Snubby Revolvers: Obsolete?

[tdoor4570]

Just got back from the gun shop where I consigned two Taurus P-111 9mm. for sale and did the paper work on a 357 Mag Pug which hope to pick Saturday. just can't work the slides like I used to

[Tatume]

Attachment 271210
Here’s one that Sherlock would have carried.

Please tell us more about your Webley and Scott No. 2 Bulldog revolver. Do you have access to 450 Bulldog ammo?

[Good Cheer]

Picked up a "sheriffs" model 1858.
I can see how people came to make them even shorter.

tdoor,
I've grown quite fond of the Mag Pug.

[Geezer in NH]

geez louise. what a crock o' nonsense. snubbies will be around and used for CCW forever. i know mine will ....

Attachment 270713

looks like mine

[Geezer in NH]

Doubt it. Take a shot in the pelvis and see what you do.

[Good Cheer]

Load tests for penetration, expansion and foot-pounds is going to be fun and funner with the Mag Pug.
Will have to trim brass back for some molds like the #410426.

[Baltimoreed]

Tatume, my Webley is considered a ‘late pattern’ .450 Metropolitan Police sn 888xx with a rack number 1351 under the logo. It’s not a Webley Bulldog. It has a 2.5 inch bbl, blued, original checkered grips that unfortunately have shrunken. It has POLICE stamped over the Webley manacled hands [police] logo with M P underneath. The double action worked ok when I got it but is not as good now. Single action is fine. Don’t have a clue as to when it was built though I’m pretty sure it was after 1900 being a late pattern. I came across some imported .450 loads years ago but had trimmed some .455 down prior to finding them. I drilled out the bases of 200 gr rnfp and loaded them light but haven’t shot it in years now.

[stubshaft]

Attachment 271255

Don't care for high capacity semi's when a good snubby will do the job.

Attachment 271256

[SSGOldfart]

I carry one or two daily and will until 6 carry me.I wish Ruger would build a 3 or 4 shot LCRx in 357mag
Most of the time you only need one shot so why carry 10?

[Hi-Speed]

Short barreled revolvers...my SP101 is stoked with 170 gr 358429 SWC’s over a healthy dose of Unique...gives us peace of mind when hiking in the High Desert/Sierra foothills. It’s not the bears we worry about but the big cats stalking us...it’s rare but it does happen.

Snub noses are forever... love em!

[1hole]

I'm old enough to have lived through a few changes in gun fashions. The current irrational obsession with large capacity (more than about 8 rounds) weapons (with fat sights) is fascinating.

If I had reason to believe I was going into a gun battle tomorrow with hordes of attackers I would want a double barreled, belt fed full auto .44 magnum and 3 cases of factory ammo for each barrel ... and a Jap bayonet in a Picatinny rail. But, I'm no Rambo and I know it so if that scenario were truly the case I bet I'd just stay home with my six shooter shotgun tomorrow. Meaning my love of the idea of a long running battle with massive capacity handgun magazines is quite low.

Life is real, it's not a movie. Given the very low probability of actually needing a defensive weapon tomorrow, or ever, while also knowing that having some defense is wise, makes me routinely choose a safe, easy to use, reliable and easily hidden (pocket) snubby. At least until someone markets a compact death ray gun. ??

[Jtarm]

Sure we started out with at least light wadcutters but eventually worked up to at least standard service ammo.

The .38 target wadcutter is probably the best-kept secret in SD ammo.

Expansion from a .38 Special can be iffy, even with +P rounds.

Terminal performance of the wadcutter is mind-numbingly predictable. It cuts a .36 hole, 16-18” of straight-line penetration in bare gel (roughly the same as a +P that actually expands.). Every single time.

Easy to control and usually shoots to POA in a FS gun. Only downside is slow to reload, for which reason I carry Remington 158 LSWCHP +P for my reloads.

Less than 2% of civilian SD shootings require more than 5 rounds. If a 15-round mag makes you feel comfortable, go for it.

I’ve considered switching to an auto, but here’s why I continue to carry a revolver: contact shots.

I have no stats to prove it, but as a civilian, I figure I am far, far more likely to have to make a contact shot than engage multiple opponents or one at distance (though I’m confident in my ability to hit a man at 50 yards with my M-64.)

In a tussle, it’s easy for an autoloader to get pushed out of battery. With a revolver, you can punch the crap out of your adversary with the barrel, bury it in their mid-section, pull the trigger, and it goes bang.

If I ever feel six isn’t enough, I’ll add a J-frame backup.

[Big Ben]

I sure like to carry my S & W airweight...Forget I have it on me most of the time.

[Good Cheer]

The .38 target wadcutter is probably the best-kept secret in SD ammo.

Expansion from a .38 Special can be iffy, even with +P rounds.

Terminal performance of the wadcutter is mind-numbingly predictable. It cuts a .36 hole, 16-18” of straight-line penetration in bare gel (roughly the same as a +P that actually expands.). Every single time.

Easy to control and usually shoots to POA in a FS gun. Only downside is slow to reload, for which reason I carry Remington 158 LSWCHP +P for my reloads.

Less than 2% of civilian SD shootings require more than 5 rounds. If a 15-round mag makes you feel comfortable, go for it.

I’ve considered switching to an auto, but here’s why I continue to carry a revolver: contact shots.

I have no stats to prove it, but as a civilian, I figure I am far, far more likely to have to make a contact shot than engage multiple opponents or one at distance (though I’m confident in my ability to hit a man at 50 yards with my M-64.)

In a tussle, it’s easy for an autoloader to get pushed out of battery. With a revolver, you can punch the crap out of your adversary with the barrel, bury it in their mid-section, pull the trigger, and it goes bang.

If I ever feel six isn’t enough, I’ll add a J-frame backup.

Full heavy wadcutter would be a good choice in the .41 snub as well. Clothing penetration might be a problem so a higher power level would be best... but I'd have to do penetration tests on that though, to know what to believe.

[charlie b]

You might be surprised at how newer bullets expand/penetrate at lower velocities. This guy has the most extensive tests I have seen on bullet expansion of different calibers/bullets. One thing that is nice, the .38spl rounds were fired from 2" and 4" barrels.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/rev...cs-test/#38spl

[tdoor4570]

Got my new 357 Mag Pug home yesterday, got it cleaned up , loaded with 125gr factory . Now have to start getting brass ready for it and have to cast more 357 dia slugs of different weights. then the fun begins .

[pettypace]

If five shots aren't enough, consider the possibility of two-projectile loads. Here's a five shot, ten hole target.