Another .38 snubby - Page 2

Kreyzhorse · August 23, 2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Firing: Fun to shoot at the range. Smooth trigger pull for steady and accurate double action shots. Be nice if the recoil was kept in control.

Snub nose revolvers, generally by their nature are not great range weapons. That's not to say that a snub nose isn't fun to shoot, but typically they aren't your best choice for a fun range gun.

It doesn't meet all of your requirements, but the S&W Airweight series are some of best CCW, if not the best CCW snub nose options. They light weight, small, well made and my 637 has a great trigger.

Mastifflover · August 23, 2009, 07:35 AM

LCR. Much better trigger and less recoil than the 642 I had. I will admit though that the 642 with boot grips feels smaller in the pocket.

You said that you would be holstering it though so no biggie.

Ichiro · August 23, 2009, 12:38 PM

With lots of practice, my 2" Ruger DAO SP-101 became an excellent range gun.

With lots of practice, my 2" S&W J-frames (steel and aluminum) never did.

The tradeoff is that pocket carry is not feasible for me with the SP-101. For belt carry, my feeling is that I may as well carry a slightly larger gun that I can shoot oh so much better.

Elvishead · August 23, 2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

gson:

Sights: Able to use the Big Dot low light visibility sight(unless the gun in question can't but is a superior gun). I will not being doing lasers any time soon becuase of the $$.

When you check out the S&W sight, I think the only J-frame that has a front dot sight is the 637 Power Port. The Port will give you less recoil for fallow up shot's.

Other than that, I really like my 638 Shrouded hammer a lot. Nice for pocket carry.

Budsgunshop.com has a 637 PP for $552 delivered to an FFL and they can give you a list of FFL in you area that will do a transfer for a small fee. Also a 638 for $459 delivered. The 637 PP is in the Semi auto section, don't aske why.

ChicagoTex · August 23, 2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

The Port will give you less recoil for fallow up shot's.

but also greatly enhance noise and enhance flash a bit.

I will never ever use, or recommend, a ported gun for SD purposes.

The Model 60 also has a replaceable front sight, as well as the M&P340 and 340PD.

The 637, 638, 442, and 642 indeed do not though.

gson · August 23, 2009, 05:50 PM

Yea thanks all very much appreciate helping me narrow it down.
I'm gonna go with the lightweight & compact, accurate, smooth trigger pull, manageable recoil, interchangeable front sight Ruger LCR:

and switch out the pinned down front sight for an XS Tritium Big Dot sight:

I'm hoping I can either get a used LCR or get a good deal on a new one.
Now I gotta narrow down whats the best: carry load(brand/grain), the range load(most mild rounds), and the holster.

Elvishead · August 23, 2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

ChicagoTex

but also greatly enhance noise and enhance flash a bit.

Really? Do you own a ported revover? Because I never noticed that on either of my ported revolvers.

ChicagoTex · August 23, 2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Really? Do you own a ported revover? Because I never noticed that on either of my ported revolvers.

I don't own and have never fired a ported REVOLVER, I've fired several ported automatics and have found this to be the case.

I guess maybe the cylinder gap makes things louder and flashier anyway, maybe the port's not that big a deal (at least in .38)

akr · August 24, 2009, 01:48 AM

gson---good luck with that LCR, and be sure to let us know about it. It's beginning to sound good to me....and that's NOT a good thing.

ChicagoTex · August 24, 2009, 04:48 PM

just checked out an LCR for the first time at my local gun shop and thought I'd share my thoughts:

1. While much lighter in weight than my S&W 442, it's also noticeably bigger (particularly in frame and grip width), I'm not at all confident I could conceal this convincingly in my pocket.

2. The larger grip did fit my large hands noticeably better than my S&W 442 with Hogue Bantams, I could get bigger grips for my 442 to circumvent the problem, but then it'd be too big for pocket carry (how I carry my snubbies).

3. The trigger was a tad smoother and considerably lighter than my 442, but had a slightly longer trigger travel and a bizarre split-second delay between the time the trigger broke and the hammer fell

All in all a nice gun I wouldn't mind owning or shooting, but doesn't suit my intended purposes for a snubnose revolver.

dgludwig · August 24, 2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

1. While much lighter in weight than my S&W 442, it's also noticeably bigger (particularly in frame and grip width), I'm not at all confident I could conceal this convincingly in my pocket.

