Why on earth would Smith make their new Mod. 66 with that odd length when an even 3" would have served the same purposes and be a better fit for the thousands of 3" revolver holsters out there?
I would most customers would have preferred the 3" as well.

I would ask the same question about the new 5-shot .44 magnum K frame as well.

Respectfully, I disagree. The 2.75" barrel is long enough for the ejector rod to give full ejection, so it is long enough. And the gun fits in a couple of my holsters designed for a 2.5" barrel without the barrel sticking out. Many of my holsters leave room for a little more barrel (and we are talking only a quarter of an inch).

Besides, I always wanted a 2.75" Speed Six and this new 66-8 is close enough.

Because it looks good... besides, what's a 1/4" among friends?

The M69 2-3/4" 44 Mag is on the L-frame.

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Waiting for the break of day

I contacted a customer rep through SW live chat which I think he gave me a smart butt answer, he said they weren't ask to go to the meeting and the reps wasn't part of the thinking process, but he thinks it had to do with marketing

I got a chuckle out of this. I'm constantly asked why something is the way it is on the machines I work on. My standard answer is "CEO failed to call me on that".

I think it's collusion with holster makers to sell more holsters. We need an investigation!