Regret buying a 3 inch?

I have a two inch, but would rather have a three inch.

My Speed Six is 2 3/4. Close to 3. I like it.

Nice thing about 3"s is that at least with S&Ws, you have enough ejector rod length to push the fired cases clear out of the cylinder. Sometimes with shorter ones the cases don't clear as well.

Blue Brick said:

... Have not looked at holster options yet, but I prefer not to have my barrel hanging out of my holster...

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Lot’s of holsters available for 3” barrels. Might not be available off the shelf but most companies at least catalog a selection.

I have used Bianchi, Safariland and also Simply Rugged. I have also had holsters built for me by custom leather smiths. It all depends on what you need.

Kevin

Blue Brick said:

Ok, thx. I am still on the fence about it. 2.2 or 3 inch. Looking to conceal and daily carry only. Fixed sights. Have not looked at holster options yet, but I prefer not to have my barrel hanging out of my holster.

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I have a don hume holster I use to carry iwb. It's pretty nice. I ordered another holster because I wanted belt loops and 15 degrees of cant rather than none.

http://sideguardholsters.com/gunmodels/J-frame-holsters.htm

This is where my new holster is coming from, went with the hammar in dark brown.

I carried a 3" heavy barrel S&W Chief Spl. as a service gun for years. Best concealed gun I carried. Fit fine in a 2" open bottom holster.

Armybrat said:

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Sp101 in 327?

I only have a 3" Model 31 square butt now, but am definitely looking for a 3" Model 10 or 13 round butt.

I have a S&W 36 and Ruger SP101 in 3 inch. I love them both. I don't carry them though. I prefer an ultralite snub for IWB. In cooler weather I would carry either of my 3 inches though OWB with a heavier cover garment.

fordtrucks said:

Sp101 in 327?

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Yes.

I love my 3” Kimber K6s! In the Summer disappears under a t-shirt in a Tucker Texas Heritage IWB holster either tucked in or bloused out.

In cooler weather it’s very comfortable with a variety of jackets’ and vests’ pockets in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster.

I do regret selling my Model 13 round but three incher

I had a couple of two-inchers before I got my first three-inch, which was (is) a fairly-rare stainless Taurus M85 from 1995. As others have mentioned, it's an excellent size setup. I've since acquired a 2.75-inch Rossi M68 (old Interarms vintage) and a stainless Taurus 3-inch M941, also from the late 1990s.

I have a Taurus 605 in 3 inch that is totally reliable and has a dream trigger

OP Brick ,

Go with the 3". It will point better than the shorter barrel and there is little or no trade off in terms of carry. Like Speedo I carry a 3" 60 in an open muzzle holster (2") , IWB in my case.
Aside from the shooting advantages , the 3" barrel gives the revolver great visual proportions , imo.

Three inch 'J' and 'L' frame in 38SPL and 44SPL, no regrets at all.

I think for a 2”or 3” revolver in a caliber of.357 or less for a carry gun is fine. But for general carry in a field and woods bumming gun, a 4”-5” is what I like. In a big caliber revolver or even a .22 revolver or simiauto pistol. It carries good and the sight length is right. An 8 3/8” barrel is way too long and looks out of place. Carrying a revolver with a longer barrel than 6”, You may as well carry a rifle. A revolver in my opinion is supposed to be carry able and be out of the way. Anything longer, bigger or heavier is uncomfortable to carry. My favorite woods revolver is a 4 1/4” Freedom Arms model 97, .44 special, in a cross draw holster. Never know it is there, until you need it.

I have a 3 inch Ruger GP 100 in stainless and it is my go to revolver in my home office, thing is strong as an ox. I had a 3 inch Rossi .38 spl in stainless and one night my daughter-in-law was home by herself and thought someone was breaking in on her and her husband, my son was at work and he had his browning hi-power with him. She called him and he tried talking her through loading his SKS, big fail. Thankfully whatever it was at the door went away. They told me the following day when they were visiting and I popped open the safe and handed her the Rossi and asked if she had ever fired a handgun before, yes she said. I said this is a .38spl. if anyone comes through your door breaking in you start shooting at the chest and stop when they stop. My wife has a really nice S&W model 36 3 inch in nickel that her Dad gave her before he passed. He had done a trigger job on it and put a nice set of grips on it, sweet shooting piece!

Quite surprised that no one has mentioned my favorite aspect of 3" bbl. revolvers: Balance!

They carry and point quite well...quite worth the extra hassle and (sometimes) expense
of finding the right holster. Have several different brands but my favorite is my S&W
Model 66-4 with Performance Center action job...a magnificent revolver and a joy to shoot.

bikerdoc said:

No, I have 357's in 2 3, and 4 inch. The 3 inch is a perfect blend of accuracy and concealability.

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I absolutely agree with this answer.

I think for the last few years that the NYPD uniformed officers carried revolvers, they carried S&W Model 64's (stainless K-frame 38 Special, fixed sights) with 3-inch barrels. They may have been DA only, I don't remember.

I currently have two 3" revolvers, a K6S and a 64. I also have a 2.75" Speed-Six. I have never regretted buying a 3" revolver, but I have always regretted selling one.

Nope, I love my Model 60. 3”. 3” is short enough to be concealable and long enough to be accurate. Best of both worlds. Should have bought one sooner!