In 1974 I used my issued Colt DS 2” snub in a gunfight w/three armed robbery suspects, and had to reload once under fire. In the aftermath one suspect was dead, one arrested the following day seeking treatment for a GSW at a local hospital and the third surrendered on the scene. I’m now in my late 70s and carry a small, light revolver for all the same reasons presented in this video.
there's nothing easier to carry about a snubby than a micro 9mm. In fact, the 9 is easier to carry, due to the much flatter 'bulge" in a kydex front pants pocket hoster.
@user-ci2mn1oy3w There is one thing. An airweight j-frame is just shy of a quarter of a pound lighter than a p365. I assume the 365 is akin in weight to most micros. When you are talking an inch and a quarter vs. An inch vs. 14.4oz vs 17.3oz, I'll take the lighter weight all day. You know, for most of where I find myself anyway.
I'm not military nor law enforcement, just a civilian. Snubbies saved my life...twice. Never had to shoot someone, but then, it's a shield more than a weapon. Most important thing in the OH SH!! moment is not snubbie revolver vs. 9mm semiauto, it's the one thing they can't really train you for...decision-making under pressure.
Good timing, guys. I’ve carried a 1911 .45 for four and a half decades, my wife has a couple of Centennials (prefers the Airweight). I just bought a Model 638.😃 All but one of our concealed house guns are double action revolvers. The snubbie will live forever.
@@jeffhutchins7048 I just got the new Lipseys J-Frame in .32 H&R. What’s not like? Bold sights, properly zeroed, six shots, better grips. And today’s .32 loads are the equal of the .38 defensive loads. But it’s easier to shoot. Win, win, if you ask me. Roy
I'm not going to describe myself as a "professional," but I have been shooting handguns for around 67 years starting with a J.C. Higgins .22 revolver (a High Standard Sentinel made for Sears). In my teens, I became a disciple of Col. Jeff Cooper believing there was nothing better than an M1911A1 in .45ACP. I carried one in the US Army for 16 years before being betrayed by the adoption of the M9 Beretta, suffering through 4 years until I retired. My late wife, however, considered semiautos "guns that shoot back" and couldn't get used to flying brass in front of her face. As a result, I shed my semiautomatics in favor of revolvers including the S&W M1917 that my grandfather carried in France in WW1. After retiring the first time, I carried revolvers almost exclusively, and before I retired for the last time in 2018 I was carrying a S&W L-frame or K-frame .357 Magnum with a S&W K-frame snub in .38 Special as a BUG. My officers, who almost all carried .40S&W Glock 22s, made fun of my revolvers as "old man guns." I told them if they could beat my scores at CLEET qualification that I would switch to the Glock. I retired with a S&W 686-6 in my duty holster and a S&W 12-2 in a pocket holster. Lately, at age 72 and suffering from sciatica, I'm generally carrying a couple of Taurus 856s, one 2" UltraLite and one 3" Defender, or the 856 UltraLite and a S&W 642-1 in pocket holsters. A few weeks ago, I bought a 3" ported steel Taurus 692 Tracker with a .357 Magnum 7-shot cylinder AND a 9x19mm 7-shot cylinder cut for moon clips. It's a bit heavy, but it is accurate and nearly as smooth as the old K-frame S&Ws that are hiding in my safe. On good days, I carry the big Taurus cross-draw with the 856UL in my pocket. I figure I can handle just about any threat expeditiously out to 25 yards and can pose a real threat out to around 100 yards. Snubs aren't "stupid;" they are convenient and effective.
In the autumn of 1964, my uncle, a police officer, introduced me to shooting a revolver. I was 11 years old. The gun was a S&W Model 10 service revolver. My uncle loaded it with low-pressure soft shooting wadcutters. From my first shot to today, I have loved old school revolvers. Over the intervening years, I accumulated both revolvers and semi-autos. Today, my wife would argue that I have more than enough handguns. I do not agree. Having retired to Florida, concealed carry became more challenging. Shorts and golf shirts are standard wear for at least 10 months of the year. Thus, I had to change my ways as the climate dictated. I find myself carrying snub nose revolvers more frequently than semi-autos. I have several to choose from, chambered in .357, .38 Special, .32 H&R, and .22 LR. I prefer aluminum frame snubbies for their light weight. I use pocket holsters and minimalist Kydex rigs. I am always searching for shorts with deep pockets... My wife likes to ride her e-bike in a beautiful, large County park with miles of bike trails. She brings her little dog riding in a basket. Many of those trails are remote, with very little bike and foot traffic. While crime is very low here, the remoteness provides opportunity. So, I bought her several guns. An 8 shot, two inch .22, an 8 shot four inch .22 and a little Beretta Bobcat (7+1). She manages the .22 snubby best. I load it with Federal Punch, flat nose ammo. These have demonstrated excellent penetration. Recoil is non-existent, but the report is surprisingly loud. I run her through varying drills at least once a month. She can put all 8 rounds center mass rapidly and accurately, even under the stress of a shot counter. In contrast, she struggles with most centerfire guns due to recoil. She can shoot the .32 well enough, but she doesn't enjoy it. So, it is what it is. I constantly remind her that a shot to the groin will end most assaults. Instinct would halt King Kong to inspect the jewels should he catch one to his genitals.
This presentation is priceless! My subconscious has been nagging me that I need to revisit having a serious carry revolver as part of my EDC. I’m retired also and have some steel frame Js. Not as easy to carry and I can’t see the sights for diddly regardless of how much orange paint I smear on the sight ramp. And recoil also stirs up my arthritis. A airweight J or an LCR in .22LR or WMR looks better all the time. The new Lipseys in .32 Mag has also caught my attention. I’m not scared of the triggers. I grew up with and attended my first academy with a revolver. Jumped on the semi auto bandwagon soon after, however. The P365 is my current EDC because of mag versatility and size. Thanks for the encouraging words about .32 and the .22s. I have more recently carried .38 wadcutters when I’ve occasionally carried a steel J, but those are hard to find with any regularity in my area. Anyway, I appreciate this video.
I've carried stubbies for years but I recently got a good belly band & found I can comfortably carry a 3" snubby with a 3-finger grip without printing. It has a pouch for carrying 2 speed loaders.
I’m a 74 year old retired Army NCO. I shot on my post pistol team in the 1970s with a 1911, a S&W model 52 and 41. I have 20 1911s in my collection along with Berettas in 22, 32acp, 380acp and 9mm and S&W autos from model 39s to M&Ps. My EDC, a S&W 442 and before that a Taurus 85CH. I have never felt disadvantaged. I gave each of my grand daughters a 3” S&W and my son in law a 638.
I was sitting in St Louis traffic listening and that was top 5 episode. I have carried on a CCW for 20 plus years. I’m an old 58 year mechanic and arthritis has taken hold in both hands. I carry a steel J frame with wadcutters. I hit pretty well with it. But now I will get both a 22 Mag snub , and the SP101 in .327. It’s just a logical choice. That being said , I will still keep the old Browning Hi-power as the winter carry or bad neighbor hood piece. I carry on my ankle from 6am until bed time. Or pocket carry. Great episode and thanks . Oh and tell Tom Mchale the Beretta 92 series is the best 9mm for old torn up hands. I keep one in the truck at all times.
Spot on! As a retired LEO I’ve reduced my carry options to a G43X. It’s the smallest platform I can do my annual LEOSA quals with. It’s an explainable platform in the “world.”
A lot of new shooters (2000 on) look at revolvers as a fud gun or non threatening kind of thing. Yet most have never seen an old guy like me pull out the revolver and go to work at range. To use another phrase, beware the old guy with a wheel gun as he likely knows exactly how to use it. I started shooting wheel guns in the late 60's and used them on and off duty until the mid 80's. I still practice and am accurate with one.
Another old guy with revolvers he knows how to use. I own autos too, but own more revolvers than autos, by far. I always refer new shooters who laugh at revolvers to Jerry Miculeks record breaking videos here on youtube. I tell 'em that I can't even come close to matching Jerry, but I can do it fast enough he probably wouldn't laugh at me!
yeah? from concealment, can you react to the beep of an electronic shot-timer, draw and get 5 hits, at 10 ft, in sub 2.0 seconds? You probably can't do it in 3.0 seconds, if you're using 158 gr plus P lhps, like old fools do.
Please look at S&W 627, 8 round, 2.63"-barrel, .357 mag, that weighs 37.8" ounces, built on the S&W "N" frame. The recoil is truly tame using heavy rounds, I'm 65 yrs. old, who loves revolvers, so this is now my go-to pistol! I own a Shield Plus, yet it stays in my safe. If you have large hands, this revolver is very special. Very nice Warthog behind Darryl Bolke!
I walked into a local sporting goods store one day and it was a great day to be there. They had a performance center 627 snub sitting in the display case. It’s been my favorite ever since.
I am in my 60s, retired LEO and have arthritis. I agree on the "snubby lifestyle" but I find the steel J-frame .357 loaded with .38 specials +p to my liking. The extra weight helps with the recoil and is easier on my arthritic hands. It is a little more work to carry but worth it to me. JMHO I can see getting a .327 magnum or even a .22 magnum snubby as the arthritis in my hands gets worse.
@@bobhill3941 Sworn peace officers FYI, are never "off duty". Once sworn in you are an "officer of the law" 24/7 and available for call-in, like medical professionals.
@@ronalddunne3413 Very interesting, I never knew that, so are they "always on" legally binding or something like that so they can't not be obligated to do their job? I'm curious. I will say that, they shouldn't use their badges to get themselves out of jams us ordinary citizens wouldn't be able to. There was a Blue bloods episode exactly like this, dealing with this scenario.
Interestingly, in Germany, the police draw their gun from the armory when they come on duty and turn it in when they go off duty. 99% of German citizens could not keep handguns at home. (They had to store them at their local gun range) It was strange, because I had several handguns at home. (I lived in an apartment in the local town and also in off-post Army housing) - We could only carry them to-and-from a shooting range, or back and forth to the post, or if you were on duty. (We had a period when we had to ride on the school busses of the Army kids going back and forth to school, due to heightened terrorist threats, but then it was a sidearm drawn from the armory, and not your personal one.) - I often thought how it would feel if the roles were reversed, and non-citizens could have guns here in the states, while citizens could not. Certainly not a comforting thought. Some on here say officers are "on duty 24/7" - Here in the states, in all the departments I was associated with, the officers would only get involved when off-duty if they witnessed a crime with violence. (and many would not even then) Some of the rooks would, but once they were used to the badge, they tended to mellow out. (The qualified immunity is also severely bridged if an officer makes a mistake while acting off duty, especially if they are not within their jurisdiction.)
