I have had several 3” barreled revolvers. J, K, and N frames. I still have a M36-1. The rest are gone. For K and N frames I prefer longer barrels. The 3” J frame is just about perfect.
I've got a S&W Model 13-4 with a 3" barrel. I'm not too enamored with it, but it's sort of an iconic firearm. I don't carry it, to tell the truth, I've never fired it, but I suppose I'll get around to it one of these days.
Regret it? Not at all. If it had anything else, I probably wouldn't have looked at it twice.
Had a Rossi (85?) for a brief time with a 3" barrel and found it both very easy to carry and shoot. Only reason I got rid of it was the cylinder release kept coming off and after replacing it twice, cut my losses and traded it for a Charter Undercover. I'd spring for a Ruger SP-101 in a heartbeat if they weren't so pricy. Even better if CA offered their UC with a 3" as an option.
I'm not really a revolver guy, but I was under the impression that a 3" barrel was "the sweet spot" of carry revolvers since it offers a full length ejector stroke, a little more sight radius, and no significant weight or carry difficulty over a 2" model.
I had a stainless Rossi (I think it was a Model 88), years ago and thought that it made for a great Kit Gun when I was out hiking around. I had it in an Uncle Mike's holster and it was very comfortable to carry it all day long.
Here's my CCW, a 3" model 60-15. With Altamont grips that I rounded off a little bit. I abosultely love it . I have a better iwb holster on the way with a 15 degree can't for a bit of added comfort over the standard verticle can't.
I've been thinking about a semi auto for a second carry gun. But the more I think about it the more apt I am to getting a 3" LCRx in .357. should fit in my holsters and it's about 4oz lighter than my model 60 and I can get a nice night sight for it. I absolutely love 3" revolvers. I traded a 2.25" sp101 for my model 60.
Just the opposite. I have a 386 Night Guard with a 2.5" barrel. I regret S&W didn't have the brains, insight, or wisdom to design the gun with a 3" barrel. That would have given the 357 Magnum L-frame a full length ejector stroke, a bit more performance, and a longer sight radius.
Nope! Just the opposite. When I replaced the barrel on my old Charter Arms Undercover, I had a stainless 3" that went on just perfect. Shoots like a house afire and ehxcept for back pocket carry it carries no different now than when it sported a 2" barrel. It also shoots a might harder and is easier to shoot accurately at ranges 15 - 25 yards
I also agree that 3 inch is the sweet spot for OWB carry. Pocket or IWB i would got 2 inch, but i don’t carry a revolver in that fashion (that is G43/semi-Auto territory due to narrower width).
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