Are Snubbies Stupid?

[ilikegunspdx]

Why? The ballistics still favor the 357, even in a short barrel.
You do you and I'll do me.

Agree. 320 fpe for .357 hot load 2". 38 special same parameters = 170 fpe, or about 1/2 the power of the .357.

Looking at energy levels only, 2" .357 with that load is comparable to 9mm standard barrel length whereas .38 is comparable to a 16" .22 shooting stingers.

 

[titsonritz]

Why? The ballistics still favor the 357, even in a short barrel.
You do you and I'll do me.

Agreed, roll on. I would summit there is a difference between shooting and training with a .357.

 

[Greg S]

Yea, I know, snubbies are stupid now days but if you are a boomer, there really wasn't anything of quality or reliability till the plastic fantastic from Austria. In the 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s, snubbies were the shnizzle with stopping power. Forgive me that I'm a dinosaur ya lil snot nosed brat but it's hard to change. Once you learn the ins and outs of running a flip out wheel gun you'll have a better rounded experience to compare. It's new to the kids like going to the dark side, lol

My idea of an auto is a HP or a 1911. Nothing new to learn and it works.

I ventured off course with Sigs, Glocks and XDs. They are dependable but I'm more comfortable with what I know. I'm very comfortable with wheels or autos so I'm not a one trick pony, I can see the advantages of both.

Rant Off. I wanted to sign up for this course as a refresher to push myself again but work travels get in the way. Hell, I might remember sumting I forgot.

 

[titsonritz]

Paper ballistics are one thing, practically reality is another.

 

[Mono1]

The ballistics still favor the 357

.357 Magnum with 125 Grain Hollowpoints.

There. I just saved everyone $53 Dollars.

You're Welcome.

Amazon.com

 

[orygun]

Agree. 320 fpe for .357 hot load 2". 38 special same parameters = 170 fpe, or about 1/2 the power of the .357.

Looking at energy levels only, 2" .357 with that load is comparable to 9mm standard barrel length whereas .38 is comparable to a 16" .22 shooting stingers.

View attachment 1987483
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And my 357 is a 3". Maybe not technically a snubbie, but it carries just like the 642 we have.

Agreed, roll on. I would summit there is a difference between shooting and training with a .357.

Yes. I've shot and carried that little 357 more than any other handgun since I got it 4 years ago. I rarely shoot it SA and love to shoot at moving targets. It's a handful for sure, but it fits my hand better than any other handgun I've ever had, and that really helps.

 

[orygun]

Paper ballistics are one thing, practically reality is another.

Abso-freakin-lutely! Gotta be able to use it. And that I can.

 

[deadeye]

No they're not I carry one constantly with barami hip grips in front pocket but have those for others as well in case I want to change it up a bit. Others get carried owb in silent thunders from garrett ind. some just get stuffed in a coat or shirt pocket. Here are some of them..... I'm lazy and dont want to make a separate pic of snubs, these are some of my pocket carry

 

[1911Fanatic]

Call me Stupid…Colt Python 2 1/2 inch barrel. It's my favorite handgun. It was a gift for my last birthday from my son. Currently it's my only revolver.

I shoot better with 125 gr magnums double action than I do with 38 +P or 38 specials. For some reason the magnums are cleaner. I've had cheap 38's leave so much unburnt order that the cylinder sticks. The 125 gr critical defense is quite manageable, shoots good groups at defensive distances, and If I'm out in the woods I carry heavier 158 gr magnum HP's.

From the holster, I can DA the first round into, or right near the x in the ring, every time. With a magnum, I'm probably unlikely to need a follow up shot, as long as I hit the target in the right place. Body armor? Alright, they're getting a follow up shot in the face. You don't need 18 rounds with a magnum revolver. I've never understood why people buy magnums and then carry them with .38's. Get a Taurus 86 or an S&W J frame if that's all you want.

I have other revolvers, but they are all rimfires.

 

[Greg S]

.357 Magnum with 125 Grain Hollowpoints.

There. I just saved everyone $53 Dollars.

You're Welcome.

Amazon.com

Circa 1980. No complaints from any award winning recipients, LOL

 

[Cerberus Group]

I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze packing a 357 airweight or the like.

Excessive blast, recoil and abuse to both the gun and the shooter.

