need advice, looking for a snub nose revolver for ccw.

[LockedBreech]

Lots of suggestions for S&W, a few for Ruger and Taurus, and only one for a Colt? In my search for a nice 2" .38 special snubby, I ran across a lot of used Colt Detective Specials (steel frame), a few Colt Cobras/Agents (alloy frame) and Charter Arms. Fwiw, in the last few months, I have purchased two Colt Cobras and a DS. Great pistols, six shots, old school look and reliable as the day is long!

My pops has a Cobra and a DS. Fantastic guns.

 

[cha]

Colt detective special

 

[JayCee]

Most folks like the 642, but I found the muzzle jump to be pretty substantial, resulting in more time to get back on target and slower follow up shots. I decided to go with a 640, and the small amount of additional weight made all the difference in my shooting:

I didn't find the 642 particularly unpleasant to shoot, but I think it requires a lot of practice to shoot it well.

 

[TenRing]

...as far as lcr goes i see the .357 mag versions are only $20 more than the .38spl versions. is there any reason not to buy the .357 mag version and have the option of both types of ammo?

one thing i learned about carrying my north american revolver is that lint would get inside the handle and actually stop the gun from working! i want the snub nose that won't do this!

You said that you already know that you want to carry inside your pants pocket. Congratulations on this decision. I think this is the most practical and handy way to carry a small revolver.

The main reason not to buy the .357 mag version of the LCR is concealability. The magnum version adds almost 4 ounces of additional weight as well as more length and width, despite what it says on the Ruger web site. You really need to hold the two LCR versions side by side. The .38 version is considerably more concealable in a front pocket. The LCR grip protrudes towards the rear on both versions and this makes both of them less concealable than the S&W J frame guns such as 442/642/340.

Pocket lint can be a concern in certain types of guns. I pocket carry a 340PD and I'm happy to report that the centennial design of the 340/442/642 eliminates lint concerns. The internal working parts are sealed from dust. It is still important to use a pocket holster and to turn pockets inside out from time to time to keep them as clean as possible. Also, periodically wipe down the gun for good measure.

I think the small S&W guns fit better in my pockets but I also like the LCR. I bought the 340PD to have the option of using .357 mag ammo but with the 340PD, there is no size penalty for the .357 since it is the same physical size as the 442 but actually 3 ounces lighter.

From a practical point of view, .38 special +P works better than .357 magnum in these little guns. If I was doing this over again, I would buy the S&W 442 since it is half the price of the 340, it conceals better than the LCR and I don't really need .357 magnum in a small revolver anyway.

 

[BillCA]

Lots of suggestions for S&W, a few for Ruger and Taurus, and only one for a Colt? In my search for a nice 2" .38 special snubby, I ran across a lot of used Colt Detective Specials (steel frame), a few Colt Cobras/Agents (alloy frame) and Charter Arms. Fwiw, in the last few months, I have purchased two Colt Cobras and a DS. Great pistols, six shots, old school look and reliable as the day is long!

There are two reasons you seldom see recommendations for Colts anymore.
1. Colt quit the revolver business back in the 1990's so you can't go buy a new one today.

2. The value of Colts in excellent condition keep rising, some to the point that a carry gun is too expensive for daily carry.

Otherwise, a Colt is an excellent choice if you want a nice concealable snubby. The D-Frame Colts -- Detective Special, Agent/Cobra and Police Positive Special -- are right between S&W's J and K frame sizes.