S&W carry question
Good evening all, I have a simple (I think) question for you tonight. I love revolvers, and am looking for a 3" model to carry. My question is which models have a 3" option, and which models are more carry friendly (size, weight, etc.)? Thank you for all of your input. Have a great evening.
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In .357 magnum, models 60, 65 and 66 can be found with 3" barrels. The 60 is a 5 shot J frame and the 65 & 66 are 6 shot K frames. Personally, I find the K frames the biggest revolver to carry comfortabley. 0 -
+1 for the 3 inch model 60 in 357. Great little guns and with adjustable rear sight. Kind of a handful with full power 357s but carry well. Pretty good writeup on the 60-15 here: http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review/Model_60-15.htm 0 -
quote:Originally posted by JKB57
Have a nice S&W 66 2 1/2" pinned ans recessed 357 mag I will sell
see auction 1246639390 -
I find a 3" Model 36 in .38 to be a light and comfortable gun. Around here you can still find a used one for about $300 - much less than the current Model 60 in .357. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by P228
In .357 magnum, models 60, 65 and 66 can be found with 3" barrels. The 60 is a 5 shot J frame and the 65 & 66 are 6 shot K frames. Personally, I find the K frames the biggest revolver to carry comfortabley.
A model 13 also comes with a 3" barrel. I will pass on the 60 with a 3".. I had one and it was a handfull with .357's. Sold it.0 -
i understand select-fire is an expert on 3" Smiths. You might want to email him.
I'm not a very big guy, but I packed a 3" Model 29 (blue, .44 Remington Magnum) for several years. You'll figger out a way to carry whatever sidearm you feel is right for you.
I now pack, everywhere, a Beretta Tomcat .32ACP..
It's better than carrying a (medium frame) stick.
Doug0 -
Well, we can make this complicated, or we can make this easy. [;)]
Smith historically has manufactured revolvers in four ordinary frame sizes:
J - small frame, 5 shots.
K - medium frame, 6 shots (frame sized discontinued).
L - reinforced medium frame 6 or 7 shots.
N - heavy frame, 6 - 8 shots.
Now, without getting into a confusing mish-mash of features and individual model numbers, you can find examples of either 2.5 or 3" barrel examples in any of those frame sizes. Some are going to be easier to find than others.
The features to consider would be finish/frame type (eg blued steel, nickel, stainless steel), grip shape (round or square butt), sights (fixed or adjustable), and caliber (basically .38 or .357).
As a blanket statement, the L and N frames are probably too heavy and bulky for ideal concealed carry.
Probably the best choice, and by far the most popular are the 5-shot J frames, which include the blued steel model 36 and the stainless steel model 60.
The K frames are no longer in production, but there are zillions of them available on the used market, and they are certainly viable for concealed carry. Models to consider with 2.5 or 3" bbls include the models 19, 65, 66 in .357, and the corresponding versions in .38 (eg models 10, 15, 64).
Obviously the K-frames are going to be heavier and bulkier, but you get the advantage of one more round, plus a generally better DA trigger pull than the smaller J frames.
You might expect to pay more for a 3" K frame model in any caliber over the usual 4" version, and they will be harder to find.
In terms of finish, your choice. Stainless costs more than blued, but requires less maintenance.
Round butt is intended for concealed carry (ie the round butt fits better against the body and doesn't print as much), but certainly isn't necessary, and this comes down to personal preference. Most of the short barreled guns are going to be round-butt.
For a CCW gun you don't need adjustable sights, but they certainly don't hurt, and are usually easier to see than the "gutter" type fixed sights on many of these guns.
On caliber, personally if I were going to carry an all steel 3" bbl gun, I'd want .357. (In my opinion, .38 is preferable in a lightweight alloy frame gun).
In my experience, recoil with the 2-1/8" bbl model 60 in .357 is not that bad with the stock three finger grips, but that's subjective.
Of course you don't have to have a .357. Also, if you do have a .357, its perfectly fine to load it with .38 special or (better) .38+P ammo.
Hope that helped.
As a last thought, the hardest part of the gun to conceal isn't the barrel, its the gun butt. So in practice, a 4" K frame isn't that much harder to carry than a 3" bbl one.0 -
The Smith Model 13 comes in a 3" bull and is great to carry and shoot. For several years in the 1980's it was the FBI gun before they went to semiauto. I sometimes CC one, and have another NIB. Great shooter, and super with anything 38/357/+P+...wonderful flexibiltiy. Find one and keep it! Good shooting. 0 -
Had a model 65 with a 3" barrel for several years and loved the gun. My son wanted it and gave it to him. He then traded it on a Taurus model 617Ti. I could have shot him for it and he & I both regret it since. Get a 65 in a 3" barrel, can go wrong, smooth trigger pull, greta accuracy. Good Luck! 0 -
beantownshootah, don't forget about the S&W X frame revolvers. A guy could always conceal a 4" 460 or 50 S&W in his duck wadders[:D]when going about his business 0
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