[thrillbilly]

Remember, handguns are for when ya can't have a longarm or can't get to one. I like snubbies, but if SHTF, mine would most likely pine away in the safe!

[Dakoma]

Quote:       Originally Posted by pico

The 44 Special is probably the best choice in a snub nose, as the barrel length does not play too much of a factor in its performance. A 2" barrel would be fine for this, and it is not difficult to control. I would opt out of anything with a magnum for snub nose revolvers, unless you plan on using this for woods protection, in which case I would go with a 454. Anyway, that is my $0.02 on the matter.

For the woods my Dan Wesson Model 744-VH stainless 8" will do just fine anything bigger I would need geritol.But have a option of diferent length barrels,they are hard to come by from 2" to 15" so 8" is going to have to do,they can handle some good stout loads.The wife likes to shoot it also but becomes a little heavy after awhile and likes the Rossi 3" better.

[TACAV]

I have a Ruger SP101 .357mag with a 3 and 1/16" barrel. You can get a shorter one with a 2 1/4" inch barrel too and with or without a bobbed double action only hammer set up.

The Ruger SP101's frame is a bit larger than a Smith and Wesson J Frame but smaller than their next size up which is the K frame. Its a little heavier than a Smith and the out of the box trigger isnt a good (but it does smooth out with use). The biggest advantage of an SP101 is that when they say its built like a bank vault, they mean it. Unlike some of the Smith and Wesson J airweight J Frames, the SP101 can and will take full magnums all day long for years and years with no noticeable or meaningful frame wear. The same cannot be said for every model of SW J Frame snubby regardless of whether they are rated for .357 mag.

If I knew I had to go out into the woods or into the proverbial poo Id put my SP101 in my pack to supplement something else. Its a great general purpose revolver. Its small enough for comfortable conceal carry with a good belt holster or inside the waistband holster, yet big and meaty enough to use for other things where a snubby might not cut it, especially with the 3" barrel.

Due to its more robust weight it handles the recoil of magnum loads noticeably easier than with a light weight SW. SW currently makes their airweight J Frames in aluminum and the lighter Scandium. I personally would not want to shoot a lot of magnum loads out of either of those for both my hands sake and for the sake of the gun.

As for accuracy I have carried mine as an off duty gun in which I had to qualify with it strong and weak handed out to 25 yards. Im not a pistol sniper but I never had anything out of the 8 ring on a standard B27 Silhouette target from 25 yards.

If you do want a small compact J Frame snubbie Id recommend the SW model 442. And try to find one WITHOUT that dang internal Smith and Wesson "lawyer lock". or FAIL lock as I call it.

As for the new Ruger LCR I have not had any personal expirience with one however from what I have read it has one of the nicest triggers on an out of the box snubby around however it does have a rather long trigger reset. So far Ive read good accuracy too with it. The new :CR does have an internal lock as well under the grips. I dont know if it will have any of the problems (breaking or engaging the lock from recoil) that smith and wesson has suffered through, its still too new on the market.)

So far the worst things ive heard about it from 6 different reviews is that some people thought it was ugly lol.

[SightNSqueeze]

Quote:       Originally Posted by pico

The 44 Special is probably the best choice in a snub nose, as the barrel length does not play too much of a factor in its performance. A 2" barrel would be fine for this, and it is not difficult to control. I would opt out of anything with a magnum for snub nose revolvers, unless you plan on using this for woods protection, in which case I would go with a 454. Anyway, that is my $0.02 on the matter.

That is a "good" 2 cents worth too. The 44 special is all too often overlooked. It is a decent all around hunting and defense survival caliber.

[binabik]

well the two main guns i want is a .308 bolt action, a .22lr and some sort of compact pistol, most likely a 9mm, 100 .308 ammunition in 10 pounds, 500 lr in 5 pounds, and 250 or so in 5 pounds, that doesn't leave that much room though, i was thinking about maybe changing the 22lr to the more reliable revolver and the 9mm to a more reliable revolver type but i think i will stick with the autoloaders.

[raveneap]

Quote:       Originally Posted by GlockMeister

Can't go wrong with a S&W J-Frame.

I agree - This is my model 637 - airweight - 15 ozs empty - 38 spl +p.

[knightRider]

j frame.

[rockman7]

dakoma...the recoil from a short barreled 44 special is a far cry from a 357 mag.which is why i made that statement.the other thing that bothers me about short barrels is the loss of velocity . i just think a pistol/revolver with a 4" barrel has more practical applications over a 2-3" one .

[sunwheel29]

I have a snub .357 five shooter that I carry and use often and I feel it would make a decent last ditch weapon for survival because it is lightweight and durable and rust resistant.

Its a hammerless Taurus CIA. Its in .357 so if I had to, I could down a deer with it, providing I had the right ammo. (Jacketed soft points or lead wadcutters in a heavier weight).

