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

[SKN25]

SW Mdodel 19, 2-1/2"

Carried mine as a back up in a shoulder holster under my jacket while working uniform duty with a 6" M-19, and also when I was assigned to a plain clothes Admin Div assignment. I carried it in a shoulder holster and sometimes in a belt slide then.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Carried one for a number of years, circumstances changed, carried a 4 " Model 10 because I didn't want the blast of a .357. Circumstances changed again, but by that time, I felt that .38 Spl was acceptable for my low-threat situation. Started carrying a 2" Model 15, still mostly do. However, there is litlle question but that many .357 loads are more effective than the best .38 Spl. Although I haven't carried my M19 in years, I still consider it an excellent revolver. I also have a snubby 66.

 

[usm1rifle]

My nickel 19 snubby will be the last pistol I ever sell.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I have a 19-3 snub. It's my favorite revolver but I don't carry it. I have a 36 for that. The one thing I really like about it is the accuracy with such a short barrel. I run it with a 6" model 19 and honestly, it's not that much different at 25 yds. I shoot reduced loads in both, <1000 fps.

 

[Chukar60]

I once had a beautiful 19-3 snubby. I let it go when someone wanted it more than I did. The only issue I had with it was it was too pretty and too valuable to be tossing it in a holster and carrying it.
I already had a 66-1 snub that was my primary carry gun. I still have the 66 but do not carry it that often anymore.
Now days when in civilized confines I carry my Sig P365XL and trail duty usually falls to my 60-10. I prefer the 3" barrel over the snub and the J frame is much better trail carry due to weight. I will forego the 6th round in favor of the weight reduction.
I like the looks of the p&r 19 snubs enough to have one just for drooling on and wiping it off.

 

[trailmix]

I have a 2.5 inch 19-6. I bought it because it was a cheaper!? alternative to 13/65. I never would have dreamed that the 3" fixed sight magnums would bring such high prices but I was in Buds a month ago and they had a 65 in terrible shape that they were asking a grand for.

 

[31FordA]

I've had -3, -4, and -5 2.5" Model 19's, but only have the 19-3 now. I bought the very nice 19-3 from a retired cop who was moving to a nursing home, it was his last off duty gun. The 19-4 was a deal at my local shop, ended up selling it to a colleague. The 19-5 was a very abused gun I bought used for $299. I kept it hidden in the trunk of my gov't car for several years. Ended up selling it for a obscene profit during the gun buying panic in 2013.

 

[NCBeagle]

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

I agree 100%. Have a few 2.5" Models 19, mix of blued and nickel. They are stunning with combat grips or other wood grips. Also, look like serious business with rubber grips. Fun to shoot. I usually do not carry them around town because of the size / capacity issue. Too many more comfortable options to carry 5-6 rounds. Will occasionally carry on in a shoulder holster while hiking.

 

[Marlin57M]

I have both Models 19 and 66 with 2.5" barrels. Use both to compete in Concealed Carry segment of local PPC competition. I like the looks of 19, but shoot the 66 better. Fantastic guns!

 

[jscott]

Had the blue version. Sold it to get the stainless, 66 version. Sold that to get the 3" 66 version. Took a couple of decades, but now I'm where I want to be.

 

[Dakotakid]

had one--really liked it !! using a 3" Andy Horvath now---love it !!!

 

[Marshal Tom]

Had a 2.5" 66-2 purchased NIB and carried it for a few years. I sold it to purchase a 3" 66-2 for the longer sight radius, longer ejector rod to extract empties and love the 3" gun. Never had a 19.

 

[kaaskop49]

When the snub 19 was born in the 60s, the only .357 loads were 158gr lead and jacketed bullet rounds. SORRY, R-P did make a 158gr jacketed SP then and maybe Norma too. While the RB snub 19 was great for concealment, it was a brute when firing magnum loads. The gun would 'dive' into the hand, making follow-up shots difficult. Tyler T-Grips (available all over back then!) helped, but many people went to the Pach ComPac grips which did tame the recoil and that 'dive' tendency. Unfortunately, they added a lot of weight to the gun, where it weighed about as much as the 4" model, but with lesser ballistics.

The intro of the 110gr JHP magnums was a Godsend: their ballistics were not as hot as the 158s and the 125gr "planet wreckers", but they allowed the snub 19/66 to be controlled in rapid fire. My snub 66s have factory grips and T-Grips and are loaded with the 110 Mags. Magnificent guns, I have no complaints.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[NavySCPO]

Separate post, but I finally landed a 19-2 snubby this year. To me an absolutely beautiful revolver, nothing quite like it. Having said that, the muzzle flash and weight do not make for a great carry gun, at least not for me.

I don't shoot it or any revolver very well, and as much as I love wheel guns, my 43x will ring an 8" plate each time every time from 25', and it's light enough that I don't even know I have it on me. That confidence level ensures it's with me anytime I leave home.