@@bobhill3941 Although I chose a different path I come from a long lineage of law enforcement and I know for fact that most, not all, departments require their officers to be arm 24-7
It may sound churlish but I’ve solved the problem by: 1) refusing to travel to anti-second amendment states and 2) Driving to my destination. No…it’s not that hard to do once you’ve made up your mind.
With as sh*tty as Boeing planes seem to be lately, who needs a better excuse not to fly? Besides I only have one communist state I still have to go to for family reasons but it's close enough to me I can drive. Kaliforniastan sucks...I retired from there last year!
Iv been carring a snub nose revolver for over 20 years now and every time I pull it out I hit what I'm aiming at,I'm just so used to shooting it, I have countless rounds though it, I'm comfortable and confident with it. And I know I could save my life or other people's lives with it one day. I have 2 speedloaders I carry with me as well, same time I purchased the gun and they are very fast once you get the hang of it, super fast.
It seems to me that the j-frame size subby is the best handgun in a grappling situation. Easy to conceal & grab, reliable to fire, and offers little leverage to the opponent. I'd like to know what percentage of shootings in grappling situations?
Agreed Jim. But I’m not sure what the percentage is. In my own experience as a street cop in San Diego, we went hands-on often. But it seems to be, in most non-cop gun fight there isn’t physical contact. I think speed to first hit is most important then. Roy
Grabbing a 2" J Frame that someone is holding onto is probably a bad idea! In other words: I agree! I also agree with Roy, an armed citizen PROBABLY isn't going to have a bad guy that close. At least they SHOULDN'T if they have the proper mindset/training. BUUUUT you never know what's going to happen.
One of the best videos I have ever watched. Carried the m9 for 21 years. Been retired from the U.S. Air Force for 19 years. Pushing 60 now. Buying a new revolver chambered in 38 because of this videos. Will keep the semi autos in my home pisto safes for home defense, but I am definitely carrying a revolver.
I’ve carried a little bit of everything over the years. Everything from full sized Glock 22’s to a P365. I now carry a S&W 442 performance center with one speed strip in the pocket. I’m almost 40, I have a wife and kids, I don’t go to sketchy areas, and I’m usually home by the latest 7:00. The more I’ve carried over the years the more I’ve found that a snub nose revolver is all I need as a civilian. People can naysay me all they want, but I can carry all day everyday and everywhere I go while the guys that say you need 50 rounds on you is trying their best to dress around their carry firearm and often have to leave it behind because it was too inconvenient to carry that day. And I’ll defend myself to a jury any day with my 5 shot .38 over your 17+ round “tacticool semiautomatic…good luck claiming self defense shooting 10+ rounds! The best self defense weapon of all time is your brain and awareness. If I even get the feeling something is about to go down where I’m at, even a fight, I’m getting out of that situation. Problem is that Hollywood has convinced us that we are going to encounter 50 ninjas with AK’s at our local grocery shopping trips. I think people need to put down the call of duty controllers and turn off the John Wick movies and hop back into reality, and that reality is that in my almost 40 years, as a civilian, I’ve never even had to draw my CCW much less shoot it and chances are I never will.
only if your hand is IN that pocket and only if the attacker is 6 ft or less away, and only if you're a class D shottist with the 1911. A really skilled man with the 1911 can drop a coin from waist height, clear the concealing garment, draw from a belt rig. and dryfire the autopistol before the coin hits the ground. TRY it. sometime. The coin will hit the ground and your gun will still be in your holster, probably with not even your hand on it.
I live in the country. I go to the range with my husband enough to be proficient in a self defense capacity, but a typical compact 9mm isn't for me. I just like a revolver better. Our house is on a fenced acre and our area is prone to rattlesnakes. My EDC on the property is a 2" barrel .38 snub nosed revolver. I keep three rounds of snakeshot and three rounds of hollowpoint (in case any two-legged snakes start trouble). So far, it has taken care of two rattlers. No need for the JHPs yet.
Great episode! Please bring Darryl back soon, informative and fun; his passion is palpable. Started early with revolvers, transitioned to semiautos, but still get plenty of wheel gun time in. Bought a Taurus 856 Executive Grade after Roy's review last year. Actually, turned an admitted S&W snob SO Deputy friend into a believer... Funny how some say, "Glocks are revolver reliable". Thanks for great content
As a lefty, I have a Ruger LCR as my "driving handgun", set up for right-hand draw. I rather have five guaranteed shots than a failure to return to battery from off-hand awkward angled firing of a semi-automatic pistol.
S&W 442UC instead of an LCR, but I do the exact same thing as a left hander. Five shots at car length distance and able to be shot with a poor grip/right up against a threat at least gives me time to either resolve the problem, floor the gas pedal, or get my P365XL out from my strong side holster.
As I live in Germany and (as a civilian) have no chance to get a carry permit for a real gun, I carry a blank gun loaded with pepper cartridges (which requires an own carry permit). I love and have lots of hi-cap pistols, but these guns are not as reliable as the real ones, so I chose a Weihrauch HW88 Airweight, it's a S&W 36 knockoff. Can't forget the safety, won't have feeding issues, and in the summer I can even put it in my pocket without losing my pants.
Besorg die Lieber ein gutes Pfefferspray mit Strahl. Diese Rauchwolken bei Schreckschuss sind völlig nutzlos bei dem leichtesten Wind von der Seite und bei Gegenwind bekommst du es sogar selber ins Gesicht.
DO NOT CARRY a fake gun. That is a really quick way to get yourself killed. When the law is wrong, run the risk and ignore it. You have a right to protect yourself, no matter what a mentally deranged government tells you.
Always nice when the experts agree with what you are thinking. My home defense gun is a 6-shot DA/SA revolver in 32 S&W long that I load with wadcutters. I would have liked to have heard a discussion on the difference in performance between snub-nose and service-length barrels. I see snub noses being offered in 357 magnum, and I wonder whether there is any increase in performance from the magnum round like what you would expect with a service-length barrel. I suspect that with the snubbies there is very little, that the extra powder is just being blown out the barrel unburned.
With ported barrels, to control the horrendous recoil of 5-shot 357s, the 357 Mag can barely exceed 38 +P. Non-ported the 357 has a distinct ballistic advantage. ...but NOT WORTH IT TO ME. A Titanium/Scandium 357 5-shot snub is THE MOST PAINFUL handgun I've ever shot!!!
.357s in the short revolvers are simply not worth it. I’ve done extensive testing and even if they can squeeze a bit more velocity out, the muzzle flash, recoil and fire and brimstone simply aren’t worth it. And letting one off inside, at night, in the dark, with no hearing protection will give you permanent hearing damage and the flash will blind you long enough so you can’t see the bad guy. A standard velocity .38 load is much better. Roy
Only if you don’t train. They take a little getting used to in the beginning but can be very effective for a back up weapon. When a perp is on you accuracy is only two inches away.
Any 357 snub nose revolver can be an ideal woods carry gun for solo hiker or camper. I prefer a big bore 44 Special revolver like the lightweight Charter Arms Bulldog with a 2 1/2" barrel.
I bought two small wheelguns in the last few weeks, a Rossi RP63 (yes, I know Taurus owns them) and a Taurus 327CH TORO, both 3" bbls. I keep buying Taurus revolvers, even though I end up selling every one out of disgust. I bought this most recent one because there aren't a lot of options for .327 and Taurus keeps offering guns I want from S&W, but that S&W refuses to make. Apparently, the philosophy at Taurus is, "the more potentially useful a gun is, the heavier the springs they put in it". They must have thought this one was going to be a huge hit. Springs were so heavy, the gun was literally useless. They also changed the internals in a very questionable way. I put in new springs and have it behaving rather nicely but have not tested it (springs may be one or two turns too light), but that's a simple matter if I get light strikes. However, their "improved" trigger return setup is really suspect. Probably not reliable. You may wish to take a look at the Rossi (RP63). Frankly, I still can't believe they have anything to do with Taurus, because this Rossi is well made, well thought out and a quick spring swap made it really sweet. It was usable with the factory springs, unlike the Taurus, but just not usable enough. The Taurus feels cheap the Rossi, solid and dependable. Neither is yet proven, but I would bet money on the Rossi! Even more money AGAINST the Taurus!!
@@davidkachel I have found the Galloway Precision spring kit and a little judicious stoning of the sear engagement (not reducing the engagement, just polishing the factory angle) for the Taurus 856s and the 692 Tracker work wonders for lightening and smoothing the trigger pulls. YMMV.
I own a lot of different firearms, but the gun I carry the most is a Smith 38 J-frame. It's easy / comfortable to conceal and is legal just about everywhere which is important because I travel a lot for work.
I started with revolvers in the form of a .22 9 shot revolver by H&R and continually go back to them. I love my 1911's and even some poly guns, but revolvers do rock. My truck gun is a .45 Colt Snubby and it fits right and hits right. I don't feel undergunned. I do have a box full of bear loads which are no fun to shoot, but will radically alter about anything in North America. I started my wife with a .38 Special snubby, but load .38 S&W's with tiny bullets for practice. Works well. My latest pistol purchase is a cool one for me as it is a Taurus 692 which has a .357 magnum cylinder for that and .38 specials, but also shoots 9mm with a separate cylinder that pops on and off easily. Love this pistol. With a compensated 3" barrel, it's a bit bigger than the air weights, but is massively controllable with any of the ammo. I hunt with a .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk with a 5.5" barrel. I have to admit though I put my first pistol scope on that, because as I get older, it just isn't as easy to see sights at longer ranges.
Yes, I agree, it took me awhile to get a snubbie... Listening to all the guys talking about velocity loss, But I finally did get a ruger 480 alaskan 2.5 inch barrel, To go with the rossie puma rifle in 480 ruger.. Now I am properly dressed for the occasion.. Great video guys
I was a Sheriff many years ago. At that time we all carried revolvers with at least the minimum stopping power . a 38 125 grain with speed loaders. That is what I always trained with and I am quite good with it. I am old now and still prefer a revolver.
I carried Remington 125 grain .357 Magnum loads in my duty revolvers (S&W 65-1/S&W 686-6) until my chain of command switched me to the Speer 135 grain .357 Magnum "Short Barrel" loads after people complained during qualifications about the blast and muzzle flash. My BUG ammo was the Speer 135 grain .38 Special +P ammunition. I still carry it when I can find it for less than a new car loan.
I am 81yrs, I have found the S&W 38 Airweight snub to be an excellent CW to carry. Most defensive uses will be at a very short range. My 38 cal. Airweight is comforting.
I love the 32 long BB in an old 30-1 Smith. And the Velocitor, Punch, in a 34 Smith. and Silvertip in a Bobcat. A 22 magnum in everything. Thanks for the video. Loved it.
