2" VS 3" REVOLVER!

[Sayoc01]

Another ? for us "OLD" REVOLVER guys.Which do you like for EDC.IWB or OWB doesn't matter.Anyone ever change their mind & go from a 2" to a 3"! Me....I'm beginning to change my mind & lean to the 3"....my favorite 2"is my S&W 60 2" but i just bought a Kimber K6S 3" & really like it.NO....before you even ask my 60 2" is NOT for sale or TRADE...EVER! I'm just curious ,always like to learn.
Jim

 

[diyj98]

I've owned a few 3" revolvers that I wanted mainly because the internet told me they were cool , but currently don't own any. For my uses the 2" makes a better pocket gun. 3" is neat for holster carry, but I really don't carry 3" and above for anything other than a field gun which 4" to 6" does better for me.

 

[Cal44]

I only pocket carry and have one 3" revolver on my license. It's in the pocket of my cargo pants today.

A 60-15.

Advantages:

o Adustable sights and longer sight radius make it better for longer ranges.

o It works better than a 2" with 357 magnum


The big disadvantage is weight.

Have to keep hitching my pants up.

Btw, I use a DeSantis superfly holster designed for a Shield and other larger pocketable autos.

 

[otasan56]

True. I cannot imagine the muzzle blast with a 2" .357 magnum.

 

[iPac]

I would personally take a 3" ccw gun over a 2" or 2.5" ccw gun. However, this is based on using 357mag ammunition.

The difference isn't actually that great, but the extra 1" -1.5" of barrel does help boost velocity by 50-100fps, IIRC. It will also aid due to longer sight radius. So it helps a little to get some extra "oomph" out of the caliber and will lend for more accurate pointing.

In reality though, for some reason 3" barrel guns have become quite the "fad", and S&W examples are approaching unreasonable prices & Colt examples might as well be crafted of gold.

So if being able to choose a 3" was a possibility, I would have one, but with such a price hike to get one, I have no problem sticking with a 2.5" and just losing maybe 50fps velocity.

I guess it depends on how desperate you are for those precious extra fps. In most cases, I don't think the difference will matter that much.

 

[otasan56]

I would personally take a 3" ccw gun over a 2" or 2.5" ccw gun. However, this is based on using 357mag ammunition.

The difference isn't actually that great, but the extra 1" -1.5" of barrel does help boost velocity by 50-100fps, IIRC. It will also aid due to longer sight radius. So it helps a little to get some extra "oomph" out of the caliber and will lend for more accurate pointing.

In reality though, for some reason 3" barrel guns have become quite the "fad", and S&W examples are approaching unreasonable prices & Colt examples might as well be crafted of gold.

So if being able to choose a 3" was a possibility, I would have one, but with such a price hike to get one, I have no problem sticking with a 2.5" and just losing maybe 50fps velocity.

I guess it depends on how desperate you are for those precious extra fps. In most cases, I don't think the difference will matter that much.

Why not use the more common 4" barrel?

 

[BAM-BAM]

Carried 2 1/2" 19s in the early 80s..... since about 86 it's been 3 inch guns....first a 65 later added a 3" 66 and still later a 3" 60-10 as a cabin "kit gun"......I like the full length ejector rod and IMO better sights..... not any harder to carry IWB or even concealed OWB.

I can conceal carry a 4" k frame but it's not quite as comfortable IWB..... my most common carry (Spark Summer Special I do have one for the 4" 66)

 

[ContinentalOp]

This may not be directly applicable to your situation, but I've carried both a 2" 64 and a 3" 65 in the same IWB holster. As much as I liked the 3" 65 as a good all-around carry gun, I found myself using the 2" more. To me, the 2" seemed quicker out of the holster. That was more important to me than whatever velocity gain I got from an extra inch of barrel. I didn't see any noticeable difference in shootability (i.e., use of sights, speed of follow-up shots, etc.) when using the same ammo.

I also suspect that if I had a proper length holster for the 2" 64 it might have been more comfortable for IWB carry. The 3" 65 was fine, but I think a 4" barrel would be too long as it might make sitting uncomfortable with my body type. YMMV.

Another thing to consider...a 3" barrel gives an attacker more leverage in a disarm attempt than a 2" barrel. Not an overriding factor in my opinion, but something to think about.

