Best .38 special Snub nose?

Regarding a lightweight snub someone posted: "It is not very fun to shoot."

I've owned and sold a 642 for that very reason.

If a personal defense gun isn't very fun to shoot, it probably won't get shot as much as a gun that is fun to shoot.

Connect those dots.

Fun gun = shoot more = more confidence + more accuracy

Not very fun to shoot gun = shoot less = less confidence + less accuracy

Seems like a no brainer to me.

My DS only weighs a few more ounces than a lightweight snub, but I can shoot it with much more confidence and accuracy. (and with +P loads!)

PLUS, it's fun to shoot!, and I'm looking forward to shooting it today!

Kind'a purty, too. :D
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Here is my criteria and the thought behind it.

One of the advantages of a revolver is the versatility of single or double action...IE revolvers should have external hammers (thus eliminating all DOA's)

A super light frame is good to carry, not fun to shoot. I don't mind the extra weight so steel is fine with me. In addition follow up shots are easier and you tend to practice more, thus being a better shot.

Pocket carry requires a bobbed hammer or hammer shroud.

Colts, while expensive, have actions like oiled glass.

So in my never-so-humble-opinion an old humpback smith is nice and Doc540's bobbed hammer Detective Special is the ultimate.

good luck
 
..."Doc540's bobbed hammer Detective Special is the ultimate."

Thanks, but let it be known I found and bought that gun from a online forum member who had done all the work. All I did was put grips on it and burn powder through it!
 
Hey Doc,

If you get tired of it I will give it a home where it will be lovingly used and appreciated.

Also, it would have friends to play with.
 

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I have a Colt Detective Special that I am in love with and carry it on occasion. I will carry my Ruger SP 101 first only because I would hate to put a scratch on my Dick Special.
The SP 101 is a strong, well built pistol that won't shoot loose using +P .38 Specials or .357 Magnums.
It is only a 5 shot an extra speed loader would be a good idea. The little Ruger is heaiver than other snubs but when shooting high pressure rounds the added weight helps.
 
The Det. Special is the perfect carry snub IMO - just as long as you don't intend to put too many +p rounds through it. (Its only rated for so many until you have to send it back to Colt for inspection) I had a Colt Cobra that I loved, but sold it because there was pitting in the barrel. Carried wonderfully, but a pain to shoot (too light I think)
I recently picked up a Speed Six in 9mm, but WOW is it heavy! If you think the SP101 is heavy, you haven't held the Speed Six. :eek: 2.5lbs - but six shots and shoots wonderfully.
 
I love my little Ruger SP101. Yeah, it's a little heavy, but it's built like a tank and eats +P all day long.
 
CCW revolver

I suggest a S&W airweight model 642 hammerless or 638 concealed hammer and swat loads. The frag rounds or swat load will not go through walls killing people in other rooms yet has the stopping power of a .45 acp.

The hammerless will not hang up in your pocket and it is very light to carry. As for accurate, I can keep in an eight inch target at twenty-five yards and you will never use this weapon for self defense other than up close.

Good luck
 
I have a model 60 and think it is perfect for a snub nose. Being stainless it is very resistant to rust from perspiration. Being 5 shot, it is thin enough for pocket carry.

It is much easier to shoot than my Seecamp and easier on the wallet ammo wise.
 
I like my S&W Model 637 Airweight. It's light, easy to conceal and accurate for it's inetnded purpose. I don't understand the "Beware of snagging the hammer" warnings that show up on gunforums and yet documented incidents of this happening somehow escapes us. If you like the hammer version snubbies but are concerned about snagging the gun try putting your thumb on top of the hammer as you draw it from the holster and that should solve the problem.

Perceived recoil varies with the individual but I find no discomfort in shooting standard velocity, 158 grain target loads nor the Speer +P 125 grain Gold Dots that I normally carry, although I admit I don't run a lot of my carry ammo through it considering the cost.

The only other thing I would mention is that I haven't experienced any more wear with the alloy frame than I would expect in steel framed guns and I don't imagine gun companies would be offering lifetime service packages if they expected their products not to hold up. After all, Beretta, SIG-SAUER and others are putting out full sized autos having alloy frames that are intended for lots and lots of shooting. The "alloy frames won't hold up" warning is another one of those things you read a lot about on gun forums but nowhere else.

Just my two cents worth. Opinions may vary.
 
Thanx everyone...

Sounds like the 442 is going to be what I'm looking for... The Detective special is still right there, but it would depend on if I could find one, what kinda shape it was in, and it's price.

So I think I'll get the S&W 442. It will be a while yet, maybe even as much as a year. And then I'll get my CCW first before I actually get the gun. In the mean time I'll make sure to practice alot with my .38 special snub nose Rossi.