Great points/info brought up in this video for having a snubbie for edc, thank you!!! With my lifestyle, working from home and out and about in my neighborhood takes up probably 75 - 80% of my week, my edc the majority of the time is a snubbie revolver. I do love shooting a semi auto, who doesn't, but like I said, for my lifestyle a snubbie revolver is my #1 edc choice.
In the 90s, I was a bouncer in Chicago bar on division a.k.a. cop bar Cook county sheriffs will show up drunk and dropped their guns on the dance floor. No one ever got arrested their badge was there get out of jail card.
Great podcast, I’m a wheel gun guy through and through. I totally agree on the small cartridge thing. CCI’s new upper cut is a great.22lr round for defense.
I have a Taurus 605 357 mag revolver. I love it!!! It’s never jammed one single time, is always reliable, and I’d trust it when the sh*t goes down. Also the Taurus is a little heavier than the S & W air weight, so the recoil isn’t bad at all. With .38 it shoots almost like a 22. No recoil.
I carry the Kimber K6s 357 magnum as my EDC after giving my wife my S&W 642CT. They are small enough to ALWAYS carry and never get in your way. I’m a great shot with the K6s and 6 shots of 357 magnum and a couple speed loaders on the side is plenty for me!#revolver❤
The k6s has the best pocket revolver trigger I’ve tried. I would love to see them have a greater following so kimber might release more options. I’m up to 3 kimber revolvers now.
Excellent video. I don't have a lot of money to spend on guns, my EDC is a Charter Arms .38spl snubbie. It's been a great gun for me. My preferred ammo are wadcutters. When I go fishing or hunting, I carry a Taurus Judge (short-barrel) for protection with a mix of .410 shot shells and 45LC for animal/snake encounters or even two-legged threats.
I haven't flown in 20 years because of the police state type intrusions at airports. Thanks for convincing me that another 20 years of the same are a very good idea. As for carrying revolvers... if that's what you want, then do it. But follow the experienced advice of Mr. Hickok. Carry two.
As general rules for myself, I don't fly, and I don't travel to places that are unfriendly to my right to self-defense. Unfortunately, one of my kids moved to one of these unfriendly states. Even though I'm LEOSA qualified, when I visit her, I don't carry one of my semiautomatics with a 10 shot magazine. I my S&W 642. Why? Because it's very conceable and legal pretty much everywhere.
After hearing this episode I gathered up five revolvers I own with 3 inch or shorter barrels and spent an hour and a half at the range turning money into noise and making empty brass for reloading. They were a 3" Astra, 3" Ruger SP101, 3" S&W model 36, a 2" Model 10 S&W, and a Colt DS. All are decent shooters and can put all the holes in a 4 inch target at 10 yards. They can probably do better if a better trigger puller was working them. My biggest surprise was 5 rounds of .357 magnum into a nice tight little group from the Ruger, the only one in that caliber, and the only one of the five I have routinely carried.
My EDC pistol is a 1911 Commander in .45ACP, but age has brought on lumbar spinal stenosis, necessitating a smaller, lighter PDW. In semi autos, the SIG P365 with 10 rd mag is the way to go. For a small revolver, I prefer the Charter Arms 3" barrel in .44 Special. 5 shots with a .429" diameter 200 gr. bullet. I think a 3" barrel still classifies as a snubby.
That 3” Charter .44 is nifty. I’ve had a few. I like to load a 180 gr. full target wadcutter at about 700 fps from the short revolvers. Works great and is easy to control and not painful to shoot! Roy
Spooky... I agree with "every word" that Darryl says! We have both done the same exact real-world math. From accepting who we are now, our travel choices, and the very same reasons for carrying a revolver.
There are a lot of reasons for giving the .380acp more serious consideration for EDC. From the reduced recoil and noise, to the ease of concealing and especially the minimal chances of over penetration and hitting a bystander with a through and through shot. Especially as I have gotten older and more sensitive of hand, I have learned to appreciate the lighter rounds.
Thanks for the video. Ever since intruders broke into my home in 2018, I've been carrying almost constantly. I have a small 9mm that is just a little bit lighter and easier to carry than an Airweight. That makes the 9mm my "go to" for this carry. I still love Airweight snubbies for all the reasons that you give. In many ways, the real advantage to the 9mm is that ammunition is so much less expensive. I accept the argument that the .32 Long can be effective for self-defense. A .327 Federal Magnum would be great, and I hear good things about the. 32 H&R Magnum. However, ammunition for all of those is more expensive than 9mm ammunition. I wish the Ruger LCR in 9mm weren't so ugly, but that's still one of the guns that is on my "to buy" list. I wish that Smith and Wesson would make the 642 Airweight in 9mm at a reasonable cost. I've seen a Charter Arms revolver in .22LR that has an 8-round cylinder. This revolver has a four-inch barrel, so it's not a snubbie, but I still like the idea of this kind of gun for self-defense. With a three-inch barrel and chambered for .22WMR, this gun would be a fun choice for carry.
Yes, gotta put emphasis on whats important. Like first off, carry something....for most of us that means light enough and small enough to want to carry it. Second, make sure you can hit what your aiming at. Third, make sure the cartrige is capable of doing what you need it to do...penetrate enoughth to reach vitals and do damage. The likelihood of needing a gun is small, and the likelihood of needing more than 5 rounds is miniscule. I figure I want those 5 shots to be very capable because round 1,2, and 3 are probably going to be the absolute most important ones.
I’m retired military and a private military contractor. I’ve carried 1911s, M9s, and G17s for work for almost 40 years. But my personal EDC has been a S&W 340PD in .357 for the last 25 years. I live in bear country so I need the ability to carry magnum rounds. One additional benefit of revolvers you didn’t mention is that you don’t leave your brass behind. After a justified shooting such as defending yourself from a mugger in an alley, you can just walk away and avoid all the bullshit from anti-gun prosecutors or the lawsuits from the scumbag criminal’s family.
From all the horror stories about prosecutors walk away may be best and I have considered the same option though I luckily neve been in any kind of shooting and hope I never am.
I'm 70. I've been shooting for 64 years; mostly revolvers. Now you've got me thinking "How do I teach someone Double Action Shooting with a Revolver? How do I do that?"
First, tell them to forget the spur on the hammer or remove it (Dremel to the rescue!), and remove the SA sear. Second, change out the main spring and trigger spring, and get the sear engagement polished (Don't change the angle; don't change the amount of engagement. Third, practice, practice, practice. Can't get to the range? Dry fire until you just can't pull the trigger anymore. Fourth, rest up and keep practicing.
@@randallminor4866 I have several older Wrangler cargo long pants that actually have 2 speedloader flap pockets on the left side! The top slash pockets are deep, so the 642 is well down out of sight. Uncle Mike's pocket #4 fits it and easy draw. Keys in the left slash pocket, wallet lower right side. Don't think that style cargo is available any more. Have Wrangler cargo shorts that don't have speedloader pockets, but do have a shallow *horizontal* pocket below the slash pocket, so the speedloaders don't bang against each other. So 15 rounds all year. Winter is CZ 75 Compact decocker outside under cover shirt. All leather Don Hume short holster, good angle for draw. The 14 rd mags fit in a pocket.
California Dep Corrections Peace officer 25 years , retired. I have been to untold numbers of Life sentence Bureau of Paroles hearings where they discuss with the convict all the details of their crime . The 3 or 4 member panel expect his / her participation and admission to their role in the crime . Most Lifers by this time, have already served 12 to 15 years of their sentence and are, for the most part, completely candid about what they did. I have heard countless times where they were robbing people with a .22 revolver or automatic because “they just wanted to scare them “ but they wound up firing the gun and killing them. Not even right away in some cases as the injury would be in what most people would consider a superficial wound. Due to complications of surgery or some other medical issues, the victims still died. Rimfire weapons, be they rifle, pistol or revolver, are no joke. They will drop a strapping 6’4” 290 lb man like a sack of potatoes, never to move again . There are scores of people, bad guys and good, who have underestimated the lethality of those tiny bullets and paid the ultimate price….I just purchased a Smith & Wesson 638 snubby and it has become my EDC for all the reasons mentioned. I have Glocks and SIGs but you can’t beat an extremely light , well made, 5 shot revolver….
Didn't retire from, but 10 years at NM DOC (retired from a different agency) Level IV and V. Have the same experience. Listening to lifers, seems that primarily they used .22lr and it did drop, incapacitate and eventually kill their victim which never shocked their fellow inmates. It's funny how often it shocked the street cops.
Great video full of common sense thoughts. There are many times I grab my LCR22 with Federal Punch and I feel confident. Those are the times I don’t feel like taking the G19 or even my Shield Plus. My wife and I are getting ready to travel for 6 weeks and I think the LCR will make the trip with me. I cannot wait to get one of the Lipsey’s ultimate J frame. Old eyes need better sights.
I have been pocket carrying for the last 20 years.. in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster in my right front pocket.. I own a Smith 342 air light TI 11 oz 38 special centennial and I can carry it in my pocket without even thinking about it being there until I need it.. if I suspect something bad is coming my way I can have my hand in the pocket grip in hand finger off trigger ready to draw and fire I have installed crimson Trace laser grips the short ones the rubber grips reduce recoil and the laser groups are there to double check my site as I am using iron sights and I'm very proficient out to 50 ft.. yes it's five shots but most likely if you have to actually use the snub .. once you fire the first round or two at the first perpetrator I'm sure his friends are going to turn tail and run and if not you still have three more rounds to take care of them.. it's a shame that a lot of so-called tactical training nowadays are people on a firing line shooting 75 plus yards doing quick magazine changes instead of focusing on open hand combat close quarters gun fights.. because 99% of the time if you are attacked it's going to be at close range.. weapon retention.. using the crumpled isosceles stance in order to keep your gun from being grabbed or deflected... Shooting with one hand.. shooting with your left hand... Using your snub to make contact shots something that would jam a semi-automatic.. no worries about ejection port clearance rear slide clearance.. contact shot which pushes your slide and keeps the gun from firing.. all that cannot happen with a snubby it shoots every time
I have the same j frame.. I guess mine is an early production 342 because it does not have the keyhole. I kicks pretty sharp even with practice WWB 130g.. Thing about J frame Centennials and revolvers in general is no failure to feed drill, no failure to eject drill, no double feeds, no failure to fire drill and no magazine to accidentally jettison.. Five, six, or seven chambers mean every malfunction drill is the same.. PULL THE TRIGGER AGAIN. shoot from the pocket, shoot at contact distance.. If the piece is kept in good order you have five pretty much guaranteed chances to save your life in the absolute worst circumstances.