 

[apollo99]

I wasn't a fan of the 3" K frames, I thought why not just a 2 1/2" or go to a 4". I just bought a 3" 65-5 a month ago. I now see what all the fuss is about, while I still like my 2 1/2" revolvers the 3" is better balanced, tames the .357 loads a little better, and it fits in the same holsters as my 2 1/2" revolvers. I find the 3" a little better getting on target and over all more shootable.

 

[BB57]

It depends on how you carry it.

3" is too long for pocket carry, as is a K-frame in general), but then I'm not a fan of pocket carry for a revolver.

However 3" is not noticeably heavier or harder to conceal than a 2" barrel in an IWB holster.

I have 2.125" and 3" J Magnum frame Model 60s and in a good quality IWB holster with a good carry belt I can't tell the difference. The extra barrel length just isn't noticeable unless you are into IWB appendix carry, which I regard as being even less useful than pocket carry.

I also have 2.5" and 3" K-frame .357s and again I just don't notice any difference in weight or concealability - when carried on the hip in a good quality IWB holster with a properly constructed carry belt.

If you have to keep hitching up your pants, you need a better belt.

In terms of shooting, the J frames are very pleasant with standard pressure .38, are ok with .38 +P, but will beat you to death with .357 Magnum loads. And those loads will beat the J-frame to death as well if you persist in the practice. S&W's engineers are relying on the pain factor to limit the round count.

The K-frame revolvers on the other hand are much more pleasant to shoot with a .357 magnum load and a .38+ P load is quite comfortable to shoot.

I don't notice much difference between a 3" and a 2.5" K-frame o the range, but then I shoot them a lot. The major functional difference is the full length ejector rod on the 3" K-frame revolver which can make ejection more positive. On the other hand, if you're using the Universal or Stress Fire reload techniques, it really doesn't make any difference.

A 4" revolver, in any frame size, is too long for comfortable IWB carry, as it interferes with both sitting and movement, and is noticeably harder to conceal.

All that said, my carry revolver is a 2.5" Model 66, with a 125 gr .357 Magnum load, and my primary practice revolver is the 4 oz heavier and very slightly larger (it'll fit in most of my Model 66 holsters) L-frame 2.5" 686.

 

[Guevera]

I really like my 3" Detective Special, but it stays in the safe due to more viable choices these days. Grips by Mr. Badger, by the way.

 

[photoman]

I would have to vote 2" as that is what I use the most.

 

[haywood]

I would love to have a 3” Model 10, 13, 64, or 65. I never found one local that I could afford.

 

[keith44spl]

Why yes I do....Sometimes.

.

 

[robertrwalsh]

For a small frame revolver I prefer a 2". For medium frame I prefer a 3", I think it points better plus the full-length ejector is a benefit.

 

[bigggbbruce]

True. I cannot imagine the muzzle blast with a 2" .357 magnum.

Muzzle blast is useful.

If you miss you set your target on fire. At least a 500S&W will.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

The 3 inch .357 Magnum Model 13-3 is handy, controllable, and accurate with Speer 135 gr “Short Barrel” Gold Dot hollow points. It also weighs more than 2 pounds loaded.
The 2 inch .38 Special Model 12-2 is handy, controllable, and accurate with Winchester 130 gr T&D “Defend” hollow points. It weighs 22 ounces loaded.
I carry either one or both OWB, as necessary. When only carrying one of these on my belt, I pocket carry a Model 642-2.
K-frame round butt revolvers just seem to fit my hands best, and 2 inch or 3 inch barrels conceal better than 4 inch guns.


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[dubshooter]

Is a 2.75” considered more of a 2 or a 3?

 

[federali]

I regret selling my 3" Model 37 but I will not make the same mistake with my 3" Model 65 Round butt. That extra inch of barrel makes a substantial difference in accuracy once you get beyond 7 yards or so. I also like the full-length extractor rod that a 3" affords.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Is a 2.75” considered more of a 2 or a 3?

I’d say closer to a 3. I’m interested in a new 2.75” Model 66 so I can retire the Model 13-3 which has had hard use. It deserves an honorable retirement. The Model 12-2, on the other hand was carried lots and shot little. It doesn’t need retiring! I am going to Cerakote it, though.


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