The Correct Snubnose Caliber

[gglass]

After carrying light caliber semi-autos for some time, my wife finally decided that she wanted the perfect balance of size, power and reliability... This is what she chose:

Her Gold Dot 138gr +P carry ammo is the perfect match for the 2" barrel. The Gold Dot 135gr +P round was created at the request of the New York City police department to provide officers with the best possible ammunition for their backup weapons. What makes it the best? Speer designed a round that would fully exhaust the propellant in a 2' barrel, which allows maximum velocity and reduced muzzle flash in a snubby. This combined with a larger fast-expansion hollow-point cavity, makes it PERFECT.

 

[Sport45]

My vote is for .38spl +P. That's what I carry in my 36 and I've never felt under-gunned.

Using .357mag or some of the other heavy hitters makes snubbies unpleasant and can induce flinch. Seems the best to me would be .38spcl, .44spcl, and .45acp. The cylinder just gets too big with the .44 and .45's for my taste.

 

[wrs840]

.38 special in a Smith 642. If I carried anything larger and heavier then it will be a full size auto.

+1. The perfect answer. IMO.

Les

 

[22lr]

38+p

You have a very large selection of loads to choose from.

 

[CornCod]

I can't vote because I perfer .38 Special non +p. I use FMJ in my two-inch Model 10 and 158 gr. LRN in my Model 60 Chief's. For some reason the Model 10 doesn’t like the 158 gr. LRN as far as accuracy goes.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Why get the 44 spl, get the 44 mag and carry special

because the M-696 is an L-frame and all .44 mags that i am aware of are N-frames

 

[Brian Williams]

9mm in my 942, a 642 with a 940 cylinder.

 

[tipoc]

From a J frame or Colt Cobra .38 Spl. +P 158 gr. LSWC

From a K frame snubby .38 +P as above or the .357 158 gr. at around 1100 fps. Very controllable, allows for rapid follow up shots, less muzzle flash.

N frame snubby .44 Spl.

tipoc

 

[CowboyShootin]

Best of my experience

Recently got a Ruger LCR. I chose the .38+P vote because of that. I can consistently hit 25 yrd black with it, even with quick draw-shoot action. I've shot the same style and same .38 round from 2 other makers but had much tougher time holding on target. This LCR grip makes the difference. I feel the 45 is a much better self defence round, but you are limited on the options to carry! I'm assuming this vote is based on the best option, when also dealing with concealed carry issues. I've shot many (not all) the others and consider them to hot to handle reliably in a 2" snub.

 

[bhp9mm]

i picked 38 but would have picked 9mm if it was there

 

[Oyeboten]

You forgot to include .45 ACP and .45 LC as an option...Lol...


But...ultimately...I'd say, whatever one is easy and familiar with, where one can draw and have well placed shots, with alacrity...


And if one's hands are large enough, then, a large Frame .44 or .45 is certainly an option.


Probably, .38 Special, having diverse loadings and Bullet types readily obtainable, and being usually a comfortable size Revolver for average-size Hands, remains the most appealing choice generally, for a self-defence-carry 'Snubby'.

 

[mesinge2]

9mmepiphany, I'm a big fat guy so I forget that everone can't hid an N-frame .

I often carry a S&W model 29 with a 3-inch barrel and I forget its there

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm a big fat guy so I forget that everone can't hid an N-frame

hee hee, i'm getting there...i try to keep stuff from poking into my love handles

it's been awhile since i carried a N-frame. it was a 8.375" M-27 and i packed it using an Alessi Fieldmaster. it carried the gun vertically, butt the pouch pivoted foward during the draw...very sleek

 

[oneiron]

My choice

Charter Bulldog Pug in 44 Special loaded with Corbon 165gr bullet 404 ft/lbs. Been thinking about the Speer 250gr Gold Dot at 900ft/sec. At the time I purchased the revolver that Corbon load was all I could get beside the Federal 200 gr LSWCHP, 360ft/lbs. I purchased both just to have some ammo on hand.

 

[mesinge2]

I'm a big fat guy so I forget that everone can't hid an N-frame

One of the perks of being a fat guy.

Others are I am more buoyant in water, I'll survive thin people in a famine, and I am warmer in the winter.

Hee Hee he

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors// .38 special +P

Ruger 27oz. sp101 SS .357 platform compared to

S&W 15 oz. 638 AW in 38 +P platform // compared to

S&W 13 oz. 360 .357 AW platform

I choose the 15oz. S&W model 638 AW bodyguard .38 special +P 5 shot

 

[Marvin KNox]

It seems to me that we are talking about a 5 shot J frame size gun most likely when we talk snubs. There are many other, of course. But most likely we are talking J frame, LCR, and such.

In those I prefer a little extra poop in the form of the milder .357 mags. But most are probably talking .38.

So my vote (for the vast majority of people) is 38 spl. +p's. Probably couldn't go too far wrong recommending Speer's short barrel 135 gr. Gold Dots as the absolute best choice for 80% of snub carriers.

I, myself, prefer the 125gr. DPX in .357 magnum cases.

 

[jaydubya]

I'm one of the crowd that voted +p .38sp. My snubby is an S&W Airweight 637. Its SD/HD load is Remington's +P 158gr LSWCHP, probably the best FBI load for snubbies because its bullets are of dead soft lead and are likely to expand. The Winchester and Federal versions are hard cast, and while useful in standard length revolvers probably will not expand when fired from a snubby. (Source: Stephen Camp's many articles on this topic).

At the range, I shoot std pressure 148gr wadcutters. I can handle about twenty-five of them before I really want to be doing something else. Now and then I'll end a range session with five of my defense load. Wow! But I know I'd never notice the kick in a real life situation. One of these days, I intend to try Speer's 135gr Gold Dots. A lot of people like them. I have Speer's 124gr Gold Dots in my Browning High Power, so I'm halfway there already.

Cordially, Jack

 

[Deltaboy1984]

My OLD Charter Arms Undercover 38 sp.

 

[sidheshooter]

I voted .38 +P, and have personally settled on either my 1976 36-1 J or my latest heartthrob, the S&W 12-3 in 2-inch guise. What a great carry revolver.

So far as load: death, taxes and the "FBI" 158 LSWCHP+P...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Most of the Night Guard revolvers are either a L frame or an N frame. The M315NG however is an actual K frame revolver which is very cool IMO. (in .38 Special)

 

[Dr.Rob]

Colt Magnum Carry. Remington 125 gr jsp's are pretty stout, but that's why it has that Houge monogrip.

 

[Clarence]

I like big bullets because they make big holes. I picked .44 Special.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

But guys, if .38+P out of a 15 oz S&W J-Frame is "good" then .357 (albeit milder .357's) out of a 13 oz Sc S&W J-Frame is "better" provided you can hit your target and repeat.

Carries lighter and hits harder, what's not to like?

 

[mesinge2]

you can hit your target and repeat

This is actually the problem, not everyone can control the recoil of a 357 with a 1 7/8" or 2" barrel.

The first shot might be accurate, but the second is either slower or lost.