Would you feel undergunned carrying a snub nose .38 special?

[Doug.38PR]

Cop or Citizen, as a plainclothesman would you feel adequate carrying a 6 shot .38 Detective Special or even a 5 shot .38 Chief's Special for everyday carry?

When I say cop, I mean a plainclothesman not a uniformed patrolman.

As for ammo, lets just assume it is the best LSWCHP +P or whatever your choice

 

[kd7nqb]

A detectives special is the only gun I can convince my father to carry, he owns a Ruger .357 buts its the police service six so the length makes it a pain in the ass to carry. He also has an Astra a-60 in .380 but he is a "revolver man" he values the added reliability of less moving parts.

I am a firm believer that although my .40cal XD would serve better its better to be undergunned than unarmed.

 

[lwrnc1963]

Yep, in fact my most carried firearm is a S&W model 10 with a 2" barrel

 

[DRMMR02]

If I was a cop(which I intend to be when my enlistment is up) then yes I would. Not so much for the caliber but for the amount of rounds and speed of reloading. I would much prefer to carry 3 15rd mags =1 in the chamber, than 6 in the revolver and 7 speed-loaders.

As a civilian, no I wouldn't, though since I have a choice, I choose not to. I do intend on purchasing a .38spcl snubbie for carry when a full size auto is not practical. I think snubbies are good to have because they are a lot smaller and concealable than a full size auto, and arguably more reliable and can be pocket-fired. I wouldn't carry one when I don't have to, but if I did have to, I wouldn't feel unprepared.

And before anyone jumps on the use of the word civilian as not pertaining to police, just can it right now. There are plenty of LEO bashing threads already. Take your nonsense to one of those.

 

[Doug.38PR]

A detectives special is the only gun I can convince my father to carry, he owns a Ruger .357 buts its the police service six so the length makes it a pain in the ass to carry. He also has an Astra a-60 in .380 but he is a "revolver man" he values the added reliability of less moving parts.

HA! Funny. A Colt Agent is the only gun I can get my dad to carry. He has a S&W M-10 4 inch, but he doesn't like to use ISWB or OSWB holsters or shoulder holsters.
So for fathers day, I took him to a gunshow and let him pick out a snubbie (colt agent) and a ankle holster he now wears some of the time.

 

[expvideo]

Deffinately undergunned. But I'll never carry a glock of my own free will. Sig, beretta, 1911... anything metal, really.

Still, I'd rather have that than nothing. But 6 shots? are you serious? If it was .357 maybe, but .38 special was replaced for a reason.

 

[DRMMR02]

Well that reason being that more cops were facing criminals with much heavier weapons, like AKs and the like. So for cops, yes, they would be much under gunned. But the types of situations that one of us would face while CCWing: home invader, mugger, road rager, 6 shots is enough. 99% of the time, 0 shots is enough.

 

[Doug.38PR]

DRMMR02,
I would say that if a bad guy is facing you with an AK 47 you or I would feel undergunned with ANY handgun semi or snub . But, if a handgun is all you have, then shot placement is the key or really just plain getting out of the way and waiting for heavy artillary to arrive in the form of a shotgun or swat to arrive.

Also, how often to plainclothes detectives come into heavy firefights? (that is a genuine question, not rhetorical) Isn't the reason they carry lighter/smaller guns and less ammo is because they are less likely to use it and have a greater need to conceal their weapon unlike the uniformed patrolman?

 

[DRMMR02]

Good point. Beat cops should have access to long guns in their cars(which many now do) but still should have something serious within reach if SHTF. As for detectives, you're right, but with the amount of concealable autos out there nowadays, it seems that having to settle for 6rds is a sacrifice a detective doesn't really have to make anymore.

 

[Low-Sci]

I would definately not feel undergunned. Considering the only pistol I have right now is a .22LR automatic, a .38 would be a massive step up.

Assuming that I knew how to handle that .38, either one would be enough gun unless it happens to be the unluckiest day of my life.

 

[springmom]

I don't worry about being undergunned with my snubbie. I worry about it deciding not to work again.

Apart from that, the only other thing I worry about is that I am not as accurate with it as with the Kimber or the BHP, even (and I haven't shot it much yet) and if I need it and there are lots of other people around. Especially DA. I pretty much use the snubbie as a BUG and an "I can't get anything else to work with my clothes and purse" gun.

Although I've been thinking it would be a really great gun for the car.

Springmom

 

[Jackal]

I just pocket carry a P3AT. 7 rounds of .380 fury.

