People who owned Model 19 snub noses, what do/did you think of them?

[MagnumForce73]

Personally, I love my Model 19-3 snub nose. The recoil is milder than I expected, and accuracy is quite good at the range I've used it at. To me, it seems like a good, cheap alternative to a Colt Python snub nose.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I used mine as my back up/off duty piece. Had to use it a number of times back in the day. It's one of my favorite pieces.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Had one, let it get away.
No Damn Good GI!
Still have a 66 Shorty.
Was my primary car - carry gun before I went down the J Frame Rabbit Hole.

 

[mauser9]

Let mine get away too unfortunately. Looking for that perfect "one gun" They cost $180 new around 77-78.

 

[Sistema1927]

I had one, a 19-4. I let it go, found that the adjustable sights made it awkward for carry and the 2.5" barrel was just a tad bit short. 3" Model 13 or 65 better suited for my needs.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Either the Model 19 or the Model 66 snubby would be very comforting at my side. Concealable, reliable, and effective.

John

 

[BearBio]

Good gun but a little big to carry for only 6 shots, too light for grizzly country. Same complaints for my Model 24 snubby.

 

[nicky4968]

Accept no substitutes!

 

[viceunit]

I've had my 19-3 blue 2.5" since February 1976. It's not going anywhere. Was a long time off duty carry gun and I also used it when I was in plain-clothes assignments. My gun was older than some of my co-workers!

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

They are good guns.

I have a 19-4 snubby. But to me a snubby implies that it is for routine carry. And it is a bit too heavy for my taste. I currently carry a 4" model 67. It is much lighter, just as easy to carry and packs almost as much punch with some hot .38 special loads.

 

[old bear]

I've been lucky enough to have several 2 1/2" model 19's one of which is my daily carry revolver, as well as 2 1/2" model 66's. IMHO there is no better all around personal defense revolver. They are small and light enough to tote yet still feel like a real gun in your hand.

I generally use HOT 38 special ammo in my model 19/66's. Think 38/44 loads.

 

[4barrel]

I bought mine in 1982 and shot it yesterday. I shoot it every couple of weeks.

 

[MetalMan]

Love my 19-5 and 66-4 but these tend spend more time at the range and less time on my hip which is now relegated mostly to my J's.

 

[EMS6260]

I had a 19-3 nickel in this size, I found myself carrying my 10 2 inch more and still do. The fixed sights and shorter barrel are easier to conceal.

 

[cololab]

Personally, I love my Model 19-3 snub nose. The recoil is milder than I expected, and accuracy is quite good at the range I've used it at. To me, it seems like a good, cheap alternative to a Colt Python snub nose.

Agree 100%.

 

[BAM-BAM]

The only thing better than a 2 1/2" 19/66 in a concealed carry revolver is a 3" 66( only 5500 built).

It was "The cc revolver" 1966-1999. Way better trigger than the Python IMO

 

[Ameshawki]

Had one eons ago. Liked it well enough but sold for reasons I can't recall. I prefer the fixed sight guns (10/13/64/65) as carry guns.

 

[CherryRiver]

This is a tough one.
I really like the 2 1/2" 19 and always have. I think it's especially good-looking. Not that looks should matter, but, heck, they do. And a 2 1/2" 19 really looks right to me.
The one I have nowadays, a -5, has a bobbed hammer as do all my non-competition revolvers and an excellent trigger. I don't know who did the work but it's close to perfect as a serious gun.
But the shorty 19's disadvantages are a thing, too. That ejector rod is a problem on a practical gun. Reloads are not as reliably done as they are with a 4-incher. The shorter sight radius is a negative.
And of course the power loss is a pretty good-sized deal. Especially if you are using .357 loads for personal protection, the short barrel costs some significant power. Plus, the blast and flash are much worse than the four-inch. That can be an issue used indoors in close quarters.
Years ago I shot a dark house IDPA stage (flashlight is all you had) with a different .357 snub and frankly, I never considered using such a gun again for possible self-defense. The flash was such that it caused trouble during multi-shot strings.
And the other side of the coin is that carrying a 4" 19 is barely more work than carrying the shorty. I experimented going back and forth between the two and really, the little weight increase wasn't much, but my ability to shoot much better (and hit harder) with the four-inch was a pretty strong tipping point.
Yeah, I really like that short one but if it's a carry-a-serious-revolver day, the 4" goes for the ride.
So put me down as "conflicted".

 

[Xfuzz]

They just gotta alot of soul....

 

[dpast32]

Well, I'm sorry Guys, but my true favorite Model 19 is my 19-5, with 4" barrel & Round Butt, which I absolutely love. BUT, and we know that there's always a 'but', is that if & when I carry a somewhat heavy Revolver, I usually prefer my M-64 4" HB Round Butt. That's what we initially ran in that Academy back when I started. To me, that 4" H.B. with +P+ .38's shoots like a true friend, all 6 in a nice tight center mass grouping. Lately, unless you count my 642, pretty much all my carry weapons are autos. BUT, that M64 just points dead on for me, even with my eyes closed.

Best, dpast32