What .38 snubbie would you choose?
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Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
J frame, cause it is a little smaller, and it has the 3" barrel option.
PATH
Member
I went with the J frame. I liked the way it felt in my hand and the way it shot. I just like old Smiths better.
4thHorseman
Member
Ilove the Detective Special. Fits my hand just right. I perfer the pre-1996 models. I don't care for the newer styles at all.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's All,
It's the Smith & Wesson J-frame for me! Model's
36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 49, 60 or the Ti or Sc counterpart's
would serve me well!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
It's the Smith & Wesson J-frame for me! Model's
36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 49, 60 or the Ti or Sc counterpart's
would serve me well!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
sm
member
smith J frames in 36 my favorite, include also 37, 38, 42 and 60
triggers , actions, overall feel of smith
'sides the cyl rotates the way its 'sposed to
triggers , actions, overall feel of smith
'sides the cyl rotates the way its 'sposed to
PDshooter
Member
thisaway
Member
S&W J-frames are more readily available.
fastbolt
Member
S&W's are smaller, and stand up to shooting longer than Colt's. Colt's just didn't do well under extended shooting without the tender ministrations of a smith or armorer, and you needed to keep the armorer happy ... One of the other armorers is a Colt revolver guy, and he was glad to switch over to S&W's ...
Besides, having a 6-shot revolver the same size as a full size revolver, except for a couple inches of barrel, just didn't offer that much of an advantage when it came to concealment ease and comfort. If it did, I'd still be carrying the 2.75" Ruger Speed Six ...
Besides, having a 6-shot revolver the same size as a full size revolver, except for a couple inches of barrel, just didn't offer that much of an advantage when it came to concealment ease and comfort. If it did, I'd still be carrying the 2.75" Ruger Speed Six ...
fastbolt
Member
If I can add something else, without distracting from the original thread question ...
I really find the 642-1 to be the best balance of size & weight for my concealment needs. I no longer carry a secondary, but when I did it was an older 649. Nowadays it would be the 642-1.
I dislike the ammunition restrictions (no lead) of the Ti & Scandium/Ti snubs ... Losing that 3+ ounces of weight, to go from the aluminum/stainless steel gun to one with a titanium cylinder, just seems to create some ammunition concerns when it comes to bullets jumping their crimps.
Also, although I fired one of the newer titanium/ported Taurus snubs recently, I still don't care for them. The owner told one of the other range staff that he'd experienced some bullet jump issues, with some jacketed ammunition, if I remember right ... That's not a good thing. Maybe after the ammunition manufacturers have developed jacket and lead ammunition that takes the ultra lightweight snubs into account ...
I don't mean to step on anybody's toes ... but in the meantime, while I personally consider the Taurus guns to be better than Charter Arms and Rossi, I don't consider them to be in the same class as S&W, Ruger & Colt ... yet ...
If I had to carry a short barreled revolver as a belt gun, it'd probably be a S&W 66 or 65 ...
I really find the 642-1 to be the best balance of size & weight for my concealment needs. I no longer carry a secondary, but when I did it was an older 649. Nowadays it would be the 642-1.
I dislike the ammunition restrictions (no lead) of the Ti & Scandium/Ti snubs ... Losing that 3+ ounces of weight, to go from the aluminum/stainless steel gun to one with a titanium cylinder, just seems to create some ammunition concerns when it comes to bullets jumping their crimps.
Also, although I fired one of the newer titanium/ported Taurus snubs recently, I still don't care for them. The owner told one of the other range staff that he'd experienced some bullet jump issues, with some jacketed ammunition, if I remember right ... That's not a good thing. Maybe after the ammunition manufacturers have developed jacket and lead ammunition that takes the ultra lightweight snubs into account ...
I don't mean to step on anybody's toes ... but in the meantime, while I personally consider the Taurus guns to be better than Charter Arms and Rossi, I don't consider them to be in the same class as S&W, Ruger & Colt ... yet ...
If I had to carry a short barreled revolver as a belt gun, it'd probably be a S&W 66 or 65 ...
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Maybe 15 years ago fastbolt I would have agreed ... but I gotta say that now they do seem to have improved immensely.
I guess I'd prefer a Smith but ... my M85 snub really has come real close to a Smith for feel and also the way it is engineered. I don't put massive quantities of ammo thru and so doubt I'll break it thru overuse! It is more of a ''poor man's'' Smith than junk IMO.
bad_dad_brad
Member
Ruger SP101 and the S&W 638 Bodyguard. Have the SP101, want the 638. The 638 is lighter and so will make a better carry gun. Besides, the 638 is so ugly that it is beautiful.
I know you asked specifically about .38Spl snubbies, but...
