I'm looking at pictures of a couple of 14-3 with 8 inch barrels and considering buying one of them. I've never had anything longer than a 6 inch barrel and was looking some advise on these.
It will only be used for target shooting.
Is a 8 inch barrel an advantage or disadvantage?

I enjoy long barrels and have a few as well. We have friendly challenges at some pretty good distances. We also try some of the same distances with some "K&L" frame snubbies. That's a blast too.
I know of no disadvantage with long tubes. I don't really holster at the range except for defensive training. And that's a whole different pistol altogether.
Get it...you'll have fun.

I had one and let a friend have it because I holster everything, and that is probably the only disadvantage. It was/is a very accurate revolver and my friend is real happy with it. I went and found a 6" M14 and don't see that it shoots any different for me than the long tube did, but it fits easily on my belt.

Dan

I wouldn't recommend one for conceal carry. But when shooting something that long sight line is nice.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Buy it and enjoy it. I "STUPIDLY" passed on a 8incher a couple years ago at a pawn shop that was super nice with box,papers,and cleaning kit but no screwdriver for 600 bucks.

If you shoot one with a 6'' and then the one with the 8'',you'll see that it is an animal of a different breed.The Long Tom is a lot more forgiving and thus much easier to hit with at longer ranges.All in all,a new experience.
Qc

I've got long tube S&W's all the way from .22 to .44 mag. and really enjoy shooting them, however my hand does get kind of tired after a while. They are a lot of fun and usually get a lot of looks. It's amazing the amount of shooters who have never seen a long barreled revolver before.

Don't be afraid to buy it and don't forget to choot it a lot.

I have had a few threads on here about model 14's and in one I directly tried to compare accuracy from a 6 inch with an 8 inch. I found no noticable difference except with the 8 inch having a longer sight radius allows a person to shoot one off hand slightly better. I own a 14-3 8 inch and love it!! Total of model 14's for me is now 4 because they are so great.I only shoot target with them and love them all. I say if you can get one for a fairly good price buy it no matter the barrel length. You can never have too many 14's. If you decide to buy it, please show us some pics and let us know how you like it (I'm sure you will)

Here is one of my model 14's with 6 inch with the 8 inch 14-3

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The best one will be in the mid $500 range and does not come with anything else. But looks to be in very very good condition. It will be a few days before we can come to an agreement. I don't like buying without having it in my hand but that's the way it is.
It looks pretty much like the one daddio202 posted above but stocks slightly different.

I think it may depend more on the individual revolver and the individual shooter. The longer barrel does have softer recoil.

Threads like this remind me that I chose a Model 28 at 200 dollars over a long barrel (as I recall they are actually 8 3/8 inch). I was making 440 dollars a month and the extra 25 bucks they wanted for the Model 14 was important. The fact is I only shot one box of .357 ammo through the 28.
I doubt you will regret buying one of those guns, I am pretty sure you will regret not buying one.

I just bought a 28-3 with 6 inch barrel last week should be in my mail box this week.

Mail box?

Never enough 14's is so true.

Bought it from other side of the country.

Oh boy! You are going to love it when it finally arrives. I will be in the front row waiting to see a pic and hear about how great it shot for you at the range. Keep us updated!!

Just have a 14-3 run of the mill 6" It shoots quite well! Bob

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That sure looks like a run of the mill

Well I should be getting it in a week so will post picture when I do.

Many of us are fond of long barrels.

Those I've seen are actually 8+3/8" barrel and they are a joy. The 6" barrels should measure as 5+7/8". (S&W exaggerates at time. A 2" Chief's Special had been 1+7/8" as long as I can remember.

I have 2, 8+3/8" barrel .38 Masterpieces, a 14-3 Double Action and a 14-1 in Single Action Only.

If you find a real nice one for under $1000, grab it.

The long barrel Double Action is not encountered as often as the 6". The long barrel Single Action Only variation is getting even tougher to find.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

I used a Model 14 with 8 3/8" barrel to win A Class Hunters Pistol in the 1988 Texas State Silhouette Championship. It was a wonderful gun, and I regret letting it get away. I sold it because that was the last year I shot silhouette competitions and didn't think I would ever have a use for the long barrel again.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Well I bought the best of the two 14-3 with 8 5/8 barrel revolvers and should be getting it sometime later next week. Will post pictures of it when I do.
Damn I'm so excited about it I posted twice.

I can not wait for you to get it!! They are great to shoot and oh so accurate. Pictures will be great. When you get it and post pictures I will get a few more of mine and post it here too.

