opinions on a snub nose

Art3 · Jan 26, 2021

JChris said:
Well just to be clear,
I want the piece for my wife,
I want a wheel gun, i would go with a smith,ruger or a colt
But what I find is either too old or too expensive

Is she looking to carry it, shoot it for fun, home defense, or a combination of all three? Unless it is just for carry, a little more barrel would make it a lot more effective.

daggo66 said:
Of course. It’s for a woman so it has to be a small revolver.

Yeah...happens all the time :sad20:

...I hope that is not the case...

JChris · Jan 26, 2021

Art3 said:
Is she looking to carry it, shoot it for fun, home defense, or a combination of all three? Unless it is just for carry, a little more barrel would make it a lot more effective.
Home defense,
A snub is more difficult to get away from a person determined to hold on to it

Yeah...happens all the time ...I hope that is not the case...

A medium cal revolver is a very good choice for a person unused to firearms

If she wants something heavier the 1911 is not out of reach

Blaster229 · Jan 26, 2021

Pale Ryder said:
Yup, same way you didn’t answer the OP’s question.

Because I knew you would chime in with your expert training and experienced opinion. :rolleyes:

Pale Ryder · Jan 26, 2021

Blaster229 said:
Because I knew you would chime in with your expert training and experienced opinion.

Ohhh just get over yourself, you don’t know jack about me, but everybody knows about Blaster.

Art3 · Jan 26, 2021

JChris said:
A medium cal revolver is a very good choice for a person unused to firearms

If she wants something heavier the 1911 is not out of reach

I completely agree with that...except for the snub nosed part (unless it is going to be carried concealed)
Both Taurus and RIA offer similarly priced models with 3 inch barrels (Taurus can get you to 4 with the 85). That extra inch of barrel gives and increased sight radius, increased velocity, and reduced muzzle blast and felt recoil.

Between Taurus and RIA, personally I'd favor the Taurus. They are supposed to have a good warranty. Also, they use the S&W style push to open cylinder release that is a lot more ubiquitous and (The Original Mexican Bob may disagree

) more user friendly than the Colt type on the RIA.

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Jan 26, 2021

Art3 said:
They are supposed to have a good warranty. Also, they use the S&W style push to open cylinder release that is a lot more ubiquitous and (The Original Mexican Bob may disagree ) more user friendly than the Colt type on the RIA.

Not gonna agree or disagree...you gotta train and use it until how it operates becomes second nature...the revolver becomes an extension of your hand and working the action becomes reflexive...you don't want to have to stop and think during stress "Do I pull or push the cylinder release?"

If you want a revolver for defense...pick a S&W style push release, a Colt type pull release, a Dan Wesson release forward of the cylinder. Pick one and train with it. Other types to collect and occasionally shoot are one thing but for serious social work pick one style and become proficient with it.

Also...decide whether your wife is OK with an aluminum frame or steel frame revolver...aluminum weighs less for her purse but transmit more felt recoil...steel adds weight but absorb recoil. The choices in ammunition are many...some lighter recoiling loads may not be up to stopping a determined attacker...maybe. There are some quite effective loads designed strictly for snubbies.

Many snubbies have long and hard trigger pulls...some don't. You probably won't find all the desired characteristics in one revolver...it will be a compromise.

To my way of thinking thee are the required characteristics a self defense handgun (in this case a snubby) must have...

1) must be 100% reliable...nothing less will do;
2) must be controllable in the hands of the user;
3) must fire a round sufficiently capable of stopping a determined attacker;
4) must be easily carried by the user and quickly brought into action.

There are other things to look for but those are the primary characteristics. Notice I didn't specify accuracy...while not to discount accuracy we're not talking about shooting matches. This is life or death and repeatable accuracy where you need to place the rounds and spread trauma immediately is more important than the ability to place repeated rounds in the x-ring of a target at 25 yards.

Any snub nosed revolver of any make that can fulfill those requirements is a good choice. Everything else is more or less immaterial. We're not talking barbecue guns here.

Mightydog · Jan 26, 2021

I’d just buy her a Pony!

TI-tick · Jan 26, 2021

I"d pass on both. S&W 360 if you can find one or 36 or Colt DS. That said. + P in a lightweight snub is not fun.

Save your money and wait.

JChris · Jan 26, 2021

toppkatt said:
Not sure this is how I'd justify my money on a life insurance policy (age, cost).

Age in this case, if the condition is good (low round count, well cared for, etc.), a slightly more expensive gun might be worth the difference in cost due to QUALITY.

That said I owned a Taurus and had zero problems with it. From what I've read their QC is spotty. If you get a good one it works fine, if not you have problems. I just found out I was more interested in semi-autos than revolvers.But that's just me.

How experienced is your wife? Has she shot much? What are HER choices (when you go out to dinner do you order for her or let her choose)?

finding a decent used revolver with those qualities is quite difficult these days

my wife has no experience at all, but she is warming up to the HQL class.

JChris · Jan 26, 2021

Mightydog said:
I’d just buy her a Pony!

nice who's got them?

Art3 · Jan 26, 2021

TheOriginalMexicanBob said:
Not gonna agree or disagree...you gotta train and use it until how it operates becomes second nature...the revolver becomes an extension of your hand and working the action becomes reflexive...you don't want to have to stop and think during stress "Do I pull or push the cylinder release?"

If you want a revolver for defense...pick a S&W style push release, a Colt type pull release, a Dan Wesson release forward of the cylinder. Pick one and train with it. Other types to collect and occasionally shoot are one thing but for serious social work pick one style and become proficient with it.

