I'm an expert with snub .38s

[UncleEd]

This may seem like a bold claim but it is not. I am an expert
with snub revolvers.

You see, I have had the good fortune to have grown up
at a time when film noir and particularly Warner Bros. movies
were king in that genre.

From the 1930s to the 1950s, these film may be seen as excellent handgun training opportunities.

Now my technique, learned from such masters as Cagney and Bogart, consists of several step.

First off, it doesn't hurt to yell, "You dirty rat" or "Top of the world, ma."

You hold the snub .38, Colt or Smith, but preferably for me a Smith at about waist to belly level.

You start pulling trigger while thrusting the gun forward a few inches for emphasis and sometimes jerk it left or right or up
for target acquisition. It doesn't matter if the distance is
a few feet or 25 yards.

When the gun goes off, you follow with two more rapid shots again remembering to thrust the gun forward.

Those shots always land in the upper torso and are lethal,
though truth me known the one being shot sometimes has a few moments to give a small speech. Then he closes his eyes.

I've done this for several years and any that see me declare
I'm an expert, not just good or pretty good, but expert. A little
secret I'll share: I never have ever shot a snubbie dry.

So ladies and gentlemen, start watching those Warner Bros.
black and white film noir films. You'll learn a lot.

[eb07]

Don't forget to one hand snap the cylinder shut.

[Ranger514]

Makes me smile and remember the old westerns where the cowboys tossed bullets by snapping their wrists forward as they pulled the trigger. I'm sure that added push off increased the velocity of the rounds they fired.

[M3Stuart]

So yoose a wise guy huh?!? Well lemme tell ya something buster...remember that night the stickup went down at Louie's? Well I knew I smelled a RAT!!! Yeeeeh? Yeeeeh!

[handejector]

Originally Posted by UncleEd

A little
secret I'll share: I never have ever shot a snubbie dry.

Of course not- they hold 50 rounds.

[eyegots2no]

Efram Zimbalist and Karl Malden could hit a guy climbing a ladder 70 yards away while shooting from the hip----.

[Pbchucker]

Don't forget to act cool and adjust your hat by using the gun barrel. With finger on the trigger, of course.

[Rustyt1953]

Don't forget the ricochet. Especially when there's not a rock within miles.

YouTube

[LostintheOzone]

Originally Posted by eyegots2no

Efram Zimbalist and Karl Malden could hit a guy climbing a ladder 70 yards away while shooting from the hip----.

I believe that. Shooting a snubby from the hip will get you the same results as a well aimed shot at 70 yards.

I always shoot from the hip at ranges past 7 yards. Scares the hell out of who ever you're shooting at and they always run for cover. I learned that technique at an early age with a 12 ga shotgun that had a 16" barrel and no choke. Devastating show of force.

[shouldazagged]

I've seen the light, UncleEd. You have shown me the error of my ways, and why I always hit my assailant in the belt buckle or the shoe--I'm not thrusting the gun forward with each shot!

Thank heaven you're here, UncleEd! If only I could have learned this before that mess with Crazy Frankie.

[e3mrk]

You have a long way to go to beat Brodrick Crawford of the Highway Patrol TV Show.
I saw Him from behind His Car Door with a Snubby 38 and hit a Guy about 500 feet away on a Mountain behind a Rock.
That Guy was so tough that other Officers would hide behind Him for cover.

[Rustyt1953]

YouTube

[loknload]

As of recent I've been taking lessons from Peter Gunn with a few pointers from Lt.Jacoby since he is left handed!

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

Don't forget the original Steve McGarrett of Five-0 and his snubbie.

Never got a hair out of place.

[badge]

Or Cannon. He could hit at unbelievable distances with that Colt Detective Special or Cobra he carried.

[kaaskop49]

Originally Posted by eb07

Don't forget to one hand snap the cylinder shut.

Don't even say that. Please.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

[kaaskop49]

Originally Posted by YogiBear

Aloha,

Don't forget the original Steve McGarrett of Five-0 and his snubbie.

Never got a hair out of place.

And Don't forget the thimble-size silencer the baddies would ALWAYS screw onto their snub bbls. A small thimble...

