Snub nose revolver only for carrying?

[OldBlood]

22's are fun. I've had this one for years. My second gun was a model 17, gone now ((((((. My first gun was a model 14, gone too((((((((((( DON'T EVER SELL YOUR FIRST GUN!

 

[feralmerril]

If you arent going to get a ccw permit there isnt much advantage to a snub except maybe to throw it in your robe pocket to answer the door. Kind of like buying a car without a drivers license.

 

[Roberto Renauld]

In my opinion, the best are the K frame S&W revolvers for this use,consider Model 10, Model 15, Model 17, Model 19 and Model 66 with 2" to 6" barrels, but also the J frame Model 36 or Model 60 5 shot snubbies are very nice to shoot!!!!, and with proper ammo very accurate up to 25yds.
Regards
Roberto Renauld

 

[H Richard]

The 2" K Frame doesn't give up anything in the accuracy department, it is just that the sights on the longer barrels are easier to shoot more accurately. For a change of pace and great fun, a 2" Mod 15 is hard to beat.

 

[hogdoc357]

I agree with the other posts regarding the advantages of a snubbie, but given the OP's stated purpose for the revolver as a fun range gun, I would strongly recommend against starting with a snubbie as your first revolver. They are more difficult to shoot accurately, and IMO much less fun to shoot. My suggestion, for what it's worth, would be for a 4" K or L frame 357 mag. That way you have the versatility of shooting 357 mag or 38 special. Someday you'll probably want a snubbie too, but I would not recommend starting with one or you might get discouraged with revolvers!

General wisdom would say you are correct. However, having a snub as a first gun is not always a negative. My wife's first gun was a Ruger LCR with a Crimson Trace Laser. She learned on it and loves it. What did it for her was the unique and easy trigger action. She has used the laser as a training aid, learning how to hold the red dot on the target while dry firing. This has helped her to learn to shoot accurately even without the laser. I believe a snub as a first gun is fine, as long as it is the right snub and a person has correct training. Also, our "range guns" are snubs. That is what we love to shoot even when we just want to enjoy time at the range. As a matter of fact, my first handgun was a snub and a snub is what I still conceal carry today.

 

[kcub]

There is one other reason to have a snub: convenience of carry. Even if you are in a rural area its convenient to have your handgun in your pocket instead of in a holster. You might stop at a gas station and want to go into the store but then you have to remove your holster first.

If you get injured and need to signal a buddy to come help, you can fire your gun off to alert him to come help you. Handy to finish off a deer or boar as well. I always have a .357 and/or a .22 in my jeans pocket when I'm afield.

 

[Stainz]

Below are two 'fun' snubbies that can be left loaded as 'home/car protection', if you need a rationale to purchase one. Their forte, in my opinion, is to be used as plinkers, the rearward balance they possess making them great extensions of your hand. Can you reliably hit a 16" steel plate at 110 yd with them with .38 plinker loads while hand holding them? Probably not - except with practice. I guess therein is the fun. The benefit is simple - your marksmanship at shorter range - even your shooting stance - will improve.

The 2 5/8" PC627 UDR is a .357 Magnum, so you can launch some potent lead with it. It's an eight shot N-frame - from S&W's 'Performance Center' and currently available new at a decent discount for ~$900 new. The blued 2" 10 was the last production run of the venerable 10 and was made 12/02. They are scarce - and pricey.

A .22 LR (rimfire) revolver can be a great deal of fun. A J-frame, the smaller frame, like the current 3" 63, an 8-shot, can be a great plinker, yet be carried in a jacket pocket or holstered. Very frugal to shoot, even if the ~$630 initial price is a tad dear. New S&Ws have a lifetime warranty, too - the call and s/h are on S&W, too. Good luck!

Stainz

 

[Goldstar225]

You're getting lots of good advice here. Since you have excluded concealed carry I'll jump on the bandwagon and also recommend a 4 - 6 inch K frame .22 or .38 for your next gun. In your setting the only recommendation I would give in favor of a 2" J frame .38 would be for a gun to tuck in your hip pocket when you answer an unexpected knock at the door.

 

[photoman]

I enjoy the challenge of shooting a short barrel revolver. They wouldn't be what I would recommend for a first revolver though. Get a 4" K frame for that.

 

[Invictus357]

If concealed carry was never an option, the only revolvers I'd own would have, at minimum, 6 inch barrels.

I had a 6 inch 686 that was sheer joy at the range.

I'm not a very good shot and I'm better with larger, long barreled guns.