Also...decide whether your wife is OK with an aluminum frame or steel frame revolver...aluminum weighs less for her purse but transmit more felt recoil...steel adds weight but absorb recoil. The choices in ammunition are many...some lighter recoiling loads may not be up to stopping a determined attacker...maybe. There are some quite effective loads designed strictly for snubbies.

Many snubbies have long and hard trigger pulls...some don't. You probably won't find all the desired characteristics in one revolver...it will be a compromise.

To my way of thinking thee are the required characteristics a self defense handgun (in this case a snubby) must have...

1) must be 100% reliable...nothing less will do;
2) must be controllable in the hands of the user;
3) must fire a round sufficiently capable of stopping a determined attacker;
4) must be easily carried by the user and quickly brought into action.

There are other things to look for but those are the primary characteristics. Notice I didn't specify accuracy...while not to discount accuracy we're not talking about shooting matches. This is life or death and repeatable accuracy where you need to place the rounds and spread trauma immediately is more important than the ability to place repeated rounds in the x-ring of a target at 25 yards.

Any snub nosed revolver of any make that can fulfill those requirements is a good choice. Everything else is more or less immaterial. We're not talking barbecue guns here.

Mostly just poking because you're a Colt guy :poke:

I only have one Colt revolver (so far

) and a mess of Rugers and Taurae. Just about every new (even brand new) shooter I've handed a Ruger or Taurus to seems to instinctually be able to open it (maybe from TV, or just intuitive ergonomics). The Colt has given pause to even some (otherwise) very experienced shooters. You are, of course, correct in that training is key.

I'm still concerned about a new (and perhaps hesitant) shooter starting out with the choices of a snub nosed .38 or a 1911. Hopefully she goes to a thorough HQL class that puts some options in her hand, or at least is given the opportunity to something more pleasant to try out before comitting to either snubbie.

My wife is very much not a new shooter (routinely shooting 3-gun, Steel, and now IDPA matches). She likes 9mm, but has shot pretty much all of my guns. Given the only choices of LCR in .38 or a 1911, she'd pick the 1911 (even the old hammer-bitey one) every time...for shooting comfort (not carrying comfort...that's a whole other situation, which, as far as I can tell, the OP hasn't addressed).

28Shooter · Jan 26, 2021

inkd said:
Neither.

See if you can find a used S/W or Ruger SP-101.

This - or a used Colt Detective Special.

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Jan 26, 2021

I recently purchased a Kimber Micro 9...basically a miniature 1911 9mm. It may be a viable choice for your wife if she's into the 1911 platform. I haven't had the opportunity to shoot it yet but I'm expecting it to be an excellent tool for its purpose.

Blaster229 · Jan 26, 2021

Pale Ryder said:
Ohhh just get over yourself, you don’t know jack about me, but everybody knows about Blaster.

Tell us about yourself for those who would want to know. Me on the other hand...

Reloader · Jan 26, 2021

TheOriginalMexicanBob said:
I recently purchased a Kimber Micro 9...basically a miniature 1911 9mm. It may be a viable choice for your wife if she's into the 1911 platform. I haven't had the opportunity to shoot it yet but I'm expecting it to be an excellent tool for its purpose.

I've purchased one for my daughter and am pleasantly surprised with the accuracy and reliability.

Feels nice in the hand for it's size!

Magnumite · Jan 26, 2021

Small centerfire snubnosed revolvers, and some poly semiautos, are tools for experienced shooters. Even then they tend to not be shot much.

august1410 · Jan 26, 2021

Magnumite said:
Small centerfire snubnosed revolvers, and some poly semiautos, are tools for experienced shooters. Even then they tend to not be shot much.

Even large frame centerfire snub revolvers. I carry a S&W 686+ every day. That 2.5 inch barrel took a lot of getting used to. I'm glad I had been proficient with 4 and 6 inch barrels before went with this one.

Magnumite · Jan 26, 2021

Bountied · Jan 26, 2021

Blaster229 said:
Tell us about yourself for those who would want to know. Me on the other hand...

Yeah we all know you are always right and your opinion is more valid than anyone else's. As soon as I saw this thread title I knew I'd see you chime in and crap on everyone who thinks slightly different than you.

this very situation came up for me recently when my uncle's wife wanted a pistol. Everyone told her to get a small revolver. I let her shoot my G43 and she loved it. I ended up selling it to her as she had her HQL. Different strokes for different folks. You are an expert on you and no one else.

Blaster229 · Jan 26, 2021

Bountied said:
Yeah we all know you are always right and your opinion is more valid than anyone else's. As soon as I saw this thread title I knew I'd see you chime in and crap on everyone who thinks slightly different than you.

this very situation came up for me recently when my uncle's wife wanted a pistol. Everyone told her to get a small revolver. I let her shoot my G43 and she loved it. I ended up selling it to her as she had her HQL. Different strokes for different folks. You are an expert on you and no one else.

Actually, I said not a thing about suggesting a pistol.
All those who lack in reading comprehension suggesting something other than TWO choices the op asked about.

And yes. I'm pretty much always right when it comes to self defense shooting.

What's your life expertise? Are you good and experienced at anything?

Btw, your uncle's wife doesn't know how to do a malfunction drill under stress

It's not always what someone thinks they like It's what is the easiest under stress. But you don't know that.

opinions on a snub nose

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Eqinsu Ocha

Active Member

God loves you, I don't.

Ultimate Member

Eqinsu Ocha

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Attachments

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Active Member

Eqinsu Ocha

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

God loves you, I don't.

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Marcas Registradas

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

God loves you, I don't.

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics