6" Combat Revolvers?

M

Model12Win

Moderator
Hey guys! We all know the 4" bbl was standard on service revolvers for decades, but there were also departments and individuals who chose 6" bbl'd guns. This was pretty common back in the 20's-30's-40's era, but after a while you mostly saw 4" guns in the holsters of police officers etc.

However, even up until the switch to semi-auto pistols, there were units and individual officers who had 6" barreled revolvers. I've read in some places guns as large as Colt Pythons with 6" full-lug barrels, and S&W 586/686 with full-lug 6" bbls were used. I am wondering why they would have choose the larger gun over the smaller 4" guns. Also, do you know of any PD or individual officer who has a 6" revolver as there duty gun?

I love 6" guns myself, but I've often wondered if they would be at home in an officer's holster if they were willing to deal with the extra length and weight. What do think about this?

Thanks!
 
Not really sure how much I can add from a professional standpoint; as I was never a peace officer of any kind.

I will say that my first gun (1983) was a 6" bbl Python; and if I were in law enforcement at the time, I wouldn't have hesitated in carrying it. 6" bbls offer a longer sight radius, less recoil, less muzzle flash, and a touch more velocity over their 4" counterparts. These are all good reasons to have one as a duty weapon.

Now days, I'm a little older and not as strong. I much prefer a 4" or even a 3" bbl (I have S&W 686's in both). I'm also a more disciplined shooter; and thus, have little advantage to gain from a longer sight radius. If I were in LE, I would actually be very tempted to carry my 7-shot, 3"bbl 686 over a semi-auto.

In California, CCW holders can put up to three specific guns on their permit for carry. One of my three is my 3" 686. I feel more secure carrying it (only in the cool months however, as an extra garment layer is needed for proper concealment) over the two semi-autos I have on my permit.

Pardon my tangent of self-absorption. I digress.

I too would be interested to hear from LE or former LE on this subject. Thanks for bringing it up.
 
Don't know about what the police might choose, (probably more of a bureaucratic choice than a tactical one), but the advantages of the 6" revolver - the sight and velocity advantages, better weight balance and better recoil control - seem to outweigh any disadvantages.
The only one that comes to mind is the longer barrel might take a tiny fraction of a second more to clear leather.
I'd pick the 6".
 
I grew up in Montana.....and when I was a kid in the 50's and 60's...a number of small town police officers and deputy sheriffs and even highway patrol carried both 4" and 6" N frame, S&W, model 28's ( .357 Mag ) as duty guns...

In most of those areas the officers had to buy and furnish their own guns ...and the towns paid an allowance for guns, uniforms, etc...

I had a number of relatives that were on police dept's in the small towns...in western Montana...
 
I know of two officers who carry 6" wheels. One carries a Taurus in .357, the other a S&W 25 in .45lc. I've carried my 4" Python for court, toyed with the idea of carrying my 6" .44mag Anaconda on court days.
 
Professionally I always carried autos.

Personally I only carry revolvers anymore. The vast majority of mine are 4in a couple more a couple less. You really see a big drop off in velocities when you go to 3 and 2 inches. Much more severe then 8 to 6 or 6 to 4. So I don't see a lot of advantage in 6in compared to the extra weight. That and you are talking about a foot+ long gun
 
I recall Elmer Keith writing that when LEOs made the transition from "hayburners" and foot patrols to automobiles they found the 4" revolver more comfortable to wear.
 
I have noticed the older I get, the lighter my carry gun gets. Used to carry a 686, steadily progressed? to the point I now carry a Ruger LCR. Mostly administrative work now, though.
 
When I was a kid growing up in California the 6" Python was popular with CHP officers and you saw them quite frequently. Then the agency decided no more Magnums, no more personally purchased guns, and they went with a special order S&W Model 68 which was essentially a 6" Model 66 in 38 Special.

But as a rule the 4" revolvers were greatly favored over the 6" guns as I recall.
 
My issue gun when I was in LE was a 4" Model 28. I had a 6.5 Model 27 I could actually shoot better so I tried carrying it.