Thanks guys for a great video. Definitely enjoyed it. Specifically the analogy of the kitchen fire extinguisher and the mindset change as I get older that my ability to defend myself and my family as primary and I may not be able to interact with every situation the way that I used to. Thank you for the wonderful thought provoking conversation. God bless and be safe. ☦️🫡
Ruger lcr in .357 magnum. Easy to carry, hard hitting round, surprisingly accurate and a serious defense weapon. I have two simple speed loaders that extend my capacity. Most conflicts are one or two rounds. A lot of people get into this what if scenario and I listen, but that is what I do, just listen. I am in awe of twenty five yard accuracy, even though you don’t need that much accuracy. .357 in the lcr is not punishing and I carry defense loads.
As being 64 and disabled but not helpless some of my semiautomatic pistols it's hard for me to cycle the action. but my revolvers no problems. from 22 all the way to my compact 44mag. truthfully the 44mag does hurt my hand at times just a little but manageable. my 2 and 3in 357mags no problems. papa wishing you well 😊
Fantastic podcast. I carry 2 6 shot revolvers, with lasers. Same model. One positioned so I can access it with either hand (cross draw or ankle), the other strong hand. Same speed loader (or speed strips). Same manual of arms. New York reload if needed. I learned on a model 10 in the academy and carried a model 19 for the 1st part of the career. Always carried a snub as a BUG. It's just a simple, reliable, dependable, easy, functional, carry method. I only have to train with one gun (I have 22lr versions) and deployment is simple and the same for either gun.
@fmgpubs In all my years, I never tried a double shoulder and has been years since I used a single (except for camping with big frames). Comfy? Functional? Model?
@@ricjona1069 It’s a custom one from Rosen. It’s amazingly comfy since the guns are small and light. I like it because you can get to them while sitting or driving and you can draw either right or left-handed. I tried a double gun rig for two LW Colt Officer ACPs but even they were a bit bulky and intrusive. Roy
@fmgpubs My cross draw becomes my primary when sitting or driving. But I can see the functionality/flexibility of the double j-frame holster. Depending on the situation, one gun is the primary and the other the BUG.
I have several J frames and just bought the Lipsey Ultimate J frame . I never feel under gunned when I carry one . A J frame in the hand is better than a ??? in your safe .
I really enjoyed this podcast. I particularly enjoyed it 1) because I have carried a S&W642 for years (it’s at my appendix as I hunt n peck this comment), 2) I own three Hollywood guns I’d never carry but boy those movies were Sierra Hotel, and 3) I decided after years of shooting ARs and 10/22s that the 10/22 is as deadly as they come for home defense. Gonna have to get some .22lr Punch.
Fantastic video, alot of great information, alot I knew, and even more I didn't or didn't think of. What you said regarding shot placement was spot on. My late dad who hunted for 40 years always told me was "It's not what you hit them with, it's where you hit them!"
Reading the comments, everyone seems to be comparing the differences in capacity, but his main points are where you can legally carry these different semi auto's, along with the ease and simplicity of small revolvers for newbies, women, and elderly to run/operate, let's stay on topic.
I frequently carry the 155 grain full wadcutter bullet loaded by book ballistics of 860 fps ! Different target media I’m happy with the performance of that bullet design! I’ve carried oh since late 70’s the Speer Gold Dot bullets loaded , not so much today ! Good one guys !!
Just purchased a Heritage Roscoe .38 snubby, should be arriving soon. So excited to get my 1st real snubby (NAA .22mag purchased 14 years ago) Timeless classic. Might score a .22mag ruger or smith snubby next year.
I carried a S&W model 649 in .357 mag for a time. I carried it as my backup gun as a cop as well. Occasionally I would take it out of my ankle holster and put it in my jacket pocket when making contacts I didnt have a good vibe about. With my hand on it and at times with it pointed directly at them. I live in a violent city now, Albuquerque NM, and I'm bot comfortable carrying a single stack or 5 shot anything. If i were going to carry a wheelgun these days it would have to be a full size .357 mag. S&W 686+ would probably be my choice. Walther P99 AS is what im rocking these days. But i do love the snubby revolver and theyre a better choice than the pocket sized .380. Good video guys
I traveled for a living for decades and I am so glad that I don't have to do that any more and I will drive rather than fly if possible - but sometimes it's just not feasible... but I avoid the airlines like a plague - and what was described in this interview is just one of the reasons. Flying these days sux bad.
Tried for several years to train my wife to manipulate semiauto's in all the flavors, but she just couldn't handle it under a simulated stress situation or when we weren't constantly training. Finally, I decided to buy a S&W snubnose.357/.38 and have her try that. She is WAY MORE comfortable shooting it, she manipulates it like a pro, and is dead nuts accurate. I'd rather her be able to place a few wellplaced shots than just throwing a bunch of lead around IF she remembers how to use it. BANGBANG!!
I do carry a snub 32 H&R and sometimes 38 spl for time to time, but most of the time I still running a semi, if just myself I don’t care to have 5 or 6 rounds, but with my family I don’t feel comfortable, myself I can run, take cover etc but with my family especially because I have little kids, that isn’t a option.
Another thing if you want to have a long gun with you at your vacation spot, look at traveling with the 1894 SBL ! My truck gun, goes with me everywhere I drive.
I carry an SW shield plus with a ported barrel in 9mm and it is an awesome carry gun, because it is compact and super light recoil! Great for seniors and weaker hand strength persons. My SW 66-14 is my home defense gun. Home field advantage for reloads in a pinch. 😊
While they are not pleasing to the eyes, those finger grooved rubber grips allow you to shoot better than those great looking wooden grips. If you put finger grooved rubber grips on that model 15, that contest wouldn't even be close.
The guest brought up something I've been thinking about, carrying in your home. If you had a home invasion scenario, how would you get to a firearm? I guess you could hide a few loaded handguns around your home, but wouldn't it be much safer, way faster to engage and certainly cheaper just to pocket carry your snubbie? And don't underestimate the lowly 22LR as a way to get to a rifle/shotgun.
I live in MA. We have the most ridiculous gun laws in the nation. This video is helpful in figure out what to carry going forward. I am relatively new as a gun owner and I own an AR that is pre-ban in the state, but for a carry piece, I have a polymer 9mm subcompact semi (we are limited to 10 round mags across the board in MA).
In 1974 I used my issued Colt DS 2” snub in a gunfight w/three armed robbery suspects, and had to reload once under fire. In the aftermath one suspect was dead, one arrested the following day seeking treatment for a GSW at a local hospital and the third surrendered on the scene. I’m now in my late 70s and carry a small, light revolver for all the same reasons presented in this video.
Well done! And a reload! Outstanding! Roy
Glad you made it, Brother ...
I bet you would've given anything for more rounds during the event.
That you JW?
@@paulross9287You got that right!
Best explanation I've ever heard.... " It's a get OUT of trouble gun, not a GO to trouble gun."
That's the perfect summary.
It’s really true. It’s like that $5 Harbor Freight cheap socket set in the truck. You don’t “want” to use it, but if you have to, it’s there. Roy
Quit right.
The sound of a full blown 357, I'd a crate of sound, having fired a magnum revolver in confined areas.....
Not for the beginner....
A handgun by definition is a last ditch defensive gun. A rifle is a go into trouble gun.
Snub nose revolvers are great for self defense because you always carry them. Great for primary protection and for backup too.
You nailed it Jeff. It’s the gun you have. Roy
Especially with wadcutters, great penetration low recoil, you’re welcome asshole eat all five of those…
Amen. I started carrying a 637, and my only complaint is that it makes my 686 feel like it's made out of lead.
there's nothing easier to carry about a snubby than a micro 9mm. In fact, the 9 is easier to carry, due to the much flatter 'bulge" in a kydex front pants pocket hoster.
@user-ci2mn1oy3w
There is one thing. An airweight j-frame is just shy of a quarter of a pound lighter than a p365. I assume the 365 is akin in weight to most micros. When you are talking an inch and a quarter vs. An inch vs. 14.4oz vs 17.3oz, I'll take the lighter weight all day. You know, for most of where I find myself anyway.
I'm not military nor law enforcement, just a civilian. Snubbies saved my life...twice. Never had to shoot someone, but then, it's a shield more than a weapon. Most important thing in the OH SH!! moment is not snubbie revolver vs. 9mm semiauto, it's the one thing they can't really train you for...decision-making under pressure.
Good timing, guys. I’ve carried a 1911 .45 for four and a half decades, my wife has a couple of Centennials (prefers the Airweight). I just bought a Model 638.😃 All but one of our concealed house guns are double action revolvers. The snubbie will live forever.
638 is the thinking man's J Frame. Maybe you could make a case for a 32 H&R Mag. version.
@@jeffhutchins7048 I’m well set up for 38 and 357, but these days the 32’s are really coming on. And you can fit 6 in a J frame.👍
Yep, .32 Mag makes sense as a 6-shot.
Just sitting here listening to Tactical Santa 🎅
@@jeffhutchins7048 I just got the new Lipseys J-Frame in .32 H&R. What’s not like? Bold sights, properly zeroed, six shots, better grips. And today’s .32 loads are the equal of the .38 defensive loads. But it’s easier to shoot. Win, win, if you ask me. Roy
I'm not going to describe myself as a "professional," but I have been shooting handguns for around 67 years starting with a J.C. Higgins .22 revolver (a High Standard Sentinel made for Sears). In my teens, I became a disciple of Col. Jeff Cooper believing there was nothing better than an M1911A1 in .45ACP. I carried one in the US Army for 16 years before being betrayed by the adoption of the M9 Beretta, suffering through 4 years until I retired. My late wife, however, considered semiautos "guns that shoot back" and couldn't get used to flying brass in front of her face. As a result, I shed my semiautomatics in favor of revolvers including the S&W M1917 that my grandfather carried in France in WW1. After retiring the first time, I carried revolvers almost exclusively, and before I retired for the last time in 2018 I was carrying a S&W L-frame or K-frame .357 Magnum with a S&W K-frame snub in .38 Special as a BUG. My officers, who almost all carried .40S&W Glock 22s, made fun of my revolvers as "old man guns." I told them if they could beat my scores at CLEET qualification that I would switch to the Glock. I retired with a S&W 686-6 in my duty holster and a S&W 12-2 in a pocket holster. Lately, at age 72 and suffering from sciatica, I'm generally carrying a couple of Taurus 856s, one 2" UltraLite and one 3" Defender, or the 856 UltraLite and a S&W 642-1 in pocket holsters. A few weeks ago, I bought a 3" ported steel Taurus 692 Tracker with a .357 Magnum 7-shot cylinder AND a 9x19mm 7-shot cylinder cut for moon clips. It's a bit heavy, but it is accurate and nearly as smooth as the old K-frame S&Ws that are hiding in my safe. On good days, I carry the big Taurus cross-draw with the 856UL in my pocket. I figure I can handle just about any threat expeditiously out to 25 yards and can pose a real threat out to around 100 yards. Snubs aren't "stupid;" they are convenient and effective.
