The 5 Best Snubbie Revolvers

[Anchorite]

.....LOL.... Smallest I got....N frame 44 mag- View attachment 1148890

Ok, I give up. Why the two cylinders?

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Smiths........Colts.........or Rugers only.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

1) steel frame Charter Arms Undercovers
2) steel frame Smith J-frames
3) Aluminum frame CA Undercovers
4) Aluminum frame Smith J-frames
5) CA revolvers on Bulldog frame

Steel frame guns rank ahead of aluminum frame because they're easier to practice with, but YMMV. The aluminum framed guns are easier to carry...obviously.

CA guns rank ahead of Smiths because:
A) they're inexpensive; could almost afford two new CAs for the price of one new Smith
B) they're easier to find
C) CA customer service is regarded as very good and fast; Smith...not so much.
D) Would rather have an inexpensive CA tied up in the evidence locker than a nice Smith
E) I've had very good luck with recent (2019) CA purchases.
F) I've had very spotty luck with recent Smith purchases. At least one new one I did not purchase (642) would've had to go back to Smith before I could shoot it.

My experience with Ruger snubbies is that they're good guns but too heavy. But I've not shot the LCR so this may be a game changer.

No experience with Colt, but expect that whatever applies to Smith, probably apples to the new Colts.
Bob

 

[Old Dog]

D) Would rather have an inexpensive CA tied up in the evidence locker than a nice Smith

53 posts before someone brought up price as a plus and the ol' "evidence locker" aspect of having to use a firearm.

I will agree with this member as to the weight of Ruger snubbies being a detriment.

No experience with Colt, but expect that whatever applies to Smith, probably apples to the new Colts.

Open mouth, insert foot. If one has zero experience with a manufacturer, attributing a trait to that maker's products is pure conjecture. Doesn't contribute to an educated discussion on the topic at hand.

 

[JDeere]

I own one snub-nosed revolver. I put it in the same category as my spare tire and fire extinguisher. A good and proper revolver has a 4 - 6.5 inch barrel.

I could not agree more...I have one Colt Cobra that belonged to my FIL...

 

[WisBorn]

5 best?

Snubby = 3" barrel or less.

686+ 357mag 3"
415 41mag 2 1/2"
605 357mag 2"
637 38+p 1 7/8"
442 38+p 1 7/8"

Not going to say that they are the best, just the 5 I own.

 

[Weflyfast]

Ok, I give up. Why the two cylinders?

Well the fluted one is a touch lighter-
Honestly I bought it "used" but new in the box and both cylinders were fitted and came with the gun- no noticeable difference in accuracy-
....this one thinks it has a longer barrel-

 

[Styx]

1. S&W 686
2. Colt Python
3. Ruger GP100
4. Dan Wesson
5. Kimber K6s

 

[megatronrules]

I've owned a couple of K frames over the years. A 2.5" 19 blued and a 66 4" barrel. I've also owned a few Taurus that were good guns as well. An 85UK stainless,a black 605 and a stainless 605 both in 357. Those were nice Nubbies with surprisingly nice triggers.

I've also owned about a dozen J frames over the years as well a few SP101''s and a few D frame Colts. Also had an LCR in 357 mag too. And a few charter arms ones too.

I'd have to say I liked the D frame Colts a lot because they are barely bigger than the J frame but have an extra round which is nice to have. My current two snub nose revolvers are a Colt king Cobra carry 357 and a Smith M&P340CT I'm 357. Here's a picture of the Colt with it's newly aquired badger boot grips which I really like a lot. I don't have a picture of the M&P340CT but your guys here have all seen those. It has the crimson trace LG-405 laser boot grips from the factory with the S&W logo on them.