I always liked Hawaii Five-0 until that anti-gun episode in one of the later seasons, the show in which a handgun passed from BG to BG, inflicting mayhem each time. Jack Lord made some very anti-gun comments in that episode. I NEVER watched Five-0 after that.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

[Onomea]

Originally Posted by YogiBear

Aloha,

Don't forget the original Steve McGarrett of Five-0 and his snubbie.

Never got a hair out of place.

Plus, he always wears a suit and tie, buttoned up, and wherever he goes, he runs. Down the beach and through the surf to tackle the bad guy, or to get coffee with the guv. But never, ever, breaks a sweat! Now, is that cool or what?!

(And I love the shocks on his Mercury, too! Ya know, Danno had to take dramamine before he was even allowed to ride with McGarrett.)

[Jessie]

They might have been good, but, come on....no body holds a candle to Angelina Jolie who can snap that gun sideways and put a curve on the bullet to shoot around cover.

[vonn]

Sure glad I found this thread,I have been doing everything wrong! Have to get to the range and practice my new skills as soon as possible.

[DWalt]

Originally Posted by kaaskop49

And Don't forget the thimble-size silencer the baddies would ALWAYS screw onto their snub bbls. A small thimble...

I always liked Hawaii Five-0 until that anti-gun episode in one of the later seasons, the show in which a handgun passed from BG to BG, inflicting mayhem each time. Jack Lord made some very anti-gun comments in that episode. I NEVER watched Five-0 after that.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Me too. That script could have been written by Sara Brady. After that episode, I never watched H5-0 again until the new episodes. I even wrote a protest letter to Pepsi, who was a sponsor at the time. There were a few earlier episodes having a somewhat anti-gun slant, but not nearly so offensive.

[sunnyd]

I also remember in numerous old films that shooting accuracy was often enhanced by dangling a lit cigarette from the corner of one's mouth. I have tried this, but since I am not a smoker, the coughing interferes with a steady hold. It sure looked cool on film though, especially when they threw the cigarette down at the body. I tried that too, at my range at the farm, but started the cornfield on fire!!!

[Wyatt Burp]

Hey. I once had a Golden Retriever named Cody Jarrett. Actor William Conrad was especially good with a snub gun. One time in "Cannon" he got to a landing strip just as the bad guy took off in a small plane. But one well placed shot from his Chief special brought it down. Sometimes I do what actors do. When at the range shooting and then the gun goes "click, click, click", I look at it with scorn and surprise then throw it down range.

[Lt JL]

and how is it that McGarett's Shoulder holster never fell off? it was only looped over one shoulder.

[ditrina]

Originally Posted by Lt JL

and how is it that McGarett's Shoulder holster never fell off? it was only looped over one shoulder.

The same magic that allowed Sgt. Saunders to hit a sniper in a tree at 150 yards.. with a 20 round burst

VVVVVVVVVVVVVV

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by YogiBear

Aloha,

Don't forget the original Steve McGarrett of Five-0 and his snubbie.

Never got a hair out of place.

One shot and from the ground shot a guy off of a tall building. I thought, "Man, he's COOL!"

[DWalt]

Laser-guided bullets.

[Brian41]

I remember those shows and figured they must be able to hit with a snub or they wouldn't be showing it on TV. Yeah right I was pretty naïve as a kid too.
My first snub was a Detective Special I actually bought for my wife in mid 70s. Fist time shooting it at the range I was spitting up dirt well in front of the target. Moved closer and did start getting some hits but learned then shooting a snub is not so easy and takes practice.

[Damn Yankee]

UnclEd

Do you have any of those bullets left that when hitting different objects,fire,sparks,smoke and a whizzing noise would happen?

[eveled]

I've noticed that when I thrust my hand forward when I shoot from the hip. That my arm is not long enough to get off more than 3 shots. Is three shots enough? What if there are four bad guys?

Interesting thing about the original Hawaii 5-0, Magnum PI is sort of a spin off, Magnum makes subtle references to Magarrett. I have been waiting for a tie in with the new 5-0. There was an episode with TC's helicopter in the background.

