Grant Cunningham - Protect Yourself With Your Snubnose Revolver

T he snubnose revolver , also referred to as a snubby or the plural snubbies, was once the predominant personal defense weapon in the United States. Over the last few decades, the snubbys role has been usurped by the subcompact autoloading pistol, and as a result the snubby is not nearly as common as it once was.

B ut thats not to say it isnt still around! All the major revolver manufacturers produce snubnose revolvers, even if they dont sell in the numbers they used to. You can find them on dealer shelves and in the hands of police officers (where they often serve as a backup gun to the officers duty pistol), as well as in pocket and purse holsters, ankle holsters, and even sometimes on the belts of savvy concealed carriers.

I n this day of polymer-framed, striker-fired autoloaders, youd think the old-fashioned snubby would be distinctly obsolete. The death of the snubnose has been predicted for years, but they keep soldiering on because they just work!

T he lawfully possessed and carried snubnose revolver isnt a magic talisman; it doesnt keep danger away from you or prevent you from doing things that increase your risk. Its a tool for a very small percentage of human interactions, but the consequences of those interactions can be dire to your existence. Thats why tools like the snubby exist: to give you an even chance against someone who wants to do you immediate and grievous harm.

T he snubby doesnt operate itself, either. Using the snubnose correctly, efficiently, and effectively requires a little work and commitment on your part. This book is dedicated to helping you do just that! With the information in these pages, plus a little work from you, youll develop the judgement and physical skills you need to use your snubnose revolver to protect your life and the lives of your loved ones.

W hat exactly is a snubnose ?

If you talk to several people, youll get differing ideas of just what constitutes a snubby. Generally speaking, a classic snubnose is a small-framed, five- or six-shot revolver with a barrel of two inches or less in length. Examples include the Smith & Wesson Models 60, 36, and 42 (and variants, of whic there are many); Colt Detective Special, Agent, and Cobra (all long discontinued but still favorites); Ruger SP101 and LCR; and other similar models from other manufacturers.

A dmittedly those are somewhat arbitrary figures. Many people consider small-framed revolvers with three-inch barrels to be in the snubby family, and others consider larger-framed revolvers with two-inch barrels to be so as well. But in this book, Ill be using the term in its most classic sense and allow you the freedom to interpret the term however it pleases you!

W hich caliber ?

The most classic iteration of the snubby is chambered in .38 Special. You can find many snubbies chambered for the .357 Magnum round, which of course handles the Special as well; I usually consider them to be part of the family. Snubnose revolvers have been chambered in almost every conceivable revolver cartridge, along with a few made to take rimless autoloading cartridges.

B ecause this book is focused on defensive use of the snubby, most of the information centers on the .38/.357 models. This isnt to say that other calibers cant be used for self defense they most assuredly have been but most people choose one of the .38/.357 guns, which have the best combination of effectiveness and controllability. Theyre also the most commonly found on both the new and used markets.

T he vast majority of the information in this book is equally applicable to other calibers. Even if youve got a snubby in .22 or .44, keep reading, because youll find great information ahead!

Each of these well-worn snubbies has been carried for personal protection, sometimes for many years!

L ike many other items in your home, firearms are very useful tools when handled properly, but quickly become dangerous when mishandled. Whenever youre handling your snubnose revolver, or whenever youre around people who are handling guns, its important that you (and they) follow some rules to keep everyone safe.

S afety rules

Rules are behavioral guidelines that are universal: they are always applicable and should never be violated. While some specific or situational procedures might be required by the range youre using, you should always observe three universal rules whenever youre handling any firearm.

. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a generally safe direction.

What is a generally safe direction? One in which, should the gun fire, you will not hurt someone else. On a shooting range, the berm or bullet trap behind the target is a generally safe direction, and depending on the surface the ground may be as well. There may be other generally safe directions which are location specific. Of course other shooters, staff or onlookers are never a generally safe direction!

. Always keep your trigger finger outside of the trigger guard unless youre actually shooting.

The preferred place is on the frame above the trigger. In the case of the snubnose revolver, that means the frame space below the cylinder and above the trigger. It does not mean resting on the trigger guard itself!

. Always remember you are in possession of a device that, if used recklessly or negligently, can injure or kill you or someone else.

This is the big picture of safety. It encompasses all those other safety rules you might see on posters and signs at the range: making sure of your target; making sure you know where the bullets will land; using the right ammunition for the gun; keeping your gun out of the hands of unauthorized users; etc. It is intended to instill in your mind an attitude about safety without providing an endless checklist of items to remember.

S afety procedures

Rules are universally applicable, while procedures are situational and help you implement the rules and keep yourself and other people safe. Procedures tend to be range- or activity-specific, and you may find some of them listed at your range.

R emember the third rule from the Universal Safety Rules section? Always remember you are in possession of a device that, if used recklessly or negligently, can injure or kill you or someone else. As I explained, this is the rule that instills in your mind an attitude about safety and encompasses all those other rules you see in posters at shooting ranges.

O ne of the rules you might see on such a poster is to keep your gun locked up so others cant accidentally harm themselves or others. As a gun owner its your job to keep your snubnose out of the reach of people who shouldnt have access to it, people you havent authorized to have access. That responsibility accompanies the right to keep and bear arms, and its one that unfortunately too few gun owners understand until its too late.

I ts easy to find news stories where a child has been injured or killed because they found a gun and played with it. In almost every case, its because the gun wasnt properly secured, and those cases are all preventable.