Snub Nose Revolvers

[Steve_NEPhila]

Allglock is selling a 442 here on our forum:

http://forum.pafoa.org/firearms-6/73...-lock-nib.html

[AxiTech]

I know this has been probably been hashed out a couple million times, but I am interested in people's opinions and experiences.

I will be eligible for a LCTC permit in a couple of months and have been looking at possible concealed carry guns.

I own a Ruger SR-9 but it's too heavy and big, especially in the summertime when I wear shorts and t-shirts.

I have narrowed my choice down too a snub nose revolver as opposed to a semi-auto as no semi-auto is 100% free of jamming whereas revolvers are. I want something as 100% reliable as possible + revolvers have a lot less moving parts, safety devices, you don't have to worry about chambering a round, etc, etc. These are things I don't want to have to deal with if I have to use it or everytime I make the weapon safe.

To that end, the logical choice seems to be a s&w j-frame or a Ruger LCR.

Can someone explain to me what the difference is between all the j-frames?
360, 337, 342, 640, etc.

Is the LCR any good?

I have had a look around the net wanting to know the opinion of the LCR vs a j-frame but there doesn't seem much too cut it except that the LCR is newer so hasn't really been tested yet.

Any ideas and (especially) experiences will be helpful!!

I only carry autos, and for one reason. Revolvers DO jam, and usually at a really bad time. Don't let anybody tell you they don't jam. It only takes a little bit of pocket lint to RUIN your day. In my case it was a small piece of web gear 'rope'. I swore I would never again trust my life to a revolver. An auto, in the same instance, I would have been able to clear. That revolver was nothing but added weight from the time it jammed on.

[granuale]

Allglock is selling a 442 here on our forum:

Here's one for $432 delivered.

[donm]

You liked the LCR better?

Yes. And as noted elsewhere here, the trigger on the LCR is very good.

[okinawanfighter]

A lot of people will bash the snubbies for many reasons. I used to be one of them. As of now thats all I carry. I've fixed all the reasons why I didnt like them. For example, I couldnt hit shit with them. So i practiced and practiced and practiced. Now I can shoot 15 yards rapid fire all into a head size target everytime with either hand. Why either hand??? Cuz I carry two snubbies, one in each pocket. Why??? Solves the low capacity problem and the reloading problem. Also to boot I shoot all my other guns better because I have mastered the snubbie!!!! Just wanted to throw something positive out for the snubbies for you to think about.

[WVneighbor]

I carry an SR-9 concealed with shorts and T-shirts all the time. In fact 90% of my wardrobe is T-shirts. I generally have no problems concealing when worn at about 2:30. At 3:00 the grip does stick out a little, depending on where I wear my pants.

I will say a GOOD belt will make a huge difference.

As far as a revolver, I have no first hand advice, but I think the LCR is butt-ugly. While that has no bearing on its performance, I have held and fired a J-Frame S&W in .357. Its a handful with full power .357 ammo. But given the choice between stinging hands and serious bodily damage, I'll take the stinging palms every time.

[levib]

I carry a S&W 640 every day. It's a .357mag that fits in my pocket (with a holster, of course). I have spent a lot of time practicing with it to become a good shot with it. Luckily, the triggers on S&W revolvers are pretty outstanding. It has quite a bit of recoil, but it's a heavier J-frame being all stainless. I didn't really want to shoot a .357 with an aluminum frame, as I've heard there can be problems with extended use--plus the extra weight of the stainless frame helps manage recoil.

If you do go with a .357 magnum, I recommend practicing with .38 special for a while until you get proficient, then move up to the higher power ammo. It will be a lot less expensive to practice, and be easier to get the feel of the gun with the lighter loads.

The only thing about my revolver I don't like is that it only carries 5 shots. But it is a relatively short range weapon, and those 5 rounds are .357 magnum... and I typically have a Ruger LCP as a backup gun on my ankle.

[Steve_NEPhila]

Speaking of the LCR, why the heck didn't Ruger just make an SP-101 with an aluminum frame??? Methinks they wanted to put Polymer into something to create "buzz."

[RoyJackson]

Check out the light weight Taurus snubbies too. I carried a Multi-Alloy (aluminum frame, titanium cylinder/barrel shroud) Model 85 for ten years.I still carry it occasionally. I bought a titanium Model 851 (Taurus) a couple years ago. This one is all titanium and has a shrouded hammer (easier to draw and less wear (from an exposed hammer which the 85 had) on the clothing). The only reason I bought the 851 was for the shrouded hammer.

These are really nice guns, every bit as nice as S&W's. Taurus used to have a poor reputation for reliability. The 85 (and it's progeny) never suffered from that reputation. Now, if you do a search on PAFOA, THR and others, you'll read about S&W's quality problems.

Both the guns I wrote about are 15 oz or less (unloaded) and make fine pocket carry handguns.

BTW, I would really like to check out that LCR...the only reason I don't is I have those two fine little guns now.

[MEH]

I know this has been probably been hashed out a couple million times, but I am interested in people's opinions and experiences.

I will be eligible for a LCTC permit in a couple of months and have been looking at possible concealed carry guns.

I own a Ruger SR-9 but it's too heavy and big, especially in the summertime when I wear shorts and t-shirts.

I have narrowed my choice down too a snub nose revolver as opposed to a semi-auto as no semi-auto is 100% free of jamming whereas revolvers are. I want something as 100% reliable as possible + revolvers have a lot less moving parts, safety devices, you don't have to worry about chambering a round, etc, etc. These are things I don't want to have to deal with if I have to use it or everytime I make the weapon safe.

To that end, the logical choice seems to be a s&w j-frame or a Ruger LCR.

Can someone explain to me what the difference is between all the j-frames?
360, 337, 342, 640, etc.

Is the LCR any good?

I have had a look around the net wanting to know the opinion of the LCR vs a j-frame but there doesn't seem much too cut it except that the LCR is newer so hasn't really been tested yet.

Any ideas and (especially) experiences will be helpful!!

I would go with a S&W J-frame over all other snubnose revolvers... I carry a S&W 37-2 everywhere I go.


ETA: I'm thinking about switching to a hammerless S&W, because the hammer on my 37-2 keeps getting caught on my jacket. Just something to remember.