I’ve never been too fond of long barrels on handguns. (Even though I like the 1911 and beretta m9).

My favorite types of pistols are those with a full size frame but with a ‘snub nosed’ profile.

In autoloaders, the HK P7 series are my favorite. The short slide just looks all business; and it makes for an easier to carry gun.

The same goes for my revolvers: here, two L-frames with barrels under 3 inches are my favorite ones. Enough frame size to fire full power magnums, but easy to balance and fast to draw with the short barrel.

Anyone else share my odd sense of aesthetics?

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No odd sense of aesthetics at all in my book. That is a great collection of quality firearms, especially the H&K. Several years ago I worked with a fellow who carried one on duty for a long time. He put thousands of rounds thru it with no issues whatsoever. I can't remember the last time I saw one of those for sale in any shop. Thanks for showing.

Thanks for the story about your colleague who carried the P7 with great success. It's my main (and favorite) autoloader 'platform'. The P7M8 pictured here is in great condition, and a pleasure to own. I have some double stack p7M13 models as well, and they are excellent options for situations where the standard 8 rounds 'might not cut it'.

My LGS has had them for sale over the years. They usually get purchased *very quickly*, and for a high premium.

I love owning snubs and a number of 'em roost in the safe, but don't make use of 'em so much.

The boring ol' 4-inch barrelled revolver is my very favorite.

Love Js and Ks with 3" barrels and round butts but when it comes to an N much prefer a 4" barrel...

I Seem to like the Stubby Revolvers more as I get deeper into the calendar.
The first one I ever bought was the Model 60.
It’s this one and it’s the very first Model 60 that I ever saw in person.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I prefer 3 inch & 5 inch revolvers in general.. with the exception of 4 inch K frames... Variety is the spice of life

I wish I found one I liked. Maybe it is my dainty hands, but I cannot stand shooting snub nose revolvers. It likely is due to only having shot Taurus snubs, however, a friend with a J frame said his hands bleed shooting that too. If I ever tried a snub again it would be a 686+ for carry, mainly because I cannot imagine even a short barrel 686 being too light. I think snubs are fantastic for concealed carry, and definitely can be great guns. Much respect to people who can handle 357 or bigger out of one of those, I cannot, even 38 special was too snappy out of my Taurus 856.

I've always like short barreled revolvers.

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Keep on Chooglin'

My love of snubs spilled over to the Mullet Glocks - 43x and 45. Short barrels and full grip.

Even though I like my 2.5 inch PC 686+, my standard 3" 686+ is the one I'll carry.


Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

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Slava Ukraini!

I find 1 7/8”-3” attractive with J frames; 2 1/2”-4” with K frames; 3”-5” with L frames and 3 1/2”-6” with N frames.

This




This



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These



Why not?



You get the message so I won’t add any more.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

I've owned a lot of them and my favorite at the range were 3" Model 625.
Presently only have a short barrel 15-3 but always have an eye open.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I like the P7 also. I have a couple snub model 10s that I keep around as extra guns for someone that may need one. They are good trail guns and under the desk guns. My kids are all grown now and I don't have to worry much about having a hideout here and there.

The Snubby Revolver, 3rd Edition - Snub Noir

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

I have a number of 2" J-Frames, 2" K-Frames & a Colt Cobra, They are all in 38 Special. They all get the same ammo, Speer Short barrel 135gr +P.

I also have a 629-6 1 7/8" PC (that is in no way POLITICALLY CORRECT!) I have 4, 5, & 8 1/2" N-Frames, but the snubby just screams, "Get away from me, I'm crazy!" In some light conditions you can not only see the hollow points in the other chambers, but actually look down the barrel and see the bullet! Factory 240's remove skin from the rear knuckle of my thumb, but otherwise are manageable!

Ivan

I ways hated the idea of a snub nose. Low velocity, low power. Then I got a few and it's hard to argue against the quick sight picture and the lightsaber handling.

L frame is the best gun in any barrel length. I just cannot agree with your choice of ugly grips on that 44

Well, let's see...my snubbies include a S&W 642, 66-3, and Ruger SP 101, as well as a Sig P239.

