Snubbie Vs Sub Compact 9mm

[Fox75]

How many of you have tucked your Snub Nose into the back of the safe for the Sub Compact 9? I love my LCR .38, I have carried protein bars in my pocket that felt heavier. That being said, my buddy asked me to go with him to a local dealer to help in his decision for his CCW firearm and I finally got my hands on the Shield and it felt pretty damn good!
I've been dead set on my next purchase(SMITH AND WESSON 327 TRR8) but now I'm contemplating one of these Shields.

The pro's and con's I've come up with so far,

Caliber .38 vs 9mm = Kind of a toss up to me
Capacity = Shield
Reliability = LCR (The smaller these auto's get the less I trust them)
Close Quarters = LCR
Conceal-ability = Not Sure? Help me out here!

What are your thoughts?

On a side note I think dealers should in some way disclose what the LCI on the Shield looks like when loaded as there was no mention of it, I had to inform my friend what would appear once loaded. Maybe a snap cap or a photo... something!

[Pistolgrip Pump]

I am with you on the lcr. Had one in 357 and loved it. If I were to get another one it would be in 38 because lets be real 357 in that gun is ridiculous if you need to make follow up shots. I am currently thinking about a shield too for my ccw. Revolvers are cool but I am just not as efficient with them when it comes to reloading. And that is no good if I am using it to protect myself.

[-hanko]

Ford v. Chevy.

[sealocan]

This is just my humble opinion and I am no expert but some things to consider-
although I like the semi autos for capacity & fast reloads and would prefer one if I knew I was going into danger/combat or thought I might encounter more than two opponents at a time, which is very possible.

The revolver has a few advantages, one it will always fire almost any type of ammo whether it be a new radicaly designed hollow tip, flat nose, snake shot, low powered rounds, homemade wax slugs for fun shooting indoors or whatever.
and while nothing is absolutely reliable I, like you, trust revolver more than I do a semi-auto to function properly most of the time.
revolvers are a little easier to train even the most inexperienced gun owner on. no safety switches, magazine release buttons or slide stops... you put the bullets in, pull the trigger and then unload & repeat.

I know people feel differently about this but I think when I think concealable I have to give a slight edge to a hammerless designed revolver like a Smith and Wesson 442 or 642 . easier to drop in the pocket of a coat or the pants and can even be fired from inside a coat pocket.

human reaction time is such that if a bad guy has a gun on you,
you might be able to draw your semi auto (IF you have a live round in the barrel and are quick with a safety switch or don't have one.=Glock) out of your inside the waistband holster and shoot him before his brain reacts and pulls his trigger.

but if you shoot him with the revolver still inside the coat pocket before his brain can even register you MAY have a gun. I think you're going to stand a better chance of it coming out alive.


I think the best advice is to do with most people here do & get one of each.

[The Mad Mule]

I am with you on the lcr. Had one in 357 and loved it. If I were to get another one it would be in 38 because lets be real 357 in that gun is ridiculous if you need to make follow up shots. I am currently thinking about a shield too for my ccw. Revolvers are cool but I am just not as efficient with them when it comes to reloading. And that is no good if I am using it to protect myself.

I bought a LCR 357 for kicks and giggles, and it definitely delivered in the first category. After awhile though I figured it out as an expensive range/home defense revolver. The grip was too sticky to be trusted inside clothing, and shooting 357 out of it was just total overkill.

[sholling]

I own a S&W 642 and a Shield and I've shot the LCR and very much prefer the Shield over both snubbies. The reason is four fold, first the sights on the shield are much better than any snubbie that I've shot. Second, the Shield is thinner and thus more comfortable. Third, the Shield is faster and easier to reload and carries more rounds. Fourth, the Shield's trigger is more my taste. If facing only one bad guy a snubbie makes an adequate 5 shot belly gun out to about 10' but the heavy 12+ pound trigger and p-poor sights make it a real challenge to be accurate at greater distances unless you add a Crimson Trace laser.

The other advantage to the shield is the greater availability of modern state of the art hollow points in 9mm or 40S&W vs 38spl. If I had to go with a snubbie I'd want to keep it loaded with Speer Gold Dots for short barrel pistol which are about all I would trust from a 2" barrel.

P/N: 23921 38 Special +P 135 GDHP-SB
P/N: 23917 357 Magnum 135 GDHP-SB

As for reliability I've got 100 hiccup free rounds through the Shield so far and will put another 100 through it this week, and if it keeps shooting this well my 642 is likely to be looking for a new home real soon.

[rambutan316]

I had a LCR, but ended up selling it due to it's thickness. I'm a fairly skinny guy and it printed more than my Glock 19.

[John Joseph]

What do you have now and why are you changing?
Little guns are difficult to shoot accurately from a draw.
If you can already do that, why invest the time and money to learn a new firearm? Especially for a ccw? It's a temporary set back at best, though maybe rational if you're getting some advantage but it should be quite a profound advantage, IMHO, else wise stick with something proven.

[ElDub1950]

...
On a side note I think dealers should in some way disclose what the LCI on the Shield looks like when loaded as there was no mention of it, I had to inform my friend what would appear once loaded. Maybe a snap cap or a photo... something!

You mean a big photo like the one on S&Ws Shield page?

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_812066_-1_780153_757781_757781_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

[Fox75]

You mean a big photo like the one on S&Ws Shield page?



http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y

That will do!

[Fox75]

What do you have now and why are you changing?
Little guns are difficult to shoot accurately from a draw.
If you can already do that, why invest the time and money to learn a new firearm? Especially for a ccw? It's a temporary set back at best, though maybe rational if you're getting some advantage but it should be quite a profound advantage, IMHO, else wise stick with something proven.

Good point and will take into consideration.