Aparently it is not going to happen, Larry Maneti, (Rick) is starting a re-occurring role in the new show, but as a different character. There was also a scene in a helicopter were they talk about the Magnum PI theme song.

Magnum PI, was great, the new 5-0 is good also, but never watched the original.

[HOUSTON RICK]

Who could argue with such expertise? I learned it all from The Legend of Evil Roy Slade gunfight sequences.

[rog8732]

I can not figure out how some of those guys learned to shoot the snubs so well; but "Cannon" now, is a different story.

He of course, learned his snubby skills from his radio time as the Lone Ranger.
After all that sound effect shooting accuracy, using a real snub with blanks was a piece-o-cake. ( Please note this disclaimer I meant no disparagement to Mr Cannon, in regard to his considerable girth, and the fore-mentioned, CAKE !

[UncleEd]

Originally Posted by Damn Yankee

UnclEd

Do you have any of those bullets left that when hitting different objects,fire,sparks,smoke and a whizzing noise would happen?

I refer you back to my original opening post. I don't miss.
Three shots to the upper torso and each can be or is a fatal wound.

Regard to a question about multiple attackers. That never happens in the real world.

[Onomea]

Originally Posted by Lt JL

and how is it that McGarett's Shoulder holster never fell off? it was only looped over one shoulder.

That's 'cause you only see it when he is briefing his guys on their assignments in his office, which he does in shirtsleeves. As soon as he leaves the office, he's got his suit jacket back on and buttoned up, holding the holster on, as he goes jogging out the door...

[Evil Dog]

Originally Posted by rog8732

I can not figure out how some of those guys learned to shoot the snubs so well; but "Cannon" now, is a different story.

He of course, learned his snubby skills from his radio time as the Lone Ranger.
After all that sound effect shooting accuracy, using a real snub with blanks was a piece-o-cake. ( Please note this disclaimer I meant no disparagement to Mr Cannon, in regard to his considerable girth, and the fore-mentioned, CAKE !

Uh, if memory serves William Conrad was the voice of Matt Dillon on the Gunsmoke radio shows, not The Lone Ranger.... that was Brace Beemer.

[shouldazagged]

Originally Posted by rog8732

He of course, learned his snubby skills from his radio time as the Lone Ranger.

I don't remember Conrad playing the Lone Ranger, though he certainly may have; but he was very good as Matt Dillon in the radio version of "Gunsmoke". Very different from the way they later wrote Dillon for the TV version--darker. It was a good series while it lasted.

[joeintexas]

Originally Posted by YogiBear

Aloha,

Don't forget the original Steve McGarrett of Five-0 and his snubbie.

Never got a hair out of place.

Not sure we can be talking about Steve McGarrett and his snubbie!!

[sophie]

UncleEd, I got here soon as I could and am glad I did. I always got a kick out of the older movies where the guys thrust the gun foward and at times just seem to sling them bullets in the westerns. Isn't it funny when we watch the older stuff that we went to see when we were growing up sure seem to be kind of ridiculous but in those years growing up they were sure some good stuff.

You dirty rat---reach for the sky

[sunnyd]

Originally Posted by loknload

As of recent I've been taking lessons from Peter Gunn with a few pointers from Lt.Jacoby since he is left handed!

Wow, nice pair of 38's!!!!!

[rog8732]

Originally Posted by Evil Dog

Uh, if memory serves William Conrad was the voice of Matt Dillon on the Gunsmoke radio shows, not The Lone Ranger.... that was Brace Beemer.

Evil Dog, you are correct, and my thanks to you for letting me down so gently with your good-natured correction.
You and shouldazagged were nice enough to keep me from foundering in ignorance too long.

I don't usually start hitting the sauce so early in the day, but sometimes,.......

[jimmyj]

Originally Posted by Ranger514

Makes me smile and remember the old westerns where the cowboys tossed bullets by snapping their wrists forward as they pulled the trigger. I'm sure that added push off increased the velocity of the rounds they fired.

IIRC: this is a hold over from the days of cap and ball revolvers. This "Act" was to throw the fired percussion cap out of the revolver so the cap wouldn't drop down into the recoil shield and jam the turning of the cylinder.