.357 snubbie or 9mm?

[DocRx]

Recoil from a .357mag revolver is an individual perception. I alternate carrying a Kahr CM9 (9mm-CorBon DPX 115gr+P), and a Ruger KLCR .357mag/.38spl (.357-Speer Gold Dot or Speer Gold Dot .38spl+P 135gr Short Barrel). Both have a "snappy" recoil with the carry ammo, but neither is "uncontrollable". Accuracy is good with both, depending on practice, and reliability has been excellent with both, the revolver being inherent, and the pistol being "earned". I guess it boils down to what makes you feel better (safer?) carrying. Personally, I feel better with the Ruger KLCR (I practice more with it and love to shoot it using .38spl ammo), but always consider firepower, 5 shots or 7 shots (6+1)-will I need the extra? Hard decision to make sometimes, but fun trying to find out too.

 

[WVleo]

I have both CCW options mentioned. A Colt lawman 2" .357 and a Kahr PM9 . Due to the weight of the Colt recoil is manageable even with .357 rounds tho I load it with .38's for My Wife's stash gun . Also due to it's weight it is OWB for Me only no IWB option here, which is why I CCW the Kahr 99.9% of the time. Think over Your last 6 months of life in general and try to figure out Your next 6 months ( work, church, shopping , dining, travel, whatever it is You do ) and try like the rest of Us and see which better fits Your needs. Me I like the fact that I can shoot 3 calibers in a SHTF scenario by owning both a .357 & a 9mm . ....WVleo

 

[hardluk1]

I love a 357mag and I own several DW revolvers for um and hunted with them for many years. I also CC some kahr 9mm's. Now I don't have a 2" 357 so I have read about chrony results and look at whats on the net.

I use a 124gr+PGD load from georgia arms. Not the fasterest +P load out there but advertised at 1200fps. Speer and underwood are 25fps faster. BUT My CW9 kahr will shoot those GA loads at 1183fps and my smaller cm9 at 1142fps. That CW9 matchs my old taurus 85 2" snubby in size from grip to tip of barrel.

From what I have been reading not many 357 load are faster and we all know they are heavier recoiling then you need to mix in the bullet thats used. I know I can fire quicker on target with more control with my cw9 than even my 4" DW and quicker than my old taurus 85 with 125gr 38sp+P loads. Knowing no one single round is a 100% man stopper and as much as I like a 357 mag I will carry the smarter choice for self defence , my 9mm. Now make the distance to shot 40 to 50 yards and maybe the need of heavier bullets . Give me my dan wesson revolver anytime.

Ain't no perfect caliber or handgun out there .

 

[NG VI]

I really like .357 revolvers, I just like them as an L-Frame.

 

[Skribs]

1) no safeties to deal with, if im in a situation where i need my pistol, i want to be able to draw and shoot, i dont want to futz around with a safety if i can avoid it.

None of my handguns have manual safeties. Only one is a revolver. It would be the slowest to draw and shoot due to heaviest trigger pull (unless you fire in SA mode).

2) power, a .357 mag has much more power than the 9mm

While .357 magnum has more power than a 9mm, they both are going to make a 9mm wound channel. It is also very easy to argue that the faster follow-up shots, greater capacity, and faster reloads of your average 9mm give it a lot to offer.

3) durability, in a maintained revolver, there is almost nothing to go wrong....where as with a semiauto there is always the possibility of feeding jams and stovepipes...

I've seen revolvers lock up real bad. I've also seen autos that have been trucking for several hundred thousand rounds with basic maintenance. So I'm inclined to believe that both, when properly maintained, are mostly reliable.

5) there is a certain intimidation factor, all things being equal, im going to take a more intimidating looking gun. there is really nothing more noticeable than a chrome snub nose revolver with a loud barking fireball.

Intimidation is subjective. I'd be much more intimidated by an auto, knowing I'm probably going to have 10+ rounds headed towards me real fast, than by a revolver.

Personally, I don't really see much reason for a revolver anymore, other than the idea that some people just seem to prefer them.

Reliability: slight edge to revolver, but a quality semi-auto will likely be just as reliable
Power: all handguns suck, which is why I'd rather poke holes
Size: a 6-shot .380 comes in a much smaller package than a 5-shot .38, and my 12-shot 9mm is about the same size as my SP101.
Capacity: Definite edge to the auto, especially if double stack
Reload Speed: Definite edge to auto, unless you train really hard at reloading a revolver

When it comes down to it, I don't see much reason to own a revolver, personally, unless its what you really want, or you're using it because you need the extra penetration a .357 magnum round can provide.

