Gun Owning Smokers

[Kenyth]

I have to disagree with that statement. I've got a Model 37 S&W 38 Special Air Weight with a two inch barrel.. At 15 yards I can put all my rounds in the"heart area" on a B29 target. I scored two points higher with it than I did with my primary weapon...An H&K USP 40... on the combat course I'm required to qualify on four times a year.

It takes practice.

Good show! Then again, you are a professional. I can't seem to find specs on a model 37 though. Is that a classic? If so, I assume it has an exposed hammer?

I assume you fired the shots all double action? The double action messes me up. It takes practice to pull all the way until just before the hammer falls, then readjust your aim, then finish the pull. I am surprised that the 1-7/8" stubby barrel performed so well for you though.

[badwhale]

Good show! Then again, you are a professional. I can't seem to find specs on a model 37 though. Is that a classic? If so, I assume it has a hammer?

I assume you fired the shots all double action? The double action messes me up. It takes practice to pull all the way until just before the hammer falls, then readjust your aim, then finish the pull. I am surprised that the 1-7/8" stubby barrel performed so well for you though.

They all have hammers. Some are internal, some exposed.

I don't go out too often with my Model 36, but I can hit a target 10-15 yards pretty easily. Mine is also a 1 7/8" barrel. Some of my friends go to police shoots & compete. They use range guns probably similar to the one you described you have. I'm told there are a couple guys who show up with "snubbies" that out shoot them. They are accurate with the right load.

"It takes practice" is right.

[badwhale]

http://www.snubnose.info/docs/Model_36.htm

There's some info on the Model 37 and its predecessors.

Will

[Kenyth]

They all have hammers. Some are internal, some exposed.

I don't go out too often with my Model 36, but I can hit a target 10-15 yards pretty easily. Mine is also a 1 7/8" barrel. Some of my friends go to police shoots & compete. They use range guns probably similar to the one you described you have. I'm told there are a couple guys who show up with "snubbies" that out shoot them. They are accurate with the right load.

"It takes practice" is right.

Edited. I meant exposed hammer. Exposed hammers can be fixed if you prefer a DAO pistol, but like the price of an old used police revolver with an exposed hammer. My mother still has her old original used SW snubbie with the thumb lever ground off the external hammer. The thing probably has more use than an old military weapon, and is kept at the bottom of a purse filled with dust, but it never fails to fire every time. IF there's one thing you can say about .38 revolvers is that they are unfailing.

The worst pistol I ever owned was a Para-Ordnance P-10 (compact 1911 clone) chambered in .45 ACP. A powerful pistol in a small package for sure, but it jammed, a lot. It would stick when chambering a round due to the steep ramp from the magazine, and it would also occasionally catch spent brass in the ejection port due to the tenuous two finger pistol grip and heavy recoil snapping the pistol back with a lot of speed. A really hard grip on the pistol would prevent this, but it produced a lot of fatigue and affected accuracy. It looked cool but performed horribly. It should be noted that their larger frame pistols don't suffer these problems.

[cigarsarge]

Good show! Then again, you are a professional. I can't seem to find specs on a model 37 though. Is that a classic? If so, I assume it has an exposed hammer?

I assume you fired the shots all double action? The double action messes me up. It takes practice to pull all the way until just before the hammer falls, then readjust your aim, then finish the pull. I am surprised that the 1-7/8" stubby barrel performed so well for you though.

Exposed hammer, fired double action as required. I would not call it a classic but it is a damn good hideout gun. I was gonna get some recoil absorbing grips but that would cut down on being able to conceal it well.

I shot 100 through it on qualification day...75 just because I can shoot free that day. I shot 25 to qualify. My right hand was a bit beat up due to recoil. It is a very light gun.

[denver24]

Has anyone shot the Springfield XD Sub-Compact 9 mm? I'm looking for something a little smaller that I can carry and that is still going to be somewhat accurate.

This would be my first firearm purchase. My buddy is an ex-marine and he is a gun safety and concealed weapons trainer. He recommended the XD 45, but I want something smaller to carry.

[ndv21]

Has anyone shot the Springfield XD Sub-Compact 9 mm? I'm looking for something a little smaller that I can carry and that is still going to be somewhat accurate.

This would be my first firearm purchase. My buddy is an ex-marine and he is a gun safety and concealed weapons trainer. He recommended the XD 45, but I want something smaller to carry.

I shot one the other day at the range from a buddy of mine that has like 13 handguns. Shoots very well and put about 50 rounds through it. I am no gun expert by any means since last week I bought my first gun. Honestly, If I had the money to spend, I would've bouth the XD. Shoot it at the range and see if you like it!

[MarineOne]

Has anyone shot the Springfield XD Sub-Compact 9 mm? I'm looking for something a little smaller that I can carry and that is still going to be somewhat accurate.

This would be my first firearm purchase. My buddy is a former Marine and he is a gun safety and concealed weapons trainer. He recommended the XD 45, but I want something smaller to carry.

Okay so for starters I fixed that for you. There are no "ex-Marines" unless they received a bad conduct discharge or a dishonorable. Oh, and the proper capitalization of course.

