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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 04-18-2010, 11:04 AM
RetLawman590 RetLawman590 is offline
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Default Night Guards 386 or 315?

Hi,

Thinking of buying a wheel gun for a CCW besides my semi-autos. These 2 are top of my list. Any opinions on these? I have medium sized hands and I want a full grip, hence, no J or N frames for me. Are they both fairly easy to conceal in a OWB holster? Much difference in size/concealment between the 315 and 386?
Thanks
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  #2  
Old 04-18-2010, 12:13 PM
Texas1941 Texas1941 is offline
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Welcome to the forum. I'm a new kid here myself and I learn something new every time I log on. There are some no joke experts here.

The only NG I have is a 325, but I do have two 3" L frames, a 696 and a 586. Both are easy to conceal and comfortable to carry, as long as you have a good holster. Both shoot better than I can hold. I fired about 20 rounds of WW WB 110 gr HP from a friends 386NG and did not find the recoil to be an issue. (The noise is another issue. 357s are loud and 2.5" 357s are really loud.)

I love K frames in just about any guise. I think that the 315NG would be a great CC piece. But I've never seen one for sale or at the range. There have been posts here that indicate it may have been discontinued by Smith. The fact that it is "only" a 38 spl may have doomed it. In this more modern age, many people think of the old Special as a cartridge suitable only for Js or target shooting. I don't agree, but the perception that the the cartridge is "weak" may have made the 315 a non-starter.

In terms of the difference in frame size, I don't find any real difference between the two. The K will be a little lighter, no matter what the material. A good holster is key for either.

FWIW,

Charles

Last edited by Texas1941; 04-18-2010 at 12:17 PM. Reason: left something out
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  #3  
Old 04-18-2010, 12:42 PM
SteveG SteveG is offline
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Hello and welcome! I'm real new too and like Charles above, always learn something here.

I just purchased a 315 NG (on layaway so I won't have it for a while yet). It's a K frame and I believe the 386 is an L frame. I didn't get to shoot the 315, but did get to look it over, etc. at the range. It worked well in my hand (which is medium to large). I like the .38+P round, that it holds 6 of them and the size and weight of the gun suited me. I didn't see it being any trouble at all to conceal...though of course it won't conceal as easily as my J frame snubby. I got a good price as it was slightly used. The 386 is about a hundred bucks more new and I didn't think the price worth the gain in this instance, but of course that's personal.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll get good feedback here.
Steve
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Old 04-18-2010, 01:54 PM
TBerg TBerg is offline
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Greetings. I am another newbie and became aware of the S&W forum because I bought a 386NG last fall for CC. All things considered, I love it. I find it "relatively" easy to manage with magnums, but have chosen to carry with + p's. I like the fact that it holds 7 rounds. The night sights are nice, but I added a CT laser sight that really helps my older eyes get on target quick and accurately. For its size, it is really light in weight. I was frustrated when trying to find a IWB hoster for it, however. I had searched in over a dozen gun shops locally to little success in finding a quality holster. Most all of the sales people said that holster makers were slow to come out with IWB holsters for the larger L frame revolvers. Dozens of choices for J frames. After several months of searching I found a used Galco OWB holster (D719 WC/SM102B are stamped on the holster) that works like a charm. So, if you want to carry with a OWB holster, you should be in great shape. From what I have seen, there are quite a few good choices for that style. Good luck.
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Old 04-18-2010, 06:16 PM
Steve_NEPhila Steve_NEPhila is offline
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All of the night guards are great revolvers in my opinion. I must add my two cents on a holster, go check out Leather gun holster, concealed carry holster - Simply Rugged Holsters? - Proudly made in the USA their sourdough pancake is the bees knees. I have a handful of them for L and N frames, and they rock.
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Old 04-18-2010, 06:56 PM
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I've got a 315 that I bought from another forum member back before christmas. It's a very nice gun and a very well balanced carry package. I have a Mernickle holster for it and it is quite comfortable to carry, definitely easier to conceal than my L-frames. It is accurate and easy shooting, enough weight so that recoil isn't an issue but light enough for easy packing.

Bud's Police Supply has them for $679 right now. S&W 315 Night Guard 38Spl 2.5" for Sale at Buds Gun Shop $679.00
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Old 04-18-2010, 08:22 PM
RetLawman590 RetLawman590 is offline
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Thanks for the replies. SO do most of you think the 315 is considerably easier to CCW than the 386. Also, how are today's .38 +Ps? I haven't shot that round since my duty gun in the early 90s with +P Semi-wadcutters. That gun had difficulty taking down a rabid raccoon. Are todays .38 Special +Ps much better? I know my G19 with 115gr +p+ made a huge difference, on rabid animals and a charging pit bull at least :-). Thanks

Also, how do you feel about LE Gold Dot Short Barrel 135gr. +P Ammo if I decide not to go with the .357mag? Do you think its just a good as GD 124 gr +P from a 3.5" barrel?

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Old 04-18-2010, 08:31 PM
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Yes, IMO the 315 is considerably easier to conceal than an L-frame, athough the 386 is pretty light so that would help.

