'Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.' - Teddy Roosevelt
In the overseas lands where it is allowed - many folks choose a short barrelled snubby revolver for self defence carry.
' When seconds count - the cops are just minutes away.' - Attributed to Clint Smith** (Thunder Ranch)
What I am posting about is guns with barrels of 3 inches or shorter. (- Cue an outraged screechy female voice "What we are talking about here is three inches!"
A Classic Engraved Snubby S&W M60 (NZ Owned)
Starting with the smallest guns in .22"LR calibre and .22 Magnum (WMR) - hits with these are said to be around 30-40% effective for 'one shot stops'.
NAA .22" Mini Revolver.
- If that is what you've got and are comfortable with carrying it that's great - but please try to practice regularly on a safe range.
Ruger LCR.
The next useable upgrade comes with revolvers in .32" calibre - light and easy(ish) until you expand into the 32 H&W Magnum and the newer 327 Federal Magnums - which can blast like a 38+P and get close to the 357 Magnum level recoil and muzzle blast.
"Shooting well is simple - It just isn't easy": - Ray Chapman
But remember the key to safe and effective shooting is practice - and dry firing practice at home while using correct sight alignment is truly valuable. - If you practice bad or lazy habits - that is how you will shoot when under stress. - Dry fire is the best practice - and the cheapest.
"Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician."- Jeff Cooper.
"Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician."- Jeff Cooper.
The next sweet-spot calibre for carry snubbies has to be the 38 Special and 9mm NATO guns.
Taurus FS905 (five shot) 9x19mm.
Most able-bodied folk can effectively handle guns within this range of power - provided they practice.
Then we come to the bigger 'Top Shelf'' Magnum calibres - .357 Magnum, - 41 Magnum, and 44 Magnum.
.44" Magnum M629 S&W.
All the excellent and powerful Magnums will be heavier and bulkier to carry and may well hold only five rounds - and unless shot with gentle non-magnum ammunition - they will deafen you, the muzzle blast will slap you in the head, they will sting your hands, they will recoil way off target - and when fired in the dark - they will flash so brightly that you'll effectively be blinded for seconds.
'Watch the front sight hard.' : - Massad Ayoob.
'Watch the front sight hard.' : - Massad Ayoob.
- Apart from that they are great. - IF you are strong willed, staunch, and pig-headed you will be able to master the magnum stubby. Not me - I have shot a six inch S&W 44 Magnum one time only. - It hurt me.
I call them 'Top Shelf' because that is where most normal (or wimpy people like me) would put them .. up on a high shelf to gather dust.
Finally there are the specialist revolvers such as the Ruger Alaskan Super Redhawk 454 Casul. - designed to sling 300 grain lead pills at Grizzly Bears at a velocity of 1650 feet per second - and these may be fired from their shortest two and a half inch barrels ..
454 Casul Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan.
Hmm - well you could try one with .45 Colt cartridges eh.
Marty K.
** Worth reading Clint Smiths pithy sayings at: buckeyefirearms.org/quotations-clint-smith
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?
https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?
https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745
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