Trying to understand snubby fans some more - Poll question
- Thread starter FirstFreedom
- Start date
riverkeeper
New member
2 out of 3 are 5 shot snubs
Easy concealment and light weight..theoretically harder for a bg to twist a snub from your grip.
Not much else to recommend them but that's enough.
Easy concealment and light weight..theoretically harder for a bg to twist a snub from your grip.
Not much else to recommend them but that's enough.
50-50 mix
50% of mine are snubbies.
Used to be I preferred 4" and 6" revolvers, mostly coming from an LE background as these were "duty guns". Only had 2 snubbies (Diamondback and a Taurus .32 H&R). The 2" Model 15 went to the ex wife when we split.
The snubbie is easy to conceal and carry, especially with an OWB holster. Your jacket doesn't have to be as long as for a 3" or 4" gun. It fits in a shoulder holster better. Or back pocket, jacket pocket, ankle holster... etc.
Compromise? You betcha. But if you can't carry it with you, it does you little good. My Model 649 can go lots of places the 2.5" M66 can't. It boils down to how you dress, carry and what your expectations are for a fight.
50% of mine are snubbies.
Used to be I preferred 4" and 6" revolvers, mostly coming from an LE background as these were "duty guns". Only had 2 snubbies (Diamondback and a Taurus .32 H&R). The 2" Model 15 went to the ex wife when we split.
The snubbie is easy to conceal and carry, especially with an OWB holster. Your jacket doesn't have to be as long as for a 3" or 4" gun. It fits in a shoulder holster better. Or back pocket, jacket pocket, ankle holster... etc.
Compromise? You betcha. But if you can't carry it with you, it does you little good. My Model 649 can go lots of places the 2.5" M66 can't. It boils down to how you dress, carry and what your expectations are for a fight.
Got a bunch of revos... many 3"ers, several 4", a few 2.5", a few 2", one 3.5", one 6".
3"ers are the "sweet spot" for me. ;-)=
In the .357 caliber, the short barrel, even 2.5", gives up very little in power and velocity. Still a LOT of punch with .357 from a 2.5" barrel. (Winchester 145 gr. Silvertips chrony at 1241 from my 2.5" 19. That's a LOT of pop.)
3"ers are the "sweet spot" for me. ;-)=
In the .357 caliber, the short barrel, even 2.5", gives up very little in power and velocity. Still a LOT of punch with .357 from a 2.5" barrel. (Winchester 145 gr. Silvertips chrony at 1241 from my 2.5" 19. That's a LOT of pop.)
FirstFreedom,
I don't own any over 5", although given the difficulties I've had in finding a nice Model 18, I may break down and pick up a 17 or 617.
With me, it's a residue from when I lived in an apartment in the city, rode a motorcycle for transportation, and only had five or six guns: A gun was useless to me if I couldn't CCW it.
Actually, 3" to 4" is my favorite barrel length for K-, L-, and N-frames. I-frames and J-frames look just fine with the 2" tube. The only reason I'd want one of those new mutant 2" N-frames like the 625-10 and the 327PD would be to bob the hammer and use it as a purse gun...
cortez kid
New member
Have one cheif's special. Technically my 4" 500 is not, but it sure has the attitude of one!
good shootin
kid
good shootin
kid
"Snubbies"
I have 5 snubbies: 1 Charter Arms Undercover, 2 Colt Cobra's (1st Edition), 2 S/W J-Frames.
All 5 are neat little firearms, and at self defense range are more than adequate for personal protection.
One of the J-Frame Smiths (model 638) is equipped with Crimson Trace Laser grips, and the laser makes the small pistol much more accurate.
Anyone depending on a snubby for personal protection, in my opinion, would be well served with a quality laser sight attached..
Best Wishes..
I have 5 snubbies: 1 Charter Arms Undercover, 2 Colt Cobra's (1st Edition), 2 S/W J-Frames.
All 5 are neat little firearms, and at self defense range are more than adequate for personal protection.
One of the J-Frame Smiths (model 638) is equipped with Crimson Trace Laser grips, and the laser makes the small pistol much more accurate.
Anyone depending on a snubby for personal protection, in my opinion, would be well served with a quality laser sight attached..
Best Wishes..
Poodleshooter
New member
My wife carries a Taurus 85CH in .38Special in her purse. When I carry it, I can fit it in my jeans or pants pocket with a Bianchi soft holster and it vanishes as far as your everyday joe is concerned. I couldn't do pocket carry with an auto,and still expect to draw and fire it as quickly.
I don't have a particular affinity for snubs, they just happen to be cheaper than pocket autos of similar size, arguably a bit safer,easy to conceal, cheap and quick to maintain, and they can share some of the same reloads as my GP100. A Kahr in 9mm might have been just as good, but my wife wouldn't have been as familiar with it as she is with a dbl action revolver.
