power ratio.
In shooting my Detective Special, I was struck with what a masterful job the Colt factory did. Everything about it is smooth and responsive. And the group size is almost identical whether the handgun is shot in the SA or DA mode.
The author regularly achieves impressive rapid-fire, short-range groups with his Detective Special.
I've been able to get three-inch center-mass double-action groups with it firing as fast as I can return the sights to the proper point of aim. And that's fast.
Many shooters seem to think that just because a handgun has a short barrel, it's inherently inaccurate. Quite the contrary. The short handgun more often than not is more accurate than the pilot flying it. Such has certainly been the case with me and the Detective Special.
Another thing to keep in mind is that .38 revolvers can be controlled by most shooters; they don't buck and snort enough to cause any adverse problems.
The Detective Special, as its name implies, may have been intended primarily as the primary firearm carried daily by plainclothes investigators and other non-front-line law enforcement officers. Throughout its history, however, it also has been used as a backup piece. For example, if one wanted to retain the Colt theme, it's totally correct to pair a Detective Special with a Python or Trooper for combined carry.
The short sight radius of the Detective Special requires the shooter to really bear down on his sight picture. This does not mean that shorter barrels are inherently less accurate than longer ones.
Contemporary wisdom often discounts .38 revolvers like the Detective Special as being too wimpy. OK, a .45 ACP the .38 Special is not. But with proper bullets the .38 Special--even loaded to original nominal velocities--can and will get the job done, especially at close quarters. It's somewhat baffling that two applicable concepts seem to be lost in the fray. They are bullet placement and successive-shot delivery. The Detective Special holds six rounds, and they are all available for instant delivery as quickly as the shooter can pull the trigger.
Such repeated hammering, assuming reasonably placed shots, should be sufficient, especially considering that all it has to buy the shooter is a few more feet of exit room or a second or two of reaction time from the other direction. Or, put another way, for most social situations, if that won't do it at five to 10 feet, it probably won't get done with anything much less than a 12 gauge.
Again, keep in mind that the Detective Special was never intended as a mainline carry gun, nor was it intended to bowl over hordes of drug-crazed Vikings. Rather, it is a handgun that is there to help its owner get out of a bad situation. And that it does magnificently.
For many civilians who now have concealed carry permits, the Detective Special is something worth considering. There is nothing to worry about at the last minute, like taking off a safety. Just pull out the Detective Special, point it, and pull the trigger. It doesn't get simpler than that.
another okie
Member
I'm just finishing loading up the car to go to the Arkansas 3 gun match. In the trunk is an AR with 200 rounds, a Remington 1100 with 100 rounds and 50 slugs, and a Glock 17 with 200 rounds. In my pocket is a Taurus ti snubbie and one reload.
JMusic
member
One thing that you inherit with a snubby is the ability to shoot where no autoloader can go. You can easily shoot from your front pants pocket or coat if need be.
Jim
Jim
redneckrepairs
Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,117
Well YOU might shoot from a front pocket with one of the little beasts , but this redneck wont . LOL
JMusic
member
Your right, it will for sure take the hair off them but it is a tactic that is taught. Get you an old pair of jeans and about a quart of solar cane your ready to go for a little practice. ( Here's your sign.
Jim
Jim
I used to practice shooting from my front pants pocket and a jacket pocket.
I haven't done it for a while, make sure you have the lent cleaned out real good and be aware that repeated shots from a pocket may set your pants or jacket on fire. I speak from experience.
I haven't done it for a while, make sure you have the lent cleaned out real good and be aware that repeated shots from a pocket may set your pants or jacket on fire. I speak from experience.
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