Good 38 snubby

K

KelTeKee

New member
Looking for a good light 38 snubby. Smith or taurus? I was looking at airlites and and titanium taurus'. Boy the lighter they get the heavier the bill! Maybe I should just get the sp101 snubby and shoot 38+p. Thanks folks.
 
SW642. Light weight. No ports. No hammer to snag / can be fired in a jacket pocket. Can still shoot lead unlike the titanium Smiths.

If for some reason politics instead of quality get in your way, there are used Smiths and Tauri. Ruger sold us out just as badly as SW did, just longer ago.
 
THE BEST = S&W M38 Airweight Bodyguard.

or get the SP101 and screw the weight.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
I have a S&W M38 (nickel) Bodyguard and M342 AirLite Ti Centennial.

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If you can find a used model (or a dealer who is closing out S&W) I'd say go for either one. The additional weight savings with the titanium models may not be worth the extra $120 -- but if you use pocket carry like me, every day, then it makes a big difference.

Justin


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Justin T. Huang, Esq.
late of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
 
Go Smith. They are smaller and lighter than comparable models from Taurus and Ruger. Further, while I can vouch for the quality of the Smith and Ruger, I can't do so for Taurus. A few I've shot are mediocre, but I'm told quality has improved recently.
 
I hate to say it but I have no experience with Taurus 38 Special snubs. I have a 3" Model 441 44 Special that is excellent. With this said, I have a bunch of experience with S&W J frames and it is all positive. I prefer hammers but most shooters prefer J frames in the hammerless variety. One word of caution these little 38 or larger revolvers kick. Regards, Richard.
 
Consider the Smith 638, the alloy-framed version of the M 38 mentioned above. IMHO Smith is the best and the quality is worth every penny. There are lighter guns made of titanium, but I personally don't want anything lighter than the 638 for shooting +p's. Also, I'd advise against ported guns, as the ports can collect leading if you shoot milder lead rounds (which is what makes the .38 fun in the first place).
 
I like my S&W 442. The new ones are rated +P unlike my early 90's version. However, there are some pretty potent standard velocity .38 rounds. Mine shoots very well and totally disappears inside an Uncle Mikes inside-the-waistband holster.
 
Screw Slick and Willy!!! Buy the Taurus!!! :) Both myself and my wife own Taurus M85 38spl's. Her's is her main carry weapon. I do not hesitate to send her out into the cruel world armed as she is. Taurus supports the Second Amendment. Slick and Willy does not. It does not matter if it is "pre-sellout" or not, you don't give aid and comfort to the enemy!!!!

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Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Glock 26: 17 rounds of concealed carry DEATH comming your way from out of nowhere!!! THAT'S FIREPOWER, BABY!!!"

[This message has been edited by denfoote (edited August 10, 2000).]
 
My wife has been using a Taurus Total Ti as a carry weapon for several months now. It looks good and works well. When I bought it the cost was under $400.00. I can't remember for sure, but I think it was $370.00. It's very light and rated for +P ammo. She loves it. I have an older model S&W Chief's Special (1978!), but I wouldn't buy one today. (I have a feeling that the "agreement" will go away when Slick is gone. Then I might change my mind.)

Will

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Mendacity is the system we live in.

[This message has been edited by WLM (edited August 10, 2000).]
 
I agree with Richard. Be aware that the recoil in lightweight .38s can be unpleasant. I have a S&W model 642 (the alloy model, not titanium). With 158 gr +P, it isn't much fun to shoot. 5 rounds and I've had my fill. Also, while it fits in a pocket nicely, the downside is that the sights suck.

A 3" model 60 (or Ruger SP101) has better sights and has significantly less recoil. Of course, they are also heavier and much harder to fit in a pocket.

So you'll have to decide which compromise works for you.