 

[TennJed]

I just bought a Taurus 905. Its a 9MM REVOLVER. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, it uses 9x19 autoloader ammunition. Its a 5 shot, 2" snubnose, and I absolutely love this thing. It has power between 38sp and 357 magnum, ammo is cheap, $10/50, and its a REVOLVER. Its one of the few, currently available 9mm revolvers. S&W, and Ruger used to make 9mm revolvers, but have stopped making them.
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=338&category=Pistol

Not true, Ruger still makes the Blackhawk convertable in 9mm. Comes in 4.62" & 6.5" barrels. Not a DA snubbie, but without a doubt a revolver. And the best thing is, it does not use moon clips and comes with 2 cylinders. A 357/38sp and 9mm. (They also make a 45LC/45ACP version.).

3 ammo choices. and IMHO the most fun you can have with a gun

http://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/models.html

 

[Ditchtiger]

Generally in a snubbie the accuracy is going to be limited to close ranges, not much beyond 20 yds.

With my snub 357 I can paste a 55 gallon drum regularly at 200 yards.

 

[eldon519]

The Corbon 125-gr DPX is about the perfect mid-range .357 load in my humble opinion.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 357 Magnum 125 gr DPX Ammo.htm

I've got a 3" SP101 and love it.

 

[Bikewer]

The earlier comments about accuracy are pretty much off-base; the old perception that "snub" revolvers are inaccurate is just silly. Harder to shoot, given. I used to be able to roll paint cans around at 100 yards rather easily with my very first centerfire revolver, a Colt Detective Special in .38 special.

But... Back to the question. I had a 2" .357 way back when. Colt "Lawman". Nice gun.
But, bulky... And cranking off a round at night gave a rather spectacular display. If you don't hit your opponent you may well burn him to death.
Noisy as well...
Seems to me the contemporary CCW guy might feel well-armed with one of the current compact 9mm autos. The 9mm with contemporary ammo has proven itself to be a decent performer, and these small/thin pistols are much easier to tote for most folks unless you're willing to go the suit-jacket and belt holster route.
I'm nearing retirement from active police work, and that's the direction I'm leaning..... But there are so many to choose from!

 

[easyg]

.357 magnum from a snubbie?

No thanks.

Too unpleasant to shoot, which means less range time, which means less proficiency.


Get the 9mm.

 

[Rexster]

I prefer the balance of my 3-1/16" SP101, to that of the 2.25" length, yet the slightly longer weapon is no more difficult, on a practical level, to conceal. Neither is painful to shoot with magnums, but the longer weapon does seem to recoil a bit less.

I do not think I would ever voluntarily fire magnums through a J-frame S&W, unless it was all-steel and had grips like the Pachmayr Decelerators, which make a J just as big as an
SP101.

I owned a Kahr K9 9mm in the mid-late-1990s, and when I bought my SP101 about 1997, it soon displaced the Kahr. I decided I would rather tote an SP101 and my Airweight J-frame, or one of my 1911 duty pistols.

In the 2002-2004 time frame, when I carried a G22 as a duty pistol, I bought a G27 to act
as a back-up weapon. After trying it for a while, it could not displace my SP101 and J-snub, and I sold the G27 to a fellow officer, who worked undercover assignments, and wanted another G27 to go with the one he already had. I then bought a second SP101, soon followed by a third, this time with a hammer spur, for the times I wanted to use a horizontal shoulder holster with thumb-break retention. Several years later, I finally bought my 3-1/16" SP101.

I reckon my story indicates I lean toward the magnum snubby, but the story is not finished. I recently acquired a 9mm G17, in the hope that my chief would/will soon allow 9mm as an alternative duty pistol cartridge. (We have been all-.40 for a while, in primary duty pistols. Cumulative .40 recoil is starting to get to my aging right wrist.) This has me looking again at small 9mm pistols, particularly the G26, but also the Walther PPS.

 

[hardluk1]

snubs weight at 11oz to 21 or 22 oz ans 2" barrels. No ruger 3" sp101 can be called a snubby when its 8" long ans 27oz empty. It does not fit in pockets ether , unless there cargo, maybe . Good revolver?? Thats about the weight of a glock 29 with both are loaded and thats with 10 rounds Heck yes but its the size of a full sized glock 29 in a 1+" shorter package. Or a full size 357sig in loaded weight and size.