The problem being setting in a police are the 6 inch was just too long pushing the belt up making it uncomfortable.

I solved the problem by practicing more with the 4 in. Model 28.

Except for the longer site radius there is no advantage with the 6/6.5 barrel. That, as mentioned, can be overcome by more practice.
 
I used a 6" M-28 as my duty revolver. I used a high-ride break front holster and never had any problem sitting down in the cruiser. I find a 6" revolver is only comfortable if it's carried in a high-ride holster. Most of the other deputies carried 4" 357s. I and 2 others liked out 6" guns. One man carried a 6.5” M-27 and another carried a 6” Python.
 
For a long time the Galatin County Sherrif's office let the officers buy and carry their own guns. So you would see a number of 6" guns. As parts of the county were truly rural and national forrest land there were a large number of big bore, long barrel weapons carried.

It's been years since I've been up there. I can't imagine they still allow that.

Of course not a lot of officers have to put down an elk or buffalo after it had been hit by a car either.

Kraigwy being the local exception...
 
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Main reason for law enforcement adoption of 4" barreled guns was from having to sit in a patrol car. The typical thumb-break drop holster on a Sam Browne belt would work fine in a car with a 4" barreled revolver. For a 6" barrel you either needed a swivel holster, cross-draw, or a higher riding holster.

Drop holsters were generally preferred to allow clearance for the uniform jacket in colder weather.
 
What JC57 said. When police began using vehicles for patrol duty it became clear the shorter tube was easier to live with.
I was issued a brand spanking new Colt Police Positive as it was the
only revolver not already issued.
I'll tell an embarassing story on me.
I didn't know how to load it!!!!!!
Back in 1972 rookies were issued equipment & sent with an older, experienced, officer to learn on the job.
Good grief but that was foolish! My first night on the job I showed up with a Sam Brown belt & other equipment & didn't even know how to strap the stuff on.
I picked out the oldest guy and asked him, " 'scuse me sir, but how to these bullets go in?".
That got laughs. He loaded the thing, strapped ii in my holster with stern warning not to touch it. EVER! untill I could be trained in the morning.
My first call ever?
A SHOOTING.
Sorry for the thread drift.
4" bbls & swivel holster were good for sitting in a squad car.
 
Then the agency decided no more Magnums, no more personally purchased guns, and they went with a special order S&W Model 68 which was essentially a 6" Model 66 in 38 Special.
Click to expand...
Cool! I had never heard of this model before. The SCSW confirms exactly what you say and adds that 6,055 of them were produced between 1977 and 1988.

I wonder if I'll ever spot one of these.

Have to laugh at the idiotic management decision that won't allow "magnum" for duty use. Apologies if anyone feels that word choice is too strong. Seems like complete nonsense to not only order a whole slew of new service revolvers, but to request the manufacturer intro an entirely new model in to the line (effectively just dumbing down a current model...) to fit the bill. But money talks, and gubbmint agencies are also well-known for having to SPEND money to ensure they keep getting it. :rolleyes:

When you can simply order your entire force to load .38 Special in to the service revolvers...

Seems like a moronic decision.
 
There were still some agencies out this way issuing or approving 6" service revolvers into the 80's. I knew guys carrying them in a couple agencies back then.

I even saw an officer at a local JC PD carrying a 6" service revolver back in 2009.

The 6" barrels were great for balance (muzzle heft) and recoil management, but lacked the comfort and versatility of the 4" guns when it came to uniform holsters and being seated. Folks with taller torsos or a high-ride holster could sometimes make this work pretty well. Swivel holsters could also help address this issue, of course, but they also introduced their own occasional disadvantages.

Off-duty/plainclothes wasn't as easy with 6" revolvers, either, not unless you were talking about the older vertical shoulder holsters.
 
The bureaucrats and city lawyers might have cringed at the thought of the officers carrying dreaded .357 magnums, and replaced them with .38s.
But you gotta' think a lot of those .38s were loaded with 38-44s or the equivalent.
Just don't tell the bureaucrats and lawyers.
 
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