Product Description

In this book, former CIA operative and Combat Handguns columnist Ed Lovette pays homage to the short-barreled revolver, or snubby, holding it up as the timeless standard in concealed carry, backup and extreme close quarters (ECQ) defensive weapons. He addresses the four most common complaints about the snubby – grip, front sight, trigger and ammo capacity – and presents viable ways to remedy those issues based on his personal experience. Lovette devotes the second half of the book to defensive tactics, running the gamut from basic personal defense to strategic planning for extraordinary situations such as surveillance and carjackings to considerations specific to the use of the pocket revolver. This book is a must for anyone seeking objective, practical insight into the snub-nose revolver’s enduring value.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126389 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 188 pages

About the Author
Ed Lovette is a retired CIA paramilitary operations officer. He was also a captain in the U.S. Army Special Forces and is a 10-year law enforcement veteran. He has a long association with Combat Handguns magazine, for which he currently writes the Last Shots column.

Customer Reviews

Good for what it is intended for.
I believe the previous two reviews to be somewhat harsh. This book is aimed not for the police or for military personnel, but for an audience that is most likely to carry the snubby revolver--civilians who want something light and comfortable for self-defense.

With this audience in mind, the book succeeds quite well. He covers not only the basics of loading and firing the gun, but also various concealment holsters, the most effective ammo to use for concealed carry, as well as an honest assessment of the snubby's stopping power compared to heavier semi-automatics.

True, he doesn't say much about tactics, but that's not the point of the book. NO book on handgunning can substitute for a good class in gun safety, marksmanship, and conflict avoidance.

Personally, and I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers with this statement, I don't see any good reason for a civilian to carry any other weapon than a revolver for self-defense. While semi-automatics are good for cops and military personnel who sometimes require more firepower and greater ammunition capacity, the fact is that civilian gunfights are over in about 2.5 shots on average. Lovette states it succinctly in his book: "Most gunfights are resolved within the capacity of the five or six rounds the revolver carries. Reloading is necessary in about 10 percent of the documented gunfights involving revolvers. There is a great deal of truth to the fact that if you have to reload during the gunfight, you are either missing a lot or you bought the wrong weapon." In short, revolvers are simple, reliable and provide more than enough firepower for the vast majority of civilian gunfights. This book provides important information and is a good starting point for anyone looking for a comfortable concealed weapon.

Some shots of brilliance but misses its target
The Snub-nose Revolver could be classified as a subject in much need of discussion but with limited material available. This is why I wanted to read this book since the snubby .38 Special or .357 Mag is a very common carry gun by licensed civilians and used as a back up by law enforcement officers. There have been many instances cited where this type of gun saved someone's life.

There are flashes of brilliance written in this book but mostly the author loses momentum very quickly and you're wanting for more. Another reviewer stated that this book was a compilation of "gunzine articles" and though I am not sure if it was, the book certainly could flow better.

Some examples of things I liked were the reloading of the revolver. One pearl was that you should reload opposite the way the cylinder rotates so if you have to slap the cylinder shut and fire in a hurry the bullets that were loaded will be available to be shot. Also his technique for aiming at just two cylinder holes versus all five or six promotes accurate and less cumbersome reloading. The author knows the different types of snub nose revolvers and though I would have liked him to be a bit more descriptive, there are certainly examples for you to look at if you are thinking of getting one.

Some things that were big misses: His chapter on the trigger and use of the front sight was just a tease. There are many important factors regarding trigger control that are absolutely necessary for the snub nose revolver to shine and it is glossed over at best. He barely mentions dry firing which is an intricate part of mastering this type of gun if you want to learn how to shoot it well. The proper grip is very important and this is barely covered. The small barrel of the snubby means that you need every tool available to shoot it accurately and take advantage of its close quarters capabilities and the author just doesn't take the time to discuss this. When I tried to learn the revolver I found that I had to hold the gun with no thumb pressure or I would string laterally. I also needed to shoot it with my strong hand gripping the gun no harder than shaking a man's hand or I would shoot low. A shooting wheel like the one in the US Army pistol manual would really help you at the range and the snubby needs as perfect control as you can muster to hit your target, especially at distances greater than 5 yards. You may want to look at www.sportshooter.com in the target section for this wheel. It is free to download. The chapter on tactics is just awful. The author interjects examples, which do not contribute much to the points he is discussing. It just seems to fill up paper.

The book has helpful sections, don't get me wrong, but it could have been a lot better and though it misses its mark it is nice to see a book about a very useful weapon be promoted. The one thing I absolutely agree with the author on is that the first rule of any gunfight is to have a gun and the snub nose revolver makes that a lot easier.

Only a small amount is about snubbies
This is a decent book but the title is a bit misleading. There were only about 3 chapters specifically on the snubby. I don't regret buying it but as someone who carries a snubby daily, I didn't learn anything new.