Snub Nose - DAO or DA/SA

[Redfisher60]

Man I could care less if I can hit anything over 5 yards away with my 642.
IT'S A BELLY GUN! Meant to get an immediate threat off me!
I point shoot train only with it. I get Minute of Man at 5 yards.
Now I realize there are other scenarios where that would not be sufficient defense.
That's what PPQ is for......to get me to a long rifle.

 

[tubeshooter]

Strictly SD? DAO is fine.
Pocket carry? DAO is preferred.


Otherwise? Nice to have SA capability.

 

[p95]

Either way...

 

[bassjam]

I pocket carry and I've tried snub nose revolvers with and without the spur. In a panicked draw, I found the spur can snag even if attempting to use the thumb on the spur during the draw. Not every time, but enough that I only pocket carry spurless hammer snubbies.

I've noticed the same thing. I pocket carried a 337 for a couple years. What I found is the pants/shorts I was wearing made a huge difference. When covering the hammer with my thumb, there were times just that that extra thickness of my thumb was enough to bind the gun and my hand up in my pocket.

I have since switched to a 442 and have found it to be much smoother on a draw. More so than I would have thought possible until I tried an internal hammer revolver.

 

[jamesjames]

I voted DAO. The snub nose revolver is a defensive firearm. Its meant for responding to an attack and drawing from concealment. Its optimal range for engaging a target is 7 yards and closer. If you need to take an aimed shot with it, you are probably out of its effective accuracy range. I have a 642 now, although I have had an m38, 442, and 640 in the past. The snub nose revolver is a compromise for size, weight, capacity, and accuracy. Might as well accept its limitations and carry it for its intended purpose. Its a CQB firearm, not a sniper rifle.

 

[Armybrat]

For wheel guns I prefer both DA & SA.

 

[tomrkba]

Either now that I have an LCR. I like SA for precise, longer distance shots.

 

[Mark 40]

I pocket carry and I've tried snub nose revolvers with and without the spur. In a panicked draw, I found the spur can snag even if attempting to use the thumb on the spur during the draw. Not every time, but enough that I only pocket carry spurless hammer snubbies.

I'm in the DAO camp for the reason(s) chicharrones describes above.

 

[Rexster]

I have short-barreled revolvers in the follwing configurations:

1. Double-Action-Only; S&W Centennial Airweight, Ruger SP101

2. Traditional Double Action with hammer spur: Ruger SP101

3. Traditional Double Action, but with no hammer spur: Ruger SP101, GP100 (These can be cocked, with some amount of careful effort.)

I also have longer-barreled Rugers with spur-less hammers, and an NYPD-spec K-Frame DAO hammer, ready to be installed in a future K-Frame revolver. I find the spur can be annoying, in the case of large and medium revolvers, as well as with J-Snubs. The SP101 hammer spur is unobtrusive, so I have no preference. I wanted one SP101 to have a spur, for retention with some holsters, so when I found one with a stunningly smooth action, I bought it.

I cannot foresee cocking a DA revolver, in a defensive scenario. I was indoctrinated to shoot DA, by some excellent LE instructors/mentors. DA shooting, for me, is more stress-resistant than SA shooting.

I am aware that DAO may be more "court-proof" in some circumstances, but that has not kept me from carrying revolvers able to fire in Single-Action mode. Perhaps, when traveling to some regions, I might me more likely to carry DAO revolvers, but the Alvarez case occurred in Florida, in the normally more gun-friendly South, so one never knows. Actually, the late Janet Reno led that prosecution, IIRC, and the cocked-revolver/negligence theory used by the prosecution was successfully countered.

 

[Jim in S.A.]

On my every day revolvers, I want an exposed hammer and SA/DA. But my snubnose is a bit of a special purpose weapon, which I invariably carry concealed. As such, I'm extremely happy with my Ruger LCR. The DA pull is fantastic, and the internal hammer means one less thing that could, however unlikely, go wrong.

Let me add that while that's my thinking, and the LCR is what I carry, this isn't something I'm vehement about. I could be talked into carrying a Smith & Wesson without too much effort, when you get right down to it.

 

[saemetric]

Just converted this 36-8 to DAO with a factory hammer and added the Combats. Now my edc. It just fits me.

 

[sequins]

I've carried an SP101 in a pocket holster even with the hammer and to be honest I didn't mind it and never experienced a snag in practice. I would recommend practicing from the draw with an UNLOADED weapon to see if the snag concern is real for you and your wardrobe.

 

[_smitty]

For those that carry a snub nose revolver, do you prefer DAO or DA/SA and why?

I own both the 637 and 642; however, I find myself going strictly DAO on the firing line.

 

[_smitty]

I have carried snubbies with an exposed hammer, but after having enough examples of hammer snag, I would recommend the hammerless versions. I have, and will carry the M638 which has a shrouded hammer, but my preference is the M642. You can have this little revolver rolling around in your pocket and the hammer won't catch the fabric as it is withdrawn.

S&W M642 DAO Only

View attachment 761406


S&W M638, shrouded hammer

View attachment 761407


These older Detective Specials, they were actually carried in holsters by Law Enforcement. The shorter barrel made them easier to carry, but, if carried differently, there was always the risk of the hammer snagging when drawn.

