45lc or 38+P for a snubbie?

[hansg/Ups]

Thinking of going for a snubbie revolver in either 38+P or 45 lc.
Any arguments for or against either[you prefer which-and why]?
SN for practice loads,I'm already loading both calibers.
I'll only be using factory loads for actual carry.
Thanks.

[Savage]

As most who carry a revolver for personal protection choose to carry a snubbie due to the compact size, I'd go with the .38. I can't imagine carrying a .45 Colt in a pocket, at least not any of my pockets. A full size auto would be easier to carry. In a snubbie, the .38 gets my vote.
Savage

[mattmillerrx]

Who makes a 45lc in a snubbie?  I would agree not a pocket gun but I would like it for a belt gun.  I am in the market for a second ccw gun and am thinking 38/357 gun and have leaned toward the sp101 ruger over one of the airweight guns but have also  been looking at some of the older smith's that are all steel.  But a 45lc snubbie I would like to see.  It might just fit the bill.

MGM

[rockbilly]

It's hard to beat a Smith model 60 or 649 in a snubbie, but I sugesst you go with the .357 so you have the choice of more loads.  When I carry one of these I usually carry full blown .357, but on trips where my wife is with me I step down to the +P which she can handle better.  Also a plus with either is adding the CT grips.

[45-70.gov]

It's hard to beat a Smith model 60 or 649 in a snubbie, but I sugesst you go with the .357 so you have the choice of more loads.  When I carry one of these I usually carry full blown .357, but on trips where my wife is with me I step down to the +P which she can handle better.  Also a plus with either is adding the CT grips.

but  in  the  model  642  centinial
i  always  shoot  357

step dad  has  same in taurus
he  is  old and frail  and  only  shoots  357

we  both  have  crimson trace grips


my  kids all  have  640  smith centenials  in  aluminum  +p 38
  they  like the  14 oz  weight

i  have  a 3 inch  629 44 mag  shoots  great
just  too  big to carry  so it  stays in the safe

get  the  642  357  at  20  oz
if thats  too  heavy get  the 640 smith  38  at  14 oz


i  think  if you  will  get the  45  you  ''may''  be  better  armed....unless  you left it at  home

[Mohawk]

Either. Just make sure the bullet goes where its supposed to and you'll  be fine.

[Robert357]

Interesting.  I guess it depends upon what you are concerned about.

I own and carry concealed when out in the woods an Astra Stainless Steel 44 Rem Magnum Terminator snubnose.  I carry it in an inside the waist belt holster.  The reason is that I live in a state full of tree hugging liberals who point and shout things like "he has a gun!" and then act all crazy.  Some have even lectured when I open carry.  It is much easier to just have the protection out of site and enjoy nature when out hiking or doing pre hunting season scouting.

The 44 Rem Mag weighs a lot and will do a number on your wrist at the range after a full day of shooting.  I also own a Ruger Blackhawk SA 45 Long Colt.  I would anticipate a double action 45 LC to be heavy, but not as bad from a recoil perspective.

I also have a Taurus ultra light 38 Special.  This is for more "urban settings."  Because is is very light, it is also a handful to control and produces noticable barrel flip.

I would like to digress a moment and point out that most snub nose revolvers require either special powders (to avoid becoming flame throwers) and often don't get the full benefit out of heavily loaded cartridges.  It is for this reason that my 38 Special is feed the regular pressure, low flash, short barrel 38 Special ammo made by Buffalo Bore.  As such, I am not sure +P is a great idea for a snub nose revolver, as much of the extra powder could just end up as flame out the barrel.  As for the 45 LC, that is one big cartridge and I am unsure if a standard factory 45 LC round wouldn't also end up as being a flamethrower in a snubnose.  I know that my 44 Rem Mag produces a pretty spectacular flame when loaded with standard factory rounds. 

In a low light confrontation (most police reports show violen crimes at night) low flash powder is critical to avoid being temporarily blinded by you revolvers discharge.  As such, I would opt for regular 38 special low flash Buffalo Bore rounds for your factory carry. 

I handload for all my ammo and even handload some 44 Special rounds used in my Astra Terminator.  If you handload and want to go with a 38 Special there are some impressive 200 grain hard cast lead bullet loads, that you could work up for personal protection.  I like heavy bullets when possible.

