Based on all posts above, I offer some of the common denominators in our search for a definition of "snubbie".

#1 Must be short.

#2 Must be capable of getting the job done at "up close and personal distance.

#3 Must be there when needed.


#4 Is capable of more than 2 rounds?

That last is more of a question. Must make room for derringerss I think?

"Snubbie" is a shortenened American word for "snub nosed". Dictionary says; " Having a short, upturned nose".
Kinda like in full recoil I think.
Cheezywan

Hello
I have alittle S & W Model 36;a J model.
I have small handa and it fits pretty god with standard grips.
I'm writing to inform the group that Speer has developed a round just for snubbies.It has a Gold Dot bullet that is designed to open better then any other.
It is the 38 special Plus+P 135 grain bullet.
Frank

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Frank

Can't argue. Best thing that came along in years for concealed-carry has been the lightweight .38s and .357s.

Wouldn't trade my Taurus Ti .357 for anything....

Being prepared beats the heck out of wishing. And those little revolvers just fit right in the jeans pocket

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MikeG

Thanks Kragman. I was given a box of Winchester 125 grain hollow points for defense ammo. I'll pick up a box of Speer Gold dots next time I go to town. There made right here where I live.

In the meanwhile I'm casting and loading a bunch of Lee tumble lube wadcutters for practice with this little gun. It was suggested that I always carry factory defensive loads for self protection. Was told it was much better if I ever had to go to court.

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Bob from Idaho

The day I turned 21 I bought a stainless Taurus Model 85 2" .38 SPCL....best purchase I've ever made in my life. 3 days later I got my CCW permit. After having served on 2 different police depts in 2 different states. I can honestly say that is the nicest wheel gun I have ever fired. It does fine out to 25 yds and was worn on my ankle for years as a back-up peice while on duty. sure it's only got 5 shots and I've to date put about 2000 rounds of Winchester 125 grn JHP in standard velocity through it. The action is like glass and it is still after many years my constant companion. several years ago I purchased another one identical to it, just incase the original ever breaks. awsome piece and for those that feel it's inferior, they're are more powerful/larger capacity guns out there but try wearing them on your ankle for a few years.

Friend of mine gave me one of the stainles model 85 ultra-lights. Nicest little gun I've ever shot. Stays in the pocket holster in the jeans and doesn't even make a bulge. It's got a great double action and wonderful single action trigger and is very impressive at the range to 25 yards.

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Bob from Idaho

for it's extra strength, I'll take a wee bit of extra metal on the SP101 anyday and everyday for a snubbie concealment gun.

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th' fish

I think it's important that bullets used in a .38 cal snub will expand. Therefore I use 135 grain Speer Gold Dots in my S&W 360. I get a bit over 1000 fps out of my 3 inch barrel and I know it will do the job.

I also sometimes carry a Ruger Vaquero 45 Colt with a 3 inch barrel in my front jeans pocket. With a Hawaiian type shirt this Ruger conceals well, and I don't care if the 250 grain .452 @ 1000 fps expands or not.

Mike G.

I carry the 3 inch SP and load with 125 grain .357s. It's stout but controllable for all five shots with practice. The factory grips help better than the hogue replacements in control and taking a bit of shock out of the firing.

2 cents

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th' fish

I know this is an old thread - just wanted to say the wife and I have switched carry load from the CorBon 110 grain +P to Buffalo Bore 158 SWCHP +P in the J frames. She now more often carries a Ruger LCP loaded with Buffalo Bore - a 95 grain Gold Dot HP +P chambered followed by a magazine full of BBs 100 grain hardcast +Ps.

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- A Man Without A Cross -

Old but good post. Glad you resurrected it. I have been carrying handguns for almost 40 years now and one of my all time favorites is a J frame 2 inch gun in 38 special. I have owned at least 15 different ones over time. I now have three 2 inch and one 3 inch J frame. The 2 inch guns are easy to conceal and the 3 inch makes a good back pocket field gun. My personal defense load is a 125 jhp over HS-6 powder at 900 fps out of a 2 inch.

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A truely successful life is mostly based on how well you handle PLAN B.

I have that Model 36 J frame with the 2" barrel too, and a nickle finish as it happens. It has probably had less than 100 rounds through it in over the 25 years or so that I have had it. And never a shot in anger.

But when it was brought along on longer road trips and I was traveling alone, it was a wonderful thing to have when I was catching a quick nap in a roadside rest stop. Especially so when I could feel it against my tummy in a Uncle Mike inside the waistband holster when walking into a rest area bathroom after dark.

I went with the heavier steel gun because I wanted and did not mind the weight in my hand. And it has a hammer too so I could shoot single action at longer distances should I want to. For more concelaed and continuous and on my person carry I would have gone with the hammerless lightweight model.

All guns come with compromises, you just cannot get everything in one gun. But for quick and easy self defense in the 7 to 15 foot range a small revolver is hard to beat.

And it is a gun that the wife (who seldom shoots anything) is not afraid to pick up and use should she have to. She has fired it with some mild wad cutters and a few carry rounds and is very comfortable with it. She knows that the bangs will be a little louder with the carry rounds but is not afraid of them...

I really don't enjoy shooting 36 like I do my 6" Model 28 or any of the numerous autos that I own so I just don't shoot it much. Center of mass at 7 yards, more pointed than aimed, and all five will be on a 10" paper plate. That is all I expect from this kind of gun.

A good buddy just got his first handgun for home defense and sought my advice. We settled on a Charter Arms 2.5" fixed sight Bulldog in 44 Special and he is very happy with that. He is getting his bullet casting and reloading lessons now...

Jack

My J frames 2 inchers are a 642 airweight hammerless, 637 airweight with hammer, 36 blue and 3 inch 36 originally nickel but now Gun Kote stainless. I picked up the 3 inch nickel cheap as the nickel was peeling bad. I figure this collection pretty much covers any need I have for a snubbie.

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A truely successful life is mostly based on how well you handle PLAN B.

I am in full agreement.

A stubby on you beats any HG left at home.


Snake

I feel well armed with a S&W642 in my pocket. Less so with the KelTec P3at, but in the heat of a Texas summer, it's easier to conceal.

There is nothing wrong with carrying a snub nose pistol in the .38spl caliber! There is a reason for that short barrel and up close it has worked for years. Now little trick! If you use 148 grn wadcutters it does a lot of damage to tissue and penetrates deeper than many jacketed bullets will.

I once saw an FBI agent shoot his snub-nosed pistol at 15 feet, at the face of an axe, the bullet split into and put out both candles that were placed, one on each side of the axe some 2.5 feet away. He also managed to put all his shots into a 2 inch area at 45 ft. Now that is some shooting gentlemen, try it some time and see if you can match his marksmanship.