I used to have a Colt Cobra and a Colt Detective Special. I now have a S&W "J" frame 640-1 (.357), a S&W 66 "K" frame, 2 1/2" barrel (.357), 3 Taurus snubbies (.38Spl, .357 & .45 Colt) and my newest, a 12 oz. .357 S&W 340PD -
I vote for the S&W "J" frame.
I used to have a Colt Cobra and a Colt Detective Special. I now have a S&W "J" frame 640-1 (.357), a S&W 66 "K" frame, 2 1/2" barrel (.357), 3 Taurus snubbies (.38Spl, .357 & .45 Colt) and my newest, a 12 oz. .357 S&W 340PD -
I vote for the S&W "J" frame.
GoldenLoki
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
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J Frame
For me, they:
fit hand and point better
are lighter (now packin' scandium)
conceal better
offer more grip and holster options
have a better trigger
offer .357mag power (new ones)
GL
For me, they:
fit hand and point better
are lighter (now packin' scandium)
conceal better
offer more grip and holster options
have a better trigger
offer .357mag power (new ones)
GL
wunderkind
Member
S&W Airweight Centennial
If I DIDN'T have an airweight J-frame (442) I would frequently not have a handgun with me when I 'didn't think I needed one.' (I know, Mr. Murphy has his say in such matters)
Having a 442, I can't excuse myself for being unarmed. I don't even need to dress around this gun. I have a Desantis slide (55.00) and a Galco IWB (65.00) but I almost always put it in an inexpensive Uncle Mike's pocket holster! The 100% concealed hammer/lockwork is great-no lint or dirt gumming up the action.
A 15 oz. Bodyguard or Centennial disappears in the deep pockets of Khaki pants or shorts. I don't think I could carry the DS or the Cobra/Agent as easily even though they're great guns.
If I DIDN'T have an airweight J-frame (442) I would frequently not have a handgun with me when I 'didn't think I needed one.' (I know, Mr. Murphy has his say in such matters)
Having a 442, I can't excuse myself for being unarmed. I don't even need to dress around this gun. I have a Desantis slide (55.00) and a Galco IWB (65.00) but I almost always put it in an inexpensive Uncle Mike's pocket holster! The 100% concealed hammer/lockwork is great-no lint or dirt gumming up the action.
A 15 oz. Bodyguard or Centennial disappears in the deep pockets of Khaki pants or shorts. I don't think I could carry the DS or the Cobra/Agent as easily even though they're great guns.
jar
Contributing Member
I prefer the extra control that the slightly larger grip of the DS allows.
Colt.
I grew up shooting Colts and prefer the action. The grip frame fits me better. They have the 6th shot. They are accurate. They have been made in standard weight, light weight, 2" and 3" barrels, blued, nickeled, SS, .38sp, and .357mag to cover the situations they would be used in.
I grew up shooting Colts and prefer the action. The grip frame fits me better. They have the 6th shot. They are accurate. They have been made in standard weight, light weight, 2" and 3" barrels, blued, nickeled, SS, .38sp, and .357mag to cover the situations they would be used in.
Poohgyrr
Member
Geez. you want me to pick between them??? That's not fair !!!
If I could only have one pistol & it had to be a snubby .38, I'd want the Colt. If I could otherwise have whatever I wanted, but only one snub .38, I'd prefer a Centennial made on all that new equipment the Brits paid for when they had S&W. My 640-1 has been totally reliable, and is so accurate it makes me look good.
If I could only have one pistol & it had to be a snubby .38, I'd want the Colt. If I could otherwise have whatever I wanted, but only one snub .38, I'd prefer a Centennial made on all that new equipment the Brits paid for when they had S&W. My 640-1 has been totally reliable, and is so accurate it makes me look good.
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Carried a Colt Cobra in the late 1970's for a couple of years. Liked the gun because it was light and had six shots. One time when I went to fire the gun it locked up and would not shoot, due to an internal part failure. Lucky that I only wanted it for target practice that day. Have carried a Smith & Wesson ever since. Smaller, reliable, and easy to tune. Have owned a lot of J frame Smiths and have never had one lock up or not fire, due to a part failure.
J Frame -- specifically an Airweight Centennial (442) is my favorite snubby.
Lighter
More compact
Better action (IMHO)
More durable
Enclosed action less likely to become fouled with dirt and litter
The only advantages of the DS are capacity – one round is not a major factor to me, and the better factory stocks on the later models - easily remedied with stocks far superior to the Colt offerings.
Lighter
More compact
Better action (IMHO)
More durable
Enclosed action less likely to become fouled with dirt and litter
The only advantages of the DS are capacity – one round is not a major factor to me, and the better factory stocks on the later models - easily remedied with stocks far superior to the Colt offerings.
Richard
Member
S&W J Frame, I own three S&Ws and the burglar stole my Colt Det Special years ago. Regards, Richard
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