New pocket gun

[winelover]

Carrying in those two kinds of holsters...............you don't need a snubbie. Three of four inch barrel would serve you better, especially for a trail gun. Not to mention, the crude sights on most snubbies are a hindrance at longer ranges.

Winelover

[charlie b]

I have a 4". Too bulky. Sorry, I like the snubby for that situation. Light and easy to handle and most people don't notice I have it.

So, still, I like the hammer on a snubbie and people like me are probably why they are still offered that way.

[FergusonTO35]

How come every thread about snubbies quickly finds its way into the quicksand of DA/SA vs. DAO? For the record I like 'em either way, and can appreciate the advantages of either style.

[ghh3rd]

My S&W 642 J-Frame has been in my pocket every day since I purchased it 8-9 years ago. The first time I fired it was at 7 yards and I was shocked at how easy it was to keep rounds in a 2” circle.

Enjoy!

[charlie b]

How come every thread about snubbies quickly finds its way into the quicksand of DA/SA vs. DAO? For the record I like 'em either way, and can appreciate the advantages of either style.

Probably because many folks think the only use for a snubbie is pocket carry where a hammer is a horrible choice.

[rfd]

i think ... er, i *know* that the prime *citizen* function for a proper snubbie is extreme conceal carry for ECQ self defense. period. yes, it can sorta kinda work for lotsa other fun things, but none of those were its original intentions when the first cowboy or town marshal or whomever sawed off the barrel of a cap 'n' ball pistolo and made it into a stealth handgun. there are plenty of other far more valid choices for longer distance accurate shooting that are beyond 5 to 15 yards or so.

as such, for its design purpose, having an external hammer is a big no-no. period. y'all can argue that point 'til the cows come home but a snubnose is what it is. you wanna make it into a range gun and want that external s/a hammer to stage it for increased accuracy, sorry, that ain't the functional purpose of a snubbie and you are *decreasing* its effectiveness for its prime purpose. go get you a 4" or longer barreled wheelgun with an external hammer.

size and weight are important factors. lighter is better for ccw, and at a pound or so loaded it's a firearm you won't leave behind even with sparse summer wear. i've had more than a few snubbies that were just *wrong* for ECQ EDC CCW, because of too much weight and having an external hammer - those things just decrease its main purpose use. i saw the light and a snubbie in the league of a smith airweight was the Best way to go, for me. maybe you, too.

[charlie b]

Roflmao

[rfd]

Roflmao

[FergusonTO35]

If I should get a DAO snub, the LCR is what I want. The factory sights and trigger pull are miles ahead of anything else, hopefully more grip options will be available soon too.

[jmort]

Completely agree
The LCRs blow my J Frames away

[Texas by God]

I suppose the idiots that introduced the snub nose Detective Special and the Chiefs Special weren't tactical minded enough to hack saw that evil hammer spur off LOL.
If you want DAO, get it. If you want DA/SA, get it. I'm not recoiling in horror at the thought of a belly gun that can be cocked for a precise shot. The first ones came that way.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Boogieman]

I have or have had 2" and 2 1/2" Colts and 3" Smiths. They would all stay on a B27 target at 100 yds. 2 handed standing if I shot SA. DA not so good






'

[winelover]

Completely agree
The LCRs blow my J Frames away

Amen

Winelover

[Mackay Sagebrush]

The primary limitations to the typical J Frame snubby are the deeply entrenched, narrow minded thinking of the people using them.






The J-Frame is just a close range tool.

You can't hit anything past x feet with a snubby

Snubbys are only for ecqb, cqb (or whatever people want to label it.)

Snubbys are not accurate.

You can't shoot one accurately double action past conversation distance.

Hammers are just a crutch, a hindrance, a detriment, etc, etc.

Snubbys are not range guns, they are not plinkers.

Snubbys are only good for short range, etc, etc.


The funny part is that I have been shooting this particular DAO 442 for 20 years now. It has had quite literally thousands of rounds through it.
I have done demos more than a few times as a firearms instructor for new troops who thought snubbys were not any good past arms length. I would shoot a couple cylinders at 50 yards on a qual target and have them walk out and ask them to reconsider their narrow minded thinking.

At 10 yards with CT laser grips it will put them into a group around 1.5 "s. With irons, my groups roughly go to about fist size. Frankly though, fist size groups at 10 yards is fine for me for a gun that 99% of gun owners (and 90% of snubby owners) think are horribly inaccurate.

At 7 yards, which is a typical "across the room" distance, and one in which I have held a fair number of violent people at gun point during the course of the 20 years I wore a badge, the J Frame will drive tacks with the right person behind the gun. Bearing in mind, I normally was not using a J Frame to do so, as it was not a primary weapon but the fact is that the ranges in which a great many people were held at gunpoint were well within the ranges that I would have been very comfortable utilizing a J Frame if it was all I had.










My bride has a nickle version of the same gun. An NYPD Detective's old gun that he sold upon retirement. It is accurate enough to shoot jackrabbits in the head with.



So much for only being an ECQC gun....

[onelight]

Good post Mackkay !

[rfd]

The primary limitations to the typical J Frame snubby are the deeply entrenched, narrow minded thinking of the people using them. ... )

limitations only belong to the firearm and its user. to think otherwise is foolish, and i'm nobody's fool. most firearms have an initial design function in mind, whether it's a snubbie or an ar15. it absolutely doesn't mean most any firearm can't be effectively used beyond its primary function, that's just common sense. some firearms will have human limits - it's not the gun, it's the user. with regards to the typical .38spl +P snubbie, it ain't a gun for everyone and typically it requires more practice and training than most common CCW pistols. anyone that can effectively use a snubbie beyond its functional design capabilities, that's great, more power to 'em. i wish i could regularly hit the 80 yard gong like hickok45 does with all the snubbies he's ever reviewed and tested. and like he sez, life is good.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

like this

[onelight]

200 yards that guy is amazing!

[doghawg]

I've had a 637 for a few years and lately it seems like it's the gun that I carry most. I use a Galco "stow and go" IWB but usually just clip it inside the belt but OWB and wear my shirt out. For a quick trip to the store or gas station, a day in the boat or whatever the little J-frame takes me out of the "defenseless old man" category and I like it...hammer and all.

As a FWIW....the little flat tin can from "Altoids smalls" breath mints is exactly the right size for 5 rounds of .38 spl.....just put a thin piece of foam to keep them from rattling. Not very tactical but sure beats the speed loader left at home...

[Mackay Sagebrush]

I've had a 637 for a few years and lately it seems like it's the gun that I carry most. I use a Galco "stow and go" IWB but usually just clip it inside the belt but OWB and wear my shirt out. For a quick trip to the store or gas station, a day in the boat or whatever the little J-frame takes me out of the "defenseless old man" category and I like it...hammer and all.

As a FWIW....the little flat tin can from "Altoids smalls" breath mints is exactly the right size for 5 rounds of .38 spl.....just put a thin piece of foam to keep them from rattling. Not very tactical but sure beats the speed loader left at home...

I have done the "Altoids tin" trick for a good while now, when I am out in the field just bumming around.



This one is actually a Trader Joes version though..




I have found that a rubber band around it is a good idea to prevent accidentally having your pocket fill up with wadcutters.