Snubby Revolver Class

[The Goose]

Yesterday I took the Mastering the Defensive Snub Revolver course given by Michael (not Mike) De Bethencourt at the S&W Academy. Michael also respomds to Bobo, but not Mike. LOL! At any rate it was a great class. At the beginning Michael established that we were peers, that we were his assistant instructors and that all information could be discussed or challenged. Frankly, there was very little that I could challenge. The class was fast paced and I had the distinct impression that Michael could have continued non-stop for at least a few days without running out of information. There were 13 people in the class and they ranged from LEO's to correction officers to legally armed citizens like myself. After intros and legalities the morning was largely spent on how to load amd reload the snubby. Loose rounds, speed loaders and speed strips were covered and the pros and cons of each were experienced. Michael,s way of handling the snubby during loading and reloading was different then I and most of the class was used to, but it is very efficient and after practice began to feel natural. I will definitely stick with and practice this skill. Lunch and breaks were quick affairs and the afternoon was range time. A variety of drills were practiced, single shots, doubles, fast shots, partial reloads, slow long shots. Again it was fast paced, fun and I know that I am a better shooter today then yesterday morning. The end of the day was spent on weapon retention and touched on the snubby as an impact weapon.

The main thing I took away was that much of what I habitually practice on the range would get me killed in a gunfight. There was a lot of stress on getting the snubby reloaded and back into the fight as fast as possible, a lot of stress on partial reloads. This class presents the snubby as a fighting weapon whether close in, long range or as an impact weapon. I am a small business owner who carries a snubby for personal protection, I strongly feel that this class has given me tools and drills that I can practice that could save my life. Highly recommended.

PS. Oh yeah, I meant to mention. At the beginning of the class Michael cautioned about snubbies with internal locking systems. During the class one guy had his S&W lock up during a drill and could not get it unlocked at all. Out of commission and scary as hell!

 

[KONY]

PS. Oh yeah, I meant to mention. At the beginning of the class Michael cautioned about snubbies with internal locking systems. During the class one guy had his S&W lock up during a drill and could not get it unlocked at all. Out of commission and scary as hell!

... that is why I always favor the pre-lock versions. If it has to have the locl, Taurus seems to have gotten it right as I hardly hear about them locking up on their own.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

I do love the simplicity of a snub.

Which ones don't have internal locking systems? SP101? Do all the current J-frames & Taurus snubs have the lock sys?

Did he touch on DAO being the way to go versus shrouded hammer?

Or how about the insanely light S&W 340 with .357's? Seems to be the flavor of the month, but I can't imagine actually getting off a decent follow up shot.

 

[Sistema1927]

Michael's way of handling the snubby during loading and reloading was different then I and most of the class was used to, but it is very efficient and after practice began to feel natural. I will definitely stick with and practice this skill.

Don't keep us in suspense. What constitutes his method?

 

[Ichiro]

Ruger SP-101s don't have a lock (yet). Also, they're not too bad shooting .357 mag(numbs). I can follow-up on 110-grain lower-velocity .357s fairly quickly, and I suck at shooting. It's a heavier gun, but I imagine that makes for a better bludgeon if it comes to that.

~Ichiro

 

[MikeIsaj]

Originally Posted by The Goose
Michael's way of handling the snubby during loading and reloading was different then I and most of the class was used to, but it is very efficient and after practice began to feel natural. I will definitely stick with and practice this skill.

I agree, what does he do?

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Ruger SP-101s don't have a lock (yet). Also, they're not too bad shooting .357 mag(numbs).

I like the SP101. Kinda heavy for the pocket carry I'm thinking would work for me, but maybe I'd just go to IWB or pancake carry.

Anyway, doesn't Speer have a .38 +P load and a 'short-barrel' .357 mid-range load that would be great for the SP101?

 

[pezo]

I hear some ppl say they dont like the sp101 for carry cuz of weight. I have the 2" DAO and when I shoot it I find the weight to be a great benefit. exspecially shooting the rounds I would like have at my disposal if needed that I know have a great chance of doing the "job". The sp101 is a simple, rugged reliable weopan. Now if we can find out what the teachings were in this class that would be a great thing for this forum!!!!

 

[Standing Wolf]

At the beginning of the class Michael cautioned about snubbies with internal locking systems. During the class one guy had his S&W lock up during a drill and could not get it unlocked at all. Out of commission and scary as hell!

Hey, wait until so-called "smart guns" arrive!

 

[Stevel]

I'm glad to hear it was a good course. It was full by the time I tried to get in. Sounds like it was just what I was looking for, I will try again in the future.

For those looking at what it entails, COMBAT HANDGUNS had an article 25 REASONS REVOLVERS BEAT AUTOS last year(?) which explains Michael D's methods.

 

[DR]

Don't keep us in suspense. What constitutes his method?

Briefly, he doesn't switch hands while using a speedloader. It makes sense to me (and that's how I did it anyway before I took his class). He has a number of other refinements on reloading designed to keep things as fumble-free as possible. He also has a good method for weak hand only reloading (much better than my previous technique of hoping I never needed to do it).

I lucked out in that there were a grand total of three people in the class when I took it. It was well worth the price of admission.

 

[buzz_knox]

PS. Oh yeah, I meant to mention. At the beginning of the class Michael cautioned about snubbies with internal locking systems. During the class one guy had his S&W lock up during a drill and could not get it unlocked at all. Out of commission and scary as hell!

So the instructor at the S&W Academy recommended not buying the current generation of S&W snubbies? I think that's hilarious, and also rather damning to S&W. "S&W! Not recommended, even by our own instructors!"

 

[MikeIsaj]

Briefly, he doesn't switch hands while using a speedloader.

Is that all! I was doing that for years until I found out it was wrong. Of course I am left handed (shoot right handed) and suspect the hand change is to accomodate righties.

 

[The Goose]

IDid he touch on DAO being the way to go versus shrouded hammer?

Actually a bit of time was spent on this topic. His opinion was that whether DAO or shrouded there should not be a hammer that can be cocked. He cited instances where individuals involved in self defense shootings had legal problems over cocking a revolver during a shooting. The idea being that if you had time to cock the revolver that it was hard to claim self defense. I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing with this idea, but it is one theory. I also suspect poor legal representation.

 

[The Goose]

So the instructor at the S&W Academy recommended not buying the current generation of S&W snubbies? I think that's hilarious, and also rather damning to S&W. "S&W! Not recommended, even by our own instructors!"

Actually Michael has his own company called North East Tactical Schools and he rents the space from S&W. This class is also taught at other locations. Michael is brutally honest about equipment. His opinions are his own and I certainly suspect that he is beholding to none. He is ruthless about equipment.

 

[buzz_knox]

Actually Michael has his own company called North East Tactical Schools and he rents the space from S&W. This class is also taught at other locations. Michael is brutally honest about equipment. His opinions are his own and I certainly suspect that he is beholding to none. He is ruthless about equipment.

Good to know. It's also worth the extra confirmation that S&W's locks are causing problems.

 

[Mulliga]

It's also worth the extra confirmation that S&W's locks are causing problems.

Do what I did. If you can't find a prelock snubbie, grind off the locking nub.

I'm kind of interested in how he recommended using the snubbie as an impact weapon. I suppose hitting people with the butt? The barrel? ... If you hit them with the side of the gun (like you do with a 1911) you risk inflicting major damage to the cylinder, right?