I have to agree. Though I didn't have a means to measure the LCR when I was handling it, I'd be surprised if its frame dimensions aren't every bit as large as the Colt Cobra.

Elvishead · August 24, 2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

ChicagoTex:

I don't own and have never fired a ported REVOLVER, I've fired several ported automatics and have found this to be the case.

I guess maybe the cylinder gap makes things louder and flashier anyway, maybe the port's not that big a deal (at least in .38)

I kind of figured that, as I have shot thousands of rounds out of many-a-revolver ported or no port's.

That doesn't mean your wrong.

That being said, you make sense about the cylinder gap making noise's that could discount the port noise's. It might be louder but, do you want a louder, or a louder gun.

Nightowl · August 24, 2009, 09:22 PM

My personal choice is the Ruger SP-101 with the hammer spur (Top.) The spur is optional. The factory rubber grips are quite comfortable.

doc540 · August 25, 2009, 11:17 AM

Shoot before you buy.

but end up with a Colt

Mark F · August 25, 2009, 09:21 PM

Here are my pocket guns... a Taurus M85 UltraLite, a Ruger LCP, and a Kel Tec P3AT. The Ruger is by far my favorite.

August 23, 2009, 07:35 AM	#27
Mastifflover Member Join Date: November 10, 2007 Posts: 84	LCR LCR. Much better trigger and less recoil than the 642 I had. I will admit though that the 642 with boot grips feels smaller in the pocket. You said that you would be holstering it though so no biggie.

August 23, 2009, 05:50 PM	#31
gson Junior Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Posts: 9	Yea thanks all very much appreciate helping me narrow it down. I'm gonna go with the lightweight & compact, accurate, smooth trigger pull, manageable recoil, interchangeable front sight Ruger LCR: and switch out the pinned down front sight for an XS Tritium Big Dot sight: I'm hoping I can either get a used LCR or get a good deal on a new one. Now I gotta narrow down whats the best: carry load(brand/grain), the range load(most mild rounds), and the holster. Last edited by gson; August 23, 2009 at 06:00 PM.

August 24, 2009, 01:48 AM	#34
akr Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,379	gson---good luck with that LCR, and be sure to let us know about it. It's beginning to sound good to me....and that's NOT a good thing. __________________ Http://www.nationalgunforum.com NRA Lifetime Member

August 24, 2009, 09:22 PM	#38
Nightowl Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2009 Location: New England Posts: 113	Another .38 snubby My personal choice is the Ruger SP-101 with the hammer spur (Top.) The spur is optional. The factory rubber grips are quite comfortable. __________________ Nightowl NRA Life Member & GOAL Supporter Proud Veteran Always - Safety First!

August 23, 2009, 12:38 PM	#28
Ichiro Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 888	With lots of practice, my 2" Ruger DAO SP-101 became an excellent range gun. With lots of practice, my 2" S&W J-frames (steel and aluminum) never did. The tradeoff is that pocket carry is not feasible for me with the SP-101. For belt carry, my feeling is that I may as well carry a slightly larger gun that I can shoot oh so much better.

August 24, 2009, 04:48 PM	#35
ChicagoTex Junior member Join Date: March 18, 2008 Location: DFW Metroplex Posts: 1,909	just checked out an LCR for the first time at my local gun shop and thought I'd share my thoughts: 1. While much lighter in weight than my S&W 442, it's also noticeably bigger (particularly in frame and grip width), I'm not at all confident I could conceal this convincingly in my pocket. 2. The larger grip did fit my large hands noticeably better than my S&W 442 with Hogue Bantams, I could get bigger grips for my 442 to circumvent the problem, but then it'd be too big for pocket carry (how I carry my snubbies). 3. The trigger was a tad smoother and considerably lighter than my 442, but had a slightly longer trigger travel and a bizarre split-second delay between the time the trigger broke and the hammer fell All in all a nice gun I wouldn't mind owning or shooting, but doesn't suit my intended purposes for a snubnose revolver.

August 25, 2009, 11:17 AM	#39
doc540 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,430	Shoot before you buy. but end up with a Colt

August 25, 2009, 09:21 PM	#40
Mark F Member Join Date: August 5, 2008 Posts: 19	Here are my pocket guns... a Taurus M85 UltraLite, a Ruger LCP, and a Kel Tec P3AT. The Ruger is by far my favorite.