I load mine with Buffalo Bore Heavy 158gr LSWCHP (1000fps). I trust it will do the job.
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Old 04-18-2010, 08:45 PM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is offline
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For CCW, I think you are better off and money ahead to find an excellent condition 3 or 4 inch Model 10, 13, 64 or 65 with round butt.
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Old 04-18-2010, 08:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shawn mccarver View Post
For CCW, I think you are better off and money ahead to find an excellent condition 3 or 4 inch Model 10, 13, 64 or 65 with round butt.
Out of curiosity, why?
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Old 04-18-2010, 09:10 PM
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I would recommend the 315NG to anyone for carry or home defense use. Earler this year, a call to Smith confirmed that they had discontinued this model and I found it very difficult to find one, but I finally did. Now I hear that they have started again.

All the Night Guards are of course very light, so recoil management is important to anyone who will use these guns for anything but an occasional visit to the range. I remember an instructor several years ago who told us that management of the second shot in a self-defense situation was the most important consideration in selecting a firearm for that use.

In that application, the Gold Dot 135 gr .38 spl +P in a 25 oz gun is about the limit for me to manage an accurate follow up second shot in any kind of a hurry. If that is also your limit, there is no reason to have a larger caliber or a larger capacity in a light revolver. Since that seems to be my limits, the light K frame suits me just fine.

This is just my opinion, it won't work for everyone.
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Old 04-19-2010, 09:54 AM
RetLawman590 RetLawman590 is offline
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm leaning towards the 315NG. Which 6-rd speed-loaders would you recommend? I think I carried HKS with my 4" service K frame, but that was almost 20 years ago. Anything out there that's better?

Thanks
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Old 04-19-2010, 12:24 PM
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HKS model "10" speedloaders fit. Same as all the K-frame sized loaders.
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Old 04-19-2010, 02:29 PM
Steve_NEPhila Steve_NEPhila is offline
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I agree with MoonDawg. The .38 special is a capable and fine defensive cartridge. In recent years bullet designs and powder technology has brought the effectiveness of .38 Special to a very high level. Long gone are the days of "widowmaker" LRN defensive bullets.

FWIW I carry a 386, but not the night guard series. I traded for a 386 SC Mountain Lite a while back and had it tuned up as my EDC. It is a .357 but I prefer .38 special for defense.
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Old 04-19-2010, 02:52 PM
RetLawman590 RetLawman590 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MOONDAWG View Post
Not trying to create controversy, but I personally don't think there's a substantial "noticeable" difference between the two.

If you feel one more round is a plus then go for the 386, if not stick with the 315.
Having an extra round is a plus, but I'm concerned about it being just as concealable with the 7 round cylinder. Although, I will almost always carry OWB or a Shoulder holster. I do like the idea of carrying .357 loads as an occasional option, especially if I need to go down into NYC in the evening. I really wish I could find a dealer that stocks both so I could get a hands on feel. Does anyone know if they feel the same in the hand? For example, balance and trigger reach?
Thanks

Last edited by RetLawman590; 04-19-2010 at 04:31 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 04-19-2010, 07:09 PM
d625 d625 is offline
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I did handle both the 386 and the 315 before I settled on the 315. The 386 is an L frame while the 315 is a K frame - they have a very similar feel because they both have a 2.5" barrel without a lug for forward weight. The 386 is somewhat heavier, but not enough to be a deal breaker.

I would repeat my opinion that the average handgun owner can put more .38spl +P rounds where they count than he can with357 mag loads at showtime and time is a factor.

In addition to the recoil issue, the 7 round cylinder is somewhat more difficult to conceal. The HKS speedloader is the most concealable as far as I know, while the others are "faster" in competition. A consideration for me that may not be important to anyone else was the fact that I already have several K frame 6-shot speedloaders in the safe.

Has anyone mentioned that the 386 is about a hundred bucks more than the 315?
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Old 04-21-2010, 11:14 AM
RetLawman590 RetLawman590 is offline
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Thanks for the replies. From all my research and forum replies, most seem to recommend the 315NG as the better CCW. I was just turned off by memories of .38 special loads going back 20 years ago. I see they have evolved quite a bit since then. I think I will go with that. Here was one write up I read. Thanks



Smith & Wesson Night Guard Revolvers - Article - POLICE Magazine
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Old 04-23-2010, 10:12 AM
RetLawman590 RetLawman590 is offline
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Well, I changed my mind and decided to order a 386NG. I called SW and they told me the trigger reach was exactly the same as the 315 K-frame. That was a big concern. I'll post picks when it come in. Thanks for all your responses.
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Old 04-28-2010, 07:40 PM
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I had a 386NG and really liked it...wish I still had it (but giving it up got me my model 41 )
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Old 04-28-2010, 08:07 PM
RetLawman590 RetLawman590 is offline
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Thanks, I went to the GD on Saturday and they had a 386 which I spend about 10 minutes playing with. It felt great in my hands. The DA was a little gritty, but I plan on sending any revolver I purchase to S&W performance for a trigger action job. The SA must have been no more than 3lbs and perfectly crisp. Better than an a Wilson Combat SA, to me anyway. That XS Front sight lined up easily with the rear sight for my older eyes. Now I'm looking into a J frame to go along with the big guy. I think I've gotten revolver fever after almost 20 years. Still love a nice auto though. Maybe XD45C next, hummm.
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38spl, 586, 696, cartridge, ccw, concealed, galco, j frame, k frame, k-frame, l frame, leather, model 10, model 41, round butt, snubby, speedloader

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