3" or 4" OK for defense?

[Deaf Smith]

Mike,

If you can find a older 2 1/2 inch S&W M66 Combat Magnum or M686 like below you will be in heaven.

In fact look at the picture.
Everyone of them shown would be an excellent carry gun.
Notice the relation in size.

From the top..

Ruger SP101 DAO 2 1/4 inch bbl .357 magnum 5 shot
S&W M66 2 1/2 combat magnum .357 magnum 6 shot
3 inch Ruger GP100 .357 magnum 6 shot
S&W M60 2 inch Chiefs .38 Spl. (J frame) 5 shot
S&W 686 2 1/2 'Distinguished Combat Magnum' .357 magnum 6 shot
2 inch S&W 64 .38 Spl. 6 shot
2 3/4 inch Ruger Speed Six. .357 magnum 6 shot
2 inch S&W 640 .38 Spl. (J Frame) 5 shot
Ruger Security Six 2 3/4 inch bbl. .357 magnum 6 shot
and S&W 65 'Lady Smith' 3 inch .357 magnum 6 shot

Any and all will do to ride the river with.

Deaf

 

[s4s4u]

A 3" barrel is no harder to hide than a 2" barrel. An inch or two matters most when there are few inches to work with. Avoid anything DAO as a first wheelgun.

 

[prm]

Snubs are great... I had owned both Colts and S&Ws and they all are the pinnacle of modern revolver craft. For this post, I'll limit it to S&Ws since they are still in production and parts are readily available.

Pic 1, is my Model 60-9...sweet. Unfortunately my wife laid claim to it :-(. Oh well, she's a shooter, and when MaMa's happy .

Pic 2, was it's replacement. A first year issue Model 649. Nice, accurate pocket gun. Super in all aspects. Everybody should own a "hump back." With the Model 49 and 649, you have the shroud, but can still fire single action.

Pic 3, About a year ago I came across an unfired 1978 production Model 36-1, round butt, heavy barrel. It was love at first sight, and it quickly soared to the top of the list of my carry guns. Strong side, high rise belt carry, it conceals as easily as a 2 inch. The three inch heavy barrel really tames the recoil of the .38 Special. The Model 36 really has its stainless counter parts outclassed as far as smoothness and trigger pull. If I could only on one gun, it would be this one.

 

[Old Stony]

In deference to a previous opinion, pass on the South of the Border stuff and pick up a " good " revolver to start with. A good used S&W "K" frame is hard to beat in any barrel length and is made from good machined parts. Don't fall for the cheap price and get something you will be sorry about later. A good Smith or Ruger can be a joy to have fun with as well as a defense gun and you won't have to be trying to find someone to work on it all the time.

 

[MLeake]

DAO snubs are harder to shoot than many other types, but that doesn't mean they are all that hard to shoot, given practice (and a lot of dry fire).

From Chapman hold; dominant hand for head shots, weak hand for torso.

Note the difference in size between the J frame above, and the N frame below; the Model 28 that was suggested is the .357 N frame, this one is a Model 29 .44:

This gun is a bobbed Model 13-3 3" .357; it isn't technically DAO, since the sear is stock, but cocking the hammer would pose a challenge. 60 rounds at 10 yards says DA is not a big deal, again, with practice:

The stainless version of that one is the Model 65; this one is my wife's:

 

[natman]

You should only consider a snubnose if you plan to carry concealed. Otherwise the shorter sight radius and loss of velocity the short barrel brings is made up for by, well, nothing.

 

[SIGSHR]

A number of writers-Skeeter Skelton. e.g.-found a 4" no harder to conceal than a 2 or 3" barrel, the cylinder being more of a problem. You mentioned a 38 Special +P, just buy a .357.

 

[Grant D]

3" Smith and Wesson Model 60 would work fine for both, home, and ccw, and has adjustable rear sight.

 

[nanewt02]

I agree, just buy a 357

 

[dahermit]

...A number of writers-Skeeter Skelton. e.g.-found a 4" no harder to conceal than a 2 or 3" barrel, the cylinder being more of a problem...

That was before pocket-carry, I would suspect.

 

[orionengnr]

There are a lot of good choices, and rationale for each.
Snubs are great for pocket carry.
Four-inch revolvers are my personal favorite, and I've owned K-frames, L-frames and N-frames in 4".
A number of people think that a 3" is the perfect compromise--I have never owned or fired one (yet) but look forward to trying one.

Regardless of what you get, if it is your first, it probably won't be your last. Enjoy.

 

[rodfac]

Three inches of barrel would be better for CC, especially if it was one of the J-frame Smiths. I've had good luck with mine for over 20 years, using it as a night stand gun in rotation, a fishing gun worn when wading NC's backwoods creeks, and as a 'go to town' concealed carry piece.

Accuracy is all that I could hope for,,,,around 2" at 25 yds from a secure rest with selected hand loads and some factory ammunition as well. Mine is a M36 Smith, stocked in wood, and is a favored carry about the farm piece. It's a .38 Spl, and adequate for most chores in the lower 48, but a .357 would probably be better, especially in SS.

Here's a cpl pics of the gun and mounted up in my normal carry position.. HTH's Rod

 

[SgtLumpy]

Rodfac...

That's a Model 36 in the pics? Adj sights and full lug?

Almost looks like a K frame in that back pocket/right hip pic.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[rodfac]

Same gun Sgt...the only K-frame I own is a M19 with a 6" tube on it. The gun was built in '92 if I recall...one of Smith's first full lugged, mat finished, fully adj. sight models...the prime reasons that I bought it. Rod

 

[SgtLumpy]

Very nice looking little piece. Thanks Rodfac.


Sgt Lumpy