Why A Snubnose?

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Mike Franklin

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I've carried nearly every kinda gun you could imagine concealed. From a Victory model snubnose to a Colt SAA. If you look at or handle a smaller framed revolver you see that the cylinder and grip are the bulky parts. A 4" barrel is not hard to hide, helps balance the gun in a belt holster and makes it so much easier to hit a target. I've often seen little snubbys with grips nearly as big as the rest of the gun.
Can anyone give me an example of a revolver with a 2" barrel that could be carried easier than a 4"? I don't see giving up a better probablity of hitting the target to have a shorter barrel.
 
Carry what works for you - I cannot comfortably carry a 4" revolver concealed except in the dead of winter when wearing a coat, in a OWB holster, and its still a hassle with the barrel hitting the car seat when I sit down. 3" is the max. barrel length that works for me, and I prefer the 1 7/8" J frame barrel most of the time. I can carry it IWB, OWB or slip it in a pocket, and I'm comfortable with my ability to hit with it.

There are guys, and probably some gals, that can conceal an N frame with a 4" barrel, I can't, most of us have found the J frame size guns to be the best compromise between power, accuracy and concealability.
 
Generally speaking you are right. However if you intend to either pocket carry or use an ankle holster the snubby is the only way to go if you intend to use a revolver. They are also easier to draw from a conventional holster if you are sitting. Beyond those considerations I also prefer a longer barrel length.
 
Aside from the Issue of Pocket or Ankle Carry..

...barrel length can affect concealment if (a) the gun is worn in an OWB holster or (b) if the longer barrel torques the grip into the rib cage, as it might turn on a cuvaceous woman. There is however, another issue. While I have grown increasingly fonder of three-inch-barrel revolvers as I have grown older (and, I hope, wiser), I have had a few short female students for whom even a three-inch barrel was difficult to draw smoothly. I experience the same problem myself if I go beyond a four-inch barrel in a revolver - I have to lean to one side in order to clear leather. Thus, the rationale for a snubnose revolver may have as much to do with ease and speed of deployment as with ease of concealment and carry throughout the day. While a great many people really do carry merely for the sense of comfort it gives them, the gun will be of little value in an emergency if it cannot be deployed readily.
 
I generally carry 4.75"-5.5" SAA's, 5" 1911's, and 5.5" S&W N-frames (1917/1937)...summer or winter....no problem....all 5'10"/150lbs of me....but smaller guns have their niches, such as my S&W 34, and my USFA Rodeo 3" SAA (in transit), also the Baby-sized Autauga .32 Seecamp knock-off....when it comes time for front or hip-pocket carry, leetle guns are the only game in town....just as accurate as their big-brothers, the limitations being limited to their owners having the time to learn to shoot them well.....you're only talking a 90fps average velocity loss, so lack of practice is the only true handicap...
 
Snubbies draw faster, point quicker, and weigh less. Plus, they're more comfortable to carry concealed, especially in warmer climates. The chances of a civilian personal defense armed encounter at ranges that challenge snubbie shooters are slim to none, so why encumber yourself with heavy, wasted steel?
 
Skeeter Had This Same View, Same Frame, Same Size Cyl, Take A 2 In Mod 10, And A 4 Inch Mod 19, The 19 Has 2 More " Of Barrel If They Have The Same Grips, I Realy Like A 4 Inch Gun! When You Go From 4 To A 2 Inch Gun You Lose The Full Size Ejector Rod, But All In All I Like Them All! Csa
 
Unlike Will5A1, and like mtngunr, I can usually comfortably conceal a N-Frame. I occasionally carry my 4" N-Frame M22 or M27 in a Milt Sparks PMK, and I have no problems with concealment on my 5'11" 155lbs frame, other than the fact the barrel will sometimes poke out under my shirt.

Because of that, I don't carry the N-Frames when I will be sitting down, like at a restaurant. Walking around and general shopping, no problem.

I don't carry them frequently, though, mostly using my N-Frames for range use. I consider the N-Frames sorta like my "BBQ" guns--I wear them for a change of pace, or just because I think they're neat.

I do, however, carry a J-frame snub frequently. Pocket carry just wouldn't work with a N-Frame, and there are times when pocket carry is the best solution for me.