I own both the XD 45 in the 5 inch tactical and the XDm in 9mm and both would be good for shoulder carry, but not the waistband. If you're looking for a waist carry CCW you should really look at a Smith and Wesson "J" frame or their light weight line in .38SPL. This way you can do IWB (inside the waistband), or ankle/pocket carry.


Kris

[denver24]

Okay so for starters I fixed that for you. There are no "ex-Marines" unless they received a bad conduct discharge or a dishonorable. Oh, and the proper capitalization of course.

Kris, no offense meant and thanks for the correction.

If you're looking for a waist carry CCW you should really look at a Smith and Wesson "J" frame or their light weight line in .38SPL. This way you can do IWB (inside the waistband), or ankle/pocket carry.

Would you then not recommend the 3" XD for CCW?

[MarineOne]

Unless you get the extended magazine, no. The 3 inch hardly has anything to hold on to, so when the unfortunate time comes to draw it combined with the adrenaline rush, you could end up hurting yourself.



Kris

[denver24]

Cool, thanks for the insight!

[Kenyth]

Has anyone shot the Springfield XD Sub-Compact 9 mm? I'm looking for something a little smaller that I can carry and that is still going to be somewhat accurate.

This would be my first firearm purchase. My buddy is an ex-marine and he is a gun safety and concealed weapons trainer. He recommended the XD 45, but I want something smaller to carry.

As far as stopping power in a reasonable package goes, you will have a hard time beating a .45 ACP auto. Springfield makes one of many polymer variants that fire this potent round. Glock is another good choice. One thing to be careful of is a sub compact that fires .45 ACP. The round is pretty fat. Combine that with the steep loading ramps found in most sub compacts and the flat nose of hollow points, and you have a much higher chance of jamming. I had to get rid of an otherwise good pistol for that very reason.

9mm has so many pistols available that it can be daunting to choose one. My advice? Go out and shop. When you find a few that feel good in your price range, look up reviews and make your choice. They have very slim and small 9mm autos with a single stack mag. Some, like Kel-Tek make them for a very cheap price. Others, like Walther, make an expensive high end pistol.

[denver24]

As far as stopping power in a reasonable package goes, you will have a hard time beating a .45 ACP auto. Springfield makes one of many polymer variants that fire this potent round. Glock is another good choice. One thing to be careful of is a sub compact that fires .45 ACP. The round is pretty fat. Combine that with the steep loading ramps found in most sub compacts and the flat nose of hollow points, and you have a much higher chance of jamming. I had to get rid of an otherwise good pistol for that very reason.

9mm has so many pistols available that it can be daunting to choose one. My advice? Go out and shop. When you find a few that feel good in your price range, look up reviews and make your choice. They have very slim and small 9mm autos with a single stack mag. Some, like Kel-Tek make them for a very cheap price. Others, like Walther, make an expensive high end pistol.

Thanks for the input Kenyth! I'll keep you guys updated.

[mail man]

I second the Keltec, I had one a few years ago, and it performed quite well, and was very reasonable in the price range.

Keith

[Kenyth]

Exposed hammer, fired double action as required. I would not call it a classic but it is a damn good hideout gun. I was gonna get some recoil absorbing grips but that would cut down on being able to conceal it well.

I shot 100 through it on qualification day...75 just because I can shoot free that day. I shot 25 to qualify. My right hand was a bit beat up due to recoil. It is a very light gun.

It's actually surprising how much difference a light gun with a short barrel makes on recoil, isn't it? If I shoot .38 special through my 6 inch revolver it feels like I'm shooting a pop gun. Practically no recoil to speak of. The magnum rounds are a different matter entirely.

[cigarsarge]

It's actually surprising how much difference a light gun with a short barrel makes on recoil, isn't it? If I shoot .38 special through my 6 inch revolver it feels like I'm shooting a pop gun. Practically no recoil to speak of. The magnum rounds are a different matter entirely.

I've got a Colt Lawman 357 with a four inch barrel that I hide out in my patrol car loaded with 38 Special +P. It recoils a bit but nothing like full power 357. I wish my department would allow 357 ammo.

[heftysmokes]

Hey Sarge, just curious, but why no on the .357 ammo?

[cigarsarge]

Hey Sarge, just curious, but why no on the .357 ammo?

My firearms instructor says the word "magnum" that follows 357 could result in excessive force problems. I guess the word magnum seems intimidating. The 357 Sig round is allowed...357 Magnum is not.

[Kenyth]

My firearms instructor says the word "magnum" that follows 357 could result in excessive force problems. I guess the word magnum seems intimidating. The 357 Sig round is allowed...357 Magnum is not.

Sarge, if you ever get a chance, fire the Glock 33 with the mag extension for your pinky. The recoil is a bit heavy, but not nearly as bad as that Para Ordnance P-10 I owned , and you don't seem to mind recoil. The longer I own it, the more I like it. The ratings and reviews are great. My personal experience with it is great. IMHO, it is one of the best, if not THE best, semi-auto, sub-compact, CCW out there. At least as far as firepower in a small package is concerned.