Yesterday I pulled out my snub revolver for some dry fire. I looked down at the right-side of the gun and noticed a screw had backed almost all the way out!
In the above image, you can see arrows pointing to two screws. These two screws help to hold on the side plate. In my case, it was the lower screw that was nearly backed out. I immediately obtained a screwdriver and ensured all three of those side screws were tight (the upper one hadn’t backed out, but wasn’t tight; the crane retainer screw was fine). No, I did not use Loctite; I reckon that’s nothing you want that close to your action internals.
Just a note for folks — especially if you carry a snub. Check your screws. Do it now while it’s fresh in your mind.
My next thought was wondering if you can get replacements of these screws, just in case. I assume you can.
ETA: I assumed correctly. I droped S&W an email and asked if you could obtain replacement screws if needed, and sure enough you can. Just drop ’em a line or give ’em a call.
ETA2: Folks have been commenting that I should use blue Loctite on the screws to keep them from backing out. While I grant the joys of Loctite, I just did not feel right about using it on those screws given their location and relative softness.
So I asked the gunsmith that did the custom work on my 442, Verne Trester. His reply:
I wouldn’t use loctite, put some fingernail polish on the head only, then if you need to remove them use nail polish remover readily available at a drug store
There you go.
Stuff From Hsoi 
I think part of the Snub Training class that De Bethencourt teaches, covers general maintainance and he notes that you should check your screws at least once a week for being backed out or loose. I think it’s very advisable to do just that.
When you check your loads in your speed loader(s) (you do that once a week right?), check your screws, check behind the trigger for a build up of crud, and of course function check.
-Rob
Oh to add don’t forget your ejector rod and the screw that retains the cylinder crane.
Yeah, I’m certainly going to be checking those screws more regularly.
It would probably be a good idea to remove those screws and put a drop of blue loctite (not red.. it’s permanent) on those threads. Those screws will never back out on you again, and if you ever want to remove them the blue locktite will easily break free with a firm twist of the screwdriver.
I thought about that, but I just don’t feel right about putting Loctite (any color of it) that close to the action internals. Call me paranoid.
Hsoi, you don’t have to go crazy with the loctite. (and yes, use the blue medium strength, not the red high strength as Mike said.)
If you have enough loctite to cover 3 threads the screw will stay put without making a mess. Since they’re teensy screws you need a teensy bit of loctite.
If a screw is backing out during normal operation then it needs something to hold it in place. The heat cycles that a pistol goes through makes it easy for a properly torqued screw to come loose over time.
I use blue loctite on some of my RC car screws that are of a similar scale to your side cover screws. Works great. A little goes a long way.
Oh I know that a little goes a long way.
But something just doesn’t feel right about doing this.
I’ll email the gunsmith that worked on my snub and see what he says.