My “snub” is a 3” 686 Plus with full house .357 mag. Very comforting.
In the autumn of 1964, my uncle, a police officer, introduced me to shooting a revolver. I was 11 years old. The gun was a S&W Model 10 service revolver. My uncle loaded it with low-pressure soft shooting wadcutters. From my first shot to today, I have loved old school revolvers. Over the intervening years, I accumulated both revolvers and semi-autos. Today, my wife would argue that I have more than enough handguns. I do not agree.
Having retired to Florida, concealed carry became more challenging. Shorts and golf shirts are standard wear for at least 10 months of the year. Thus, I had to change my ways as the climate dictated. I find myself carrying snub nose revolvers more frequently than semi-autos. I have several to choose from, chambered in .357, .38 Special, .32 H&R, and .22 LR. I prefer aluminum frame snubbies for their light weight. I use pocket holsters and minimalist Kydex rigs. I am always searching for shorts with deep pockets...
My wife likes to ride her e-bike in a beautiful, large County park with miles of bike trails. She brings her little dog riding in a basket. Many of those trails are remote, with very little bike and foot traffic. While crime is very low here, the remoteness provides opportunity. So, I bought her several guns. An 8 shot, two inch .22, an 8 shot four inch .22 and a little Beretta Bobcat (7+1). She manages the .22 snubby best. I load it with Federal Punch, flat nose ammo. These have demonstrated excellent penetration. Recoil is non-existent, but the report is surprisingly loud. I run her through varying drills at least once a month. She can put all 8 rounds center mass rapidly and accurately, even under the stress of a shot counter. In contrast, she struggles with most centerfire guns due to recoil. She can shoot the .32 well enough, but she doesn't enjoy it. So, it is what it is. I constantly remind her that a shot to the groin will end most assaults. Instinct would halt King Kong to inspect the jewels should he catch one to his genitals.
you never have enough handguns even of the same caliber
This presentation is priceless! My subconscious has been nagging me that I need to revisit having a serious carry revolver as part of my EDC. I’m retired also and have some steel frame Js. Not as easy to carry and I can’t see the sights for diddly regardless of how much orange paint I smear on the sight ramp. And recoil also stirs up my arthritis. A airweight J or an LCR in .22LR or WMR looks better all the time. The new Lipseys in .32 Mag has also caught my attention. I’m not scared of the triggers. I grew up with and attended my first academy with a revolver. Jumped on the semi auto bandwagon soon after, however. The P365 is my current EDC because of mag versatility and size. Thanks for the encouraging words about .32 and the .22s. I have more recently carried .38 wadcutters when I’ve occasionally carried a steel J, but those are hard to find with any regularity in my area. Anyway, I appreciate this video.
I've carried stubbies for years but I recently got a good belly band & found I can comfortably carry a 3" snubby with a 3-finger grip without printing. It has a pouch for carrying 2 speed loaders.
I’m a 74 year old retired Army NCO. I shot on my post pistol team in the 1970s with a 1911, a S&W model 52 and 41. I have 20 1911s in my collection along with Berettas in 22, 32acp, 380acp and 9mm and S&W autos from model 39s to M&Ps. My EDC, a S&W 442 and before that a Taurus 85CH. I have never felt disadvantaged. I gave each of my grand daughters a 3” S&W and my son in law a 638.
Good decisions on the gift guns! Roy
I was sitting in St Louis traffic listening and that was top 5 episode. I have carried on a CCW for 20 plus years. I’m an old 58 year mechanic and arthritis has taken hold in both hands. I carry a steel J frame with wadcutters. I hit pretty well with it. But now I will get both a 22 Mag snub , and the SP101 in .327. It’s just a logical choice. That being said , I will still keep the old Browning Hi-power as the winter carry or bad neighbor hood piece. I carry on my ankle from 6am until bed time. Or pocket carry. Great episode and thanks . Oh and tell Tom Mchale the Beretta 92 series is the best 9mm for old torn up hands. I keep one in the truck at all times.
He makes more sense than he should be allowed to make.
He always does … Roy
Spot on! As a retired LEO I’ve reduced my carry options to a G43X. It’s the smallest platform I can do my annual LEOSA quals with. It’s an explainable platform in the “world.”
A lot of new shooters (2000 on) look at revolvers as a fud gun or non threatening kind of thing. Yet most have never seen an old guy like me pull out the revolver and go to work at range. To use another phrase, beware the old guy with a wheel gun as he likely knows exactly how to use it. I started shooting wheel guns in the late 60's and used them on and off duty until the mid 80's. I still practice and am accurate with one.
Another old guy with revolvers he knows how to use. I own autos too, but own more revolvers than autos, by far. I always refer new shooters who laugh at revolvers to Jerry Miculeks record breaking videos here on youtube. I tell 'em that I can't even come close to matching Jerry, but I can do it fast enough he probably wouldn't laugh at me!
I have two pieces in my edc rotation, and one is a wheelgun…but a 3” model 36 is the one I carry most often. The other is a Beretta Cheetah.
yeah? from concealment, can you react to the beep of an electronic shot-timer, draw and get 5 hits, at 10 ft, in sub 2.0 seconds? You probably can't do it in 3.0 seconds, if you're using 158 gr plus P lhps, like old fools do.
My snubbie is in .44Sp spelled, MISTER FUDD!!!
@@SonnyCrocket-p6h that's called a straw man argument.
Just sitting here listening to Tactical Santa 🎅
🤣
That’s funny, I’m literally watching this on Christmas Eve!
Hope you get a gun for Christmas!
Please look at S&W 627, 8 round, 2.63"-barrel, .357 mag, that weighs 37.8" ounces, built on the S&W "N" frame. The recoil is truly tame using heavy rounds, I'm 65 yrs. old, who loves revolvers, so this is now my go-to pistol! I own a Shield Plus, yet it stays in my safe. If you have large hands, this revolver is very special. Very nice Warthog behind Darryl Bolke!
Love those short barreled 27s! Roy
I walked into a local sporting goods store one day and it was a great day to be there. They had a performance center 627 snub sitting in the display case. It’s been my favorite ever since.
I am in my 60s, retired LEO and have arthritis. I agree on the "snubby lifestyle" but I find the steel J-frame .357 loaded with .38 specials +p to my liking. The extra weight helps with the recoil and is easier on my arthritic hands. It is a little more work to carry but worth it to me. JMHO
I can see getting a .327 magnum or even a .22 magnum snubby as the arthritis in my hands gets worse.
I’m transitioning to the .32 H&R in my snubbies. An extra shot and much lower recoil. Roy
As a retired LEO, my family is important now and the rest of the public is not my problem.
Me too
Me three.
@@oldtanker4860 Boy howdy. And, as my dad used to say to me when I was a cop in San Diego, “Shoot back, first.” Roy
Exactly 💯
Stole enough, through seat belt and tint tickets.
"My badge will get me out of trouble" thats the problem. Rules for thee but not for me.
Exactly, if police want to earn our trust, they need to act like us and be just as accountable. Cops shouldn't carry their badges off duty.
@@bobhill3941 Sworn peace officers FYI, are never "off duty". Once sworn in you are an "officer of the law" 24/7 and available for call-in, like medical professionals.
@@ronalddunne3413 Very interesting, I never knew that, so are they "always on" legally binding or something like that so they can't not be obligated to do their job? I'm curious.
I will say that, they shouldn't use their badges to get themselves out of jams us ordinary citizens wouldn't be able to.
There was a Blue bloods episode exactly like this, dealing with this scenario.
Interestingly, in Germany, the police draw their gun from the armory when they come on duty and turn it in when they go off duty.
99% of German citizens could not keep handguns at home. (They had to store them at their local gun range)
It was strange, because I had several handguns at home. (I lived in an apartment in the local town and also in off-post Army housing) - We could only carry them to-and-from a shooting range, or back and forth to the post, or if you were on duty. (We had a period when we had to ride on the school busses of the Army kids going back and forth to school, due to heightened terrorist threats, but then it was a sidearm drawn from the armory, and not your personal one.) - I often thought how it would feel if the roles were reversed, and non-citizens could have guns here in the states, while citizens could not. Certainly not a comforting thought.
Some on here say officers are "on duty 24/7" - Here in the states, in all the departments I was associated with, the officers would only get involved when off-duty if they witnessed a crime with violence. (and many would not even then) Some of the rooks would, but once they were used to the badge, they tended to mellow out.
(The qualified immunity is also severely bridged if an officer makes a mistake while acting off duty, especially if they are not within their jurisdiction.)
@@bobhill3941 Although I chose a different path I come from a long lineage of law enforcement and I know for fact that most, not all, departments require their officers to be arm 24-7
Great stuff! I’ve been sayin the same about 22s for a while now. The ballistics have changed amazingly. Gene🤠
It may sound churlish but I’ve solved the problem by: 1) refusing to travel to anti-second amendment states and 2) Driving to my destination. No…it’s not that hard to do once you’ve made up your mind.
Agreed Thom. I’m about the same. Roy
Same here.
With as sh*tty as Boeing planes seem to be lately, who needs a better excuse not to fly? Besides I only have one communist state I still have to go to for family reasons but it's close enough to me I can drive. Kaliforniastan sucks...I retired from there last year!
sad way to live life right here
@@sneak916 how do u live your life?
Iv been carring a snub nose revolver for over 20 years now and every time I pull it out I hit what I'm aiming at,I'm just so used to shooting it,
I have countless rounds though it,
I'm comfortable and confident with it.
And I know I could save my life or other people's lives with it one day.
I have 2 speedloaders I carry with me as well, same time I purchased the gun and they are very fast once you get the hang of it, super fast.
It seems to me that the j-frame size subby is the best handgun in a grappling situation. Easy to conceal & grab, reliable to fire, and offers little leverage to the opponent.
I'd like to know what percentage of shootings in grappling situations?
Agreed Jim. But I’m not sure what the percentage is. In my own experience as a street cop in San Diego, we went hands-on often. But it seems to be, in most non-cop gun fight there isn’t physical contact. I think speed to first hit is most important then. Roy
Grabbing a 2" J Frame that someone is holding onto is probably a bad idea! In other words: I agree!
I also agree with Roy, an armed citizen PROBABLY isn't going to have a bad guy that close. At least they SHOULDN'T if they have the proper mindset/training. BUUUUT you never know what's going to happen.