 

[Rexster]

snubs weight at 11oz to 21 or 22 oz ans 2" barrels. No ruger 3" sp101 can be called a snubby when its 8" long ans 27oz empty. It does not fit in pockets ether , unless there cargo, maybe . Good revolver?? Thats about the weight of a glock 29 with both are loaded and thats with 10 rounds Heck yes but its the size of a full sized glock 29 in a 1+" shorter package. Or a full size 357sig in loaded weight and size.

Yes, I reckon I should have been more clear. I did not mean that the 3-1/16" SP101 is a snubby, but that I prefer the longer weapon to the snubbier version, for balance and shootability. Even the 2.25" SP101 requires a quite large and substantially-constructed pocket for successful long-term concealment. A J-snub is a better pocket weapon for most folks.

Regarding the dimensions and weight, yes, certain Glocks do compare favorably, but Glocks do bulge very prominently at the rear of the slide, whereas a spurless-hammer revolver is quite simply "slick" at that portion of the weapon,
with no bulge. This is not only a concealment issue, but a potential speed bump when the weapon is drawn.

I did own a G29 for a short while, before I had to admit to myself it was simply too large in the grip area. While my hands are relatively large, my fingers and thumbs are medium to small. The SP101 grip happens to be quite good for my hands.

To be clear, I am not trying to convert or persuade, just stating my preference

 

[fastest45ever]

"As far as the revolver goes I definitely want a .357 so I can also shoot .38 when I'm plinking around. Here's what my decision weighs on, obviously a 9mm semiauto will have the advantage of capacity .357 has the advantage of power, but out of a 2" barrel does it still have the advantage? I want it concealed so I'm looking at the 2" snubbie's. Also what kind of accuracy can you expect from a snubbie in general? Thanks all!"

Yes, the .357 has a major power advantage. If you buy the lightweight, scandium .357's or something similar, I find them limited to about 150 grains at 1200 fps, recoil wise.
If you buy a steel snubby you can possibly use the power advantage.
Others will have to help on that, and real life tests at Buffalobore and
real guns on the bottom of the Ballisticsbytheinch would help.

The steel snubs weigh twice, or more, then the scandiums. This reduces recoil velocity by half, or more, making it manageable.

9MM with 125 grain bullets, in some CCW type guns can nearly equal the velocity of the .357 magnum, which I find to be about 1200 fps with 125 grain bullets out of a 340PD.

Again, do your research on each gun.

Some can hit a gong at 200 yards easily with a 2" snub. Site radius does help MOST people with shooting accuracy.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Can't go wrong with a good classic snub.

Now I pack a Glock sub-compact most of the time but I'm fine packing a snub to.

Just get a Dillion SDB in .38 and reload practice ammo by the ton and SHOOT!

Skill is everything.

Deaf

 

[ATBackPackin]

If you are looking for an alternate carry gun for conceal carry then I would pick whichever you shoot better. Bottom line! Most people do not shoot semi's and revolvers equally. If you can, and be honest because the only one who will pay is yourself or a loved one, then pick whichever tickles your fancy.

Shawn

 

[treg]

Likely SD/HD scenarios highly favor the snubbie.

A) Shooting from a pocket.
B) A "get off me" or very close contact situation.

Pressing a semi auto against flesh can scoot the slide back slightly taking it out of battery and not allowing it to fire. Also in a tight situation the slide may not be able cycle / eject / feed for a second shot.

If shot from a pocket a semi auto will most likely jam as described above.

My belief is that the hammerless revolver, such as the Taurus CIA series, is hands down the best type of SD/HD pistol available.

 

[easyg]

Likely SD/HD scenarios highly favor the snubbie.

A) Shooting from a pocket.
B) A "get off me" or very close contact situation.

Pressing a semi auto against flesh can scoot the slide back slightly taking it out of battery and not allowing it to fire. Also in a tight situation the slide may not be able cycle / eject / feed for a second shot.

Yes, the auto could get pressed out of battery and be rendered useless.
But a revolver can be grabbed around the cylinder and also be rendered useless.

No advantage for either weapon.

If shot from a pocket a semi auto will most likely jam as described above.

