Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns guess I DO need a "snubby"

Cat tracks on my back deck this a.m., all around the house, size "Garfield is an appetizer". Half hour later while plowing, neighbor says he's been taking photos of mama and 3 cubs playing, 200 yds above me on the ridge. A lion ate a little doe in my woodshed 2 years ago while I was away, and I see tracks pretty often when I go down to river to pump my water. But it was 17 degrees this morning, I was bundled up, and most of my guns just didn't fit- especially in driving snow. Couple years ago I picked up a used SP101,.357, for one of the boys. Meanwhile, he found one on his own. Never been much good with one that short, especially with a mainspring fit for suspension on a little car. Took it down, lightened and polished, started practice w/ wax loads at my wife's back deck targets. Surprise- I can DA point shoot it real well-for me- it's quick, easy and smooth. At the range, same story. Liked it so well I replaced factory grip panels with slabs of elk antler, then engraved it. Actually turned out pretty cute; most who've seen it think it's really nice. But I still didn't actually have a use for it, until now. Belt holster not an option, external carry asking for a good soaking, but the little one went right in my carhart coat pocket, loaded with snort & beller .357-class charges, under 140 g.HPs. I feared not man nor beast, and have decided I'm gonna keep it. Used to think almost nobody needed a snubby, even though the Mrs. loves her Model 60. Have changed my mind, and am glad to have it around. Won't replace my usuals- 1911 for human environs, bigger revolvers for the backcountry, a .22 auto for potshooting/housecleaning, and my everyday do-it-all piece, a little birdshead SA 3 1/2" single-action in .38 sp. But for little, quick, with adequate thump from winter clothing circumstances, what a neat little gun. Maybe the "cat's meow"?

Have a SP 101 .38 Special DOA - I love it.

Reasons -

it is there, small enough to be...

I can hit with it.

Mine wears Hogue Monos.

Years ago a friend asked me why I have so many "pocket pistols" (J-framed Smiths) to which I replied, "I got alot of pockets!". Good luck with the lion problem.

That is some scary stuff. In your woodshed. Dayum. I believe I'd want a bigger gun. 329 PD comes immediately to mind. I've got a Mountain Gun but some don't like the weight.

Yep.

Everybody needs a snubby! The SP101 is my favorite in .357 magnum. It easily digests anything in that caliber. I cheated a little and got the 3 inch version.

+1 I agree the 3" is just about perfect. One is good, two is better!

How does the 3" SP101 handle recoil from 38spec +P loads?

My mother like shooting regular 38spec loads out of my 4" GP100 but the gun felt too "big" and "heavy" for her.

Kinda leary that dropping down to the smaller 3" SP101 will increase the recoil too much for her liking.

Better than even an all steel S&W J-Frame. A good bit more mass to absorb the recoil.

Or, the dog's bow-wow.

As good as the gun fits nearly anyone's hand it is easy to control & a pleasure to shoot in any chambering.

I regularly carry two 38sp model 36 Smiths with Federal hydrashock +ps. Figure they will work. Russ

If you stay away from stuff like Buffalo Bore 158s, you should be OK.

Ok guys, you're starting to talke me into the 3" sp101. Going to see if gunshop is open tomorrow to go check them out. You're not helpful on my wallet,lol!

I just got a 14oz S&W Airweight Mod 638 in .38+P. Very comfortable to pocket carry. It has a shrouded hammer, but can be used in single action. The S&W $50 rebate ended 12/31. Good luck.

It must be 1964 where you live.
Nobody "needs" a snubby today, especially not a 38spl. Too many better alternatives. You might "want" a snubby, which is OK, after all, people buy the Taurus Judge too.

I think a lot of my SP 101. Very handy, very solid, still tight after a lot of hot 125 grain HP's shot through it. Quite lively when it goes off, but very controllable.

Of course I'd prefer something bigger & better. If It were 30 degrees, I'd pack something else. It was minus 12 here this morning, I need to be able to move freely and with both hands.
What I can carry in a parka pocket, protected and accessible, with power enough, is a short revolver. The .357 is adequate, according to the 8 1/2 ft. tom hanging on my dad's wall, taken with a shoulder shot and 125g.HP, in the 80's. Also according to the best lion hunter I know, who used a .22 mag revolver, regularly. My dog pen, 15 yds from the house, is protected by a shotgun loaded with buck, from an elevated position. If the dog makes a sound, I'm out there, quick. If I wanted to shoot something from the house, I can cover up to half a mile, with any number of rifles. But to protect my own hide should I stupidly trip over a cat's kill or walk under a ledge at the wrong time, I'm glad to have the snubby. It ain't 1964, but my place wasn't named "Fawn Crossing" for lack of lion-food. And it's 47 miles to a stoplight; 90 to the closest mall. I'll never need to storm a crack house or do Hollywood scenes, but I just might have to shoot something with teeth & claws. When it's this much winter, under these circumstances, I DO need this little gun. Nothing else fits, as well.

What would you recommend as an alternative?

Both of my SP101's have Hogue grips. For just woods walking I really like the Trauch grips. Highly recommend both.