By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
I’ve known two guys who shot people in self-defense with five-shot J-frame Smith & Wesson revolvers, and early in my career while working on a small town weekly newspaper, I carried an S&W Chief’s Special chambered for the .38 Special in an ankle holster tucked inside my cowboy boot.
Alternately, I also carried that gun in an old Safariland upside-down shoulder holster, and it was essentially invisible under a light jacket or inside a sweatshirt.
It was an older square-butt specimen with the diamond grips, and while it shot “okay,” it was definitely not a target gun. I eventually swapped a guy for that gun decades ago for a .257 Roberts built on a Mauser ’98 action with a like-new Douglas barrel and 4X Weaver scope.
Later on, I acquired a five-shot Model 442 S&W hammerless, and eventually replaced the factory rubber “boot grip” with a set of used Herrett stocks I found at a gun show for about $20. They fit my hand far better and helped control the recoil of my small revolver which, when fired with full power ammunition, is known to buck pretty good!
The point being that if five shots is all one has, he/she can make the most of them, and it’s a much better situation than having no gun at all when an emergency arises.
I’ve known police officers who carried a J-frame S&W as a backup, back in the days when revolvers dominated law enforcement armament.
More than 30 years ago, I designed the original “tuckable” holster around a five-shot Smith & Wesson, which also fit the similarly-sized Charter Arms .38 Special. That rig, dubbed “The Workman” by holster maestro Mitch Rosen, has been copied by others, but Rosen’s rendition is the original. Not surprisingly, he pictures it with a J-frame S&W on his website.
There are loads of five-shot S&W wheelguns out there, along with aforementioned Charter Arms guns, and snubbies manufactured by Taurus, Rossi and others. They include models with exposed hammers, hammerless and what might be called the “compromise” rendition, the Model 38 with a humpback frame protecting a cockable hammer.
While there are more potent defensive rounds than the .38 Special, modern bullet design and improved propellants have given this classic cartridge plenty of “oomph.” In a close encounter of the worst kind, today’s .38 Special offers formidable stopping power in a small package, thanks to a variety of factory ammunition.
I’ve experimented with different handloads using 125- or 110-grain JHPs ahead of such propellants as Hodgdon’s HP-38, CFE Pistol and AutoComp, all with good results.
The most important factor about carrying a five-shooter, or any revolver, for that matter, is that you don’t have ammunition to waste. Take shots carefully and count them if possible.
I typically carry a couple of HKS speedloaders whenever I’m packing the ‘Smith snubby, and I knew one guy who carried two such revolvers—one in either pocket of his jacket—for the quickest reload of all, the second gun. This is typically referred to as a “New York reload,” and it has been known to give undercover cops or stakeout detectives the edge they needed in a gunfight.
The five-shot revolver also makes an excellent trail gun. It is lightweight, fires a round with decent power, and is simple to operate. Back in the days I was more actively instructing, I habitually counseled new shooters to purchase a revolver if personal protection in the home was their primary reason for learning to shoot and buying a handgun.
For the trail, any number of holsters are available, and while I personally prefer leather as my holster material, there are pocket holsters made from nylon and belt holsters made from stiff synthetic materials (Kydex) which can also be considered.
As with any sidearm, one must practice to achieve and maintain efficiency. It’s perhaps more important with a fixed-sight five-shot revolver, and I suggest practicing on targets at 7, 10, 15 and 25 yards. Take your time as speed will come with experience.
The purpose is to have a gun when it’s needed, rather than not having a gun at all. For its diminutive size, the small five-shot revolver just might make the most important difference in your life.
