The Smith and Wesson snub nose J frame has become the Ubiquitous carry revolver for generations. In an age of polymer wonder pistols, the J frame is still carried by police officers as a backup gun and by citizens as a primary carry gun. This writer will primarily discuss Smith and Wesson “Airweight” snub revolvers. Super lightweight versions made of rare metals do exist, and can be had for close to one-thousand dollars. These super lightweight versions are most unpleasant to shoot, cost a fortune, and offer little in advantage to the reliable aluminium version. Moreover, the plain jane snub j-frame can be had around four-hundred dollars new and less for used. Furthermore, the airweight snub is primarily a carry or backup gun, it proves to be unpleasant to shoot with hot loads and is manageable at best with target loads. Stainless steel versions, while being more belt guns than pocket guns, significantly reduce recoil because of the increase in weight.
The Airweight snub nose J frame has ramp and notch sighting system, one would assume that fixed sights were a handicap to accuracy, not exactly. Fixed sights have a few distinct advantages, one being that the notch and ramp are very snag free, the other being that the sights are calibrated for most commercially available ammo. The J-frame has a close to two inch barrel, this has held true to be both blessing and curse. The same short sight radius that makes it an exceptional pocket gun, makes the pistol less forgiving to the beginner or unpracticed marksman. Practice with the snub is essential if one wants it to be potent choice for carry, a few boxes of ammo shot through it every few weeks will help keep skills sharp. The snub is meant for up close and personal situations, within spitting distance. The revolver will fire when in a coat pocket, it will also fire when pressed in an assailant's body, a major advantage over an automatic. Furthermore, the J-frame is rounds limited, at five rounds of thirty-eight special, and while this being a small disadvantage to some, the small revolver is more likely to be there when one needs it. The 38 Special cartridge is similar to the 9mm in ballistics, and when loaded to +P pressure, it will pack a wallop from the short barrel. Standard pressure 38 would also be a good compromise because modern hollow points are designed to expand at lower pressures. One cannot ignore the glaring difference between most double action revolvers and the Airweight snub: lack of a hammer spur. The hammer spur has been lopped off and is held internally by the frame. This is to make the pistol as snag free as possible, as not to grab at the lining of the pocket when being drawn to meet an assailant. The short grips on the snub lend themselves to clandestine carry. This writer's 442 wears a set of rubbery Hogue Monogrips, these can be had for short money and aid in recoil control and gripping via a slight palm swell and grippy texture. Some will opine that these rubber grips are a disadvantage because they will "grab" at clothing, this writer has not experienced this, and will dare to say that the recoil reduction by the rubber grips out weighs this possible issue. A few companies do make grips that extend past the frame, but this makes the point of the snub moot.
Clearly, the Airweight snub is a fine choice for concealed carry, although one must accept a few limitations. The pistol is meant to be shot infrequently and carried frequently, but dedicated practice with the snub is a must to be proficient with it. A short meaningful range session is more useful than a session when the shooter becomes fatigued and flinching sets in. The Airweight has accompanied this writer on many trips walking down dark city streets, the pistol has given a sense of security and comfort when when prying eyes were felt peering from dark alleyways. The polymer automatic may be the new modern trend, but the snubby has overshadowed that trend for many years and will continue to do so.