Why 5-Shot?
- Thread starter HKguy9
- Start date
MeekAndMild
New member
Skunk, its five shot because if you are average then you and fifteen of your closest buddies will carry them your entire lives before one single one of the crowd fires a single shot in anger. 
So try this. Carry a five shot in one pocket and a six shot in the other for the next 40 years and tell me which one rubs the biggest blister.
So try this. Carry a five shot in one pocket and a six shot in the other for the next 40 years and tell me which one rubs the biggest blister.
Giving credit to CR Sam for this. (paraphrase)
"model 36,being blue steel, 5 shot, ctg to cyl setup, faster shot to shot,less stress to innards and workings."
thats why this small concealable, reliable, revolver has been so popular, and Sam has run a bunch through his. other guns didn't take the dishing out. Its a tool, for surviving, not anything else.
"model 36,being blue steel, 5 shot, ctg to cyl setup, faster shot to shot,less stress to innards and workings."
thats why this small concealable, reliable, revolver has been so popular, and Sam has run a bunch through his. other guns didn't take the dishing out. Its a tool, for surviving, not anything else.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Why 5-shot?
Because S&W already had equipment set up for drilling 5 .38-caliber holes in a cylinder destined for a small gun.
Because S&W already had equipment set up for drilling 5 .38-caliber holes in a cylinder destined for a small gun.
Mark IV Series 80
New member
If you want, you can get a 6-shot .32 Magnum or .22 snubbie.
You just have to decide if it's worth the trade-off for that extra round.
You just have to decide if it's worth the trade-off for that extra round.
Mike Irwin
Staff
S&W used to make a LOT of 2, 2.5, and 3" models that can be argued are snubbies.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19 etc.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19 etc.
Jim Watson
New member
The reason to CARRY a 5-shot .38 is because it is smaller than a 6 shot. The Colt D frames are the smallest sixshooters I know. This really applies only for a pocket gun. If you are going to wear a holster you can as easily have six (or seven or eight, maybe ten) shots as five.
The reason S&W MAKES a 5- shot .38 is because when they wanted to produce the smallest .38 possible, that was as many .38 chambers as they could get in a cylinder for their existing .32 frame.
The reason other companies make 5-shot .38s is because they saw S&Ws selling well and wanted to compete with as small a gun as the Smiths.
The reason S&W MAKES a 5- shot .38 is because when they wanted to produce the smallest .38 possible, that was as many .38 chambers as they could get in a cylinder for their existing .32 frame.
The reason other companies make 5-shot .38s is because they saw S&Ws selling well and wanted to compete with as small a gun as the Smiths.
All of the above apply....
It seems that the Smith 36 begat the later assortment of smallish major caliber 5 shooters.
The 36 seems to have stemmed from the 30.
The 30 came from the .32 Hand Ejector of 1903 and was initially in the I frame, later using the larger J frame.
When the little six shot .32s were poked for the .38 family there was room for only 5 shots.
That said, I nearly always have a 5 shot on me somewhere regardless of dress.
But I also like my K and L frame snubs too.
Sam...I don't get lost, I explore alternate routings.
It seems that the Smith 36 begat the later assortment of smallish major caliber 5 shooters.
The 36 seems to have stemmed from the 30.
The 30 came from the .32 Hand Ejector of 1903 and was initially in the I frame, later using the larger J frame.
When the little six shot .32s were poked for the .38 family there was room for only 5 shots.
That said, I nearly always have a 5 shot on me somewhere regardless of dress.
But I also like my K and L frame snubs too.
Sam...I don't get lost, I explore alternate routings.
5?
Get a 6 shot! If you look around you can find a Colt Magnum Carry .357 6 shooter. Actually, it weighs a bit less than the 5 shot steel Model 60. For all practical purposes (at least for me) it fits about the same places as a Model 60 or SP-101. Probably, other companies came out with 5 shooters after S&W due to lack of creative thinking. Why does a .22LR SP101 only hold 6 rounds (it probably could handle 8 or 9)?
