Snubbie day at the range
- Thread starter dan belisle
- Start date
A teeny, tiny 38 wheelgun is the one gun I kinda wish I had bought when I could have.
Years ago a club local brought a handful of snubby wheel guns to the range. I really liked the Lady Smith 5-shot in 38. It shot well, had a decent trigger and was tiny, like way smaller than any 380 I ever shot. Also 380's generally suck to shoot, where the Lady Smith was loads of fun.
Years ago a club local brought a handful of snubby wheel guns to the range. I really liked the Lady Smith 5-shot in 38. It shot well, had a decent trigger and was tiny, like way smaller than any 380 I ever shot. Also 380's generally suck to shoot, where the Lady Smith was loads of fun.
quinnjoblow
CGN Regular
- Location
- East of Toronto
I noticed that there isn’t one Ruger…..
I don't have the gun anymore, and never took a picture, I did have a stainless Ruger security six 357mag in a 2 in, I think, would have to check the book.
It was drilled for scope mount, I am not sure why you would put a scope mount on a snub nose .
Maybe a project after a case of beer with the boys. the holes where not centered worth a damn, I filled them with plugs.
Also had a Charter Arms in 44 thou not really a snub nose at 3 in. Someone here has it now.
The best one was a S-W 686 Lou Horton , out of the custom shop. I think a 2 1/2"
It was drilled for scope mount, I am not sure why you would put a scope mount on a snub nose .
Maybe a project after a case of beer with the boys. the holes where not centered worth a damn, I filled them with plugs.
Also had a Charter Arms in 44 thou not really a snub nose at 3 in. Someone here has it now.
The best one was a S-W 686 Lou Horton , out of the custom shop. I think a 2 1/2"
I have carried "concealed" all over Central Mexico, and a considerable amount in another country that isn't Canada which shall remain unmentioned. In almost all cases in which I carried concealed, I didn't have any "official paperwork" saying I could do it. (There was a letter from the local General of the Army that Phil Maher had, and I myself had my own letter on SEDENA stationary -- but how well would those have held up if push came to shove? Still, it was enough as long as nobody complained, and nobody did.) The upshot being, "concealed" needed to be really concealed.
I love .357 Snubbys with all my heart. I would love to own one, and yet, I never have. Mainly because, I don't consider them something I'd ever actually carry. They are too big to conceal really well, which most of the time is super important. When it's not super important (because, say, I've got permission to be running around armed and dangerous), there's neater, bigger, ###ier guns to consider. Why carry a Baby .357 when I can carry my Miami Viced 1911 in .38 Super? For example. If we're really not worried about it "showing a little bit".
Do you know, I was once told by Saul Berenson -- from Homeland, well, actually someone who was Saul Berenson but in real life -- that new field officers operating in strange lands were offered a choice between a 5-shot S&W snubby or a Browning Hi-Power and that about 90% chose the Hi-Power. However, they were also told that although they did operate with diplomatic immunity, if they were spotted or found out or called out for being armed by casual chance and thus blowing their State Department Weinie cover, they'd be sent home to sweep offices for the rest of their career. And thus, within weeks most of the beginners had meekly come back to ask if they could switch their choice over to the snubby. True story, believe me or don't, I don't care.
In the thread on Massad Ayoob, I mentioned a time when I had been asked to choose a handgun from a bag of guns because I might need one. I had already heard this little story by that time, and I chose a Model 36 Chief's Special from the bag even though there were several much more interesting guns, mostly because I was already wearing my pocket holster for my 5-shot S&W empty in my pocket at the time, but as I say, I had already heard this story, and sort of knew what was expected of me in this little "test". In case you're ever in that situation.
Unless you're operating in a place that actually allows CCW, and that usually means continental U.S., you'll be in mucho trouble if you are found out. So a Baby Magnum is just too big. A pocket snubby rules! It's just how it is in the real world.
Carried this J frame chiefs special alloy for 5 years , when concealment was a priority. 5 shots of 158 SWC +P's and the fight better be over.
Unless you have handled one you don't realize how light it is. I won't be selling this little friend.
When concealment wasn't an issue it was a 2 inch K frame Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. If they had sent me back to uniform and told me I had to carry the 2 inch I wouldn't have complained a bit. Great shooting little gun.
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1st brand-new handgun that I bought was a 638 that I got a 'green card' for JUST UNDER THE WIRE. I love it but w/ 158 gr +P SWCHP's she beats up the hand in short order. Had it out to the range a few weeks ago, in fact. It was good to do again. It's a hoot w/ 148 gr wadcutters. I've been a wheel-gunner now for decades & it is really my favourite thing on the range. My 1st handgun was also a wheel-gun - a lightly used 4" Model 19. I have a set of Hogues on it but walnut would be nice. That 19 is my favourite chunk, by far. It just FITS. My hands are not big, so K-frames just work for me.
Those pictures of snubs was awesome. Love that 654, the pre-27, the 13 but the snub 19 w/ the plain black front sight is great. My 19 has the stupid 'red ramp' foolishness but... it's mine & it got me into that asinine 'prohib' class of ownership. Anyway, great thread folks!
-J.
