Gun makers listen to people's suggestions and desires. Somewhere some of them conduct surveys to determine what we thing are "good traits" (though I've never seen such a survey, let alone participate in one).
The bad news is that if only one or two people suggest something, the perception is that it's not "desirable" by many.
Thus I propose the following letter/e-mail campaign.
We write to S&W and ask them to produce ...
-- An lightweight 7-shot K-Frame, fixed sights, 3" (round butt) and 5" barrels (a la the Model 12)? Probably a scandium frame.
-- A new Model 16, 7-shot, K-frame, adj. sights, half-lug barrel like the Model 19 in 4", 6" and 7.5" for target and hunting sports.
-- A lightweight six-shot J-frame .327 with adj. sights with a 4" or 5" barrel for hiking/packing into the hills.
S&W already has the 632 in 2 flavors (2" and 3"). A 3-inch K-frame carry gun and a light 5-inch "trail gun" would fill some nice niches. The Model 16 could return yet again, moving from .32 H&R to .327, but sporting a half-underlug to look similar to the Model 19 giving it a distinction amongst the Model 16's. A lightweight 6-shot J-frame with a longer barrel and adjustable sights for a "kit gun" or hiking companion would be sweet too.
Ruger gets letters asking for...
-- A 3" LCR in .327 if it is feasible
-- A 3" fixed sight, round-butt, 7-shot version, perhaps based on the Speed Six or something similar in size.
-- A .327 chambering in the Single-Six
The LCR is available in .357, however the .327 Federal operates even beyond the 35,000 psi of the .357 magnum. So the real question is whether the LCR can handle 40-42,000 psi. A .327 Single Six is a no brainer and the sooner Ruger realizes it'll sell the better. The GP-100 is a fine platform, but they could resurrect the slightly more svelte Speed Six platform for the .327 with 7-shots and have a great mid-size carry gun.
Anyone else up for writing letters?