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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 03-13-2012, 02:03 AM
seabeesbob seabeesbob is offline
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Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel  
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Default Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel

I have one and enjoy shooting it, but see little mention of them here.
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  #2  
Old 03-13-2012, 03:09 AM
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Well, one of them is in my nightstand right now!

I like 3" S&W revolvers, and own a number of them. They balance well in the hand, and feel and look just "right". I'm not sure how many 3" Model 65's were made, but I really like mine.
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:58 AM
Flathead Flathead is offline
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I have a 65 4" but the 3" is on my short list. I agree they just look "right".
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Old 03-13-2012, 08:01 AM
ronnie gore ronnie gore is offline
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Default model 65

they are one of my favorite revolvers, i have 2 three inch 65s and a three in model 64.
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  #5  
Old 03-13-2012, 08:01 AM
sqhead sqhead is offline
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i have 64 3 in. ,does that count? i like the look and feel of the stainless 3 inch guns.
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Old 03-13-2012, 08:54 AM
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There's a few in this thread:
65 Thread - Post Yours
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  #7  
Old 03-13-2012, 09:00 AM
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Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel Opinions On Model 65 With 3" barrel  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WFR View Post
There's a few in this thread:
65 Thread - Post Yours
Bob, just scroll down v v v v on this page. Some great pictures and comments.
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  #8  
Old 03-13-2012, 11:05 AM
Black Knight Black Knight is offline
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Mine has become my daily off-duty carry gun. I use 125 gr. 38 Spec+P and have no complaints with it. Great gun.
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  #9  
Old 03-13-2012, 09:15 PM
C Islander C Islander is offline
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A 3" 65 has been my holy grail of handguns for a long time. I finally got one recently and couldn't be happier.
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  #10  
Old 03-13-2012, 09:35 PM
riverrat38 riverrat38 is offline
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All of these comments about the desirability of the 3 inch "K" frames makes more of a mystery out of the fact that S&W has given up on the breed! I understand them going to the M 686 for .357 mag. but I don't have a clue why they dropped the 3 in M 64 from their product line. It was probably their perfect concealed carry weapon, especially with the fine ammo we have available today.


rat
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  #11  
Old 03-13-2012, 10:39 PM
j38 j38 is offline
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Mine goes to the range a couple of times a month. The frame size, barrel length, weight, and capability to deliver make it very hard to beat for an overall "best carry revolver" in my book.

Jerry
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  #12  
Old 03-13-2012, 10:50 PM
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Imshootin Imshootin is offline
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I like mine. Got rid of my first one. Missed it bad enough that I had to get another.


Last edited by Imshootin; 01-21-2017 at 12:33 PM.
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  #13  
Old 03-14-2012, 01:14 AM
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Default BEST CCW 357 MAGNUM EVER MADE

IMHO the 3" M65 is the best concealed carry 357 Magnum ever made!

It is not nearly as "sexy" as the popular 2 1/2" M66 or M19, but better and more practical. Let me explain:

1) The 3" M65 gets more velocity (about 50 - 60 fps) out of the .357 cartridge because of the 20% longer barrel.

2) The M65 has no adjustable sights to catch on clothing, break or become out of adjustment

3) The M65 has better pointability and balance ( at least to me) than the shorter M66 does.

4) The M65 doesn't have the full under-lug (except for the "Ladysmith" version) and so it is lighter and trimmer than the M66

5) Unlike most J-Frame .357's the M65 is fully controllable and accurate with .357 Mag's. Shooting Magnums out of a J frame is impractical and difficult to do and do well. The 2 " tube of the J Frame is not really condusive to a .357 Magnum cartridge.

6) It is a no nonsense defense gun and I stoke mine with 180 grain hard cast LSWC .357 Magnum Buffalo Bore bullets while hiking in Bear Country.
Out of my 3" M65 I get a chronograped 1304 fps (avg) from that combo. A nice sized and reliable package to have with you while hiking through the woods.

Chief38
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  #14  
Old 03-14-2012, 06:05 PM
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All good points!

I bring this up because I believe it's worth knowing.

"4) The M65 doesn't have the full under-lug (except for the "Ladysmith" version) and so it is lighter and trimmer than the M66"

On this point, I believe there's more to say.

I have a Model 13 which is the blued version of the 65. When I compare them side by side, the model 13/65 bull barrel is considerably thicker than the Ladysmith barrel - considerably.

The extra steel of the ejector rod shroud and the thinner barrel of the Ladysmith 65, to my eye anyway, somewhat evens things out. The weight of the ERS being closer to the cylinder than the extra weight of the bull barrel extending all the way to the muzzle could make a case for the Ladysmith being more point-able.

By the same token, with the weight closer to the cylinder on the Ladysmith, the bull barrel version might be more stable with recoil.
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  #15  
Old 03-15-2012, 08:15 AM
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To me, they are one of the best K frames to be had.
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  #16  
Old 03-15-2012, 04:47 PM
ohiojerry ohiojerry is offline
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Best concealed carry weapon ever made. Note, I didn't say best revolver. I love mine and carry it daily. Everything you need and nothing you don't. I know it's selfish of me but I like the fact that a lot of people really really want one and can't find one and I have one!!
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  #17  
Old 03-15-2012, 07:49 PM
C Islander C Islander is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ohiojerry View Post
Best concealed carry weapon ever made. Note, I didn't say best revolver. I love mine and carry it daily. Everything you need and nothing you don't. I know it's selfish of me but I like the fact that a lot of people really really want one and can't find one and I have one!!
I feel the same way!
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  #18  
Old 03-15-2012, 08:02 PM
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It's probably one of the best service revolvers ever built. It's strictly utilitarian. Nothing on the revolver that one doesn't need. I bought one last year, that was part of a group purchased from a bank's security department. I'd been looking for about three years, and I wasn't about to let this one get away. The photo shows it with its original Uncle Mike's Combat Grips (designed by Kim Ahrends).

I put a set of Ahrends Retro Combats on it, and I carry it almost every day. It's loaded up with Remington .38 +P 158gr SWCHP. IMHO, S&W made a major marketing error when they discontinued this model.
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  #19  
Old 03-15-2012, 08:44 PM
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My "business" gun!

Last edited by bronco45; 03-15-2012 at 08:51 PM.
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  #20  
Old 03-15-2012, 08:47 PM
wewaslim wewaslim is offline
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Love mine. I have a LadySmith with a bobbed hammer and Pachmayr compact grips. Shoots like a rifle. Bill
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  #21  
Old 03-15-2012, 10:42 PM
C Islander C Islander is offline
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Took mine to the range for the first time today. Couldn't hit a thing for the first few cylinders. When I figured it out, it shoots great.
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  #22  
Old 03-15-2012, 11:34 PM
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Was I glad to read this thread. My new to me 65 arrived at my FFL today, did the paperwork and can take it home Saturday(48 hours in Wisconsin).
I can't wait to get to the range, Saturday afternoon? You bet. I have shot one before, and was thinking about buying that one, waited too long.
I found this one on gunbroke.com and it's nicer that the first one.
I'm in agreement with others opinions of 3" barrels in general.
I wanted something that I would shoot, not just carry.
Greg
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  #23  
Old 03-15-2012, 11:45 PM
GPJohn GPJohn is offline
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I picked one up recently and really enjoy it. Great gun!
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