Z06 posted some beautiful pics of j-frames used for CC. I have never owned a snub and I was wondering what do you really give up in performance with a snub? So, for those of you who carry snubs, educate me on the shorter barrels.

Do you insist on 357 magnums, or are those flamethrowers just wasted energy? Are you comfortable with 38’s, or are +P’s mandatory for the energy? Are hollow points pointless at the lower velocities? Are wadcutters still enough to make someone rethink their career choices?

For the few years I carried a 642 as a backup gun, it was loaded with Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 grain .38 Special +P.

That load has decent performance out of even that short of a barrel, with reliable expansion, good intermediate barrier penetration, and sufficient penetration.



However, I never liked that J-frame, and quickly ditched it once micro 9mms became available. Compared to a .38 J-frame, a Micro 9mm semiauto has better sights, better grip, better trigger, better capacity, quicker reloads, less felt recoil, faster followups, and better ballistic performance, all in the same size package (or even a bit smaller).

So it's not just ballistic performance you're giving up by going with a J frame...

Objectively, there's little reason to go with a J frame nowadays, other than out of pure nostalgia or personal preference.

If I'm carrying plain .38s, it's going to be either a non-expanding 148gr wadcutter or a 158 semi-wad.

My preferred defensive load is the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 +P or .357 (the Magnum load is pretty mild) depending upon how the gun is chambered, but these are pretty hard to find.

For me I just about never shoot 357 ammo in a J-Frame, 357 gun.

The 38 +p range is enough. The next option could be, hand loaded 357 rounds that are rather light.

I dumped my 38 Airweight snubbies for the new S&W 32 Magnum. The recoil of an airweight 38 is controllable but stout. The 32 mag gets me 40% less recoil, higher muzzle velocity & an extra round (6). Plus I can shoot 32 short & long in it as well as the magnum.
Bullet selection is good & has every option you can get in a J frame 38. I have both the 632 & the 432. I couldn't recommend them enough.

The J frame or other similar size snubs are a back-up gun for me. Usually in .38 spl, as the blast, recoil, and extraction of .357 mag aren't really worth it to me. I do have guns in .32 H&R and 9mm, but it's usually a S&W 642 I carry loaded with Fed. Hydra-shok deep.

One of the youtubers I watch (Gun Sam) does a lot of ballistic gel tests. Here's his recent top 10. The Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr. +P was number one. This also did well in Paul Harrell's (RIP) meat target test. I may go back to this round for my carry load. I actually have boxes of almost everything he recommends, but I've been in this game a long time.

1. Hornady CD 110 gr.+P - He's tested it a ton and it's always consistent & available.
2. Buffalo Bore 110 gr.+P Tac-XP Lead free (technically tied for first, but limited availability).
3. Win. Defender/PDX 1 130 gr. +P
4. Speer GD Short Barrel 135 gr +P
5. BB or Underwood 158 gr. +P LHP (Almost .357 mag level) (the standard Win., Rem., or Fed. +P loading of this is on par with .45 ball ammo per the old timers that used it.
6. BB 158 gr. LHP
7. Federal Hydra-Shok 110 gr.
8. Fed Hydra-Shok Deep 130 gr. +P
9. Fed. 120 +P Punch
10. Underwood 110 gr. Extreme Defender (not recommended)
Honorable mentions: Rem HTP 110Gr. +P SJHP/Rem HTP 158 gr. +P LHP

Here's the video if you want to know why he made those choices.

https://youtu.be/9X-sqOkKed4

quote:

Originally posted by Delta-3:
I dumped my 38 Airweight snubbies for the new S&W 32 Magnum. The recoil of an airweight 38 is controllable but stout. The 32 mag gets me 40% less recoil, higher muzzle velocity & an extra round (6). Plus I can shoot 32 short & long in it as well as the magnum.
Bullet selection is good & has every option you can get in a J frame 38. I have both the 632 & the 432. I couldn't recommend them enough.

I am going to have to look into this. Thanks for posting this detail.

The SW 32 H&R mag is a great option. Pick up the one with the Titanium cylinder and save 3 oz.