Are Snubbies Stupid?

Mono1 · Dec 7, 2024

Not if that's all you have.

(Looking at Solvy)

No_Regerts · Dec 7, 2024

Cerberus Group said:
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

It's interesting to see how much greater technology and variety exists with hunting cartridges vs. self-defense cartridges. There probably aren't 10 viable SD pistol calibers while I can name more than 10 hunting cartridges in .30 caliber alone. With hunting, you can choose whatever expansion rate that benefits your intended impact velocity. Seems like SD bullets just don't get that kind of attention from the R&D guys.

As someone who hunts and as someone who sees the results of shootings on people, I've noticed a few things. Absent a head or spine shot, rapid blood loss helps a lot. You produce exit holes, or multiple entrance holes, whatever.

boattail · Dec 7, 2024

Today I just shot my ccw renewal side by side with a young ex military man using the latest and greatest 9mm semi auto with red dot sights. Me, with my little 2 1/4" snubby 357 magnum and trench sites. I have trifocal glasses, an injured non dominant arm at 25% strength, arthritis in my dominant thumb, a freshly cracked rib, no good sleep from over a week working long days, and I shot into the sun with my astigmatism and beginning stages of cataracts. I have not pulled a trigger in a year and only did an hour of dry fire practice last night to prepare.

Being able to hold my own, and match group sizes, against a shooter half my age with my little snubby tells me, no, they are not stupid.

dangerranger60 · Dec 8, 2024

boattail said:
Today I just shot my ccw renewal side by side with a young ex military man using the latest and greatest 9mm semi auto with red dot sights. Me, with my little 2 1/4" snubby 357 magnum and trench sites. I have trifocal glasses, an injured non dominant arm at 25% strength, arthritis in my dominant thumb, a freshly cracked rib, no good sleep from over a week working long days, and I shot into the sun with my astigmatism and beginning stages of cataracts. I have not pulled a trigger in a year and only did an hour of dry fire practice last night to prepare.

Being able to hold my own, and match group sizes, against a shooter half my age with my little snubby tells me, no, they are not stupid.

I liked this, But" its the Indian, not the Arrow " is the saying that comes to mind.
If the young man standing next to you had the mechanics of shooting down, he would be writing about how the old guy shooting next to him should have picked something from this century if He wanted to keep up!
The truth is You have the basics of marksmanship down; you probably could have outshot him with a slingshot! The same basics apply.

What makes the snub still relevant today are the same things that made them popular in the past. DR

Otis2022 · Dec 8, 2024

boattail said:
Today I just shot my ccw renewal side by side with a young ex military man using the latest and greatest 9mm semi auto with red dot sights. Me, with my little 2 1/4" snubby 357 magnum and trench sites. I have trifocal glasses, an injured non dominant arm at 25% strength, arthritis in my dominant thumb, a freshly cracked rib, no good sleep from over a week working long days, and I shot into the sun with my astigmatism and beginning stages of cataracts. I have not pulled a trigger in a year and only did an hour of dry fire practice last night to prepare.

Being able to hold my own, and match group sizes, against a shooter half my age with my little snubby tells me, no, they are not stupid.

Right on. It's a great old-school close-range defense weapon. I've carried mine for over 40 years.

orygun · Dec 8, 2024

Otis2022 said:
Right on. It's a great old-school close-range defense weapon. I've carried mine for over 40 years.

I good friend has carried a Taurus snubbie for ages. He commented on the adjustable sights on my 3" 60, saying, "It doesn't matter. Can't hit anything with it, anyway."
To which I responded. "I'll shoot the headlights out of your Mercedes from here", while pointing to his SL500 on the lift about 30 yards away. I know I could and he knew I was telling the truth. But he also thinks 1911s are inherently inaccurate and has seen me make 100 yard hits with mine. Just shakes his head...

BigBallard · Dec 9, 2024

Cerberus Group said:
Are Snubbies Stupid? I think not. Get past the useless caliber rhetoric and look at the facts.

https://youtu.be/zBNliNS9L_A?si=rgksrjzmvUe6ii5N

Checkout our Revolver Operation course coming up in August. We go through the use of full size, snub and pocket sized revolvers of many calibers. There will be a chance to try out many different types of revolvers, calibers and holsters.

https://cerberus-training.com/products/revolver-operation

Can't beat a J frame smith.