 

[Gordon]

S&W Terrier .38 S&W I frame in Nickel
S&W 36 Nickle 3" J frame .38 Special
S&W Model 19 2.5 Nickel .357
Colt Cobra Type 2 shrouded 2" .38 Special polished blue 1970s
Ruger Speed six Stainless 2.5" .357


also rans:
Colt Diamondback snub 2.5" .38 spec.
Colt Python 2.5" .357 Nickel
Early Brigeport Charter Arms 3" BullDog .44
S&W Model 34 2" Nickel .22
S&W Model 15 2" .38 Spl.
Colt Lawman Mark III 2" .357

Ive had all the above and more . I have SOME left after giving to family and selling down

 

[Ks5shooter]

Kimber K6s?

 

[Peakbagger46]

340 PD no lock is my personal favorite. Nice and light for pocket carry and I shoot it reasonably well even with milder .357 stuff.

It also gets carried every day as a BUG at work hidden in my ballistic vest. With all the crap I carry on duty, lightweight is important.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

53 posts before someone brought up price as a plus and the ol' "evidence locker" aspect of having to use a firearm.

I will agree with this member as to the weight of Ruger snubbies being a detriment.

Open mouth, insert foot. If one has zero experience with a manufacturer, attributing a trait to that maker's products is pure conjecture. Doesn't contribute to an educated discussion on the topic at hand.

Hey Old Dog. Since you went to the trouble to call me out, I'll respond.

Have got some Colt experience. I think the old Python I've had since the late '70s qualifies. Shot it a lot...but not in years. At the time it was all I had. It became a safe queen when a Security Six was acquired. Python SA was nice but DA stacked a ridiculous amount. Besides it was way too heavy to carry. Ruger SA wasn't bad at all but DA was great and just as accurate...more accurate, really, once mastered. So it is with recent Colt products that I have no experience.

Oh, and when it comes to being 'old', I might just have you beat. So be careful playing that card.

Glad you agree that price is important. Not everyone counts their pennies. After all, two Charters beat one Smith, especially if one is in the evidence locker...or otherwise tied up.
Bob

 

[Old Hobo]

Go S&W.

If .38, you've got 5 shots. I'd load that with Buffalo Bore full wadcutters. The ammo is too expensive, yet it's your life on the line. BufloBore ammo has reduced flash for snubbies and their bullets sure do travel quickly. Buffalo Bore loads these as man-stoppers without high chamber pressures. Hollow points often (most often) don't expand when fired out of snubbies, but if you can get that bullet up over 1100 fps, better yet 1200 fps, then hollow points get an opportunity to expand.

If .327 Federal Magnum, you've got 6 shots. Plus, you can fire .32 H&R mag in them.

If you can come up with a 3-inch barrel instead of a 2" barrel, go with the 3" barrel for either .38 or .32 cartridges.

 

[dawei]

S&W® Mdl 36 - 38 Special
S&W® Mdl 442 - 38 Special
Colt® Detective Special - 38 Special
Charter Arms Undercover - 38 Special
Taurus Mdl 85 - 38 Special

 

[IWAC]

Looked at a website today that was claiming to name the 5 best snubnose revolvers. There are lots of these opinion pieces out there and all are subject to varying opinions. But what I picked up on with this one was that I've got 4 of the 5, and a better (to me) choice for the 5th. You?

Ruger SP 101
Smith J-frame
Smith Model 13
Colt Detective Special
Charter .44 Special

Of this list the Model 13 is my favorite, I've had one for years. Instead of the Charter Arms, I have a Smith 696 .44 Special, which is unusual, heavy and bulky but a fine revolver if you can find one.

#s 1,2,3,4,5...Smith & Wesson 60 3" 357 Magnum. Larger grips, stoked with Federal PUNCH 130 gr. HST +P or Speer 135 gr. Short Barrel +p. OR...Remington or Winchester 148 gr. Target Wadcutters. To heck with the ultra light Punishers...you shoot best what kicks you least. I found out how to shoot my 357 Magnum accurately...I have to open one eye!

 

[Sistema1927]

Any of these should make the list.

Don't forget the .32's, they give you an extra round for the same size.


This Model 60 has seen lots of use, but still gets it done.