7/24/2007 10:12:49 PM
Reply
or ReplyNewSubject
Section 8: Handguns Subject: 9mm revolvers Msg# 475788
|
||||||
Allan, Thanks for being the supportive SA guy . Seriously, the input is appreciated. I don't plan on carrying it in a pocket, or anything that could be that restrictive or snagging. However, the OWB holster tends to be a good idea for me, so snagging potential "should" be minimized. The use for the SA capability in the revolver would depend on the assailant and what they are doing. I doubt that I would ever conciously use it, but I want it there. If the assailants are more than 10 feet away, I still feel confident that I could hit a target at a much greater distance in DA mode and not have to worry about thumbing back the hammer. I generally train at practice shooting at distances of 21 feet and under as this is the most likely distance that someone is likely to attack someone. I definitely agree that the more options one has to defend oneself, the better off they are. However, I think that for a defensive handgun, I want something that is simple to operate and reliable. Learning my way around them has been fun, and I can get some tight groups (for me) while firing rapidly at a target 21 feet away, definitely getting all shots on an 8.5X11 piece of paper. My experience with snubbies is limited as well, I want to do my best to learn more about them and while hammerless snubbies are nice, I just don't think they're for me. Reason why in another post. TJ |
||||||
|
||||||
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. |