Thoughts on snubbies for pocket carry?

340 and 340PD are great options. Those are .357 mag which allows you to shoot .357 mag and .38 spl. Prior to the 340PD that I carry now, I was carrying a 642. Only down side was it was chambered in .38 spl. And limited you on the caliber you could shoot. There are several pocket holsters out there that will allow it to simple disappear in your pocket. Lightweight and comfortable to carry the 340PD is so light you will almost forget that you are carrying it.
 
jska said:

Thoughts on snubbies for pocket carry?​

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I believe they’re a great choice, so long as you put in the necessary time with it.

Same can be said for anything you choose to carry, but a double-action, short-barreled revolver is a unique animal. It takes a good deal of practice to become proficient with the weapon, firing it double action with one hand and if you intend to carry it, that is most likely how you will use it, should it be needed.

I have a 351PD and a 360J (with a titanium cylinder fitted to it). I’ve pocket-carried each of them. Now, both have an exposed hammer and it’s really easy to snag on the draw from a pocket, so I had to modify my draw a bit, when compared with carrying a revolver equipped with a shrouded hammer.
 
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Its the best way to carry for most people most of the time.

Have both a S&W 642 and 638.

I don't notice them in my pocket (with pocket holster). No problems with printing, they will just look like your pocket has some junk in it. It in no way looks like a gun, especially to anti-gun Karens.

They are snappy but I don't find them unpleasant to shoot. I usually carry +p loads (.38spl), which definitely have more recoil, but I still don't find them that bad.

Its definitely harder to hit a farther away target than with a fullsize handgun but it can be done with practice. Thier mechanical accuracy is actually quite good, its just mastering the double-action trigger that is most of the issue. But statisticallly, your target will be close anyway.

I appreciate the safety factor of double action triggers. Superior to a manual safety or the trigger dingus you see of striker-fired guns IMHO.
 
The one time I drew down in SD was against a neighbor’s dog that was aggressive. Short cutting the details, had I had a semi auto which I was more comfortable with I may have dispatched said creature, but the k ow you’re backstop held my finger. It would have gotten the job done.

Another time, I had a .38 snub in my back pocket and went to Food Lion in Carrboro. When I was leaving a number of cop cars pulled up and the towns “finest” poured into the place. I have to wonder if some idiot libtard made an MWAG call about me, though perfectly legal.
 
I have pocket carried a Smith 638 everyday except about 5 (ICU) for about 24 years, I was going out the door for a job interview, and a 1911 didn't fit the bill, neither did my NAA 22. I pulled the Smith out loaded one cci snake shot & 4 silvertips and away we went. I carried weak side back pocket for years . finally switched to a good pocket holster and moved to left front pocket. works for uniform paints and bib overalls . needed it a couple times for snakes , once for a carpenter bee, and cleaned out a motel room in Lumberton. but it has served me well and my son and son in-law both pocket carry but they choose strong side.
 
Slimer said:
I tried to replace my J-frame with a G42, but I still end up dropping the J-frame in my pocket.
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Little J frames are like that favorite pair of underwear with holes. No matter how hard you try, they are so comfortable that you can’t bring yourself to throw them out. 🤣
 
Average Joe said:
Little J frames are like that favorite pair of underwear with holes. No matter how hard you try, they are so comfortable that you can’t bring yourself to throw them out. 🤣
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Fantastic if you can shoot them, not so much if you can't.

And not infallible like some folks think, pocket lint/debris build up is real.

But if you clean em off now and then and can run the usual snubby trigger well, it's a hard package to beat.
 
Frack N Cylons said:
Snubbies are one of the worst pistols to choose for concealed carry as a beginner in my opinion. Especially airweights.
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Oh yeah. Half the husband's making their wife get a house gun would insist on me showing her nothing but snubbies and tiny 380s and when I suggested maybe a nice full size 9mm with a removable mag, lots of rounds, tolerable recoil, a decent sight radius, real sights and enough gun to hold onto since size wasn't an issue and she wasn't going to be carrying it outside the house, I was the devil incarnate and doubting his wisdom.