 

[weregunner]

For most people in most defense conditions a snub works well.Unless hiding a single column magazine pistol, double stacks can be hard to hide. Many do. Then there is the bulk and weight to carry. Can get in the way or dig in to ones side. If I was an LEO or related profession I would carry one as a back up and not primary. Most officers should always carry a backup. On duty at least. Off time is at one's discretion. Have never felt outgunned with a snub 38. Carrying reloads isn't all that difficult. Bianchi speed Strips lie flat in a pocket or a small reloader can be stashed in many places. Yes, they are slower than speedloaders,but trainig and many repetitions can make for faster reload times. Some carry only 5 rounds instead of 6 on a strip ,because it is easier to strip the rounds off with one less cartridge. Safariland makes some of the more compact speeloaders for revolvers. Beware the model 1 though. As small and easy to use, breaking of parts is common. No statistical data on anyone hurt or killed because of this. Just something to be aware of. Breakage has been thoroughly documented. Model II and IIIs hold up much better. Do have a bias toward HKS loaders as these have never had a problem with them and a number of mine are over 15 years old and still work well. There have been several articles written over a decade ago but still relevant today, in the officer's own words, about being in a defense situation when two criminals were robbing a store at gunpoint. The officers were by themselves without backup off duty. After the shooting started , it became apparent to the officer that he or she had one or two rounds left and no spare ammo. The perps left the store and had discussed whether they should kill the officer before leaving. In the cases no one was killed though several bad guys were wounded. Yes a semi auto carries more generally speaking. But anyone should carry spare ammo no matter what the type of gun used. Single stacks are still easier to carry and hide. Double stacks are fine for those who want to carry them. No problem there. Depends on the person and their needs and what fits them. Type of enviorment and how one is dressed also fits into the equation. Carry what you will and feel confident with what you have.

 

[3 gun]

I wouldn't feel under gunned until the shooting started then I'd want a Remington 870 Nobody has ever wished for a smaller gun in a gun fight. It would be a pistol that MAY affect how I would try to handle a potential conflict.

 

[JShirley]

I like K frames fine, but I'd prefer a 3" version. As has been said, hopefully, the plainclothes police won't have to produce their weapons as often.

DRMMR, let me be sure I understand what you're saying, which is: "I'm deliberately going to use the wrong terminology for this, but just to be sure no-one protests, I'm going to inexplicably link any correction to an unwarranted attack on law enforcement."

Whatever, dude.

John

 

[Standing Wolf]

If the only alternative were one of those plastic guns, I'd carry the snubby .38 special. Fortunately, I've been able to find a .357 magnum snubby, as well as a .44 magnum snubby.

 

[nero45acp]

I carry either my S&W 432PD (6rds of .32 H&R magnum), or my S&W 640 (5rds of .38 Special +P). I never feel undergunned, but I do carry an extra cylinder's worth of cartridges in my pants pocket.




nero

 

[Shawnee]

Same question ... but from a slightly different angle.

Would you feel undershot if someone pasted your solar plexus with a .38 Special?

 

[bakert]

Although they're not my everyday carry guns, at church, weddings, funerals etc. I carry a 2" Taurus 85 because it's so easy to really hide with almost all clothes. Also like the S&W model 10 4". I personally don't think a 3 or 4" barrel wheel gun is that much if any harder to conceal that a snubbie in an IWB holster because the cylinder width and grips determine concealability. Some double stack autos conceal fairly well but most are just too bulky for my everyday use and as a civilian I just don't feel the need for all that ammo hanging on me. If I were a police officer my opinions might change because I see detectives here often in the summer without a coat carrying Glocks, 1911s and other autos.

 

[bubbygator]

I am reminded of what was reported quite some time ago in a gun mag (that back page thing) - a governing board (or some such - I forget the exact details) of about 8 men of a 1911-type organization was meeting & someone asked that each person place up on the table the gun they were carrying right then. Every one put up a snub-nose revolver.

Now-a-days, I imagine there would be some Kahrs & KelTecs & little Sigs, etc.

 

[s&w 24]

I know I've posted this before but for the people that haven't seen it.


Friend of mine went to the gas station. went to the back to get a soda and three people came in smelling of pot and went up front to the register. The lady starts asking for cigarettes, one guy goes back out to there van and starts digging around in the back of it, and the third one heads for a spot that is in the cashiers blind spot. Any person with two brain cells to rub together would say that they were getting ready to rob the place. So theres my friend a coke in one hand and a j-frame without a reload in his pocket thinking how the hell do I get three hostiles in five shots! Lucky for all involved a local Police cruiser stopped by to get coffee and the three pot heads headed for the hills.

Is a j frame enough? Well can you get three hostiles in 5 shots.( And I know you dead eye dicks will tell me " hell that leaves me two shot left over")

 

[Essex County]

Nope...........Essex

 

[.38 Special]

Frankly, I'd hate to be confronted with three "hostiles" and nothing more than 7+1.

I'd also hate to be confronted with three "hostiles" who continue attacking me even after I've shot one or two.

Heck, for that matter I'd be pretty darn astonished to discover three potheads acting with such speed, coordination, and aggression that they couldn't be thwarted by an offer of a group hug, or at least a bag of Doritos.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled paranoid delusions. Don't forget your tactical underpants.

 

[Seven High]

Personally, I would much prefer a Glock 26 9mm with 11 rounds instead of a Chiefs Special with 5 rounds.

 

[plexreticle]

Everything is a compromise. I think there are some snubbies that pack a better punch that a .38spl. My answer to the question would be: depends.