chaim
Member
It has been some time since I've had a 4" revolver or an L-frame. My first handgun was a Taurus 82, I had a P&R S&W 19, and I had a slightly smaller than K-frame .38spl Colt Police Positive Special, and the only L-frame I've had was a 6" 586, though it has been a decade or more since I have had most of them (and years since I've had any of them). Currently, in revolvers I have a few small frames (mostly 2" snubs, one 3"), a 3" K-frame (S&W 65LS) and 1 N-frame (S&W 625MG). I'm not a fan of the snubs and will be selling most of them, and that may help with a more practical (for my uses) revolver purchase.
As for concealment needs, I don't carry often, I can't carry often. I live in MD where a CCW permit is near impossible unless you meet very specific criteria (if you are a business owner who deals with large cash deposits or easily liquidated merchandise, if you are a prosecutor, cop or judge, you may be able to get a permit). I do have a UT non-resident permit which allows me to carry in the nearby states of VA (less than an hour away), WV (as little as an hour away), and DE (about 1 1/2-2 hrs away) and I will be getting a NH non-res permit which will add PA (as little as an hour away), and I spend several partial days a month carrying out of state, and more when on vacation. So, for such part-time carry, I can certainly conceal pretty much anything, and do sometimes carry my S&W 625MG, but I do care about practical carry size.
With how I carry, body size, and how often I carry, I find a mid-sized auto (CZ P01, SIG P250 Compact, Commander sized 1911) the best combination of size and attributes for carry (small enough to comfortably carry, but large enough to be a quite capable gun).
I've long thought a 3" K-frame to be the ideal sized revolver for carry, and it is quite analogous to mid-sized compact autos I like. However, they are getting to be somewhat rare and quite expensive on the used market, and they aren't made anymore on the new market. So, that leaves you with 3" J-frames (I do have a 3" Rossi 461, but I don't really trust Rossi quality, and I don't trust only having 5 shots in a S&W or Ruger), 3" L-frames and N-frames, or 4" K-frames.
I do remember from my 586 that the frame on it was only slightly larger than the frame on my K-frames, but slightly larger enough to be noticeable. The larger cylinder when carried IWB (how I prefer to carry) would be bulkier with the cylinder placed right under my belt. I would like a 3" S&W 686Plus, and it has been on my want list for some time and the extra round on the 686 Plus vs. a K-frame would be nice. However, they are expensive. A 4" (especially a .38spl S&W 64 or a used model 10) would save a little money v. the L-frame, certainly would be easier to find used at a reasonable price, would allow me to get one faster, and of course a 4" .38 or .357 is a classic. The smaller K-frame would be a little easier to conceal (especially with the slightly thinner cylinder). Eventually, I'll probably have both, but both have been on my want list for many years (the 4" .38 or .357 ever since I sold my last one, a 3" L-frame for at least 6 or 7 years), so it will be a while before I have both.
So, anyone who has both a 3" L-frame, and a 4" K-frame, if you had to choose one for carry, which would it be? If the 4" K-frame is actually easier to carry, I may pick that up before the 3" 686 that I've wanted forever.
As for concealment needs, I don't carry often, I can't carry often. I live in MD where a CCW permit is near impossible unless you meet very specific criteria (if you are a business owner who deals with large cash deposits or easily liquidated merchandise, if you are a prosecutor, cop or judge, you may be able to get a permit). I do have a UT non-resident permit which allows me to carry in the nearby states of VA (less than an hour away), WV (as little as an hour away), and DE (about 1 1/2-2 hrs away) and I will be getting a NH non-res permit which will add PA (as little as an hour away), and I spend several partial days a month carrying out of state, and more when on vacation. So, for such part-time carry, I can certainly conceal pretty much anything, and do sometimes carry my S&W 625MG, but I do care about practical carry size.
With how I carry, body size, and how often I carry, I find a mid-sized auto (CZ P01, SIG P250 Compact, Commander sized 1911) the best combination of size and attributes for carry (small enough to comfortably carry, but large enough to be a quite capable gun).
I've long thought a 3" K-frame to be the ideal sized revolver for carry, and it is quite analogous to mid-sized compact autos I like. However, they are getting to be somewhat rare and quite expensive on the used market, and they aren't made anymore on the new market. So, that leaves you with 3" J-frames (I do have a 3" Rossi 461, but I don't really trust Rossi quality, and I don't trust only having 5 shots in a S&W or Ruger), 3" L-frames and N-frames, or 4" K-frames.
I do remember from my 586 that the frame on it was only slightly larger than the frame on my K-frames, but slightly larger enough to be noticeable. The larger cylinder when carried IWB (how I prefer to carry) would be bulkier with the cylinder placed right under my belt. I would like a 3" S&W 686Plus, and it has been on my want list for some time and the extra round on the 686 Plus vs. a K-frame would be nice. However, they are expensive. A 4" (especially a .38spl S&W 64 or a used model 10) would save a little money v. the L-frame, certainly would be easier to find used at a reasonable price, would allow me to get one faster, and of course a 4" .38 or .357 is a classic. The smaller K-frame would be a little easier to conceal (especially with the slightly thinner cylinder). Eventually, I'll probably have both, but both have been on my want list for many years (the 4" .38 or .357 ever since I sold my last one, a 3" L-frame for at least 6 or 7 years), so it will be a while before I have both.
So, anyone who has both a 3" L-frame, and a 4" K-frame, if you had to choose one for carry, which would it be? If the 4" K-frame is actually easier to carry, I may pick that up before the 3" 686 that I've wanted forever.