We got a bunch of those little guns back as cheap trade ins when she refused to shoot it a second time though, so..... Except the ones they had their buddy tinker with to get a lighter trigger pull she could actually finish.
 
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I’ve got a 45ACP snubbie that I love and can run steel single action but double action the broad side of the barn is usually safe past 15 yards lol
 
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SINNER said:
I thought about it and changed the “20” yards to “15”… and that still may be science fiction.
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I was happy if I could hit at 10, figured it would end up being contact distance as a scuffle gun. I am not nimble or quick lol
 
AR10ShooterinNC said:
I picked up a S&W 432 in 32 HR Mag. I have it for deep concealment, I Carr it in my front right pocket. I have a pocket holster on order from a forum member.
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Does “deep concealment “ require lube? Asking for a friend.
 
Never liked or would I "pocket" carry... A knife, maybe! But firearm not so much. Waistband or holster only... If ever, heaven forbid I would find myself in a life/death situation, I wouldn't want a piece of lint build up to do me in! Lol.

I have a little SIG380 using Underwood Loads... And in a Remora holster on my side. Is nice because with the Remora positioning, angle, etc are all adjustable for comfort. And even then there's still dust and lint! Clean it often! Remora Extra pocket thingy for extra mags ;)

Again, just me, but never liked the idea of "pocket" carrying.
 
Frack N Cylons said:
Snubbies are one of the worst pistols to choose for concealed carry as a beginner in my opinion. Especially airweights.

If you can figure out how to shoot them, they are great.
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I second this. A snubnose will humble a shooter real quick. The short sight radius combined with a long heavy trigger pull mean your fundamentals have to be rock solid. Like any pocket gun, they conceal really well but are a lot harder to shoot.

Check out ballisticsbytheinch.com and look at their muzzle energy charts for 38, 357, and 9MM. Call me crazy but if I carried a little pocket revolver something like the Ruger lcr in 9 would be neat.
 
S&Wtinkerer said:
I second this. A snubnose will humble a shooter real quick. The short sight radius combined with a long heavy trigger pull mean your fundamentals have to be rock solid. Like any pocket gun, they conceal really well but are a lot harder to shoot.

Check out ballisticsbytheinch.com and look at their muzzle energy charts for 38, 357, and 9MM. Call me crazy but if I carried a little pocket revolver something like the Ruger lcr in 9 would be neat.
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I really want to want a lightweight 9mm revolver but bullet pull worries me. It’s pretty well documented in the LCR.

I think the LCR in 357 mag is a bit larger frame than the 38 and if I recall, the 9mm uses the larger frame.

What was the 9mm equivalent of the SW 640? Was it the 940? That would probably be a slick little pistol, if a bit heavy.
 
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S&Wtinkerer said:
I second this. A snubnose will humble a shooter real quick. The short sight radius combined with a long heavy trigger pull mean your fundamentals have to be rock solid. Like any pocket gun, they conceal really well but are a lot harder to shoot.

Check out ballisticsbytheinch.com and look at their muzzle energy charts for 38, 357, and 9MM. Call me crazy but if I carried a little pocket revolver something like the Ruger lcr in 9 would be neat.
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I really like the 32 H&R Mag, in a j frame. It gives me 1 extra round over the 38 special. At shots under 10 yards, it will kill.
 
AR10ShooterinNC said:
I really like the 32 H&R Mag, in a j frame. It gives me 1 extra round over the 38 special. At shots under 10 yards, it will kill.
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I have also heard good things about 327 which I nearly bought during the pandemic, for the sole reason to be able to buy a few hundred rounds with it and actually have ammo. I try to push handguns to at least 25 and keep hits in the c zone of a target (on a large paper dinner plate really).
 