While not IDEAL for that, its easier to tote in your pocket in the woods than say,an 8 inch .460 Magnum.

The typical .38/.357 round weighs between 110 grains to 158 grains.
Do the math for however many rounds you are carrying.

For small game, you can use .38 special loads which will do less damage on game.

As a tactical weapon, the snubby is meant for close range self defense. But most people don't comprehend just how accurate a snubby can be right out to 50 yards or more.
In college, a friend of mine had a snub .38 made by Rossi, and it shot dead on the money for 25 yards with it's fixed sights. Better than some of our four inch service style revolvers did, I might add. The gun was easy to hit with right up to about 70 yards or so, when bullet drop became a factor.

The American McSheeple have been hoodwinked by Technology Pimps into giving up perfectly good and useful tools, be it the VCR or the revolver by sleazy merchants who figure they can make more money by selling you a new gizmo that only does the same thing that the old gizmo allready did.

Don't fall for the technology pimps and their attempts to appeal to you with new junk.
A hot load from a revolver will drop a bad guy in his tracks just as good today as it did a century ago and in many cases (.44 spl, .45 colt, etc..) it will do it better than the tactical tupperware of today.

[pico]

The only problem with old tech is that the ammo becomes either a dead round or too damn expensive if it is still produced. While this is perhaps not a problem for those who reload, not all of us do or even can. I know of no apartment dweller that reloads. I really like the 45 colt and 44 special, as well as the old 32 S&W short and 38 S&W. These are also great for ladies purse guns, as they are small and lightwieght. I really like my ancient lemonsqueezers in 32 S&W, but finding the right ammo is actually impossible thru the big suppliers.

While much new stuff is a gimick or just a repeat of older tech or crap, some stuff is an improvement and deserves a look. The new .32 mag is a prime example. This revolver in a snub nose makes great sense, and allows the user to shoot many different rounds in it... much like the Astra 400... but even more.

I do not conceal carry a modern handgun, but if I am going into a bad area I will bring along my pre-1899 Smith and Wesson 44 Russian which has been modified to shoot 44 Special. While not a snub nose, it scares the hell out of most, and many non-shooters say it looks like Dirty Harry has entered the building.

[billy]

i have shot some 25 yard groups to be proud of with my 3 1/16 bbl.
sp-101
it's deadnuts reliable.
and i like the option of either .357 or .38
you can usually find one or the other.

[Ironcowboy]

I like the S&W .357 shrouded hammer snubby. I dont see why you'd buy a .38 when you can buy a .357 and shoot .38's out of it. And if you need the firepower, you can move up...

[mitchshrader]

I've got a J frame .38, and a J frame .357, and I can't hit the broad side of a barn with the .357. THAT is why I own the .38 in the first place, and why the .357 I like has a 6" barrel, both.Dunno about you, but for me, the .38 is about four times easier to shoot fast than a .357. ymmv

[knightRider]

if it does not say Smith and Wesson its not worth having . Just my opinion .... If you want a good defense and carry snubbie look at the night guards bt S&W they are great 357 they have an 8 shot snubbie that's right 8 shots of 357 or 38 sp.

[Deersniper]

Check out the Ruger Evolution too. Sp 101, J frames, S&W.

[That1GarandKid]

I've got a Colt Detective Special. Works great and has a great, sturdy finish..

[SH(.)(.)TER]

I like and have the Taurus Model 85 38spl. its a great little gun!

[don5544]

A snuby in 357 is great. Its reliable and you dont feel the recoil durring an emergency. The added power may be needed. The massive muzzule flash will also scare off just about anybody.

As far as game goes forget a 357 from a pistol. I tried one deer hunting. Not enough power even with a 6" barrel. I have a lever action in 357 that is great on deer. The added sight radius along with greater power out of a rifle. Only problem is dont shoot hollow points out of a rifle when hunting. No pentitration. The hollow point will literally blow to peices. A solid point will expand and give penitration.

Velocity out of 6" revolver is 1400fps. Out of the rifle it was 1900. That works out to more than twice the power.

[pico]

The problem with a .357 mag would seem to be the blinding muzzle blast in a night setting. I would opt for the .38 special load instead of the magnum charge.

[Dakoma]

I know little about the blinding flash from shooting at night,I have never shot my 44 Spl. at night,I live in the country and if I have to dispach some form of vermin 2 legs or 4 my 12ga. with 2 3/4" #4 Buck works just fine and dont even notice the flash.But this is about snubies my Rossi 720 Stainless 3" is a fine shooting pistol,I like 2400 for powder best but use Unique for heavier than 180gr bullets,my favorite is the Sierra 180gr.JHC hard to beat for acuracy those I load with 2400.