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Most people just can't hide a full size weapon on their person without looking like they are hiding a full size weapon. I have met very few that can pull it off. Quite a while ago when i was working undercover I was loaned to a sheriff a couple of counties over he was a tall slim man always worn a white western shirt and hid a full size 45 under it couldn't see it if you knew it was there. Just seem these type of people are few and far between. If you are one of them great for me the snub seem to be the biggest weapon I can hide 99% of the time for that other 1% i have an NAA 22lr
 
It's all in your head. I CCW everything from a j-frame to a N-frame to a 1911 Gov't or Sig P220... And never have any issues.

Good holster, belt, and attitude is what you need :)

Anyway, some snub love... I shot my M&P340 last night, put 92 rounds through it. I couldn't do the last 8 as my trigger finger was bleeding from the recoil causing the trigger guard to bite it. Oops, guess I've lost my callouses... Too much Kahr PM9 shooting!
 
Why a Snubnose?
If you have the occassion to pick-up a book written by Ed Lovette called "The Snubby Revolver....." it will outline a good deal of information to help you answer this question.

ECQ (Extreme Close Quarters) fighting being the reason I like snubbys for carry.
 
It's really a lot easier to carry concealed than most of ya'll realize. You notice the barrel sticking out or the butt showing a bulge because you know it's there. I've carried off duty for nearly 32 years now and 3 times someone has realized I was carrying a gun. Once was when a Lady hugged me, the second time an off duty jailer notice my 6” barrel S&W M 28, the final time I slid down in a chair to get comfortable and a snubnose was noticed.
Just lay 2 guns of the same frame size on the table and look at the guns closely. 2 " is not that big.
I can also say from experience that if you can't get a 4" barreled gun into play you won't be able to get a 2" barreled gun out either. Yeah, I read some books but I've also done this stuff.
 
HOLSTERPIC2.gif
My "snubby" CCW is a Ruger SP-101 with a Comp-tac 2 O'Clock holster.

I carry a concealed weapon purely for personal/defensive purposes. I anticipate that, should I need to draw and fire, my distance is more than likely to be in the range of 20 to 30 feet.

I practice a lot at that distance and am quite proficient with the "snubby" at those distances. I also practice with a 5" 1911 at those distances and my groups are no better than with the snubby.

The smaller gun is easier to conceal and easier to deploy and, with practice, is equally effective for the purposes as described above. Hence, that's why I carry a "snubby".

Closing note!!! Practice, practice, practice.:fire:
 
Mike: I think carrying concealed is probably even easier nowadays with cellphones and the like on everyone's belt. No one thinks twice about a small print near your belt location.

Dairycreek: that's some good snub shooting! I can't quite shoot my snub as well as my 1911, in fast fire especially. The groups do open up a tad more, especially with defensive loads. But I can still keep 'em in a small ring on the center of the target, if I do my part.

Slowfire, between 20 and 30 feet, I can do much better than that with a snubby. These little guys can be quite accurate if you do your part!
 
Slowfire, between 20 and 30 feet, I can do much better than that with a snubby. These little guys can be quite accurate if you do your part!
Click to expand...

Oh yes indeed! We used to shoot at B-27 Silhouette targets at 100 yards with Colt Detective Specials or S&W M&P snubbies and stay within the K-Zone... ;)
 
I find a 2" snub is a lot faster out of the holster and on target than a 3". You wouldn't think a silly 1" would make that much difference, but it does.
lloveless
 
If you really think that you're faster with a snubby then get yourself timed firing one round and hitting a target, not just firing a round but really hitting a target.
 
For me the simple answer is that the shorties enable easy, casual pocket carry. I love my 642 and there's no production to putting it on if I'm just running out for something, just throw it in a pocket.

As far as accuracy I have no problems with it at 15 yards, and if I take my time I can pick up pins quite a bit farther out than that.

Rather have a snubby in my pocket than the 686 I left at home.
 
Although I'm mainly a bottom feeder type for carry, I do sometimes tote my S&W 2" Mod. 10, because nothing says, "I'm not screwin' around" like a blue snub.:eek:
 
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