Colt Detective Special

View attachment 761408


It is my considered opinion, having shot snubbies for fun out to 50 yards, is that these are close up pistols only. Basically spitting distance. I have hit my 12" gong at 50 yards standing, but, not that often with a snubbie. If I can hit the gong more than 50% of the time at 50 yards, offhand, at 50 yards, I think I am doing great. At 25 yards I can keep all my shots on a 12" gong single action. Double action is an entirely different thing. It takes a lot of work to keep a cylinder full on target when shooting double action. There were shooters who were just amazing shooting double action, but I am not one of them! But, move the target within arms reach, just point and squirt!

@Slamfire,

50 yards with a snubbie is no easy task, well done! Depending where you're located, you should definitely complete in the "Presidents 100" pistol match.

 

[Hardtarget]

My vote is in the DA/SA because the only snub I have is a S&W 19. I shoot it mostly as DA but will try longer range almost every time it is shot.

Mark

 

[Craig_AR]

This thread has of necessity confused two aspects of the DAO question:
1. Are you concerned about a hammer snagging when using pocket carry?
2. What are the handling and accuracy impacts of DAO vs DA/SA?

1. On pocket snag: Testimony of a number of folks is that a full hammer is likely to snag and cause difficulty drawing when using pocket carry. If that is your concern, there are three options. You can use a DAO like the S&W Centennial 642/442, with the encased hammer. You can use a shrouded hammer like the S&W 638 Bodyguard, which gives you DA/SA option while minimizing pocket snag. You can bob the hammer of a DA/SA like the S&W 38, effectively turning it into a DAO. saemetric posted a pic of such a mod earlier in the thread.
Obviously, if you plan for holster carry outside the pocket, there is no need to worry about hammer snag in the pocket. In fact, a traditional hammer design helps the retention strap work properly on many holsters.

2. On handling and accuracy, the lighter trigger pull after cocking a SA gun is likely to give you a more accurate shot than the heavier DA trigger pull on the same gun. A DAO removes that option. I defer to more experienced shooters to say whether plenty of practice can bring DA accuracy in line with SA accuracy.

For my first purchase of a SD gun I went with the DAO S&W 642 for several reasons. First, I planned to pocket carry, and liked the reduced snag feature. Second, although I see the advantage of the SA/DA 638 for snag clearance plus dual action, I think it is just an ugly gun. Finally, given that I have had marksmanship range training but not tactical defense training, I wanted DAO for a psychological reason. I do not want to have a gun in hand and fire it unintentionally in a stress situation by being startled or scared. The added trigger pull effort of the DAO should help prevent that. Yes, I know I could just not cock the DA/SA revolver at the time, but, again, I want to reduce the psychological aspect of choices made in high stress self-defense conditions.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I don't see myself having the opportunity to cock it so I figure less to snag is a benefit.

DAO.

 

[If1HitU]

I only have DA snuby revolvers that I edc,here's three of my S&W's BG, 638-3 & 442-2 ,all .38 SPL+P 5 5 shots.

 

[Jonesy814]

DA/SA for me. I pocket carry a 638. If the shrouded hammer version didn't exist I would DAO with a 642 but since it does exist I figure why limit myself to double action only.

 

[george29]

My snubs are a 640 and a 340. My thinking is; no gunk in the hammer mechanism and nothing to snag.

 

[Redfisher60]

I pocket carry my 642. Not all the time. I always have it with me away from home. I figure if I have to pull it from my pocket, it wont be coming out like a quick draw. I keep it in a bulldog holster, so it will most likely be 2 hands required to get the holster off, but I could fire through it.
Now when I go to Atlanta, I have a different mindset. I still have the 642, but my situational awareness radar sensitivity is on HIGH.

 

[CDR_Glock]

Slow fire at 7 and 10 yards, about the same result. I ran out of ammo before I tried 15 yard groups, since I was shooting my 25 yard plate, on this date. I get about the same at 18 yards.

I recently switched over to wood grips since it's easier to draw from concealment. The Altamonte grips fit more full, though I wish I had more girth on the grip.



Kimber K6S, DAO. 357 Magnum. I was using a 442 and 640 before. I wanted the capacity of 6 and I like the conventional sights.

Double action only limits the liability of shooting or accidentally shooting while in single action. The trigger is 10 lbs. The lack of an exposed hammer makes it less likely to snag.

 

[Redfisher60]

CDR_Glock that is a nice revolver!

 

[bassjam]

Slow fire at 7 and 10 yards, about the same result. I ran out of ammo before I tried 15 yard groups, since I was shooting my 25 yard plate, on this date. I get about the same at 18 yards.

I recently switched over to wood grips since it's easier to draw from concealment. The Altamonte grips fit more full, though I wish I had more girth on the grip.



Kimber K6S, DAO. 357 Magnum. I was using a 442 and 640 before. I wanted the capacity of 6 and I like the conventional sights.

Double action only limits the liability of shooting or accidentally shooting while in single action. The trigger is 10 lbs. The lack of an exposed hammer makes it less likely to snag.

The woods grips are a good point. I found the stock boot grips on my 442 were a tad, er, grippy, inside my pocket. Altamont grips really helped make drawing easier.

 

[Haywood]

I shot my DAO 442 today. At 21' I have a group of 20 +P 38s that I can cover with my hand. I may not be the greatest shot around but, I feel comfortable and safe with that.