I really want to know though, can I put a good front night sight on the 442? or is it just a black blade thats machined as part of the gun. I really want some sort of highly visible front sight in a carry gun, thats very important to me. Hope to hear from any of you who own one!

Thanx again guys:)
 
There's a run of about 4000 pre-lock 642's (stainless) currently (probably a few hundred left - and they're already on gunbroker), if that makes a difference. Thanks to Wild Alaska, and to my local range here in the desert. The Colts are super nice, but .... no longer made, not as likely to have gunsmiths available, and their heft is more similar to the S & W model 36, 49, or other Smith stainless snubs (60, 640, 649). Triggers probably much better at the start. I've found used pre-lock S & W to have sweet triggers, but dry-fire works that out eventually, see below.

You probably also have to work out whether you want the availability of .357 magnum as well, though some of the more experienced folks would say 158g +p/non +p HP would be sufficient, without the blast/recoil of the .357, particularly in an airlight or airweight.

As some may have said, grip selection is important (For pocket carry, the CT-405's have an excellent recoil-reducing backstrap, even if the laser isn't in the on position), much more crucial to the ergonomics for snubs. I have seen some really suave grips on this site (many picture threads here) that probably serve well in the comfort/recoil dept. "A-Zoom" snap caps, by Pachmayr (sp?) - hard-anodized for durability, and simulates the added weight of cartridges much better. Finger-nail polish on the front-sight ramp (where the ridges are). Good luck.
 
"Thanx everyone...

Sounds like the 442 is going to be what I'm looking for... The Detective special is still right there, but it would depend on if I could find one, what kinda shape it was in, and it's price."

Don't mean to be a worry wart, but I'd actually shoot a 442 before I spent the cake. Might be the perfect gun for ya, but you won't know until after you spend the money. Sure, you could probably sell it easily, but why go through that hassle if you don't have to.

I went through that two or three times and should've just heeded good advice, "shoot before you buy". :o

And there are and have been several really nice DS's on gunbroker.com. I'm not even in the market for one, but I have two on my GB watch list right now. What does that tell ya? :D
 
mellow_c
I really want to know though, can I put a good front night sight on the 442? or is it just a black blade thats machined as part of the gun. I really want some sort of highly visible front sight in a carry gun, thats very important to me. Hope to hear from any of you who own one!
Click to expand...

No, the black blade front sight cannot be changed on the 442, as it is an integral part of the gun (nor on the 642, either).

That is exactly why I went from the 442 to an Airlite (342Ti and 342PD). The front sight can be changed on those, and the 342PD comes with the orange insert on the front sight. My 342Ti has the Big Dot front sight. Makes a huge difference in low-light!

The problem is finding one of those used. They are available, you just have to keep looking.
 
My wife really likes her S&W 442 with laser sight grips.
I like both the Model 60 in .38 Special (stainless) and the S&W 640 in .357/.38Special.
 
For a slightly different flavor of snub nose....

I've owned and tried the following snubs for carry:

Colt Detective Special .38 Special (1st series)
Ruger SP101 .38 Special
S&W 36 .38 Special
S&W 640 .357 Magnum
S&W 432PD .32 H&R Magnum

I finally settled on the 432PD as my carry gun. The 432PD is hammerless (no snagging during draw), much lighter than the others (13.5oz), holds six rounds (one more than the SP101, 36, and 640), has about 1/2 the felt recoil of a standard pressure .38 Special, while delivering about 3/4 of the energy. That reduced recoil allows me to shoot it very quickly/accurately.

The drawbacks of the 432PD are: it's no longer made (though it's not hard to find a NIB one at a reasonable price), the .32 H&R Magnum is a smaller diameter, lighter, less powerful cartridge, and it's less prevalent and more expensive than .38 Special cartridges.

Having said all that, the best advice you've been given thus far is to shoot it before you buy it. ;)

Best wishes.




nero
 
Hi Nate45, I find the site you linked very interesting.
Are you in contact with the webmaster? If so, I have reasons to believe that the photo of Charles Askins in this page is actually a photo of his pard, George Parker
 
Carlo said:
Hi Nate45, I find the site you linked very interesting.
Are you in contact with the webmaster? If so, I have reasons to believe that the photo of Charles Askins in this page is actually a photo of his pard, George Parker
Click to expand...

No, I have no connection with the site and I'm not aquainted with the webmaster.

I am however quite familiar with Col. Askins and have an autographed copy of his autobiography Unrepentant Sinner and you are quite correct that is not Askins and is in fact his compadre George Parker.

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