Oxygen Mask · Jan 30, 2025

Hotdog 7 said:
Antiquated weapon system, but still highly effective in the right hands. @po18guy is 100% on point when he describes it as the 'manual transmission' of handguns. I find myself carrying a j-frame very often because its so convenient.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym7DpuFmLy4

I think that's backwards. A revolver is simple, point and shoot. (Except for SA guns, cock then point and shoot. ) An automatic transmission is put it in D and go - no other knowlege required. Ever teach someone to drive a manual? There's a lot to know and remember and it takes practice...

I've had revolvers for 45 years or so. I fired my first semi auto 2 years ago. Culture shock! Loading a magazine, inserting it properly, hammer fired, striker fired, grip safety, trigger safety, thumb safety, mag release, special grip, lock wrists, lock arms, crouch with your butt sticking out, linear pull not squeeze, ease to the reset, fail to fire drills, stovepipes, slap rack bang drills (revolvers dont jam), slide release vs rack it, annd seriously- what ammo does it like? etc etc. Wow. That's way more like a manual transmission as far as learning curve and skills required.

So I'd say a revolvers simplicity in use is more like an automatic transmission and the complex operation and additional skills needed for a semi auto is more akin to a manual trans. And to further the comparison, if you master the manual trans you will be a more capable driver, and I think the same goes for the semi auto.

I do enjoy the semi's though. I now have 5 of them....

As for snubbies (to stay on topic

) I dont care for them. The barrel-heavy revolver is so stable and easy to hold on target. A snubby is worse than a compact semi auto for jittery unless your grip and presentation are optimal.... and they kick worse.

OneArgus · Jan 31, 2025

Stupid, no.
But they serve a unique purpose.
Not one I care for.
I would not buy one simply because of what it doesn't do well.

MannyGlocks · Jan 31, 2025

I like revolvers...just not as an EDC.

Why not?

Not enough capacity...ok for a 'bug' gun, but I don't carry a 'bug'...too much additional weight.

My Ruger SP101 (5 shot) weighs enough to act as a boat anchor...fun to shoot at the range.

Mikej · Jan 31, 2025

Snubbie's stupid?

Mine isn't! Don't know about anyone else's?

64MercurysRule · Jan 31, 2025

I like mine .

Alexx1401 · Jan 31, 2025

OneArgus said:
Stupid, no.
But they serve a unique purpose.
Not one I care for.
I would not buy one simply because of what it doesn't do well.

I have LONG been in the "any gun is better than no gun" crowd. When I first started with Wife she had no guns and little knowledge. for a long time her house and carry gun were wheel guns. What turned me was all the damn video's. Had long heard stories of some dobad soaking up rounds and not going down. I thought most of these were tales told over and over and blown up with the retelling. As it got to where camera's were everywhere I started to see way too many where some drug zombie would soak up rounds from a service pistol and refused to shut down. Made me start arming Wife with a double stack auto for home. Still simple designs. All she has to do it point and pull. Difference is now they will fire 18 times if needed

OneArgus · Jan 31, 2025

Alexx1401 said:
I have LONG been in the "any gun is better than no gun" crowd. When I first started with Wife she had no guns and little knowledge. for a long time her house and carry gun were wheel guns. What turned me was all the damn video's. Had long heard stories of some dobad soaking up rounds and not going down. I thought most of these were tales told over and over and blown up with the retelling. As it got to where camera's were everywhere I started to see way too many where some drug zombie would soak up rounds from a service pistol and refused to shut down. Made me start arming Wife with a double stack auto for home. Still simple designs. All she has to do it point and pull. Difference is now they will fire 18 times if needed

I concur I have a Jennings 22LR in the back of the safe.
Id rather have it then nothing. Although the odds of it firing when needed are 50/50 .
I keep it and a few other Saturday night specials, just cause they are good conversational pieces.
One actually has two barrels a long and short one.