Still, the 19-2 is fun to shoot, and makes frequent range trips. If you want one, and who doesn't? Stop waiting, finding a nice 19-2/-3 for less than $1000-1200 is almost impossible. They ain't getting any cheaper, and like real estate, they ain't making any more.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

In 2017 I walked into a pawn shop and found a rough but honest pinned 2.5" model 19 priced at 899. I thought what a shame. I would like to own it. I looked closer and realized it was priced at $399. I held it and realized it was tight and smooth. The shop owner said he could do $360 out the door. He pointed to some new 38 j frames and says I do them brand new for $399. This may be the best gun deal I have found in the last 10 years. I took it to the range and it outshoots my 4" revolvers.

 

[D Brown]

I have a 2 1/2" Model 19-3

and a 2 1/2" Model 19-5.

I have probably fired ten times as many rounds through the Model 19-5, but that's just because I've had it a lot longer than the Model 19-3.

Both are wonderful guns, and I plan to hang onto them.

 

[sigp220.45]

Jim Rockford shot down a plane with his.

And these two old timers liked 'em too.

 

[Gryff]

The 2-1/2" M66 was my father's favorite revolver. I actually like my -3 3" better. I think the aesthetics of the longer barrel are more handsome, not to mention that you get a full-length ejector rod with it. I think my father would have appreciated it to if he had the opportunity to see one.

I was able to pick up a 3" M65-5 Lady Smith last year for a steal (at least here in California). "Lady Smith" markings or not, that's nice handgun for defensive use.

 

[Capt. F.]

I've had a number of 19's but early on I let them all go.
Finally got my hands on a 66-3 a few years ago for a good price.
From the holster wear you can see it's with me most of the time and I certainly don't feel under gunned.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Back in the late 80s I let all my snubby and 4 inch 19/66s go to trades or sold to friends.... the only ones I kept were my "best in class" 3" 66s.

As we entered the 21st Century decided I wanted to replace them.... took me almost 10 years to find P&Red samples of shooter grade and/or really nice examples in LGS's.

 

[kraynky]

Love my 19-3 and 66-1 snubbies. I keep reminding myself that I really only need one of them, and because of the stainless, the 66 gets carried more. But it's impossible to not just love a blued 2.5" model 19!

Both of mine need a good cleaning and polish before resting from Winter carry duties. But it's a labor of love. I just find it hard to draw the line and tell myself "Time to park these until colder weather again", but I'll get around to it.

I just prefer to sweat on a plastic gun in the summer.

 

[StickShift]

2.5" 19s/66s are nice, but I much prefer the longer ejector rod of my 3" Model 66. All of the other differences between the 2.5" and 3" are minor compared to functionality of longer ejector rod.

 

[GerSan69]

A nickel 19-3 P&R and a 66-2 here. I never carry either, but I always take at least one on range trips. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all love shooting them as much as I do. They all think it's "cool" to shoot a snubnose. Truth be told, so do I!

 

[bgrafsr]

I have a Model 66 2 1/2" barrel and like it a lot. Usually goes with us in the car when we go somewhere.

 

[sipowicz]

Even Clint got tired of toting an N frame.

 

[CH4]

My 2.5" 19/66 will probably be among the last to go. They're far and away my favorite carry revolvers and nice to look at. They just have a certain je ne sais quoi.

 

[03hemi]

I've only sold two guns in the last 10 years.
My sig C3 1911 45acp and a mint Model 19-6.
Regret selling both, but they were both to good friends, so there's that.

 

[153]

The short 66 is a great revolver. As a young Officer I ocassionally found myself in assignments that didn't require a full duty belt. I bought a 2.5" 66 and used it in a pancake style holster.

When shooting, I disliked the short ejection rod. I found little difference between my duty 66 4" and the snub. I did shoot the bigger version better, so after awhile I sold off the 2.5" and stuck with the duty piece.

While I still wouldn't carry it - wish I hadn't sold it.

Still have the duty revolver though...

 

[BAM-BAM]

The short 66 is a great revolver. As a young Officer I ocassionally found myself in assignments that didn't require a full duty belt. I bought a 2.5" 66 and used it in a pancake style holster.

When shooting, I disliked the short ejection rod. I found little difference between my duty 66 4" and the snub. I did shoot the bigger version better, so after awhile I sold off the 2.5" and stuck with the duty piece.

While I still wouldn't carry it - wish I hadn't sold it.

Still have the duty revolver though...

Nice customized grips..... did a couple sets of those in the 80s when wood Targets "take offs" were about $15 in LGSs.

I liked the snubby for weekend concealed carry.... but grabbed the first 3" 66 I came across for the ejector rod and it was just tooo cooooool>

 

[flash60601]

Me too. I love 'em.

I have a set of 19-3's (2-1/2", 4", 6") and though I shoot the 4" most, the 2-1/2 is my favorite of the bunch. Five out of six on the 18" gong at the 50 yard targets is a good day for full-house 158 gr Keith SWC's. The thing is phenomenally accurate, and it just seems to fit the hand just right.

I carried it in the days when I worked at the LGS, in a Ross basket-weave thumb-snap holster. It fit my carry style on the belt at 3 o'clock, and the weight was inconsequential.

In the seventies, it was what every young cop, every private guard, and every wannabe lusted for.

There's just something about a P&R 19 that speaks of quality and pride of ownership.