Concealed Hammer

R

randak

Inactive
I am new to revolvers and this forum. Sorry to see it go, I have learned alot.

It seems obvious the advantages of a concealed hammer revolver for a conceal and carry weapon. What are the disadvantages of the concealed hammer? I am looking to purchase a 357 in either S&W, Ruger or Taurus.

Happy holidays and thanks for your responses.
 
Biggest disadvantage to a concealed hammer is that the gun is double action only.

That's why there are guns with shrouded hammers, which still allow the hammer to be cocked, but which provide a snag-free profile.

Quite frankly, for a small defensive revolver, I don't see double action only to be much of an issue, at all.

In fact, I see it to be such a non-issue that my 99% of the time carry gun is a hammerless S&W 042.
 
Whether carry or competition, you want to shoot double action only. On a carry gun, the hammer is in the way which can snag. For competition there is no time to thumb cock a wheelgun.

The only exception is for hunting where the weapon is rested and a single action shot is an advantage.

And don't be fooled by those morons at your local range that thumbcock a J-frame. Again, in the time it takes to do that, the BG is going put 3 in you...
 
I beg to differ. I guess I am one of the "morons" at the local range who thumb-cocks my Taurus 85.

It is good to know the capabilities of your weapon. That little .38 isn't much of a long range weapon, but single-action it is quite passable up to 50 yards or so.

You should practice both. Yes, it is much more likely you will shoot DA in self-defense, but don't rule out SA. You never know when you will need to make every round count at somewhat longer range.
 
Vladimir, come on... 50 yard shots with a J-frame? You are not Bob Munden... Why not just try for a 15 yard head shot, even with thumb-cocking, and report back.
 
9x45, I'm not a great shot by any means but having fun during our second qualification run (30 shots of which are at 15 yards) I hit 56x60 nothing but head shots with my 2" 640.

This was admitidly with leniant time restraints and under no real pressure other than the co-workers I was trying to beat at our little "head hunting" game. At 50 yards on my own time I would very rarely loose one off a standard mansize silloutte target. The idea that "snubs" are not accurate is a myth. They are just a bit harder to shoot well than slightly longer barrled guns.

Only disadvantage I saw to the 640 was that it was a bit harder to find leather for and... well they do look a bit funny;)
 
I used to win bets at my gun club all the time by hitting a 12" swinging gong at 100 yards 5 out of 5 with my Charter Arms snubby.

Hitting at longer ranges with them isn't hard if you know your gun and ammo.

For defensive revolver work, though, as opposed to range time, I really believe that single action is a LOT less relevant.
 
12" moving gong at 100 yards? 5 out of 5... The front sight covers a 18" x 30" plate at 50 yards, let alone a 12" plate at 100 yards.
 
Here's the secret, 9x45...

At 100 yards, with the load I was shooting, I wasn't aiming anywhere NEAR the gong.

I was well over it and aiming at a point up the backstop.

Once I figured out where to aim, I had it pretty easy.
 
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