I was looking at maybe getting a small snubby revolver for CCW. I currently have a .45 Kimber Ultra Carry II but Ive always wanted to get a decent revolver 1. b/c I like them, and 2. It gives me a second carry option.
Yes I know some might bring up the .38+P / .357mag combo but in my case Im going to be limited to .38+P.
Anyhoo I was looking at the Ruger SP101 and some of the Smith and Wesson J frames, specifically the Models, 637, 638, and 642
When I was at the gun store I looked at the Ruger and the 637. Both seemed pretty nice. i also noticed that the default Ruger has a longer grip i can get my entire hand on nicely. (I have small hands) I can actually fit all 3 of my fingers on the shorter gripped SW 637 if I try lol.
Anyone have any experiences with any of these or general thoughts or opinions?
I guess I'd say if your happy with it that's what counts. Personally I'm not a big fan of snubbies. The only one I ever shot was horrible as far as accuracy. Maybe the ones out now a days are better? I guess I'd also suggest renting a few of the ones you're considering the most and see if you still feel that way after firing them?
Sometimes just because you can get a good grip on one, or even if it feels good in your hands, doesn't necessarily mean it will be a good shooter, or that you're going to still like it after shooting it. Another good reason to maybe rent. Isn't any fun finding out you really aren't happy with it after you buy it that's for sure. lol And if you're planning on using this for CCW, you want something you know will be somewhat accurate for even those sometime tougher shots or longer shots you may have to take.
And I'm quite positive you'll have plenty of suggestions from many that have even already gone through what you currently are. Either way, good luck and I hope you never have to use whatever you decide on other then for target practice.
And in case I missed you when you first joined, welcome to G&G. I'm sure you'll find it as friendly as it says it is and as I've found it to be and full of plenty of good stuff to read and learn.
__________________ "My next door neighbors two dogs have created more shovel ready jobs then Obama has." - Gary Johnson
Last edited by GlockMeister; 02-13-2008 at 01:25 AM.
If you want to pocket carry, I would recommend a S&W J frame light weight like a 642 (though they are not much fun shooting a lot).
If its going on your belt, its probably just a matter of which feels better in your hand. Since you're only interested in shooting 38's, I don't think it really matters which gun you pick as both will do well.
__________________ The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.
well, in regards to accuracy the barrel length for the SW are anywhere from 1 7/8" to 2 1/8" .
The Ruger SP 101 comes in anything from 2 1/4" barrel at 7 " overall length, to 3 1/16" at 8" overall length.
Comparing to my kimber that could equate to 3/4" shorter barrel with a 1/2" longer overall length for the smallest barrel option.
Im pretty decent shooting my 3" kimber. Im not gonna put every round through the same hole like some of the guys in these forums, but all my shots will be center of center mass lol.
So i guess id have to figure out how much of a difference 3/4 of an inch is lol if I want to go strictly speaking by firearm mechanics.
Im gonna have to find someone with a ruger to try out to get the "human factor" :P
Im actually leaning more towards the ruger after talking to some other guys I know.
But getting back to your post GLock, Just like you said, its a pocket pistol, It is what it is. Its not my "battle gun". If I can get decent groups out to 15 yards with it Id be happy considering the average distance of the defensive shooting incident is like 5-7 feet.
My favorite pocket 38 is the Smith and Wesson 638. I think the "Bodyguard" style shrouded hammer is the way to go. No hammer sticking out to catch in your pocket but you still have the single action option.
Cabela's (in Rogers, MN anyway) has the Smith and Wesson 638 on sale for $359.99 until the end of the month.
I like snubbies, and have used them as my primary CCW for quite a while. They are difficult to shoot accurately, so do demand practice. My rationale is that they are very reliable and, because they're convenient I'll have one on any given day.
My primary has varied between the S&W new 40 (like the retro design) and the Charter Bulldog (like the firepower). The Charter did break, but was repaired quickly and is accurate and a decent carry gun. Your mileage may vary.
