Reconsidering the snub nose revolver

[YabuUS]

A couple of posts ago on another thread I was talking about my NAA Guardian .380 and why I carried it in my pocket as opposed to the more potent snub nose revolver I have. I said I liked the conceal-ability of the Guardian and the quality of the gun. I also mentioned that I was a lousy shot with the snub nose revolver and for that reason I was reluctant to rely on it. Well, my thinking may have been a tad flawed. After further consideration I am changing my opinion about the whole pocket gun scene. There's no argument that the snub revolver is a more potent weapon compared to the .380 - especially since my snub revolver is a Taurus 605, .357 mag. That's plenty of power in a relative small package. My concern about accuracy was really a moot point. At 7yds on the range I do only fair with the little revolver. However, as we all know, the overwhelming majority of shooting scenarios occur within a radius of 10 or 12ft. At that distance it's simply a matter of point and shoot - not much careful aiming involved. I think even I could be effective with the snub nose at that distance. Couple with this the scarcity of ammo for the .380 and I'm starting to think I should be carrying the snub nose instead of the Guardian. .38spl. ammo is not so hard to find and that alone makes range practice more affordable and practical. What do you guys think? Am I going in the wrong direction - again?

[MoJo]

My all the time BUG is a Taurus ultra light .38 loaded with +P ammo. The reason for this is i pocket carry my BUG and the P3AT was constantly getting full of pocket debris enough to cause malfunctions. The revolver in a Nemesis pocket holster overcomes a lot of the debris that the semi picked up even though it was carried in a Nemesis too.

Also, the little revolver just feels "right."

[ghostrider]

You have a slight capacity advantage with the guardian, but I would probably go with the snub. However, I generally carry a full size 9mm with 15-17rnds in 1 magazine, so my views may not necessarily apply.

[casingpoint]

As the old saying goes, people talk about 45 ACP, shoot a nine mm and carry a 38 Special.

[doc540]

bet my life on them

[frogbones]

What do you guys think? Am I going in the wrong direction - again?

No, I don't. I had a snubby once....got rid of it for a semiauto. I still use the Semiauto for my primary carry piece, but as a "quick grab in the pocket it goes" for a quick trip (pocket holster of course), or as a BUG for long outings. I went back to the snub.

Taurus 605 also.

[KD5NRH]

Make sure you're also practicing with .357s in that 605. I've found that the light weight and short barrel makes for a pretty different point of impact when the guns is lifting itself harder under recoil. It's still easy to get consistent with any load, but you'll need to work with what you're going to carry.

[YabuUS]

Make sure you're also practicing with .357s in that 605. I've found that the light weight and short barrel makes for a pretty different point of impact when the guns is lifting itself harder under recoil. It's still easy to get consistent with any load, but you'll need to work with what you're going to carry.

You make a valid point. There is a big difference in how the gun reacts when shooting .38spl. ammo and .357 ammo. Like others I know who shoot snubby's, I practice with .38spl. most of the time on the range. I do shoot a few of the higher powered rounds through it before I leave the range though. For a defense round I load it with Speer Gold Dot HP. At $1.45 per round I admit I don't do a lot of shooting with that ammo!

[KD5NRH]

For a defense round I load it with Speer Gold Dot HP. At $1.45 per round I admit I don't do a lot of shooting with that ammo!

I know the feeling: I'm down to ten rounds of the old 125gr "short barrel" Gold Dot .357, which is apparently discontinued. I have some 125gr .357 that's not marked as short barrel, and I didn't notice a significant change in POI or recoil, but the hollowpoint design is quite different from the older shape.

[camjr]

S&W 642 is my all the time, everywhere gun. I carry it in either a Mika or Nemesis pocket holster in my right front pocket. I keep it loaded with Gold Dot 135gr .38spl +p rounds with 2 speed strip reloads. If I'm carrying it as a BUG, it simply goes in the left front pocket since my primary (XD40) in on my right hip.

I luckily stocked up on Gold Dot 135gr .38spl +p short barrel rounds before the ammo run, but that's dwindled down to where I only shoot range ammo at present for practice. For pocket carry with lint, etc., I prefer the revolver over a small semi-auto. I also find that although the revolver is a little larger, the rounded nature of the cylinder makes it disappear a little better when in either of the pocket holsters I use with it.

CHEERS!

[hoytinak]

I'm carrying my LCR as I type this. I currently carry it in a Del Fatti OWB made for my SP101 till I can get some good IWB leather for it. I have a nice pocket holster on order but I think it might be a tad too big for me to pocket (I'm used to carrying my P32 in the pocket). I'm more of a semi guy but I'm really liking this LCR.

[Lindy]

I put a set of Crimson Trace laser grips on my Smith 342 for my wife.

I like them so much that it's now by primary "dress gun" in a Pocket Concealment Systems pocket holster. Loaded with Corbon DPX and a speed loader in my other front pocket, it's very handy during shorts and T-shirt weather - which is much of the year around here.

[DoubleJ]

I have a nice pocket holster on order but I think it might be a tad too big for me to pocket (I'm used to carrying my P32 in the pocket).

You'll be (pleasantly) surprised at how easy this genuinely is. The hardest part is getting pockets sufficiently deep (and if you're used to pocket carry, you'll already be attuned to this), but even that is not too big of a problem.

[frazzled]

Shoot what is comfortable and works for you.

[Dan20703]

S&W 642 is my all the time, everywhere gun. I carry it in a Mika

My 642 is with me more than any other gun due to the ease of pocket carry (Mika). I keep it filled with Remington 158-gr. LSWCHP +P. I'm a big fan of Mr. Camp's opinion on ammo selection.