@@jeffhutchins7048 Never do. But if they grab my gun there is going to be a loud noise and a surprised look on someone’s face, eh? Roy
I would say that's a good way to resolve the problem! Hopefully I can wrestle it around enough to get the cylinder to rotate...probably can.
And you can fire it without having to remove it from your pocket.
One of the best videos I have ever watched. Carried the m9 for 21 years. Been retired from the U.S. Air Force for 19 years. Pushing 60 now. Buying a new revolver chambered in 38 because of this videos. Will keep the semi autos in my home pisto safes for home defense, but I am definitely carrying a revolver.
Thanks Bob. I’ll get the guys know. Roy
I’ve carried a little bit of everything over the years. Everything from full sized Glock 22’s to a P365. I now carry a S&W 442 performance center with one speed strip in the pocket. I’m almost 40, I have a wife and kids, I don’t go to sketchy areas, and I’m usually home by the latest 7:00. The more I’ve carried over the years the more I’ve found that a snub nose revolver is all I need as a civilian. People can naysay me all they want, but I can carry all day everyday and everywhere I go while the guys that say you need 50 rounds on you is trying their best to dress around their carry firearm and often have to leave it behind because it was too inconvenient to carry that day. And I’ll defend myself to a jury any day with my 5 shot .38 over your 17+ round “tacticool semiautomatic…good luck claiming self defense shooting 10+ rounds! The best self defense weapon of all time is your brain and awareness. If I even get the feeling something is about to go down where I’m at, even a fight, I’m getting out of that situation. Problem is that Hollywood has convinced us that we are going to encounter 50 ninjas with AK’s at our local grocery shopping trips. I think people need to put down the call of duty controllers and turn off the John Wick movies and hop back into reality, and that reality is that in my almost 40 years, as a civilian, I’ve never even had to draw my CCW much less shoot it and chances are I never will.
Great show, super informative. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and expertise…looking forward to the next one.
Thanks sir. We’ll keep it up. Roy
As an older man, I find snubbies are ideal for my method of concealed carry. I carry a DAO S&W 640-3 Centennial .357 magnum with 38 special +P loads.
357 mag is a minimum fir me
A j frame in the front pocket at an ATM in the dark is way more comforting than a Custom 1911 in a hip or shoulder holster.
only if your hand is IN that pocket and only if the attacker is 6 ft or less away, and only if you're a class D shottist with the 1911. A really skilled man with the 1911 can drop a coin from waist height, clear the concealing garment, draw from a belt rig. and dryfire the autopistol before the coin hits the ground. TRY it. sometime. The coin will hit the ground and your gun will still be in your holster, probably with not even your hand on it.
Especially for those of us who do not wear cover garments.
A snub nose stainless Model 60 in 38 Special.
I live in the country. I go to the range with my husband enough to be proficient in a self defense capacity, but a typical compact 9mm isn't for me. I just like a revolver better.
Our house is on a fenced acre and our area is prone to rattlesnakes. My EDC on the property is a 2" barrel .38 snub nosed revolver. I keep three rounds of snakeshot and three rounds of hollowpoint (in case any two-legged snakes start trouble). So far, it has taken care of two rattlers. No need for the JHPs yet.
A perfect solution to your situation and yet another reason to love the small revolvers! Roy
Comfortable to carry,comes out and on target super fast(S&W 642) and surprisingly accurate at close range.
Great episode! Please bring Darryl back soon, informative and fun; his passion is palpable. Started early with revolvers, transitioned to semiautos, but still get plenty of wheel gun time in. Bought a Taurus 856 Executive Grade after Roy's review last year. Actually, turned an admitted S&W snob SO Deputy friend into a believer... Funny how some say, "Glocks are revolver reliable". Thanks for great content
Love that Glock comment! I'm sure we'll drag Bolke back soon. Roy
As a lefty, I have a Ruger LCR as my "driving handgun", set up for right-hand draw.
I rather have five guaranteed shots than a failure to return to battery from off-hand awkward angled firing of a semi-automatic pistol.
S&W 442UC instead of an LCR, but I do the exact same thing as a left hander.
Five shots at car length distance and able to be shot with a poor grip/right up against a threat at least gives me time to either resolve the problem, floor the gas pedal, or get my P365XL out from my strong side holster.
LCR .,.. fantastic! and light weight...in pocket... don't need a holster
Right or left hand friendly...LCR
As I live in Germany and (as a civilian) have no chance to get a carry permit for a real gun, I carry a blank gun loaded with pepper cartridges (which requires an own carry permit).
I love and have lots of hi-cap pistols, but these guns are not as reliable as the real ones, so I chose a Weihrauch HW88 Airweight, it's a S&W 36 knockoff.
Can't forget the safety, won't have feeding issues, and in the summer I can even put it in my pocket without losing my pants.
Besorg die Lieber ein gutes Pfefferspray mit Strahl. Diese Rauchwolken bei Schreckschuss sind völlig nutzlos bei dem leichtesten Wind von der Seite und bei Gegenwind bekommst du es sogar selber ins Gesicht.
DO NOT CARRY a fake gun. That is a really quick way to get yourself killed. When the law is wrong, run the risk and ignore it. You have a right to protect yourself, no matter what a mentally deranged government tells you.
Always nice when the experts agree with what you are thinking. My home defense gun is a 6-shot DA/SA revolver in 32 S&W long that I load with wadcutters. I would have liked to have heard a discussion on the difference in performance between snub-nose and service-length barrels. I see snub noses being offered in 357 magnum, and I wonder whether there is any increase in performance from the magnum round like what you would expect with a service-length barrel. I suspect that with the snubbies there is very little, that the extra powder is just being blown out the barrel unburned.
With ported barrels, to control the horrendous recoil of 5-shot 357s, the 357 Mag can barely exceed 38 +P.
Non-ported the 357 has a distinct ballistic advantage. ...but NOT WORTH IT TO ME.
A Titanium/Scandium 357 5-shot snub is THE MOST PAINFUL handgun I've ever shot!!!
.357s in the short revolvers are simply not worth it. I’ve done extensive testing and even if they can squeeze a bit more velocity out, the muzzle flash, recoil and fire and brimstone simply aren’t worth it. And letting one off inside, at night, in the dark, with no hearing protection will give you permanent hearing damage and the flash will blind you long enough so you can’t see the bad guy. A standard velocity .38 load is much better. Roy
Only if you don’t train. They take a little getting used to in the beginning but can be very effective for a back up weapon. When a perp is on you accuracy is only two inches away.
A 357 mag snub nose can be general and good in the city or the forest.
Any 357 snub nose revolver can be an ideal woods carry gun for solo hiker or camper.
I prefer a big bore 44 Special revolver like the lightweight Charter Arms Bulldog with a 2 1/2" barrel.
In the pocket in the subway…
And they don't shit on the floor like my 1911 but I ain't giving up either. Jest sayin. Ruger SP101
I refer to J frames as five and run guns. If things go bad you have five rounds to break contact and get to safety.
Well said, Dave. Roy
Speed loaders.
6 and run for me 👌 327 federal magnum is pretty sweet for that
if you need 5 you need to train more
Taurus 85 is the only Taurus I've ever liked. Great carry gun.
I bought two small wheelguns in the last few weeks, a Rossi RP63 (yes, I know Taurus owns them) and a Taurus 327CH TORO, both 3" bbls. I keep buying Taurus revolvers, even though I end up selling every one out of disgust. I bought this most recent one because there aren't a lot of options for .327 and Taurus keeps offering guns I want from S&W, but that S&W refuses to make. Apparently, the philosophy at Taurus is, "the more potentially useful a gun is, the heavier the springs they put in it". They must have thought this one was going to be a huge hit. Springs were so heavy, the gun was literally useless. They also changed the internals in a very questionable way. I put in new springs and have it behaving rather nicely but have not tested it (springs may be one or two turns too light), but that's a simple matter if I get light strikes. However, their "improved" trigger return setup is really suspect. Probably not reliable. You may wish to take a look at the Rossi (RP63). Frankly, I still can't believe they have anything to do with Taurus, because this Rossi is well made, well thought out and a quick spring swap made it really sweet. It was usable with the factory springs, unlike the Taurus, but just not usable enough. The Taurus feels cheap the Rossi, solid and dependable. Neither is yet proven, but I would bet money on the Rossi! Even more money AGAINST the Taurus!!
I’ve got a Taurus 856 Ultra Lite. Great little gun. I don’t carry it every day but I love it. Currently running Federal Punch.
@@davidkachel I have found the Galloway Precision spring kit and a little judicious stoning of the sear engagement (not reducing the engagement, just polishing the factory angle) for the Taurus 856s and the 692 Tracker work wonders for lightening and smoothing the trigger pulls. YMMV.
I own a lot of different firearms, but the gun I carry the most is a Smith 38 J-frame. It's easy / comfortable to conceal and is legal just about everywhere which is important because I travel a lot for work.
Me too, but mine is a 3 inch barrel
I started with revolvers in the form of a .22 9 shot revolver by H&R and continually go back to them. I love my 1911's and even some poly guns, but revolvers do rock. My truck gun is a .45 Colt Snubby and it fits right and hits right. I don't feel undergunned. I do have a box full of bear loads which are no fun to shoot, but will radically alter about anything in North America. I started my wife with a .38 Special snubby, but load .38 S&W's with tiny bullets for practice. Works well. My latest pistol purchase is a cool one for me as it is a Taurus 692 which has a .357 magnum cylinder for that and .38 specials, but also shoots 9mm with a separate cylinder that pops on and off easily. Love this pistol. With a compensated 3" barrel, it's a bit bigger than the air weights, but is massively controllable with any of the ammo. I hunt with a .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk with a 5.5" barrel. I have to admit though I put my first pistol scope on that, because as I get older, it just isn't as easy to see sights at longer ranges.
Yes, I agree, it took me awhile to get a snubbie...
Listening to all the guys talking about velocity loss,
But I finally did get a ruger 480 alaskan 2.5 inch barrel,
To go with the rossie puma rifle in 480 ruger..
Now I am properly dressed for the occasion..
Great video guys
I was a Sheriff many years ago. At that time we all carried revolvers with at least the minimum stopping power . a 38 125 grain with speed loaders.
That is what I always trained with and I am quite good with it.
I am old now and still prefer a revolver.
We used to carry the same 125 gr. loads. Roy
I carried Remington 125 grain .357 Magnum loads in my duty revolvers (S&W 65-1/S&W 686-6) until my chain of command switched me to the Speer 135 grain .357 Magnum "Short Barrel" loads after people complained during qualifications about the blast and muzzle flash. My BUG ammo was the Speer 135 grain .38 Special +P ammunition. I still carry it when I can find it for less than a new car loan.