Jared
 
I've got a Taurus 85UTL stainless. Payed $275 for it. Weighs 2oz more than Smith. Hits what I aim at from 10 yards away. Shoots +P. Kicks like a mule. I had the hammer spur shaved off for $20. (Of course, Taurus offers the Titanium version with the spurless hammer). The grips are GREAT! Everyone I've showed it to LOVED it, and two of those people went out and bought one. Do I wish I had payed almost TWICE as much for a Smith & Wesson? Uh, NOPE! If that's not enough, I bought my MOTHER a Taurus 85 stainless (not UL) used for $150 to keep around when Dad goes fishing. If I think it's good enough for Mom....

But that's just my .01 1/2! :)
 
I have a S&W Model 12, an airweight stubby. I bought it used, for the same price as a new Taurus. The quality of the Smith used seemed appreciably better than the new Taurus. It is a tack driver at 7 yards.

Better get them quick, they may become collector's items. Heard a rumor today from a gun dealer that Smith has already laid off a ton of people, and that they are going to stop making handguns.
 
Politics aside for a weapon you may stake your life on do yourself a favor and get the highest quality piece you can.

And of course that would be the S&W J-frame.

Second place goes to the heavier but still excellent Ruger SP101.

I had a Taurus 85 and the charge holes were so OVERSIZED that they would send some rounds key-holing to the target at 21 feet!

What a POS!
 
Think I'd go with the S&W model 649 Bodyguard. All stainless steel. Weighs a little more but you can shoot +p's without fear of shooting this little belly gun loose. Just my thoughts on the subject. Good luck with whatever you decide on!

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***Torpedo***
It's a good life if you can survive it!
 
My wife and I both have S&W M640's, .357 Mag. But we each carry a different .38 Spl load. She uses 110 gr STHP while I use 158 gr +P LSWHP. They are great little pistols...not fun with magnum loads fer sure, but you can carry +P's and the extra weight helps.
 
I would suggest you go for a used (or new, pre- 3/17/00 made) S&W Airweight, like a 442 or 642. The internal hammer and closed frame design means a compact design with even less chance of getting lint, etc. inside the lockwork than say a Bodyguard series. That is a potential concern in a gun carried in a pocket.

I am also partial to the little Colt D-frames, particularly the Cobra. 6 shots instead of 5, and the grip frame is as short (if not shorter) than a J-frame S&W. Cylinder diameter is still quite small. Of course, these are no longer made, but there are plenty on the used market if you shop around.

Finally, if I had to buy something new, I'd take a hard look at the Taurus titanium .38 snubby revolvers. But I'd still rate Taurus my third choice.

My problem with Ruger's SP-101 are twofold. One, I found the weight-to-power ratio to be too high -- that is, for the weight of that gun I can carry something more effective than a five-shot snubby .38. Second, I'll never buy a new Ruger product again thanks to Bill Ruger's pushing the "high capacity" magazine ban. See:
http://communities.prodigy.net/sportsrec/gz-papabill.html
 
I totally agree with Onslaught.
The Taurus stainless 85 UL is a GREAT snubby.
I just got one this weekend and I couldn't be happier. I put 300 rounds through it and it was amazing. Great trigger, very accurate, and great value.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KelTeKee:
Looking for a good light 38 snubby. Smith or taurus? I was looking at airlites and and titanium taurus'. Boy the lighter they get the heavier the bill! Maybe I should just get the sp101 snubby and shoot 38+p. Thanks folks. [/quote]

I've had 3 Taurus model 85's over the last several years (one was bought for my mother). The first two were stainless steel...a tad heavy for pocket carry at 21 oz.
After my mother passed away, I sold the stainless 85's and bought the 85UL (Ti Barrel shroud and cylinder, aluminum frame). Other then light strikes to the primers on some reloads (factory fixed), this is one outstanding CCW. At 13.5 oz., it carries well in a pocket or IWB. Mine has a hammer, but they are now availible in concealed hammer versions. Paid just over $500 in PA.
 
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