The trick to backup guns is being competent enough to use them well when you need them the most. That takes hard work and discipline, but using this 3 tips for shooting snubby revolvers well will speed up the process.

The Close Range Pickle

The first thing I discuss with anyone considering carrying a snubby revolver is do you plan on training. If you don’t, that’s cool, but it might not be the saving grace you thought. On the one hand, they are easy, but on the other, they are hard. What I mean is should you resort to drawing your snubby revolver, chances are you are in a pickle, but it is a close range pickle. So, marksmanship requirements may be less stringent. Plus, the added benefit of contact shots with a revolver can sometimes be reason enough to consider. This by no means is a pass on your shooting skill, you will still need a high degree of controllability to continue to deliver effective fire. It is controability you should put the lion’s share of your training for shooting snubby revolvers.

Perfecting Your Firing Grip

The first tip is to really look at your grip. While it is very possible you can retrograde a semi-automoatic grip to work with a revolver, you would be wise to avoid this temptation. If you are thinking it helps maintain continuity it really doesn’t. What you get is added exposure to injury and poor grip mechanics. While there are some that can shoot these well using their auto grip, they are anomiles and not the norms. Positioning on the available real estate is critical. You have to take up as much useable space, beause you don’t get that much. From there, it’s all about the friction. The more friction you can achieve the better it will help control recoil. I use an over thumb grip, but I do it slightly different than most. I literally point my thumb’s tip downwards. Most don’t get a fully downward pointing thumb, it is more angled. Not terrible, but it doesn’t allow me to take advantage of tip number two for shooting snubby revolvers well.

Shooting Strong Hand Only Provides Gifts

I subscribe to a reverse thumb grip. It is reverse in the sense, my weak hand thumb rests on top of my strong hand thumb. Because I pointed the tip of my strong hand thumb downward there is somewhat of a shelf formed by the second digit. This shelf allows me to rest my weak hand thumb more securely allowing me to apply grip pressure more evenly and consistently. Speaking of grip pressure, I apply inward pressure with my pinkies of both hands. It is very similar to my auto-grip, but not with the same grip force. I make up for it a little by applying pressure downwards from the weak hand thumb. This process produces a firm and secure grip capable of rapid fire. The bonus is when you shoot strong hand only, pressing the thumb down and pinky inwards produces great results.

Downward, Not Rearward

The last tip is the direction of the trigger finger’s movement. Contrary to the norm, I squeeze more downward than rearward. It seems odd, but the curvature of the trigger makes me change the movement direction slightly. Since it is nothing more than a lever and I want maximum leverage making this change helps. As the trigger moves rearward, the angle of the trigger’s face changes. I want to press more downward than rearward once it reaches the apex of it’s movement. It is subtle for sure, but it has made a difference for me.

I do value what a snubby revolver offers me in the form of a backup gun. I carry them more frequently currently than I have in the past partly because I have made huge strides in shooting them well using this tips.

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It is the truth

Revolvers get a bad rap by many, the problem is a lot of the arguments against have valid points. It is a lower capacity firearm. It requires a high degree of skill to effectively manage the long double action. Reloading is crucial and challenging to master. When something as important as hitting, the targets is the subject you pay attention to these points. You will notice targets is plural and one of the main drawbacks I see with carrying a revolver every day; it is a “one man” gun. While many people would rather hope for the best, I’m more inclined to consider the worse. Any lethal confrontation is a worst-case scenario. Add multiple attackers and you are truly in a bad way.

Apples to oranges

In today’s market, the circumstances most carry a revolver is as a backup to their primary. While I have done so more times than I can count the problem I always had was carrying a different platform from my primary. Not only was it different, pistol vs. revolver, it fired different ammunition. When training resources are limited, I have a hard time justifying the expenditure on something I may not use versus something I most likely will use. The time I had to put into shooting the smaller more recoil sensitive platforms was not the issue. It was the time I expended mastering the reloads along with the challenges of carrying reloads while concealed.

Volume is key

With today’s advancements in self-defense ammunition you should be able to find good loads for the shorter barreled revolvers. Then using lighter, less recoiling rounds for training allows you to increase the round count volume. To develop proficiency volume is relative. Maintaining strict standards, the higher the volume the higher the proficiency level. Getting more time on the longer double action triggers should be a top priority, but balanced with the ability to reload under a variety of conditions. Whatever your preference, loose rounds, speed loaders or speed strips practice is the key. Marksmanship requires live fire training to truly develop and the irony is in the process you will have to work at getting good with reloads due to the volume.

Keep things in perspective

When it comes to marksmanship I remind folks it is the Indian and not the arrow. Even the short-barreled revolvers with low profile sights are still plenty accurate. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you will never have to shoot your snubby out at distance, distance is always around. Instead be proportionate at how you allocate your rounds regarding distance. If you believe there’s an 80% chance of using your firearm at close range, inside 5 yards then expend 20% at the greater ranges. Like anything you don’t have to master the skill, you just need to be proficient. Another way of looking at that is you want to suck less than the bad guy.

Modern day revolvers really didn’t go anywhere, more people are recognizing they’re not just a backup option. The benefit is not without a higher demand for practice and training.

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