I really have no use for the terms knock down power, foot lbs of energy etc., as hand guns don't have much of either. Yes, I'm aware of certain handgun calibers can knock down bowling pins and steel better than others, but there's no human that has that type of media in their body...apples to oranges.

How much knockdown power or foot lbs of energy does an arrow have compared to a handgun bullet...yet they take down Elk nicely...and no expansion involved...it's all penetration. Yes, the broadhead acts like little knives, but it still won't do anything without penetration first.

Handgun calibers poke holes, the temporary cavity created by a handgun caliber really causes no wound damage...when a M.E. can't tell the caliber from the wound channel, that should speak volumes...but unfortunately there's been so much written that has been taken as gospel, it's hard to change thought process.

As for HPs, if the round doesn't expand, that doesn't mean the round failed. Penetration is first and foremost important over expansion...just ask the FBI guys at the Miami shootout.

Some bullet types will tumble and end up base forward. What kind of wound channel is being made when tumbling? Wadcutters are well known for doing such things.

I think people are relying on capacity and expansion, over penetration and accuracy.

One doesn't need to run a caliber at Mach 25 to get solid performance. After a certain fps number, the return on the dollar is very minimal.

As I've said before, can run a 357 at low 900s fps, and get both more than adequate pebetration and expansion.

I'd like to watch someone run a 340PD with full power 158gr JHP loads on a 50 round qual.

Better off packing 38 Wadcutters with JHPs on speed strip or loaders for faster loading. Not giving up much ballistically. Or a 32 Magnum, which gives 6 rounds instead of 5.

Place your rounds where they need to go, they'll get the job done.

But as always, you do what you think is best for you.

View: https://youtu.be/2pREqn0Z8q4?feature=shared

 

[titsonritz]

Stupid?
No.
The AirLites on the other hand are just retarded. They hurt even with standard pressure ammo. Fun though.

View attachment 1987446 View attachment 1987452

The AirLites are not nearly as bad as the TiLites like the 342 you have pictured. I use to have one, I'll stick with a 442/642.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Ruger Alaskan 454
When you want to get
the stupid party going

View attachment 1886818

The single hardest recoiling gun that I ever shot was this gun with 260gr. Magtech loads at "The Place To Shoot" on Jantzen Beach. My father, who is not a shooter, opted to try a shot....it dislocated his thumb.

I've shot that thing in two visits to that range, but that was it. Maybe 20 rounds in total. Just a savage beast. I wouldn't mind owning one just for the cool factor alone, and it would pair up nicely with my 16" stainless LSI Puma M92 in .454 Casull.

 

[jwss]

I have a model 60 snub nose that I like to carry inside the waistband. I like how easy it is to find the handle, get a good grasp, and draw it compared to an auto.

I also did some research on ammo and found that the best choice of ammo for .38 snub nose seems to be a wadcutter from buffalo bore:

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

The .38spl out of a snub nose is fairly slow so an expanding hollow point may not be reliable, whereas the completely flat wadcutter in the videos I saw had good penetration and wound cavity. This buffalo bore ammo also has significantly high velocity for a short barrel compared to most other ammo.

The buffalo bore will blow through the wall. Wadcutters are underrated for Home defense

 

[jwss]

The single hardest recoiling gun that I ever shot was this gun with 260gr. Magtech loads at "The Place To Shoot" on Jantzen Beach. My father, who is not a shooter, opted to try a shot....it dislocated his thumb.

I've shot that thing in two visits to that range, but that was it. Maybe 20 rounds in total. Just a savage beast. I wouldn't mind owning one just for the cool factor alone, and it would pair up nicely with my 16" stainless LSI Puma M92 in .454 Casull.

I want to shoot the taurus judge magnum. 45/.410

 

[jwss]

I want to shoot the taurus judge magnum. 45/.410

They have them.that shoot the 454 but almost double the price.

 

[jwss]

Some people don't think a 38 Special Airweight kicks much. In fact, I don't think my 357 3" kicks all that much...


Why? The ballistics still favor the 357, even in a short barrel.
You do you and I'll do me.

I agree. I like the .357 and you can shoot the .38 special if you want or for practice.

 

[Greg S]

S&W 640, alot more pleasurable to shoot. Ti/Lites are nice to carry but suck to shoot.

 

[orygun]

Place your rounds where they need to go, they'll get the job done.

The most important part of the equation.

 

[Otis2022]

Awesome gun. I have a snub-nosed 38 and love shooting it.