I'll have to get out a ruler to see if this modified Model 1917 from Brazil qualifies as a snubby.

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I own several 2” J’s (36, 60), 2-1/2” K’s (19, 66) and a Kimber Ultra Carry…

Seems I have a certain affinity (affection?) for short barrel handguns.

I don't know if it qualifies but I'll take 2. Mine wore out yrs ago.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

What I carried 35 years ago





What I carry today

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Who’d a guessed?


Usually my dads DS and sometimes my Cobra.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I've had 2", 2.5", L&K frames. I favor the 4". Retains better in my IWB Kidney and ejects empty brass.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Model 64 Snub

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I think aesthetics and function can go hand-in-hand. It is just a question of what is to be the function.

For duty I preferred 3.5 - 4" bbls. The 3.5 was on my S&W 27-2, my last personally owned duty revolver (which I still have). The 4" bbls were on my 66 and 686 dept issue revolvers. The 3.5 - 4" bbl lengths, carried in a high ride holster, allowed access to the revolver while seated in a patrol vehicle. Our department also issued S&W 66 2.5" bbl lengths for plain clothes and commanders. Since I was a commander, and part of the time in plain clothes, I was also issued a 2.5" 66. This was, to me, the ideal sub .357 magnum. Unfortunately, the 66s, for us, did not have a stellar record of reliability. That was cured when I switched my division over to 4" 686s.

My competition revolvers had (have) 6" bbls. That was the max length allowed under the NRA and Calif Combat Assn regs. Two of these were built up on Ruger Six series, and one on a Smith L frame. These were very muzzle heavy to allow quick sight reacquisition during strings of fire. With all the custom work that went into these revolvers, they are extremely accurate. But they are a one trick pony due to weight and configuration. These are now very old school. But, given that I too am old, when I think of a competition revolver, this is what I think of. That is the aesthetics element.

Since I liked the size, weight and configuration of the 2.5" 66, but was less than impressed with their reliability, and having had lots of experience with my Ruger based PPC revolvers, when I decided to buy my own .357 snub, I chose a 2 3/4" bbl Security Six. With a nylon Hogue Monogrip mounted, I found I could shoot this revolver as accurately at 25 yards (our dept qualification max) as I could my 4" 686. I still have this revolver and it is a favorite. It does everything I want a snub nose K frame size revolver to do.

And then along came semi-autos. For a while I carried a S&W 469 which the department owned. This was the shortest and lightest S&W 9mm semi-auto of the era. When this got recalled due to mandatory issue/carry full size Glocks, I purchased the third generation equivalent, the 6906. In the S&W snub nose semi-auto 9mm category, I think the 469 and 6906 were a pinnacle of development.

My current carry pistol is a Glock 26. A little shorter vertically and horizontally than the second and third gen Smiths, and just as reliable, the Glock 26 to me is the ideal carry pistol.

For recreational shooting, or when I am doing some refresher training for locals who need to renew their CCWs, I use either the 2 3/4" bbl Ruger, or the Smith 6906. I think both of these exemplify functional efficiency along with being very enjoyable to shoot.

It is this functional efficiency that determines aesthetics for me.

Now let's throw that logic out the window. I grew up on westerns. For me (and fortunately my wife too) that is still my (our) favorite genre. So for me the most beautiful handgun ever wrought by the hand of man is the SAA.

But that is a discussion for a different hornet's nest.

I like the HK P7 and other snubbies too!
My fave is maybe a 2-3/4” Speed-Six or a 2” Model 15…
Also have…Ruger LCR .22 lr
Model 34 with 2”
Two 2” model 10s’, one nickel, one blue,
An SP101.357 with 2.25”,
A Glock 27,
A model 642,
And a model 36 with a 3”…..the model 36 I am hesitant to call a snub as I think snubs are anything under 3” and that is my opinion…
I like short bbls and snubbies and think my favorite length is 4”…if I was held to own only one handgun it would be a 4” model 686 and I cringe to imagine being able to have only one gun…..my 2nd choice would be a 4” model 18…cheers!