I am 81yrs, I have found the S&W 38 Airweight snub to be an excellent CW to carry. Most defensive uses will be at a very short range. My 38 cal. Airweight is comforting.
Exactly sir. Comforting … Roy
Great info,,,,Thanks,,,,my carry a 442 ….light and in a sticky holster
My S&W 66-2 snub has been with me since 1985 and carried here in Texas for the last 20yrs. And carried appendix….
I love the 32 long BB in an old 30-1 Smith. And the Velocitor, Punch, in a 34 Smith. and Silvertip in a Bobcat. A 22 magnum in everything. Thanks for the video. Loved it.
Great points/info brought up in this video for having a snubbie for edc, thank you!!! With my lifestyle, working from home and out and about in my neighborhood takes up probably 75 - 80% of my week, my edc the majority of the time is a snubbie revolver. I do love shooting a semi auto, who doesn't, but like I said, for my lifestyle a snubbie revolver is my #1 edc choice.
In the 90s, I was a bouncer in Chicago bar on division a.k.a. cop bar Cook county sheriffs will show up drunk and dropped their guns on the dance floor. No one ever got arrested their badge was there get out of jail card.
Great podcast, I’m a wheel gun guy through and through. I totally agree on the small cartridge thing. CCI’s new upper cut is a great.22lr round for defense.
I have a Taurus 605 357 mag revolver. I love it!!! It’s never jammed one single time, is always reliable, and I’d trust it when the sh*t goes down. Also the Taurus is a little heavier than the S & W air weight, so the recoil isn’t bad at all. With .38 it shoots almost like a 22. No recoil.
That 605 is a sleeper for the money.
I carry the Kimber K6s 357 magnum as my EDC after giving my wife my S&W 642CT. They are small enough to ALWAYS carry and never get in your way. I’m a great shot with the K6s and 6 shots of 357 magnum and a couple speed loaders on the side is plenty for me!#revolver❤
The k6s has the best pocket revolver trigger I’ve tried. I would love to see them have a greater following so kimber might release more options. I’m up to 3 kimber revolvers now.
Got a k6 a few years ago nice gun to carry. The trigger pull is so smooth.
Excellent video. I don't have a lot of money to spend on guns, my EDC is a Charter Arms .38spl snubbie. It's been a great gun for me. My preferred ammo are wadcutters. When I go fishing or hunting, I carry a Taurus Judge (short-barrel) for protection with a mix of .410 shot shells and 45LC for animal/snake encounters or even two-legged threats.
It’s all you need! Roy
I haven't flown in 20 years because of the police state type intrusions at airports. Thanks for convincing me that another 20 years of the same are a very good idea. As for carrying revolvers... if that's what you want, then do it. But follow the experienced advice of Mr. Hickok. Carry two.
I always do .. Roy
@@fmgpubs ...and never sit with your back to the door! ;-)
As general rules for myself, I don't fly, and I don't travel to places that are unfriendly to my right to self-defense. Unfortunately, one of my kids moved to one of these unfriendly states. Even though I'm LEOSA qualified, when I visit her, I don't carry one of my semiautomatics with a 10 shot magazine. I my S&W 642. Why? Because it's very conceable and legal pretty much everywhere.
@@sportdriver Agreed. They're almost invisible to cops. "Oh, just a small revolver." Roy
Phenomenal discussion! Gun Sam sold me on 22 Punch for my LCR 22lr. Also love my K6XS 38 special.
After hearing this episode I gathered up five revolvers I own with 3 inch or shorter barrels and spent an hour and a half at the range turning money into noise and making empty brass for reloading. They were a 3" Astra, 3" Ruger SP101, 3" S&W model 36, a 2" Model 10 S&W, and a Colt DS. All are decent shooters and can put all the holes in a 4 inch target at 10 yards. They can probably do better if a better trigger puller was working them. My biggest surprise was 5 rounds of .357 magnum into a nice tight little group from the Ruger, the only one in that caliber, and the only one of the five I have routinely carried.
Scott, give this a watch to hone your trigger skills. Roy. ua-cam.com/video/u1mTRuzXAuY/v-deo.html
Dude I love the Astra. Wish they still made them.
YES,Yes,and yes. Ruger SP 101, S&W Air Weight, and NAA 22 mag.
My EDC pistol is a 1911 Commander in .45ACP, but age has brought on lumbar spinal stenosis, necessitating a smaller, lighter PDW. In semi autos, the SIG P365 with 10 rd mag is the way to go.
For a small revolver, I prefer the Charter Arms 3" barrel in .44 Special. 5 shots with a .429" diameter 200 gr. bullet. I think a 3" barrel still classifies as a snubby.
That 3” Charter .44 is nifty. I’ve had a few. I like to load a 180 gr. full target wadcutter at about 700 fps from the short revolvers. Works great and is easy to control and not painful to shoot! Roy
Spooky... I agree with "every word" that Darryl says! We have both done the same exact real-world math. From accepting who we are now, our travel choices, and the very same reasons for carrying a revolver.
Love the fire extinguisher analogy👍. An instructor and competitor said to me a long time ago, a 22mm hit does more damage than a 9mm miss.
Thanks Laird! Roy
I love the firefighter analogy. That’s exactly right. This is such a good interview. Thank you.
There are a lot of reasons for giving the .380acp more serious consideration for EDC. From the reduced recoil and noise, to the ease of concealing and especially the minimal chances of over penetration and hitting a bystander with a through and through shot. Especially as I have gotten older and more sensitive of hand, I have learned to appreciate the lighter rounds.
I agree completely! Roy
@@ChadBoss-qr4hl If you have to shoot, a lawyer will cost you more than that $1200.
Thanks for the video.
Ever since intruders broke into my home in 2018, I've been carrying almost constantly. I have a small 9mm that is just a little bit lighter and easier to carry than an Airweight. That makes the 9mm my "go to" for this carry. I still love Airweight snubbies for all the reasons that you give. In many ways, the real advantage to the 9mm is that ammunition is so much less expensive. I accept the argument that the .32 Long can be effective for self-defense. A .327 Federal Magnum would be great, and I hear good things about the. 32 H&R Magnum. However, ammunition for all of those is more expensive than 9mm ammunition. I wish the Ruger LCR in 9mm weren't so ugly, but that's still one of the guns that is on my "to buy" list. I wish that Smith and Wesson would make the 642 Airweight in 9mm at a reasonable cost.
I've seen a Charter Arms revolver in .22LR that has an 8-round cylinder. This revolver has a four-inch barrel, so it's not a snubbie, but I still like the idea of this kind of gun for self-defense. With a three-inch barrel and chambered for .22WMR, this gun would be a fun choice for carry.
Agreed on the home carry. Not many people understand the value of that. Things happen so fast. Roy
@@fmgpubs You are right. Things happen fast. I was fortunate to survive not being armed.
Yes, gotta put emphasis on whats important. Like first off, carry something....for most of us that means light enough and small enough to want to carry it. Second, make sure you can hit what your aiming at. Third, make sure the cartrige is capable of doing what you need it to do...penetrate enoughth to reach vitals and do damage. The likelihood of needing a gun is small, and the likelihood of needing more than 5 rounds is miniscule. I figure I want those 5 shots to be very capable because round 1,2, and 3 are probably going to be the absolute most important ones.
I’m retired military and a private military contractor. I’ve carried 1911s, M9s, and G17s for work for almost 40 years.
But my personal EDC has been a S&W 340PD in .357 for the last 25 years. I live in bear country so I need the ability to carry magnum rounds.
One additional benefit of revolvers you didn’t mention is that you don’t leave your brass behind. After a justified shooting such as defending yourself from a mugger in an alley, you can just walk away and avoid all the bullshit from anti-gun prosecutors or the lawsuits from the scumbag criminal’s family.
That sounds more like an invitation to get away with murder!
Only problem is now it looks like you murdered someone
From all the horror stories about prosecutors walk away may be best and I have considered the same option though I luckily neve been in any kind of shooting and hope I never am.
I so enjoyed this video and shared it with family. Truly appreciate the no nonsense professionalism.
Great work!
Thanks Jeff. I’ll let the guys know. Roy
I'm 70. I've been shooting for 64 years; mostly revolvers. Now you've got me thinking "How do I teach someone Double Action Shooting with a Revolver? How do I do that?"
Start here: ua-cam.com/video/u1mTRuzXAuY/v-deo.html It all applies to any size revolver. Roy
First, tell them to forget the spur on the hammer or remove it (Dremel to the rescue!), and remove the SA sear.
Second, change out the main spring and trigger spring, and get the sear engagement polished (Don't change the angle; don't change the amount of engagement.
Third, practice, practice, practice. Can't get to the range? Dry fire until you just can't pull the trigger anymore.
Fourth, rest up and keep practicing.
Shorts, T shirt, 642, 2 speedloaders, Uncle Mike's pocket holster. No excuse to not carry all year.
Agreed completely. Roy
Do you carry the 2 speed loaders loose in the other pocket?
@@randallminor4866 I have several older Wrangler cargo long pants that actually have 2 speedloader flap pockets on the left side! The top slash pockets are deep, so the 642 is well down out of sight. Uncle Mike's pocket #4 fits it and easy draw. Keys in the left slash pocket, wallet lower right side. Don't think that style cargo is available any more. Have Wrangler cargo shorts that don't have speedloader pockets, but do have a shallow *horizontal* pocket below the slash pocket, so the speedloaders don't bang against each other. So 15 rounds all year. Winter is CZ 75 Compact decocker outside under cover shirt. All leather Don Hume short holster, good angle for draw. The 14 rd mags fit in a pocket.
California Dep Corrections Peace officer 25 years , retired. I have been to untold numbers of Life sentence Bureau of Paroles hearings where they discuss with the convict all the details of their crime . The 3 or 4 member panel expect his / her participation and admission to their role in the crime . Most Lifers by this time, have already served 12 to 15 years of their sentence and are, for the most part, completely candid about what they did. I have heard countless times where they were robbing people with a .22 revolver or automatic because “they just wanted to scare them “ but they wound up firing the gun and killing them. Not even right away in some cases as the injury would be in what most people would consider a superficial wound. Due to complications of surgery or some other medical issues, the victims still died. Rimfire weapons, be they rifle, pistol or revolver, are no joke. They will drop a strapping 6’4” 290 lb man like a sack of potatoes, never to move again . There are scores of people, bad guys and good, who have underestimated the lethality of those tiny bullets and paid the ultimate price….I just purchased a Smith & Wesson 638 snubby and it has become my EDC for all the reasons mentioned. I have Glocks and SIGs but you can’t beat an extremely light , well made, 5 shot revolver….