 

[45-70.gov]

i  like  my  little '''flame thrower''

2 inch  357  hand geld  ''flash bag grenade''

i  can  blink  they wont see it  comeing  as far  as blindness

chronographed  1250  fps      remington  125 gr hp........so  little velocity  loss

my  max  range    to be  sure of a hit  is  50  yards

there  is  a lot of talk  about the low  flash      i  just like  the flash bang

my  kids  carry  180  wide flat nose in  38     3 graisn  bullseye
my  favoride  handi  rifle load.....no noise

[hansg/Ups]

Thanks for the opinions/thoughts.
I am aware of muzzleblast in a short revolver,that's why the defensive load in my 4" 357Mag=factory 38 +P 158gr lead hollow points,only then followed by speedloaders of[factory]magnum ammo.I'd probably go with the 38 +P 158gr LHPs or 38 125gr JHPs in a  38 snubby[the old style Hydrashoks seemed pretty good when they came out].Those light/ultralight revolvers have some appeal,albeit at the price of more recoil.

Two revolvers that -might-qualify as 45 lc snubbies=
-S&W Mountain revolver 45 lc
-Taurus Judge 45lc/410ga
The S&W is a bit pricey,and I haven't any experience with Taurus.

Any experience with either?
SN The Ruger Redhawk 4" 45lc is a bit heavy/large to be considered a snubby ! If weight/size isn't an issue,this a nice piece.
A possible factory load would be the Winchester Silvertips.

Thanks.

[Greeenriver]

I have and have carried ocasionaly, a "Birdshead" grip SSA with a 3 in barrel in 45 colt. Great gun, beautyfull case colors and Ivory grips,handels well and heavy enough to handle the recoil of the Winchester Personal protection 225 grn JHP's I carried in it.  I've shot it at nite, and it does throw a "Fireball" out there. Not as bad as when I shot some nite shots with it using my BP loads, but definatly will light up the area.

Any more, my cary gun is a untralite short bbl 38 loaded with 125 grn +p personal protection loads from Winchester. Not as bad a fireball, but will still light up the area a bit.

I feel completly well armes with a SA, the action kind isn't why I cary teh 38, it's simply 'cause the ultralite is always with me, not dragging down my pants like the steel SA is when worn in an ITW holster.

A 22 in your hand will do you more good than any bigger gun in the truck, or back home on the stand.

Greeenriver

[Graybeard]

Two revolvers that -might-qualify as 45 lc snubbies=
-S&W Mountain revolver 45 lc
-Taurus Judge 45lc/410ga
The S&W is a bit pricey,and I haven't any experience with Taurus.

Neither hardly qualifies as a "snub nose" or Snubbie and you'll most likely find yourself leaving both at home or in the vehicle and not going with you when you most need them.

[Old Griz]

This is the only snubbie I know about in .45 Colt. I'd love to have one, but the $1475 price tag makes it a dream that will never come true. (Plus, I'd get it in .44 Special.)

http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/snubnose.asp

[NickSS]

I have debated a long time whether to use a revolver or pistol for carry and have settled on both.  Most of the time I use a Taurus 357 mag snubby that I have never fired with a 357 mag round.  I mostly use either 125 gr +P loads or lead SWC at standard velocity.  I carry it either in a belt holster when wearing a coat or in an in the pants holster when not.  I sometimes when dressed light in the summer time carry a Beretta Tomcat in 32 auto in an pocket holster as it is both lighter and smaller than my snubby.  A 32 is weaker in stopping power but will be with me when the option is it or nothing.

[Frank V]

I favor calibers that start with a "4", but sometimes weather dictates what we carry if we really want it concealed. Most who pack daily use at least two different guns. Some a large bore for winter when using a vest or coat & a smaller J frame or DS size for summer.
  Some of the +P .38 loads are effective. You may have to choose a compromise if you only want one gun for defense.
Frank

[Davemuzz]

I dunno why you would want the 45LC for a carry piece. If you want to start a "discussion" simply state that the 45LC is a cartridge that started life as a blackpowder round, and is still hangin 'round because it's ballistics are near more modern cartridges such as the 44 magnum. (Excuse me....I gotta duck)

Get a 38+P and do some research on the new ammo such as the Hornady +P personal defense rubber gummy tip bullets. Heck, I carry those in my 357 magnum for personal defense.

Dave