What are the Advantages of the Snubby?

[Jon Payne]

Some believe I am anti-revolver and anti-snubby due to my fondness for the Glock 26/27.  Maybe I am, maybe I'm not.  Where does a snubby have an advantage over a compact or sub-compact semi-auto?  What is your favorite snubby?

[Dave.45]

My BUG is a Sig; but I own and have carried the S&W 642 Airweight. The one real advantage of the revolver is that it can be fired from a coat pocket. Most days I choose capacity as the greater advantage.

[Jon Payne]

My BUG is a Sig; but I own and have carried the S&W 642 Airweight. The one real advantage of the revolver is that it can be fired from a coat pocket. Most days I choose capacity as the greater advantage.

Understand your choices and reasons. We'll list firing from a coat pocket #1 for advantages.  Of course, this also means you can have your hand on your gun before the aggressor knows it.

1.) Able to shoot from coat pocket.
2.) Won't get pushed out of battery during contact shots
3.) No expensive magazines to purchase and maintain
4.) Just as reliable as a Glock
5.) .357 versions will shoot 2 different types of ammo (.357mag or .38spl)
6.) Conceal in pants pockets better than most semi-auto's except for the tiny .380's

[Bob Mayne]

Add...it won't get pushed out of battery during contact shots.  Also, no magazines to purchase and maintain, just as reliable as a Glock (if not more) and...the .357 revolvers will shoot 2 different types of ammo.  (.357 and .38spcl).  I'll add them to your list for you. 

[Tennessee Jed]

I think that in an extremely close quarters situation, a snubby offers much less for the bad guy to grab.  Although I'm no EQCB expert, and don't claim to be.

[Bob Mayne]

Snubby's conceal in pants pockets much better than most semi auto's except for the tiny .380's.  I'll add that to Jon's list too.

[CaptBullets]

My favorite snubby is my Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum with 2.25 in barrel. 

Ammo insensitivity is a great advantage of the snubby, or any, revolver.  Some of the compact semi-autos may be picky as to what ammo they will run reliably with.  I've yet to find a box of commercially loaded 38 special or 357 magnum ammo that will not go bang if I pull the trigger on my snubby.     

Brian

[mountainyeti]

If you have a bad cartridge and get a click there is no tap/rack, just pull the trigger again.

[jeff4423]

nothing cooler than a model 10 or 12 or 15 with a tyler t grip adapter. Steel just feels good.