 

[blujax01]

4" M10's are dirt-cheap and abundant. The cop gun for a century and 1/2 the price of some of the .22's mentioned. You can't go wrong.

 

[fyimo]

Consider looking at a Model 17 K22 revolver. It has a six inch barrel.
Then when you decide you need another gun and you will. Look at a Model 14 K38.
These two guns are of the same configuration and weight. Cheap to shoot and accurate as any made.

If you love to shoot and practice your skills Iggy is right on about getting a 22LR revolver as you can shoot to your hearts content for less then $20. This also lets you practice all the essential shooting skills like sight alignment, trigger control and stance for just a little bit of money. It's also a great tool to teach new shooters these basic skills. Everyone should have a 22LR revolver in their collection for this purpose. Iggy's also right in that after that you can buy a Model 14 with 6 inch barrel or a Model 15 with 4 inch barrel if you like revolvers with adjustable sights.

 

[Busby]

Your four inch and longer barrel guns usually will provide for better accuracy in your target shooting.

 

[rrobertson]

Hello S&W forums. i just purchased my first handgun, an M&P 9mm, and am in the 10 day waiting period....and i know its silly, but i am already looking forward to what my next gun purchase is going to be a year for now.

anyway, i am looking at revolvers and have a question.

is the only benefit of a snubbie over a standard revolver the ease of carry as a concealed weapon? i dont plan on getting a carry license, and i have a shotgun for home defense, so my pistols will just be for recreation/target shooting...considering that, is there any reason that i should consider snub nose revolvers over standard?

For your situation snub nose really wouldnt matter unless you wanted to hide it in a tight/small discrete location somewhere in your home. Other then that for recreation/target/range work the snub nose in any caliber, altho in some calibers its minimal, will be harder to shoot. Via recoil/sight radius/weight/grip size/etc etc. I recommend looking at the Model 60's, 640(snub but with more weight then the 642/442), 686/P's, 617's (.22). As those could if need be be used in your home again if need be. Obviously with the 617 the shot placement is alot more detremental. That is not saying that with the others or any other caliber that shot placement isnt key.

Revolvers are like 1911's its a wonderful sickness.

 

[Neumann]

A .357/38 spl revolver with a 4" barrel is probably the best compromise for fun and service. It is long enough to shoot accurately and short enough to carry if the need arises.

A 6" barrel is hard to carry without a service or western style holster. It is the length of choice for serious paper punching or hunting, however. A 3" or shorter barrel is very easy to conceal, and more than accurate enough for self defense.

I've gone down the 6" route, but my current favorites are 3" S& W in .357 or .44 magnum for self defense on the trail and sometimes in town (for variety, with adequate cover wear). I get 6" groups at 10 yards, or better.

 

[410bore]

get a nice 4-8" barreled .22 or 357/38.......they are the ultimate range guns.

heres one of my favorite range guns....617 8 3/8"

and a new to me 686-3 snub i just picked up...should be a fun gun

 

[M3Stuart]

Welcome to the forum!

No, there's no advantage to a snubbie other than concealability.

Don't get me wrong - I love them and have 2 (or three depending on your definition).

They are harder to shoot well than, say, a 4" or longer handgun.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

 

[surfcc]

Why wouldn't you get a Lic To Carry if you could or required to if you wanted to carry???

 

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

If you arent going to get a ccw permit there isnt much advantage to a snub except maybe to throw it in your robe pocket to answer the door. Kind of like buying a car without a drivers license.

You bring up a good point. I feel that I need 2 guns for home defense. If I hear someone breaking in--shotgun. Stranger knocking on the door--snubby in my pocket. I have an assortment of revolvers with various barrel lengths--K frames, Troopers, D frame Colts, J frames. I shoot the snubbies the most--usually at silhouettes. It's personal preference like a lot of things. If the writer has a thing for snubbies (as I do from watching too much 'Dragnet' as a small child) he should get one. I'd only suggest he go with a steel frame since he's not going to be carrying and they're more pleasant to shoot than alloy. The Colt D specials are classic, and my Model 10 2" is a great, easy-shooting revolver. A 3" would be good too, and more versatile as someone pointed out.

 

[phubai8]

Neumann has it right, I think.

Some years ago the gun writers were promoting the all round gun. That would be a 357, four inch, adjustable sights, double action, stainless. Like some others said here = short enough to carry, long enough to be accurate. Shoot 38 for practice/fun and have the option of magnum when needed. I still believe it would be hard to beat for an all around gun. Just an opinion.