Also have carried (and have) a 340 PD .357. This is strong, lightweight, and hammerless--also has the hi-vis front sight which for me is a boon for shooting a snubby. Although I've carried and shot with the .357's, the .38's might be a better choice. I'm not sure the muzzle blast and kick is worth an extra 1-200 fps out the muzzle. This gun is truly painful to shoot with the .357's, but the rubber grips would allow you to shoot 50 or so at one sitting without damaging anything.......but I currently practice with the 38's and it's pretty comfortable to shoot with those. It's really lightweight.
Own a 642 and SP-101 as well. The 642 is a good general purpose carry snubby--the ubitiquous airweight hammerless 38. All new smiths are +P rated, but for a steady diet I'd choose the .357 variants or the Ruger. The SP-101 is well built and very strong. It's better to shoot with in some respects due to its weight. Also, if I was going to go for hot .38 rounds I'd feel most comfortable with the Ruger for its strength. However, its heaviness is also the weakness. Both of these pistols have rudimentary sights.
Overall, the biggest drawback for all my snubbies is the sights. The hi-vis on the 340 PD is the best of the lot. Smith now offers several different selections with hi-vis or night sights on their guns -- I'd take a look at their website and look at both the new guns coming out (which have night sights and are available up to the 44 special) as well as the PD and M&P models. For general carry, I'd go with a Smith with decent sights and practice alot. Certainly can vouch for the ruger; however, it's a bit heavy for daily carry for me. I also like the hammerless versions of the smith because they don't snag, all defensive shooting will likely be DAO, and they're easy to drop in a pocket, etc. I wouldn't rule out the Charter, but because Smith now offers .44 special I'd probably look more at that if I had the $.
__________________
God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
TACAV: Sir; the cute little slug shooters will endear themselves to either the front or rear pockets.
I have carried the 638 for a number of years; motorcycling, walk abouts, grocery store, rides in the truck.
My preference, Single action or Double, my reason for the 638
Accuracy is good, 7yds to 100yds, I mess about with offhand.
Make no mistake; Sir, I shoot single actions and the 638 aint one; at 50-100yds.
Routinely with practice, I can and do scare the mess outa the 100yd markers
My 'car' holster carries are many, from GP100 to Glocks, seems the 638 likes to go when I go. Weight and versatile.
Will it protect me? If I do my part. Yes
__________________
Craig
Who refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
Well I have to say that my preference for Snubbies has been and probably will be for quite some time the S&W J frame, specifically the 640 in .357/.38+P but... seeing as how you'd rather stick to JUST .38 I'd check out the Taurus model 850B with the enclosed hammer. I can't say that they are "enjoyable" to shoot, but unlike some other Snubbies, I've found that even without much getting used to coming from my 1911 I can get some pretty tight grouping at 25-50 yds. which is respectable considering I didn't do anything to mess with the sight plane.
I actually have some experience with shooting some different snubbies and have found that for me, its all about the "fit" of the gun.
I have a Ruger SP101 that is an absolutely perfect gun, but the problem is that when I shoot it, I pull the shots to the left really bad.
Yet I also have a Taurus model 851 and I love it. This gun just shoots where I aim. It is DA/SA and has the shrouded hammer. I have the Ultra-Lite model in .38 +P and it has a windage adjustable rear sight.
I also have and have had other snubbies and have found the that its all about the "fit".
Some guns will just shoot right where I aim either off-hand/unsupported and supported/bench-rest. While other guns, like the SP101, will shoot right where I aim when supported/bench-rest, but unsupported/off-hand I pull the shots off. Some people seem to think that snubbies are inaccurate. But in reality, most any quality snubby from say Ruger, Smith, or Taurus is inherently really accurate. Most of the time (sometimes there really are some guns that are lemons) the problem is either the shooter is just really bad, or more likely there is a mis-fit between the shooter and the gun. This is exactly what I have found in my own personal experience.
So if the first snubby you shoot isn't a "natural" for you, don't be completely discouraged. Perhaps you just need to find a gun that "fits" your hand. Also, sometimes its simply the grips on a gun, but not always. Again, for me my Ruger SP101 with both the factory grips and Uncle Mike's grips, I really badly pull the shots to the left. It is most defintitely not the gun...it is me doing it. For some odd reason, the geometry of the gun just does not fit me. Find the gun (and grips) that "fit" or are a "natural" for you.