Here's a pic of mine to hold us over til we can see Carrier's 14-3:



And another, after I put on the Thai grips:

Man that's a nice looking revolver especially with those grips. Did you change the front sight?
How come some pictures will show a revolver as a really nice dark blue and others show one as much lighter and no where near as nice?

Carrier:
Don't do as I did. A few years ago, I set up my 8 3/8"Mod. 14, with a long eye relief Redfield 3/4" scope and no drill mounts. I thought that it would show the true potential for accuracy that the long tube 14 was capable of without destroying the value of the undrilled revolver. Well, time,
Old age, poor eyesight, arthritis, and a few other undesirable maladies sneeked up, and hit me in the buns, and I never did try that set up. It's still set up that way, And never will be used.

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Have you even fired that?

NO! and probably never will, at my age.
Chubbo

Whose rings are those and how do the attach to top of revolver?

Carrier:
The Scope is a long eye relief, 4X Redfield, the Rings are Redfield, low claw type, that fit std. 3/8" groved bases, and the base is Bushnell, #76-1922. The base attaches to the revolver where the rear sight is removed. kinda' of like going through your elbows to get to your ankles, but it all works together.
Chubbo

That's the original Patridge sight with a glop of Site Bright orange paint on it. I like it because it stands out almost as well as a fiber optic tube, but since it is acrylic I can always scrape it off with a thumbnail and it leaves no trace.

I tried a couple different grips before I got one that works well with the long tube. The Thai grips are nice looking and fit my hand well. No need for rubber grips with the mild recoil.

The dark blue may have something to do with the angle or the natural light. The bluing is really beautiful though. Makes me think of fresh licorice.

I see I'm going to have to do that as well. Looks really good.

Serial number for the 14-3 I'm waiting for is 6K96XX. Any idea when it was made?

Not 100% sure but I think 1975.

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"I gots to know"

I appreciate that. I just hope it was a good year for a 14-3

Have a 624 in 44 special with the 6.5" barrel. Shooting the Winchester 200 grain silvertip is like shooting 38 special. Even have an original S&W holster for it. The part that actually holds the revolver actually swivels and is in a black basket weave finish. Frank

I thought you folks might like to see a S&W wood case for an 8 3/8" revolver that I customized to fit the Scoped 8 3/8" Mod. 14-4 that I showed a picture of on this thread, post #26. It also shows the custom made tools, ammo box, and scope storage, in the tool tray, using a soft cloth sleeve. The tool handles, and the 50 round ammo box lid and grips shown in one view, are made of fiddle back maple wood, very special to me. It is wood from trees that my Mom, and my wife planted in our yard over 60 years ago. The grips shown in the other view are the grips that came with the 14-4. The whole "Kit, and Cabootal" fits into the case, for transport, or storage. Thanks for sharing.
Chubbo

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I am a heavy equipment and refrigeration tech and can rebuild Cat, Cummins, Detroit engines and transport reefers all day long for the last 40 years. But couldn't nail two 2X4's together to save my life.
You are like one of my older brothers who can take a ****** piece of railway tie and make something unbelievable out of it.
You are just like him. Hats off.

Agreed, very very nice!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Well just got the 14-3 in the mail today and I’m so happy. This gun looks like it has never been shot. Out with two year old granddaughter tonight and will hopefully be able to take pictures that will do it justice.
I’m really going to have a hard time shooting it.

The 8" or 8 3/8" is a wonderful shooter. I used to have both the K-22 and K-38 in 8 3/8". The only problem is it fitting in your range bag and finding a rug for it. Mine lived in a Pachmayr pistol box.

I've had other 8" revolvers, and the heavy barrels like a heavy Dan Wesson or a Python are just too heavy for range use. I couldn't get more than a couple of shots off without taking a break. And that was when I was young and strong. The Python Target in .38 Special shot like a rifle, but dang that thing was heavy.

But the lighter barreled Dan Wessons or the K-38 are a joy. But it's pretty much strictly a range gun.

I like long barrels. I can keep it in the 6” ring at 100 yds from a rest.
Dan Wesson M15-2 357 mag with 15” bbl.

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Here's a 14-4 May 1979 (rest your cursor over the pic)

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RIP Shipmate

Well got it in the mail yesterday and here it is. I can't seem to post more than one picture.

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Wow, that's a beauty. Those grips alone are worth about $200 I think.

I guess this should be in the 1961 to 1980 thread.