What snubby to buy... Help me choose

[HankB]

I have a 340Sc - being a .357, it ought to last with even +P .38 Specials for a very long time. And of course, you can shoot full power .357s through it, if only for the feeling of relief you get once you stop.

Seriously, I put rubber Crimson Trace lasergrips on it and the rubber that covers the backstrap cushions the recoil a lot - now it's merely unpleasant with .357s rather than painful, and .38s of any type are actually fun.

 

[35 Whelen]

Bought my wife a Charter Arms Pink Lady a few Valentine's ago. Weighs 12 oz. and is unbelievably nice to carry.
I start each new firearm purchase with extended handload development/chronographing and hers was no exception. I've run some pretty hefty +P loads through it and it's never bobbled or given one nanoseconds trouble.
Like others have said, the light .38's have a little bite to them, but they're still controllable.

35W

 

[DP03]

The Hogue Tamer grips actually have a section of the back, located at the web of the hand, that is soft enough that you can push it in. This is what controls the recoil. If you check the 5 star ratings on Amazon, or just the folks here that have them, you'll see what a difference they make. Shooting a 357 mag should be fun, not painful. And I have fun shooting my .44 magnum snubby with these, so 357's should be even milder (depending on the gun). It's well worth money to try these, instead of putting up with a gun that's not comfortable to shoot (and therefore won't get used much).

 

[weblance]

I have quite a few snubs, S&W, Ruger, Charter Arms and Taurus. The Charter Arms Police Undercover 38 Special stands out because its a 6 SHOT. All the other popular small snubs are 5 shot. It does have a hammer spur, but for $25, Charter sells the DAO Spurless hammer. Its styled like the Ruger SP101 DAO Hammer. Its a 2 minute swap, and you have what you wanted, in a 6 shot 38. Its the top revolver in the first picture, up against my SP101-357 for scale...

 

[ACP]

S&W 642.

And Re: this post:
"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."

---------

Not my experience in nearly 10 years of owning a 642 -- I have two of them. They are flawless. I trust my life and the lives of my wife and children to S&W revolvers.

 

[jad0110]

As long as the revolver in question passes inspection, it really just comes down to preference. What feels best in your hand, what you think will fit best in your pocket or on your belt, etc. Price may figure in too of course. In 2006 I went with the 642 (the LCR wasn't around) because overall it was the smallest frame 5 shot 38 available. I went with the in between airweight. 17 oz loaded is about right for pocket carry, and isn't too punishing to shoot compared to the scandium frame guns.

If I were buying a pocket blaster today, I'd still go with the x42 platform. The LCR is a great option (my mom has one), though I prefer the grip options on firmer trigger return of the S&W. Actually, my 642 has a smoother action than her LCR, albeit heavier. But I don't mind a heavy trigger.

 

[gun_with_a_view]

The Charter Arms Police Undercover 38 Special stands out because its a 6 SHOT

Back in the day of the snub, the rule of thumb was a primary gun must fire six, and five shot capacity was relegated to backup. So said Ed Lovette in a special chapter devoted entirely to six shot handguns in The Snubby Revolver, a must-read for those who eschew the semi auto in favor of revolvers. Suprisingly, the six shot revolver was valued not for it's extra round, but because slightly larger guns like the Colt Detective Special handled better during rapid fire and were more accurate than the Chiefs Special. Now that Charter Arms quality seems to have improved much lately, the Undercover Police Special could well become the house favorite around my place.

 

[SeanSw]

I find the fixed sights on the smith to be poor, especially on the stainless and lighter colored matte finished guns. The contrast is really bad and they are hard for me to pick up even in daylight. The black and blue guns are better for me in this regard. The factory fiber optic sights on the ruger lcr are a much better option. I don't think most j frames have replaceable front sights but anything would be better than what you get on a standard 442.

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I have been carrying an LCR in 38 special for about 2 years now and recently acquired a .357 version ! I cant say enough good things about it ! Kevin

 

[Redstate]

Here's what I chose

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=778088

S&W M&P Bodyguard .38 spl +P

14.3 oz. w/CT laser

 

[george burns]

I carried one for over 20 years, you need to practice with it, that is more essential than with any auto pistol that holds 10 rounds of 9mm. The 38 is marginal even with plus p rounds. Head shots are preferable.
Considering that 40% of your shots will probably miss, if you are an average shooter, that only leaves you with about 2 or 3 rounds to get it done.
I would practice so that all of your shots are in the 10 from 7 yards

 

[35 Whelen]

I carried one for over 20 years, you need to practice with it, that is more essential than with any auto pistol that holds 10 rounds of 9mm. The 38 is marginal even with plus p rounds. Head shots are preferable.
Considering that 40% of your shots will probably miss, if you are an average shooter, that only leaves you with about 2 or 3 rounds to get it done.
I would practice so that all of your shots are in the 10 from 7 yards

Marginal? Hmm...that's news to me!

35W

 

[pmwizard]

My son bought an LCR in .38 spl because of the trigger and the weight. I have shot it also, and it is accurate enough out to 25 ft, where I am thinking of picking up one for CCW.

 

[TimSr]

I wanted a reliable gun, but not an expensive showpiece that would suffer the abuse of daily carry. I've got no complaints about my Taurus whatsoever. Most fixed sights guns are more in tune with heavier bullets. Mine sports handloaded DEWCs at 947 fps.

 

[golden]

Most are good guns

I used to carry a S&W model 38 lightweight BODYGUARD. I also carried on occasion a TAURUS model 85 or CHARTER ARMS Undercover.
I have also shot the CHARTER ARMS Police Undercover.

All were fine guns for what they are. Small, concealable firearms with a limited power level.

The model 38 is an aluminum frame gun and I kept it loaded with the standard pressure FEDEERAL Nyclad 125 grain hollow point. Due to the light weight of the CHARTER ARMS Undercove, I used the Nyclad in it as well.

With the heavier TAURUS, Police Undercover and a model 36 Chief Special, I use the +P REMINGTON 125 grain hollow point.

Recoil can be an issue with these guns and I quickly went to rubber grips on those that came with wooden one.

I also have an old Thad RYBKA pocket holster and it worked great.

Jim