NCLivingBrit said:
Oh yeah. Half the husband's making their wife get a house gun would insist on me showing her nothing but snubbies and tiny 380s and when I suggested maybe a nice full size 9mm with a removable mag, lots of rounds, tolerable recoil, a decent sight radius, real sights and enough gun to hold onto since size wasn't an issue and she wasn't going to be carrying it outside the house, I was the devil incarnate and doubting his wisdom.
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Never understood the wisdom that a beginner should get a small revolver. They’re hard to shoot with a lot of recoil.
 
S&Wtinkerer said:
I have also heard good things about 327 which I nearly bought during the pandemic, for the sole reason to be able to buy a few hundred rounds with it and actually have ammo. I try to push handguns to at least 25 and keep hits in the c zone of a target (on a large paper dinner plate really).
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For me, when I carry the j frame, I'm not going to engaging at distance. My regular carry is a P365XL, and with this gun, I train at distances. But my personal view of using a gun, is that unless it's happening right in front of me, I'm running a way.
 
Frack N Cylons said:
I really want to want a lightweight 9mm revolver but bullet pull worries me. It’s pretty well documented in the LCR.

I think the LCR in 357 mag is a bit larger frame than the 38 and if I recall, the 9mm uses the larger frame.

What was the 9mm equivalent of the SW 640? Was it the 940? That would probably be a slick little pistol, if a bit heavy.
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I have a couple of LCRs in 9mm. I have checked them for bullet pull. I have not seen any with the ammunition I use (various standard pressure 115, 124, and 147 grain FMJ and Speer Gold Dot G2 147 grain for defense). I won't say there is none because I didn't bring calipers to the range, but I shot 50 rounds of the G2 147s, fire 4, check the 5th against a round out of the box that hadn't been loaded, and there was not a noticeable difference. The same was true with standard pressure ball ammo. I shot a cylinder full of 124 grain +P Gold Dot the last time I went to the range. I didn't check it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it had some bullet pull. The recoil on those was as unpleasant at the .357 Magnum version of the LCR with full power loads. I shoot mostly 147s in mine for practice because they shoot to the sights and recoil is more like a .38 Special.

As for pocket carry, I pocket carry either the above LCR or a .32 H&R Magnum or .38 Special J-frame on a regular basis. I have been pocket carrying a small revolver since I first got my CHP in July of 1995 when I was living in Virginia. When I pocket carry a J-frame it is in the same Kramer horsehide holster I bought for the task in 1995. It is still going strong. I have a newer version of the same holster for my LCR. I often carry a second gun AIWB, but I just about always have a small DAO revolver in my pocket.

noway2 said:
The one time I drew down in SD was against a neighbor’s dog that was aggressive. Short cutting the details, had I had a semi auto which I was more comfortable with I may have dispatched said creature, but the k ow you’re backstop held my finger. It would have gotten the job done.

Another time, I had a .38 snub in my back pocket and went to Food Lion in Carrboro. When I was leaving a number of cop cars pulled up and the towns “finest” poured into the place. I have to wonder if some idiot libtard made an MWAG call about me, though perfectly legal.
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Perhaps, but the only place I have seen anyone who wasn't obviously a LEO open carrying anytime recently was the Food Lion in Carrboro. It was a 35 YOA or so woman carrying a low end polymer striker fired 9mm (I think a Ruger LC9S, but it could have also been a Taurus, I knew at the time but I don't recall for sure now) in a cheap nylon holster. It wasn't a concealed gun that was displayed by mistake, it was clearly open carry. No one seemed to notice or care.

FWIW, the Food Lion in question (Carrboro Plaza on NC 54) was once a Roses where I bought a $79 Chinese SKS in the early 1990s.

For anyone that wants to shoot way too many rounds through a snubbie in a weekend, check this out:

Snubbie Roundup

Snubbie centric training in South Carolina the first weekend in August. Come out and make your hands sore with me! (no affiliation, I'm just going to the class and excited about it)
 
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I don't mind a Snubbie for pocket carry. What ever floats your boat when it comes to model and caliber.
What I do hate is people who don't practice drawing them and carrying them in a safe manner.
We are it daily at work.
"I pocket carry everyday" - takes two minutes to get pistol out of pocket - Classic customer
 
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