Those pictures of snubs was awesome. Love that 654, the pre-27, the 13 but the snub 19 w/ the plain black front sight is great. My 19 has the stupid 'red ramp' foolishness but... it's mine & it got me into that asinine 'prohib' class of ownership. Anyway, great thread folks!
-J.
As I said, I took some of my snubbies to shoot so I could compare them and get a feel for the differences. I also shot them double action, something very new to me.
I discovered that I could shoot fairly well double action, which was a big surprise to me. I also discovered that although all the guns felt about the same in single action, double action had a lot of variations.
I was shooting at 8 yards at 1" black patches. Groups were about the size of a playing card, with a few being noticeably better. I started the test with a heavy barrel Smith m10 in 4". It shot a group about the size of a business card. All (except one) of the snubbies was bigger than the 4".
The exception was a M38 with a Crimson Trace laser grip. The grip looks like this:
It projects a laser out the side of the grip, by that red lever (the on/off switch).
Installed, it looks like this:
I wrapped the smooth plastic grip with hockey tape.
The performance was outstanding:
This was a double action group. In single action, it would be a nickle-sized group.
In poor light, or when shooting very, very fast, the laser sight is much better than anything else. And the irons are still there if needed.
I discovered that I could shoot fairly well double action, which was a big surprise to me. I also discovered that although all the guns felt about the same in single action, double action had a lot of variations.
I was shooting at 8 yards at 1" black patches. Groups were about the size of a playing card, with a few being noticeably better. I started the test with a heavy barrel Smith m10 in 4". It shot a group about the size of a business card. All (except one) of the snubbies was bigger than the 4".
The exception was a M38 with a Crimson Trace laser grip. The grip looks like this:
It projects a laser out the side of the grip, by that red lever (the on/off switch).
Installed, it looks like this:
I wrapped the smooth plastic grip with hockey tape.
The performance was outstanding:
This was a double action group. In single action, it would be a nickle-sized group.
In poor light, or when shooting very, very fast, the laser sight is much better than anything else. And the irons are still there if needed.
Yes, once you practice a bit with the snubbies, they are surprisingly accurate. And, they're the gun you'll have with you, not back at home in your safe.
As I said, I took some of my snubbies to shoot so I could compare them and get a feel for the differences. I also shot them double action, something very new to me.
I discovered that I could shoot fairly well double action, which was a big surprise to me. I also discovered that although all the guns felt about the same in single action, double action had a lot of variations.
I was shooting at 8 yards at 1" black patches. Groups were about the size of a playing card, with a few being noticeably better. I started the test with a heavy barrel Smith m10 in 4". It shot a group about the size of a business card. All (except one) of the snubbies was bigger than the 4".
The exception was a M38 with a Crimson Trace laser grip. The grip looks like this:
It projects a laser out the side of the grip, by that red lever (the on/off switch).
Installed, it looks like this:
I wrapped the smooth plastic grip with hockey tape.
The performance was outstanding:
This was a double action group. In single action, it would be a nickle-sized group.
In poor light, or when shooting very, very fast, the laser sight is much better than anything else. And the irons are still there if needed.
We have snubby competitions in the Queretero Club and they are very popular. S&W J-frames and Colt DS guns are defined as Snubby, whereas the 2-inch Model 10/15 line of guns and the 2.5 inch Baby Magnums are defined as Super Snubby, and the two are different classes of 30 shots per match but basically the same course although the Snubby course is 5-rounds per string.
My wife's Model 60 (no dash) has a set of those Crimson Trace laser grips on it, and they are just big enough to prevent her gun from fitting into the "Snubby" box, although her revolver with those grips certainly fits into the Super Snubby box. Were she ever to compete -- she normally won't compete -- she'd put some Compac Pros onto it I suppose, as those fit into the Snubby box.
Snubby matches are fun. I normally borrow a Super Snubby for that category as I have never owned one, although they do fascinate me totally.
Me too.
Though I have medium sized hands so they fit me well.
Top left would be a Winnipeg Police Department Model 12 I assume?
Yes a Wpg 12-2.
I got a nice paddle holster for it.
I prefer wood stocks because in their intended role when they were designed, print less than rubber grips.
Amateurs, amateurs, you guys are barely showing a few. When can i see a serious collection of snubbies here ???
( Joking, of course. I don't even have a 12-6 and am soooooo jealous of you guys with so many cool snubs. Thanks for sharing
)
Gilbert
( Joking, of course. I don't even have a 12-6 and am soooooo jealous of you guys with so many cool snubs. Thanks for sharing
)Gilbert
Of course, I still remember Kojak taking out a rifle weilding sniper in a football stadium with his 2" chief special
Or John Wayne, shooting that running guy from across the marina in McQ? Still, we sometimes put a plate rack at 50 yards, and gave the shooter 20 seconds for 5 shots.
I never say anyone get 5 out of 5, but I saw (and have done) 3 out of 5 by going prone and cocking each shot. And those are just 8-inch Bianchi plates. My own Model 49 hit a bit low with the 160 grain SWC bullets at 25 yards so I filed the top off my front sight a bit to get a 6 O'Clock hold at 25. I have to aim about 1/2 way up into the plates at 50, but it's a snubby: as Cooper himself once wrote; "Good enough to protect yourself, but World domination is probably off the table."
