7/24/2007 6:33:39 PM
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Section 8: Handguns Subject: 9mm revolvers Msg# 475719
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Regarding shooting a single action snub-nose, small-frame revolver at distance: I think that if one feels his needs are such that he may have to shoot at longer ranges he has no business carrying such a gun. But I think the reality for most of us city dwellers is that the odds against such need are astronomical. The armed private citizen simply has no reason, right, or legal justification to be engaging in long range gunfights except under the rarest occasions. But that said, yes, it always pays to be prepared, and that is why I can't in good conscience recommend these small-frame snubs as defensive pieces. If there were ever a true "expert's gun" this is it. What I mean by that is that one must practice rigorously to do well with these guns. I myself am only adequate, which is why I only carry mine under circumstances that I am betting will turn out to be ultra-low risk. With all due respect to Jan Libourel and Bob Munden, neither of them are gunfighters. Munden is a trick shooter--a very good marksman, but those long shots he makes with a J-frame Smith probably took hundreds of hours and thousands of rounds of ammo to perfect. As shooters interested in personal protection we should not take any "lessons" whatsoever away from seeing people like Munden make trick shots. Not one man in 100,000 can make shots like that and especially not under life-threatening duress. This thread started out with me telling TJ about a neat little gun--and they are neat little guns--but as defensive pieces they shouldn't be carried by anyone who doesn't understand their limitations and act to counter those limitations through regular practice. |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: TJ, I may be the lone voice for single action here, but I don't agree with what's been said by everybody else about single action not being necessary in a snub-nosed carry gun. First, I agree completely that a revolver with a 2-1/2 inch barrel is intended as a belly gun and double action works great at short range. As long as the confrontation takes place with the target less than 10 feet away, who cares about single action?! But what if it doesn't? What if you find yourself in a situation where you need some accuracy at a bit more range? If you are like me, and every shooter I have shot with, you shoot a revolver much more accurately in single action mode than in double action mode. We can't know in advance what set of circumstances we will face when self defense happens and I want more options not fewer options to work with. Why select a gun that doesn't have a feature (like an exposed hammer) that will let you shoot it more accurately at any range? I have limited experience with snubbies. I tried carrying a snubby during my search for what worked best for me back when CCW first passed in Texas. I ended up settling for a Workman holster from MIlt Sparks, one that lets you holster the gun and then tuck your shirt in over it. I carry too much stuff in my pockets so a pocket holster was out and I didin't like ankle holsters even when I was flexible enough to use one and my style of dress (or lack of it) prevented me from concealing any outside of the waistband or shoulder holster. I tried a Smith 640 and rejected it because it didn't have the single action option. If I truly thought I needed a snag-free pistol and was comfortable with a standard .38 special I would go find a Smith 49 bodyguard - it has a rounded frame in back with just a thumb pad protruding from a slot in the rounded frame surface that lets you cock the hammer. I tried one of those and rejected it, too, in favor of a lightweight J-frame Smith that was rated for +P ammo. I ended up feeling umcomfortably undergunned with the +P .38 special and went back to .45 ACP. While the average person is never going to approach the ability of a Bob Munden or a Jan Libourel with a snub-nosed .38, snubbies can be shot accurately out to a surprising distance with tons of practice. I remember an article by Libourel including a group he shot at 100 yards with a snub-nosed S&W .38 from a kneeling position that I would have been proud to shoot at 30 feet. And, Munden breaks balloons at ridiculous distances with a J-frame. Those are unrealistic distances where self defense is concerned but knowing that a gun could do that would give me more confidence as I trained with it at much shorter ranges. |