Why NOT to Carry a .38 Snub

ajgunner said:
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.
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I think too may conflict what they can shoot under ideal conditions on a flat range with what they can do in a dynamic event. Can you hit that 8" plate @ say 10y in 1.5sec from a holster, even from low ready? I would bet you a new J-frame most that carry theirs can not. If you can, that is great, but still doesn't remove the potential failure rate of any caliber in a fight.
 
It all depends on the scenario and the skill of the user. In the, bad guy in your face or on top of you scenario, the snub revolver is about perfect.

In the shootout with an AR15 carrying assailant at 50 yards, not so much.

I know I'm taking it to extremes, but as a middle aged civilian getting into my more feeble years, it's much more likely I be faced with someone trying to mug me than shooting it out with someone at longer range.

Up close and personal, in awkward firing positions, the simple .38 snubnose, still has a lot to offer.
 
true!

Collects said:
I always say that snubbies are guns for expert shooters to carry.

My friend, a novice to firearms, had a nice 1980s vintage S&W snubbie, that he had never fired. I took him to the range, gave him earplugs and instructions on using them, set up a target at 10 feet, gave him ammo, and had him shoot at a 10" target. He got exactly one round on target (nowhere near the X ring); the rest entirely missed the 10" target.

My friend said "There is something wrong with this gun," so I reloaded it and fired a single round right through the X ring.

My friend sold the snubbie and bought a 9 mm Glock. It was the right move for him.

My point? Snubbies are guns for expert shooters, experienced and accurate at shooting a snubbie, to carry.
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I tried the S&W j frame thing (642 )and was not a good fit for me for same reasons. I got a sub compact double stack 9mm same size as a j frame and never looked back. I would never bash a j frame revolver. It is a gun and it can be deadly, just alittle harder to shoot than a Glock, I know an army sniper who carries a 38.......to each his own
 
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As mentioned in some of the previous posts, muscle memory plays a big part in shooting accuracy. I've been a revolver shooter all my life, Single action Rugers, and K & N frame Smiths, from 22's to .44spl.
J frames, are so-so for me, I have to change the grips on them.

I have tried countless 9mm with no success. Just purchased a Springfield Hellcat, first outing was very bad, will keep trying

For me, my muscle memory with a K frame beats any other.

Another comment from a previous post that I have issue with is
"Then, there's the folks who can't seem to help but think they need (and will have time) to thumb-cock a traditional revolver into single action ... at 3yds ... for each shot."

I'd much rather shoot 6 rounds in 10 seconds and keep on target than wing around in double action. There comes that muscle memory again!
Thumbing the hammer is automatic for me. And yes, I can do it one-handed, just not quite as fast.

Guess it's just hard for a stubborn old Taurus gal to learn new tricks!
 
fredj338 said:
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??
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Yup, 1974 when everyone carried a revolver. I was a detective carrying my issued Colt DS. Semi autos were not authorized by my agency and if a hi-cap model was available then I wasn’t aware of it.
 
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Over the past year and a half I have experienced surgical corrections of a shoulder problem, elbow, wrist, and cataracts. My usual handgun preference (full-size 1911-type .45ACP) was difficult to the point of being unreliable for the purpose.

In my gun safe there was a nice 40-year old Smith & Wesson Model 64 round-butt 2" .38 Special revolver, police trade-in from the local department. Having carried a double-action revolver for years as a working cop, this was an easy choice for me. Plenty of muscle memory and retained skills based on years of training.

The gentleman's article appears typical of those generated by folks having a pre-conceived conclusion that they wish to validate.

I will never feel unarmed, or even severely handicapped, with a good .38 Special revolver at my side. If my physical abilities are restored in the future I may choose to return to the realm of larger calibers and semi-auto pistols, but for the time being I am very comfortable and confident with what I have.
 
Writing 'review' articles for gun magazines and site....

....has to be the easiest to come up with.

"The .40 is the gun you need?"

" Is the .40 the best caliber for defense?"

"Comparing the .40 to the 9mm"

"Comparing the .40 to the 10mm"

"Comparing the .40 to the .45 caliber. Which is best"

"Why not .40 caliber"

".40 caliber, the TACTICAL choice."

"The best .40 caliber handguns"

I can crank out titles to sell to different guns magazines, depending on that they put out last month. Then I can work on the negatives:

"The .40 caliber is OBSOLETE".

