I just purchased a S&W model 657 performance center snub. It has the 2.6 inch barrel, and has great ergonomics. Last night I compared this little beast to my model 58. I noticed that the cylinders on these two .41 magnums are different lengths. The 657 PC has a shorter cylinder, and it's by quite a bit. That led me to wonder if the actual frame dimensions of the 657 PC are different (smaller) in slight ways from the original M58.

Nowt that I think about his, it FEELS like the 657 PC has a shorter reach to the trigger than my model 58. So, a question for the experts: did S&W alter the dimensions of the N-Frame here? If so, then it's not really an N-frame in the traditional sense, but something in between the N-frame and L-frame?

Thanks.

Since you have both handy, did you measure various aspects of the frame? My no-dash 3" 657 and my 657-2, other than barrel length, and one is RB, are the same.

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Cylinder length difference is due to the Model 58's cylinder chambers being recessed and the 657's are not.

KO