Get a 6 shot! If you look around you can find a Colt Magnum Carry .357 6 shooter. Actually, it weighs a bit less than the 5 shot steel Model 60. For all practical purposes (at least for me) it fits about the same places as a Model 60 or SP-101. Probably, other companies came out with 5 shooters after S&W due to lack of creative thinking. Why does a .22LR SP101 only hold 6 rounds (it probably could handle 8 or 9)?
don't shoot it's me
New member
It's apples and oranges at this point....snub k frames are not pocket guns...are you looking for a pocket gun?...something light? Something you don't need a holster for? Mine is an ankle gun or for times i don't feel like strapping on the P7...when you determine your needs, yo will determine the size...
The problem as mentioned runs from beefiness to lightness.
I recently got a colt detective special. 6 shots of 38 special. Comparing its cylinder and weight to my ruger sp101 in 357 magnum with 5 shots is amazing. Of course I have never had another 38 special only revolver but this colt is little and light.
I figure ruger did 6 shots of 22lr in their sp101 revolvers due to the lockwork from other stuff or something. But since they only had 6 I went for a S&W kit gun, 317, since it is light and holds 8 rounds.
I don't really have a problem with 5 shots vs 6 if the thing is up to the task. I don't know that I should compare the colt detective special to the sp101 though since one is 38 special only and the other is decent with 357 magnum rounds.
I still need to research this colt and see if it stays or goes, anyone have some good resources for that? I figure any help I get might help the original poster in what to look for in used stuff as well.
I recently got a colt detective special. 6 shots of 38 special. Comparing its cylinder and weight to my ruger sp101 in 357 magnum with 5 shots is amazing. Of course I have never had another 38 special only revolver but this colt is little and light.
I figure ruger did 6 shots of 22lr in their sp101 revolvers due to the lockwork from other stuff or something. But since they only had 6 I went for a S&W kit gun, 317, since it is light and holds 8 rounds.
I don't really have a problem with 5 shots vs 6 if the thing is up to the task. I don't know that I should compare the colt detective special to the sp101 though since one is 38 special only and the other is decent with 357 magnum rounds.
I still need to research this colt and see if it stays or goes, anyone have some good resources for that? I figure any help I get might help the original poster in what to look for in used stuff as well.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"K-frames are not pocket guns..."
Sez you.
I know several people who carry K-frames in either coat or pants pockets.
Sez you.
I know several people who carry K-frames in either coat or pants pockets.
Any reasons for a 5-shot snubbie?
5 shots is the most shots that one can get if he want's a 38 special in a J frame revolver or the equivilent from another manufacturer. You can get the J frame in a six shooer if you are willing to settle for a smaller caliber (22 or 32 Mg.).
I wouldn'yt reccomend 'that'.
A Colt that is available in a six shot 38 is a little bigger frame that the Smith J frame. Some opt for it because they think the extra shot is important and justifies the extra bulk. I don't, but who am I to judge another man's needs?
In truth I suspect that a gun fight between a civilian and a would be mugger/rapist/home invader will be a short and deadly affair. This ain't Miami Vice--we don't have to protect the general public, only ourselves, hence we won't be waiting outside any banks or jewellery stores for the BG to emerge.
5 shots is the most shots that one can get if he want's a 38 special in a J frame revolver or the equivilent from another manufacturer. You can get the J frame in a six shooer if you are willing to settle for a smaller caliber (22 or 32 Mg.).
I wouldn'yt reccomend 'that'.
A Colt that is available in a six shot 38 is a little bigger frame that the Smith J frame. Some opt for it because they think the extra shot is important and justifies the extra bulk. I don't, but who am I to judge another man's needs?
In truth I suspect that a gun fight between a civilian and a would be mugger/rapist/home invader will be a short and deadly affair. This ain't Miami Vice--we don't have to protect the general public, only ourselves, hence we won't be waiting outside any banks or jewellery stores for the BG to emerge.