Agreed sir. Roy
Didn't retire from, but 10 years at NM DOC (retired from a different agency) Level IV and V. Have the same experience. Listening to lifers, seems that primarily they used .22lr and it did drop, incapacitate and eventually kill their victim which never shocked their fellow inmates. It's funny how often it shocked the street cops.
Does anyone know which revolver he held up along side the 365? Thanks and advance.
Great video full of common sense thoughts. There are many times I grab my LCR22 with Federal Punch and I feel confident. Those are the times I don’t feel like taking the G19 or even my Shield Plus. My wife and I are getting ready to travel for 6 weeks and I think the LCR will make the trip with me.
I cannot wait to get one of the Lipsey’s ultimate J frame. Old eyes need better sights.
Snubbies are stupid until one saves your life. At that point, you grow up, and you appreciate their true value.
Well said, Jim. One saved my life once when I was a cop in San Diego. Nobody wants to get shot with anything! Roy
I absolutely love my Southpaw .38 snubbie, I do not care one bit what others think. it works for ME. Wonderful conversation, Thanks fellas!
Thanks Bees, appreciate you watching. Roy
I have been pocket carrying for the last 20 years.. in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster in my right front pocket.. I own a Smith 342 air light TI 11 oz 38 special centennial and I can carry it in my pocket without even thinking about it being there until I need it.. if I suspect something bad is coming my way I can have my hand in the pocket grip in hand finger off trigger ready to draw and fire I have installed crimson Trace laser grips the short ones the rubber grips reduce recoil and the laser groups are there to double check my site as I am using iron sights and I'm very proficient out to 50 ft.. yes it's five shots but most likely if you have to actually use the snub .. once you fire the first round or two at the first perpetrator I'm sure his friends are going to turn tail and run and if not you still have three more rounds to take care of them.. it's a shame that a lot of so-called tactical training nowadays are people on a firing line shooting 75 plus yards doing quick magazine changes instead of focusing on open hand combat close quarters gun fights.. because 99% of the time if you are attacked it's going to be at close range.. weapon retention.. using the crumpled isosceles stance in order to keep your gun from being grabbed or deflected... Shooting with one hand.. shooting with your left hand... Using your snub to make contact shots something that would jam a semi-automatic.. no worries about ejection port clearance rear slide clearance.. contact shot which pushes your slide and keeps the gun from firing.. all that cannot happen with a snubby it shoots every time
I have the same j frame.. I guess mine is an early production 342 because it does not have the keyhole. I kicks pretty sharp even with practice WWB 130g.. Thing about J frame Centennials and revolvers in general is no failure to feed drill, no failure to eject drill, no double feeds, no failure to fire drill and no magazine to accidentally jettison.. Five, six, or seven chambers mean every malfunction drill is the same.. PULL THE TRIGGER AGAIN. shoot from the pocket, shoot at contact distance.. If the piece is kept in good order you have five pretty much guaranteed chances to save your life in the absolute worst circumstances.
I carry a 442 in a Nemesis .
I carry using a Kramer pocket holster, made of horsehide.
Every gun owner needs to watch this video. Seriously.
Thanks guys for a great video.
Definitely enjoyed it.
Specifically the analogy of the kitchen fire extinguisher and the mindset change as I get older that my ability to defend myself and my family as primary and I may not be able to interact with every situation the way that I used to.
Thank you for the wonderful thought provoking conversation.
God bless and be safe.
☦️🫡
Ruger lcr in .357 magnum. Easy to carry, hard hitting round, surprisingly accurate and a serious defense weapon. I have two simple speed loaders that extend my capacity. Most conflicts are one or two rounds. A lot of people get into this what if scenario and I listen, but that is what I do, just listen. I am in awe of twenty five yard accuracy, even though you don’t need that much accuracy. .357 in the lcr is not punishing and I carry defense loads.
As being 64 and disabled but not helpless some of my semiautomatic pistols it's hard for me to cycle the action. but my revolvers no problems. from 22 all the way to my compact 44mag. truthfully the 44mag does hurt my hand at times just a little but manageable. my 2 and 3in 357mags no problems. papa wishing you well 😊
Johnny, load that .44 down to something more manageable. I like a 240 hard cast SWC at about 850. Still a bit of thump but very easy to shoot. Roy
Fantastic podcast. I carry 2 6 shot revolvers, with lasers. Same model. One positioned so I can access it with either hand (cross draw or ankle), the other strong hand. Same speed loader (or speed strips). Same manual of arms. New York reload if needed. I learned on a model 10 in the academy and carried a model 19 for the 1st part of the career. Always carried a snub as a BUG.
It's just a simple, reliable, dependable, easy, functional, carry method. I only have to train with one gun (I have 22lr versions) and deployment is simple and the same for either gun.
I have a double shoulder holster rig for J-Frames. Shhh …. Roy
@fmgpubs In all my years, I never tried a double shoulder and has been years since I used a single (except for camping with big frames). Comfy? Functional? Model?
@@ricjona1069 It’s a custom one from Rosen. It’s amazingly comfy since the guns are small and light. I like it because you can get to them while sitting or driving and you can draw either right or left-handed. I tried a double gun rig for two LW Colt Officer ACPs but even they were a bit bulky and intrusive. Roy
@fmgpubs My cross draw becomes my primary when sitting or driving. But I can see the functionality/flexibility of the double j-frame holster. Depending on the situation, one gun is the primary and the other the BUG.
@@ricjona1069 Nose around online. I suspect somebody makes a nylon double rig. Might be fun to get one and try it out! Roy
I have several J frames and just bought the Lipsey Ultimate J frame . I never feel under gunned when I carry one . A J frame in the hand is better than a ??? in your safe .
I really enjoyed this podcast. I particularly enjoyed it 1) because I have carried a S&W642 for years (it’s at my appendix as I hunt n peck this comment), 2) I own three Hollywood guns I’d never carry but boy those movies were Sierra Hotel, and 3) I decided after years of shooting ARs and 10/22s that the 10/22 is as deadly as they come for home defense. Gonna have to get some .22lr Punch.
This has got to be one of the top 3 firearm videos for everyone who considers concealed carry.
Thanks Skycop! I hope they watch it. Roy
Fantastic video, alot of great information, alot I knew, and even more I didn't or didn't think of. What you said regarding shot placement was spot on. My late dad who hunted for 40 years always told me was "It's not what you hit them with, it's where you hit them!"
Reading the comments, everyone seems to be comparing the differences in capacity, but his main points are where you can legally carry these different semi auto's, along with the ease and simplicity of small revolvers for newbies, women, and elderly to run/operate, let's stay on topic.
Exactly Tim. Apples and oranges situation. Roy
I frequently carry the 155 grain full wadcutter bullet loaded by book ballistics of 860 fps ! Different target media I’m happy with the performance of that bullet design!
I’ve carried oh since late 70’s the Speer Gold Dot bullets loaded , not so much today !
Good one guys !!
That’s a perfect load, if you ask me! Thanks for your kind comment Norm. Roy
Just purchased a Heritage Roscoe .38 snubby, should be arriving soon.
So excited to get my 1st real snubby (NAA .22mag purchased 14 years ago)
Timeless classic.
Might score a .22mag ruger or smith snubby next year.
I carried a S&W model 649 in .357 mag for a time. I carried it as my backup gun as a cop as well. Occasionally I would take it out of my ankle holster and put it in my jacket pocket when making contacts I didnt have a good vibe about. With my hand on it and at times with it pointed directly at them. I live in a violent city now, Albuquerque NM, and I'm bot comfortable carrying a single stack or 5 shot anything. If i were going to carry a wheelgun these days it would have to be a full size .357 mag. S&W 686+ would probably be my choice. Walther P99 AS is what im rocking these days. But i do love the snubby revolver and theyre a better choice than the pocket sized .380. Good video guys
This is one of the best gun related info videos I’ve ever seen! Great job guys! 👍🏻
Thanks! Sometimes all you have to do is tell the truth … Roy
I traveled for a living for decades and I am so glad that I don't have to do that any more and I will drive rather than fly if possible - but sometimes it's just not feasible... but I avoid the airlines like a plague - and what was described in this interview is just one of the reasons. Flying these days sux bad.
Tried for several years to train my wife to manipulate semiauto's in all the flavors, but she just couldn't handle it under a simulated stress situation or when we weren't constantly training. Finally, I decided to buy a S&W snubnose.357/.38 and have her try that. She is WAY MORE comfortable shooting it, she manipulates it like a pro, and is dead nuts accurate. I'd rather her be able to place a few wellplaced shots than just throwing a bunch of lead around IF she remembers how to use it. BANGBANG!!
Exactly. Roy
I do carry a snub 32 H&R and sometimes 38 spl for time to time, but most of the time I still running a semi, if just myself I don’t care to have 5 or 6 rounds, but with my family I don’t feel comfortable, myself I can run, take cover etc but with my family especially because I have little kids, that isn’t a option.
I have an AMT DAO Backup with a 19lb trigger. I keep it for trigger practice. It has made me very good with double action.
Another thing if you want to have a long gun with you at your vacation spot, look at traveling with the 1894 SBL ! My truck gun, goes with me everywhere I drive.
Me too. I have a cut-down Model 94 I did. Roy
I carry an SW shield plus with a ported barrel in 9mm and it is an awesome carry gun, because it is compact and super light recoil! Great for seniors and weaker hand strength persons. My SW 66-14 is my home defense gun. Home field advantage for reloads in a pinch. 😊
While they are not pleasing to the eyes, those finger grooved rubber grips allow you to shoot better than those great looking wooden grips. If you put finger grooved rubber grips on that model 15, that contest wouldn't even be close.
The guest brought up something I've been thinking about, carrying in your home. If you had a home invasion scenario, how would you get to a firearm? I guess you could hide a few loaded handguns around your home, but wouldn't it be much safer, way faster to engage and certainly cheaper just to pocket carry your snubbie? And don't underestimate the lowly 22LR as a way to get to a rifle/shotgun.
Agreed sir. I always have a gun in my pocket, even when watching TV at home. And I live in a rural area! Roy
I live in MA. We have the most ridiculous gun laws in the nation. This video is helpful in figure out what to carry going forward. I am relatively new as a gun owner and I own an AR that is pre-ban in the state, but for a carry piece, I have a polymer 9mm subcompact semi (we are limited to 10 round mags across the board in MA).
Glad to help Jim! Roy
Well worth having a trigger job done to smooth the d/a the trigger. Makes a huge difference to shot placement.
Great Show, Thank You, Brent...
Thanks for posting. As I watch this I'm carrying a 6 round .38 Special snubby revolver.
A Colt? Roy
@@fmgpubs It’s a Colt clone: the Rock Island m206.
Oh, those are great little guns. Nose around past in the short vids and you’ll see one where I show a custom 206 I did. Roy