What snubby to buy... Help me choose

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I've had a couple of snubbies (with hammer spurs) and now want to get one with a shrouded/fully covered hammer.... Essentially a DAO... (aka hammerless... But we know they have a hammer)

Requirements

- .38 spl caliber or .38 w/+p rating
- light... 15 oz or less unloaded
- cost effective (not willing to overpay simply for a brand)

Looking at various models of Taurus UL, Charter Arms undercover/off duty, Ruger LCR, S&W 642 or others

Thoughts? What do you like? Why?
 
I have a Charter Arms On-Duty with a semi-shrouded hammer. It is accurate and everything works well, and action is fairly smooth. It weighs around 12 0z. and has a 3 finger grip which enables me to control the pistol easily. Highly recommend whatever you get have a 3-finger grip unless you have tried the 2-finger and are ok with it.
 
If it is for CCW, my first choice would be the S&W 642. It is a proven, light weight revolver. A CCW handgun is life insurance. My life is valuable to me, so I don't go cheap on CCW.

That said . . .

I have a Taurus 850 that has been nothing but perfect, and in general I have had great luck with the brand. Others have not. Given that I have plenty of choices for CCW that I own, I would have no problem buying the ultralight version if the 850, but would test it thoroughly before carrying it.
 
I have had an LCR in .38Spl for about a year, and I love it. The trigger is great for a DAO revolver, especially at that price point. It gets shot a lot and the action has just gotten better with use. Either that or I've just become more accustomed to it. It is my "ordinary day" carry gun about 1/2 the time. The lighter weight is enough to be clearly noticeable and welcome, especially in an ankle holster. The lack of mass does contribute to felt recoil, but it's not bad. I should note that I normally shoot standard power loads, not +Ps.
 
gazpacho said:
I have a Taurus 850 that has been nothing but perfect, and in general I have had great luck with the brand. Others have not.
Click to expand...


First impressions matter. My wife inherited her brother's mid-'80s stainless Model 66 357 after he passed away. It may not be our most elegant or finely balanced weapon but it shoots well and that thing is built like a freight train. It was my first experience with a Taurus and even though it probably has nothing much to do with Tauruses (Taurii?) being built today, because of it I had no qualms buying two other Tauruses of my own in the last 2-3 years.
 
I carried a S&W snubby for over 40 years. In 2011 I bought an LCR .38+P and I've been carrying it since.

It has a better out-of-the-box trigger and absorbs recoil better also.

I got it with XS Sights which work well with this type gun.
 
I'm a Smith & Wesson guy. A few weeks ago I looked at both the Ruger LCR, and a Smith & Wesson 642-2. About the same price (both used). I picked the 642-2.

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I did change those grips out to a set of Hogue recoil reducers, or something like that. They're Hogues anyway.

It shoots good. Got a tad of recoil with P+ ammo, but nothing that can't be handled. The Hogues helped that a lot.
 
I'm like CajunBass; I'd look at a S&W Model 442/642 first and then at a Ruger LCR. After that a Charter Arms or a Taurus revolver would be my next choice. My favorite shrouded lightweight snubnose .38 Special revolver is a Model 638.

guns2023_zps62f3c2af.gif
 
I've been a S+W J Frame guy for 30 years and had many but after buying a Ruger LCR here is what I've found.

Pros
No broken hammer studs.
No cracks under the forcing cone.
No rusted cylinder or barrel 442 or peeling finish on the 642
no cylinder slipping past the cylinder stop.
No lock although mine didn't have one anyway.
No over tightening of the barrel at the factory.
You can't change out the front sight if you want to.
No dry firing needed to smooth out the trigger.
It's 2oz lighter.
cons
It's Ugly as sin.
You are very limited to replaciement of the grips.
The trigger guard is a little bigger.
Mike
 
Another vote for the 638. I've had both a 442 and 438 and greatly prefer the 438. Nice to have the option of the precise single action shot.
 
A snub-nose 38 is great for personal defense, but not what I'd call a pleasant range gun. To solve that, I'm going Monday after work to pick up my new Charter Arms stainless snubbie in .32 H&R Mag.
 
I carry either a 642 or a 638.
I pocket carry the 642 because there is less of a chance for lint to gum up the works. I A-IWB the 638 and have a set of Hogue grips on it.
-mike
 
My picks .....

If you want a well made, robust 5/6 shot DA-DAO type revolver, Id look at these models:

Ruger LCR .38spl +P, my good friend bought a NIB Ruger LCR .38spl for home defense in 2013. He got a model with the Lasermax Centerfire red laser.
It came with a lifetime Davidson's warranty. :D
The 5 shot SP101 Ruger DA only is great too but the stainless steel is heavy for pocket or ankle CCW.
I would suggest the no-lock S&W 642 small frame 5 shot too. This proven .38spl +P runs $350-400.00 in most places & it's very popular.
Id also consider the Charter Arms .44spl Pug DA only 5 shot revolver. It's a great defense caliber and can carry-shoot much like the LCR or S&W 642.
The M&P no lock .357magnum snub is light and well made but the retail price is about $800-900.00.

Rusty
 
I hate Taurus because most their firearms are not made with quality, at least in my experience. I will say though, I've owned 2 Taurus 605's and one 85 and all of them have been gems and not had any quality issues, I do however believe, those are the only two guns Taurus got right so don't go away from those two models :)

They just fit my hand really well so they work great for me but I think they are worth a hard look at.
 
Hogue after market grip for LCR .....

Hogue markets a few cool, good after market grips for the Ruger LCR series.
I like the Tamer grip. If I buy my own LCR .38spl +P I might add that to the revolver to aid pocket/deep carry. The alloy type red-blue-green LCR grips are nice too if you like to show off or can open carry.
 
+1 on the Hogue Tamer grips. I just shot my Ruger Super Redhawk .44 snub-nose with those grips (came on that model from Ruger). My wife and my daughter shot lots of magnum shells with no complaints. I think the grips have a lot to do with that.
 
I'd go with a S&W 642; used to own one and it was sweet and meets the OP's requirements. When one of my sisters got her pistol permit a few years ago I wound up selling it to her. If she ever decides to sell it then I get first dibs on it. If that happens I'll be glad to buy it back.
 
I've owned a few, including the 442, which is very light but punishing to shoot. My current is an LCRx. The design can be off-putting to traditionalists but it's very accurate and reasonably comfortable to shoot for a gun that light. The trigger is amazingly smooth, which helps accuracy.

Here's a 50 foot target fired double action with it, using hand loads (125JHP Sierra over 4.6gr Bullseye). With a short barrel you want to use the fastest powder you can to get a complete burn, and light bullets reduce the recoil:

blogger-image-1276982503.jpg
 
I have a 642 and really enjoy it. You do have to stay practiced to hit anything with a snubbie.
 
I have a 642 . The Ruger LCR was not being made at the time I bought my 642 . If I was looking now I would choose the Ruger LCR , better trigger & sight .
 
Have you thought about bobbing the hammer spur on a snubby you already own?

That's why I picked up a 637-2. If I don't mind the hammer spur, I'll leave it there. If I find it a hindrance, instead of buying a new gun, I can just bob the hammer and have a very close approximation of the purpose built DAO.
 
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