I don't have a particular affinity for snubs, they just happen to be cheaper than pocket autos of similar size, arguably a bit safer,easy to conceal, cheap and quick to maintain, and they can share some of the same reloads as my GP100. A Kahr in 9mm might have been just as good, but my wife wouldn't have been as familiar with it as she is with a dbl action revolver.
SemperFi Wireguy
New member
Snubbies are great for conceilment.
Since most shootings occur at close ranges, a 357 JHP would be pretty effective. Therefore a snubbie is actually very practical for self defense. IMHO
Since most shootings occur at close ranges, a 357 JHP would be pretty effective. Therefore a snubbie is actually very practical for self defense. IMHO
XavierBreath
New member
I like snubbies. To me, they are the end evolution of a fighting handgun. To like snubbies, you have to understand them.
Snubbies were never meant to be target pistols. They were meant to be hidden weapons that could be pulled out in a scuffle, even a scuffle on the ground, pressed into your attacker's belly and shot repeatedly with one hand. This is why they came about with the double action revolver, and were rarely seen in a SAA or black powder pistol. Many snubbies were simply carried loosely in a coat pocket, not in a holster. If need be, they could be fired from within that pocket. You cannot do all of this with a SAA or with a semi-auto.
It is unfair to compare snubbies with a revolver with a longer barrel. The snubbie won't have the ballistics or the sight radius of the longer gun, nor will the longer gun have the concealability or agility of the snubbie.
Here is one of my favorite snubbies, one that was made to fill a need before the Detective Special.
edited to add: No, I don't carry this one, it's officially retired from CCW duty.
Snubbies were never meant to be target pistols. They were meant to be hidden weapons that could be pulled out in a scuffle, even a scuffle on the ground, pressed into your attacker's belly and shot repeatedly with one hand. This is why they came about with the double action revolver, and were rarely seen in a SAA or black powder pistol. Many snubbies were simply carried loosely in a coat pocket, not in a holster. If need be, they could be fired from within that pocket. You cannot do all of this with a SAA or with a semi-auto.
It is unfair to compare snubbies with a revolver with a longer barrel. The snubbie won't have the ballistics or the sight radius of the longer gun, nor will the longer gun have the concealability or agility of the snubbie.
Here is one of my favorite snubbies, one that was made to fill a need before the Detective Special.
edited to add: No, I don't carry this one, it's officially retired from CCW duty.
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bubbygator
New member
Snubby isn't a lifestyle choice, it's just a factor of concealment. If you don't carry, a snubby is simply an affection.
I have
BHP/CT - - non-snubby bedside gun
Colt Compact/CT - - snubby for a 1911 design
S&W-66/CT - - 2 1/2 inch
S&W-442/CT - - 1 1/8 inch
Keltec P3AT - - etc.
NAA .22mag
Beretta .22short
I have
BHP/CT - - non-snubby bedside gun
Colt Compact/CT - - snubby for a 1911 design
S&W-66/CT - - 2 1/2 inch
S&W-442/CT - - 1 1/8 inch
Keltec P3AT - - etc.
NAA .22mag
Beretta .22short
The Sunbby Revolver
If you like revolvers (and I do ) you must have the short barrel gun in the collection. I have the Smith J and several K frames in the 3 and 2 inch barrel and 1 L frame in the 2-1/2 inch. You have to get to the range with these often. The are fun to use and if you spend time with them they can have great accuracy. Pick up a copy of Ed Lovette's book The Snubby Revolver and enjoy. Plus they are easy to clean.
If you like revolvers (and I do ) you must have the short barrel gun in the collection. I have the Smith J and several K frames in the 3 and 2 inch barrel and 1 L frame in the 2-1/2 inch. You have to get to the range with these often. The are fun to use and if you spend time with them they can have great accuracy. Pick up a copy of Ed Lovette's book The Snubby Revolver and enjoy. Plus they are easy to clean.
Well, I have 1 revolver, and it is not a snubby. I have no immediate plans to get a snubby, either. But I do see where there is a definite niche for them, as CCW's, especially as BUG's. Small, relatively lightweight, and very reliable even if they don't have that may shots and are slower to reload than equivalent autoloaders.
So, while I have no immediate need for one, I am sure not going to belittle the weapons or those who use them and/or fancy them.
So, while I have no immediate need for one, I am sure not going to belittle the weapons or those who use them and/or fancy them.
Laserlips,
That's why there are Lasergrips on the 432 in my coat pocket even as I type this. When yanking a stubby little revolver (that has black-on-black sights) out of a coat pocket in a fast-moving <7yd confrontation (especially against more than one aggressor) these things are a godsend...
That's why there are Lasergrips on the 432 in my coat pocket even as I type this. When yanking a stubby little revolver (that has black-on-black sights) out of a coat pocket in a fast-moving <7yd confrontation (especially against more than one aggressor) these things are a godsend...