chaim
Member
OK, I've made no secret that I'm not a big snub revolver fan. They are probably the hardest guns to learn to shoot accurately, and I'd rather put that practice time into other more enjoyable guns. The recoil isn't fun (especially in the lightweight versions) and it isn't just a matter of "manning up" since that translates into longer recoil recovery and slower follow up shots. So, slower follow up shots, and lower practical accuracy, plus only 5-round capacity, means I long ago retired them from my home defense and carry selection of guns.
I was going to sell all of them, but as I do every few years, I recently re-examined my assumptions, training and philosophy around carry and home defense. When I did carry a snub revolver, I often carried a 2nd as a backup (Taurus 85CH IWB, S&W 442 pocket carried). When I retired my snubs I planned to use my LCP as a backup, but due to all I carry in my pockets I don't like losing a pocket to pocket carry and stopped carrying a BUG. Now, I'm a fan of capacity, but my first criteria is to carry what I shoot best. It used to be to carry what I shoot well and carried DAO, but I've modified that back to carrying/using for HD what I shoot best . So, I will again be carrying 1911s, which doesn't really solve the desire for capacity, so I'm thinking about at least occasionally carrying a backup when I carry. Well, I do have some autos that will work as a BUG, but few guns do the BUG job better than a small framed revolver.
So, I will be keeping one, maybe two (but probably just one) of my snubs. So, now I have to decide which one (or two) stay and which 2 or 3 go.
Taurus 85CH
Pros:
Pros:
Pros:
Pros:
Note:
If I do decide I trust and want to keep the 3" Rossi, I'll be keeping two snubs for sure. The 3" is big enough to be a primary on the belt and too big to be a BUG. Similarly, if I decide for practical reasons that I should keep the 442, I might also keep the Taurus 85CH as a "trainer" since it is more comfortable to shoot a box or two out of the steel framed 85 than it is to shoot a cylinder or two out of the aluminum framed 442 (though I could just brew up some pretty weak hand loads that aren't bad out of the 442).
I was going to sell all of them, but as I do every few years, I recently re-examined my assumptions, training and philosophy around carry and home defense. When I did carry a snub revolver, I often carried a 2nd as a backup (Taurus 85CH IWB, S&W 442 pocket carried). When I retired my snubs I planned to use my LCP as a backup, but due to all I carry in my pockets I don't like losing a pocket to pocket carry and stopped carrying a BUG. Now, I'm a fan of capacity, but my first criteria is to carry what I shoot best. It used to be to carry what I shoot well and carried DAO, but I've modified that back to carrying/using for HD what I shoot best . So, I will again be carrying 1911s, which doesn't really solve the desire for capacity, so I'm thinking about at least occasionally carrying a backup when I carry. Well, I do have some autos that will work as a BUG, but few guns do the BUG job better than a small framed revolver.
So, I will be keeping one, maybe two (but probably just one) of my snubs. So, now I have to decide which one (or two) stay and which 2 or 3 go.
Taurus 85CH
Pros:
- It is the one that started me on my snub buying spree over a few years that lead me to having 4 of a type I don't particularly love. It is probably my favorite of the bunch.
- It has been 100% reliable for me (I've had it for about a decade, give or take a year or two)
- The concealed hammer and J-frame size is great for concealability
- The weight and .38spl chambering gives it decent recoil absorption (maybe the best combination of small/lightweight for concealment and heavy enough to shoot comfortably as you'll get in a snub)
- While it has been 100% reliable, experiences with my Taurus PT140 M. Pro and 2" Rossi 461 (as well as reading similar experiences of others) make me leary of trusting my life to a Taurus product. Though it was made in 1991 so issues with current production Taurus products may not be a problem
- It is a little heavy for pocket carry and some other BUG uses (but it works)
- 5 rounds
Pros:
- It has been 100% reliable
- Slightly smaller than the 85 (1 7/8" v. 2" barrel, no barrel shroud)
- Lightweight (15oz) aluminum construction makes it perfect in a pocket, ankle holster, or in other BUG applications
- Lightweight- it is uncomfortable to practice with most .38 ammo and +P is as uncomfortable as .357mag in my 2" Rossi
- 5 rounds
Pros:
- 6 shots instead of 5
- Heavier than the others so it is comfortable with all .38spl and most +P
- Chambered in .357mag
- A bit bigger and heavier than the previous revolvers so not as good for a deeply concealed BUG
- Too big and heavy for all but short time periods in a pocket or ankle holster
- I've had some reliability issues that keep me from trusting it (all with .357mag ammo, but who knows if it may sometime start happening with my chosen .38+P defensive ammo)
- Uncomfortable (as well as unreliable) with .357mag ammo
Pros:
- I love a 3" revolver, more sight radius and better performance out of defensive ammo
- So far, it has given me no trouble (I haven't shot it much though, and I've shot no magnum yet)
- Chambered in .357mag
- 6 rounds
- I don't trust it. It hasn't given me any trouble, but the issues I've had with the 2" 461 (and from reading, those issues are fairly common with current production Rossi and Taurus revolvers) make it hard for me to trust it (it hasn't given me any trouble, yet).
- It is pretty big and heavy (6 shot cylinder, 3" barrel) for a small framed snub and too big to be a BUG.
Note:
If I do decide I trust and want to keep the 3" Rossi, I'll be keeping two snubs for sure. The 3" is big enough to be a primary on the belt and too big to be a BUG. Similarly, if I decide for practical reasons that I should keep the 442, I might also keep the Taurus 85CH as a "trainer" since it is more comfortable to shoot a box or two out of the steel framed 85 than it is to shoot a cylinder or two out of the aluminum framed 442 (though I could just brew up some pretty weak hand loads that aren't bad out of the 442).
Last edited: