Configuring Your Snub Nosed Revolver for Concealed Carry

English: Smith & Wesson Model 642 .38 Special Revolver (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ed Lovette has an awesome book on this topic.

1. Get a snub nosed revolver that meets the following criteria
   • Chambered in .38 special or .22 Magnum (ONLY if recoil management is a MAJOR issue)
     • I don’t currently recommend snub nosed revolvers in 9mm Luger or .40 S&W, or .380 ACP
       • Such revolver models are often made as limited production run guns
       • Parts support and repair are a concern as well.
     • .357 Magnum is a waste in a snub nosed revolver.
       • .357 Magnum gets much better performance out of a 4 inch or longer barrel.
     • .22 Magnum has a level of ballistic performance that is similar to .32 ACP
       • This is not optimal but better than no gun at all.
   • Shrouded hammer
     • The reason I recommend a shrouded hammer is that it makes the gun easier to draw from concealment.
   • Smith and Wesson J Frame or Ruger LCR
     • I prefer these two brands simply because the out of the box trigger is easy to pull and the reliability of the gun is generally not in question.
       • I doubt that an LCR can withstand something like  a GLOCK torture test but for general carry, the gun should work fine.
     • Taurus and Charter Arms guns may be less expensive but you are taking your chances on if you get a reliable one, a lemon, or one with a trigger pull that is not 20 pounds!
       • I’ve known more than a few people who have had to have the trigger pull weight reduced on their Taurus revolver.
2. Crimson Trace Laser Grip
   • I like these on revolvers since they do not add any significant bulk to the gun, while making point shooting and other unconventional shooting methods and positions easier to pull off.
3. Holster
   • Decide now if the snub nosed revolver is going to be a primary weapon or a backup weapon.
   • Decide on how you are going to carry reloads if it is a primary gun or if it is a backup gun.
   • Get a decent leather or kydex holster that suits the gun for backup or primary carry.

Related articles

• Guns in Popular Culture: The Last of Us (homeguntraining.com)
• Gripping a Snub Nose Revolver (gunscoop.wordpress.com)

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Tagged with: .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, 9×19mm Parabellum, Charter Arms, crimson trace, Ruger LCR, Smith & Wesson, Snubnosed revolver, Taurus, Trigger (firearms)
Posted in Concealed Carry, Handguns