Yeah, the auto might jam if shot from inside the pocket, but only AFTER you got the first shot off.

No real advantage for either weapon.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Likely SD/HD scenarios highly favor the snubbie.

Semiautos and revolvers both have their benefits in a SD situation.

Respectfully, if you think a snub revolver is the best tool for home defense, then you need to think things over.

A full size revolver will be supperior to a snub in every way for home defense.

More power, better accuracy, more ammo, better recoil absorbtion do to the weight.

The only possible detriments I can think of could be the weight being too much for the user, or possibly having too long of a bbl on the gun to aim quickly and poor weapon balace.

That's why most people don't use an X frame or a hunting revolver for home defense. That being said, if someone invaded my home, and if I'm in a particular room of my house, they would find themselves on the business end of a 5" bbl S&W 460 magnum loaded with Corbon 45 Colt+P's. But the 5" bbl balances perfect for me, and I'm a big enough guy that I can handle the weight effectively.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A full size revolver will be supperior to a snub in every way for home defense.

But a pump shotgun beats them both.

 

[Godsgunman]

Thanks everyone with your input!
I did over the weekend make a decision and I went with a smaller 9mm, a CZ Rami 2075. Not super small but smaller and lighter than my s&w 6904 by about 1" (1/2" on slide + 1/2" on grip). Taking in all the factors discussed I came to the conclusion that the smaller 9 would be a better option for me for now. Doesn't mean I won't get a .357 in the future if my needs change .
I found what I think was a good price on the Rami $380 OTD which I will do a review on in the next week or two. Again, thanks for all the advice!

 

[KenW.]

Being new to the world of snubbies, I may be going out on a limb here. I've been into semis for the last twenty years and only recently got a J-Frame (M-36).

It seems that with all known things considered, it seems the .357 Mag snubby people own, see a majority of .38 special usage. If I can get three rounds of .38 Special Gold Dot for short barrels into a target in the same time it takes to deliver two .357 mags; Which wins?

A great deal of the magnum's powder will go unburned in the short 2" barrel, making it less efficient. Are you really gaining that much more in a short barreled .357?

 

[TennJed]

Thanks everyone with your input!
I did over the weekend make a decision and I went with a smaller 9mm, a CZ Rami 2075. Not super small but smaller and lighter than my s&w 6904 by about 1" (1/2" on slide + 1/2" on grip). Taking in all the factors discussed I came to the conclusion that the smaller 9 would be a better option for me for now. Doesn't mean I won't get a .357 in the future if my needs change .
I found what I think was a good price on the Rami $380 OTD which I will do a review on in the next week or two. Again, thanks for all the advice!

Really good choice with the Rami, I love mine. Is it the Polly or steel? That is a good price (I assume used)

 

[Deaf Smith]

Being new to the world of snubbies, I may be going out on a limb here. I've been into semis for the last twenty years and only recently got a J-Frame (M-36).

It seems that with all known things considered, it seems the .357 Mag snubby people own, see a majority of .38 special usage. If I can get three rounds of .38 Special Gold Dot for short barrels into a target in the same time it takes to deliver two .357 mags; Which wins?

A great deal of the magnum's powder will go unburned in the short 2" barrel, making it less efficient. Are you really gaining that much more in a short barreled .357?

Yes but at a price of flash and sound.

A 2.5 inch M66 combat magnum will get 1350 fps from a 125gr JHP and no +p .38, even Buffalo Bore ammo, can do that.

Still the real benefits of a revolver include (but there may be more!):

1. Simplicity of use, especially if DA shooting is all one does.
2. If SA is used, the trigger pull can be outstanding (and that helps with long range or small target areas.)
3. Very blunt or odd shaped bullets can be used.
4. One can verify the ammo will load by simply loading the chambers and spinning the cylinder, something a simi-auto cannot do.
5. Varying power of the round without worrying if the weapon will malfunction.
6.. Easy to check loaded status.
7. Unloaded and loading ammo does not damage the ammo.
8. Usually easy to change grip shapes (if the grips are wood!)

It's only real fault is ammo capacity and resupply. If you are a good, and I mean GOOD shot, that won't matter much in a SD situation. And if you are a bad, real bad, shot, it won't matter either. It's the in-between where a good simi-auto does have advantages.

Deaf

 

[LeontheProfessional]

XS big dot front site and wood panel grips