Why NOT to Carry a .38 Snub

[oberon]

Fellows should fight for their life with their bare hands & feet before they run down anyone's weapon system.
There. I said it.
Anyone who has fought for their life knows what I'm sayin'.

 

[fredj338]

Consider most carry a specific gun that is comfy for them, not because it is the best tool to defend themselves. Many that carry small 5 shots rarely shoot them but they fit nicely in a pocket. Is 5 enough, sure, until its not. I never say never but I tend to lean toward what I shoot every weekend.

 

[Stevens]

It's a Belly gun, for Bad Breath range.
Steve W

 

[Goldstar225]

It's a Belly gun, for Bad Breath range.
Steve W

I disagree, it has far more potential than that. In skilled hands of course but isn't that true of all firearms? An unskilled person will miss with a target pistol beyond "bad breath range".

 

[Sistema1927]

Another view on the subject: Shooting Illustrated | Snubnose Revolvers: Still Meeting Defensive Needs

 

[ispcapt]

The internet and a cheap video camera has made a lot of people who know nothing into "experts". Sadly, people who know very little believe them and then proclaim the person an expert. And the myth continues.

 

[fredj338]

I disagree, it has far more potential than that. In skilled hands of course but isn't that true of all firearms? An unskilled person will miss with a target pistol beyond "bad breath range".

No matter how much skill, failures to stop are pretty common with any caliber, much less 38sp snub loads. So sure, it may be just fine, until its not. There are far too many instances of attackers taking multiple good hits & staying in the fight.
If its an unarmed mugger, you are probably fine. If your attacker has a gun or a knife knife in close, yeah not worth me rolling those tiny dice. I shoot my snubs just fine, better than most will shoot their compact 9, but 5rds goes really fast in a fight & no reload will save you.

 

[jim lock]

Kind of surprised any knowledgeable publisher would put this article in print.
Jim

 

[Old cop]

Here’s what I know: My .38 saved me three times during my career, and I had to reload under fire during one fight. As to the assertion that snubs are not accurate, or recoil too much, one of my fights was w/a Colt DS (I had to reload this one under fire) and it did the job. Would I have done better w/an auto loader, who knows. Modern semi autos make sense for LE & the military, but those who no longer go in harm‘s way should carry what works best for them.

 

[rich5674]

Disagree

It's a Belly gun, for Bad Breath range.
Steve W

With practice it’s acceptable accurate. I’m having no trouble getting 100% hits rapid fire with +p ammo @ 7 yds. Slower with more concentration I’m still good at 15yds

 

[NYlakesider]

It's a Belly gun, for Bad Breath range.
Steve W

Years back (late 70s) a good friend (LEO and a long time member of he Governors 20) was shooting his model 60 at the 50 yard line.

His target look as good or better than many of the shooters that were using bigger & longer barreled guns.

Of course my friend was a super serious shooter, armorer and instructor for his 100 man town force. He devoted lots of time to his shooting and I would say he was a natural shooter and was good with rifles and shotguns also.

 

[Buford57]

Well, it's a free country...so far.

Most of the points I might have made have been made, so I'll stick with my current mantra:

Life is too short to spend time online arguing politics (or guns) with people you don't know.

 

[ispcapt]

I helped teach a CCW class several years ago. We had "that guy" in class who knew everything about anything involving firearms and defensive shooting. He said a snub gun was only accurate to belly button distance. If someone was shooting at him with a snub from 100 yards he'd stand there all day and let them shoot at him. No way anyone could hit anything at 100. When it was time to do some shooting we went to 100 yard line. Targets were B27 silhouettes. I was carrying my S&W 49 loaded with W-W 158 LSWCHP+Ps. 2 handed standing I fired 5 rounds and we went down range to check the target. 5 holes in the body. "Know it all" claimed the holes were already in the target or it was just luck. So I let him hang a fresh target. Back to 100 yards, 5 more rds, 5 more body hits. At least it shut him up so we could get thru the shooting phase of class.
It's the basics. Sight alignment, breath control, trigger squeeze. Same whether 10 yards or 100 yards, handgun or rifle. And Fastbolt already mentioned about the thinner sights on the older S&Ws. Thinner front sight can be an advantage.
Too bad I didn't have a cheap camera back then or know anything about how to post video on the internet. Maybe I could have been an "expert" and write internet stories too.

 

[rkittine]

If I am at a distance that I can not hit a chest size target regularly, than I am far enough away to get away from the danger. I used to carry a 6 Shot Colt Detective Special in 2" then moved to an S&W Model 36 and then a 60, both in 2". Then I wanted something flatter and moved to a Walther PPK/s. But in over 10 years having concealed carry all the time and never having to have to clear leather, I stopped carrying altogether.

Today, with all the restrictions where and when you can't carry, it is not worth the aggravation to me to carry, but a 2" .38 revolver with upside down loaded 148 grain Full Hollow Base Wad Cutters are in each of my homes.

Bob

 

[jpage]

IMO none ( that survive). In a panic driven adrenaline rush there's no time to use sights, unless you've got the demeanor and time to take aim at 20 yards plus; then ya go to jail.

Excellent point

 

[REM 3200]

For me, I want a "Cowboy pistol" that I can snap shoot a rider out of the saddle at 100 yards on every shot.
They are greased lightning out of leather and can shoot at least 200 times without having to reload.
Oh, and when you shoot them they don't recoil.

All that said, mine is either a 2" Model 60 no dash, or a 2" Model 10 no dash.

 

[reccpd101]

Observations on Grant article

I grew up shooting revolvers from my grandfathers H&R 22 at 8 yrs old forward. I started carrying a revolver at age 18 and have almost every day since. I'm 68 so a little more than 50 years. I carried a J frame as a BUG or primary or both since I was 21. I have taught lots of LEOs and civilians to shoot. Grant is correct a snub is not a beginner's gun AND it takes a lot of practice to master. Other than those 2 points, I would add:

A 3" barrel is much easier to shoot well than a 2". There's a lot to be said for the 32 rather than the 38 but shoot the larger of the 32, 38, 357, or 44 you can shoot very well and lets you conceal it within your lifestyle. NEVER trust an autoloader unless you carry a revolver as a BUG. I have seen way too much go wrong with autoloaders. Just my rules of survival from the school of hard knocks. Ignore at your own risk. Whatever you do, if you carry, you owe it to yourself and the innocent folks down range from the bad guy to PRACTICE.

Good luck in these troubled times and God bless you and yours.

 

[ajgunner]

Just skimmed through it and read enough to know the guy talks a big story but is one that probably is not much of a do'er. Anyone that carries a J-frame and does not shoot it on a regular basis, might agree with him. While I have never seen a 38 gunshot wound in person, I do know that I would not want to get hit with one! When even my lite-weight 148HBWC loads ding and swing an 8" circle of 3/8" steel at 20-50 yards, I know I would not want to be standing on the wrong side.

I think I will stick to reading Massad Ayoob and his years of actual field experience.

 

[Backlighting]

I never looked forward to practicing with my J frame .38. Was never able to shoot it well and hated the recoil. Consequently I sold it and got a Ruger Compact 9mm. It has reasonable power, 10+1 and much easier to shoot well. Although I find the J's cool looking, they just don't work for me.

 

[fredj338]

Here’s what I know: My .38 saved me three times during my career, and I had to reload under fire during one fight. Would I have done better w/an auto loader, who knows. Modern semi autos make sense for LE & the military, but those who no longer go in harm‘s way should carry what works best for them.

An attack is an attack, LEO or ccw. Limiting ones self seems foolish in either case. I am sure in the events you speak of your attacker was armed sim to you, not out gunning you with a high cap pistol??