"Surpising facts why .40 caliber isn't the best defense gun"

"Why .40 caliber was NOT selected for the military."

"Why did the police abandon the .40?"

And so on.

And after all that I can pick a rifle caliber.

"The .30-40 Krag, the forgotten gem!

And it goes on and on and on. It's to convince people that there is a specail cartridge/gun that works magic for YOU if you will just read the articles and go buy something.
 
Many people who buy guns aren’t interested in becoming a shooter or a gun enthusiast. They just want something to keep around just in case. I think a snub revolver can be a logical choice in such cases. Not that it’s perfect(nothing is), but just that it might be the best compromise when all things are considered.

My wife and mother both own and occasionally carry J-frames. They took classes to get their carry permit, but neither like talking about guns, maintaining their guns, carrying guns(especially heavier ones)or shooting and won’t practice much or at all. They realize the odds of needing a gun is extremely low. Too low to spend much time and effort on something they don’t enjoy. They don’t entertain fantasies of being involved in shootouts with multiple armed robbers and would do anything in their power to avoid armed conflict. Avoid, avoid, avoid until backed into a corner where lethal force is the only and last resort. They are concerned about the mugger or rapist that attacks from arms length. And I imagine they would hesitate to shoot. A J-frame is simple, safe, easy to maintain, is relatively easy to carry, offers excellent weapon retention and excels at contact distance shooting. Reloads can be comparatively slow and difficult, but I don’t see that being much of an issue since it apparently virtually never happens in civilian self-defense shootings.

Of course there are possible scenarios where their skills and choice of weapon could prove inadequate, but that’s true in any case.
 
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...just shot 100 rds this morning with my J frame 642. I’m very accurate with it since I shoot at least 200 rounds of quality practice with it monthly. My standard load is a 148 gr DEWC over 3.5 grs of Bullseye.

Massad Ayoob considered a 38 Spl snub a very viable choice...I’ve been shooting J frames enjoyably since the late 1970s and feel very confident with its inherent accuracy.

Contemporary critics of the 38 Spl are misleading many...high capacity semi autos, both plastic and steel, are all they know...and that’s ok too
 
38SPL HV said:
Massad Ayoob considered a 38 Spl snub a very viable choice.
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Ayoob did an article a while back where he described an "experiment" in which he spent some time traveling around the country carrying a pair of J-frames. IIRC, even though he would've preferred one of his .45s, he felt the snubs were adequate. I've actually spent a lot of time trying to find a copy of that article, but no luck. :(
 
ContinentalOp said:
Ayoob did an article a while back where he described an "experiment" in which he spent some time traveling around the country carrying a pair of J-frames. IIRC, even though he would've preferred one of his .45s, he felt the snubs were adequate. I've actually spent a lot of time trying to find a copy of that article, but no luck. :(
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I remember it. I believe it used to be on the Snubnose files.
 
ContinentalOp said:
Ayoob did an article a while back where he described an "experiment" in which he spent some time traveling around the country carrying a pair of J-frames. IIRC, even though he would've preferred one of his .45s, he felt the snubs were adequate. I've actually spent a lot of time trying to find a copy of that article, but no luck. :(
Click to expand...


I read that article a while back as well.


I have stated time and time again:

Rule #1 is THE most important: have a gun


I am too active and too tired of dressing around big guns 24-7. It is so easy to grab the J and go. Lightweight, simple, easy to carry, and not such a PIA in regards to comfort, weight, and bulk in my day to day wearing shorts, board shorts, flip flops, and t-shirts pretty much 8 months out of the year.



SSS


Avoid:

Stupid People
Stupid Places
Stupid Times


and your life will be smooth sailing and you don't have to worry about kitting up like you are about to go into a dark building after a suspect or fight world war 3


Active shooter and all you have is a snub? Get you and your loved ones out of there or shelter in place with a good ambush spot where you can take a head shot before they see you. If you didn't train for that that's on you. If it is your time, it's your time. You have more of a chance dying in traffic.



My life: Train and have fun doing it, buy quality gear and take care of your gear, don't ever buy Chinese products, carry light, enjoy life.... there is a time and place to carry bigger guns.... but 90% of the time:


IMG-20200421-160624.jpg
 
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Simply answered, Yes I would and yes I do!. With two speed loaders I might add!
 
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