Is there a reason S&W doesn't make 3" revos?

[gwalchmai]

It seems like everyone wants a 3" L frame or N, or K (I've given up finding a 3" M13). Are there problems with them?

 

[gwalchmai]

It seems like everyone wants a 3" L frame or N, or K (I've given up finding a 3" M13). Are there problems with them?

 

[sabre]

S&W will make whatever people are buying in large numbers. Having a few 3" revolvers myself I agree that its a great barrel length and there is certainly no "problem" with it. That said, we S&W "nuts" are not a large group compared to the gun buying public as a whole.

For example, there is much demand among us for model 58's, model 27's and model 696's. All guns that didn't sell all that great when they were still available new and were cut from the line up. All are now gaining "cult" status among the S&W enthusiasts.

Bottom line: they make what sells the best and discontinue the rest

Bill

 

[casingpoint]

There is a significant ballistic gain in a three inch compared to a 2.5. But for some reason the 2.5 inch snub remains the most popular, evidenced by the new Night Guards. Assuming Smith was not limited to 2.5 inches of barrel by the metallurgy involved, does anyone know of a functional reason the 2.5 is preferred over the three??

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

I also Like that 3" barrels have full lenth ejector rods were 2 1/2"ers don't..
S&W Are You Reading This??
Gary/Hk

 

[Marshal Tom]

I have a 3" 686 CS-1 and finally got a 3" 66-2 today. I love the 3" guns. I sold me 2.5" 66-2 to find a 3". Very practical length.

T

 

[Spotteddog]

What H/K said!

 

[Centenniel]

I'm also a fan of 3" revolvers. I wish there were more of us. Then S&W might make more.....

 

[Andy Griffith]

There is only one small problem with 3" pistols/revolvers... from past track records...

they don't seem to sell very well.

Whatever doesn't sell well (mostly) and has a short production run usually ends up in high demand years down the road.

Does that sound logical?

 

[TwoGunsStanding]

Lew Horton seems to be responsible for the preponderance of three inch N-frame guns from S&W. They recently ran the M25, M24, and M29, in polished nickel and blue. I have a nickeled Model 24, and prefer the square butt to the older 3 inch guns with the rounded butt. My only dislike is that they use the .44 Magnum length cylinder on the .44 Special, goofing the balance up over the older guns. It is correctly CHAMBERED for .44 Special, but has more travel in the cylinder than it needs, which probably does not make it MORE accurate (although it is still very good). S&W should run all the fighting revolvers in three inch periodically to satisfy demand, and also in FIVE INCH (are you reading this, S&W?).

 

[jframe]

Originally posted by gwalchmai:
It seems like everyone wants a 3" L frame or N, or K (I've given up finding a 3" M13). Are there problems with them?

Don't give up on a three inch 13. They are out there, just most folks don't seem to want shed of them. Found mine at a gunshow this spring; nobody paying any attention to it at all. They were all fondling the latest and greatest 1911's.

 

[Guest]

There is only one small problem with 3" pistols/revolvers... from past track records...

they don't seem to sell very well.

Absolutely correct, and to take it even further - nobody likes em, at all............

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5301039...721031081#4721031081

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5301039...451046081#1451046081

 

[Lt JL]

Model 13
Model 65
Model 686 CS-1
Model 629
all three inchers in my modest herd. I will take practically any more I can find, and it will take a lot of cash or trade bait to make me turn loose of one

 

[thedr15]

I'm with you guys on this. All my revolvers have either 4 or 6 inch barrels. Today,though, I put a M60 357 S/S 3in. on layaway.
I love the look,size,feel and balance of this gun.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There are still a few current 3" K/L and N frame revolvers available from S&W although there seem to be many more 2.5" models available. (like all the new Night Guard revolvers) There are also a few 3" J frames available.

They are making a 3" K frame M64, the 3" L frame M686 Plus, the 3" N frame M24, the 3" N frame M25, and the 3" N frame M29.

Along with those they even have a 3" Model 629 that is part of that gimmick Survival Kit they put out.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have a model 64 with a factory stock 3" barrel, it is a law enforcement trade in, I bought two of them in fact. nice guns. there is a lot to be said for a 3" carry gun. that extra bit of barrel and standard length ejector rod are nice.

 

[sasu]

So dry without some photos. The balance on these three inchers is very, very nice. And cannot complain about accuracy, either. In the current Classic line there are many 3-inchers.

629 Trailboss

29 Classic Lew Horton

 

[Guest]

I always thought this one sucked too:

So have all the folks who've been trying to buy it since I first Posted it.

 

[Red Tex]

My Model 36 is a three-incher. I really love shooting this small gem and it handles SO much better than my 642 snubbie. But that extra inch prevents it from being practical for pocket carry, is all. Sits well in a IWB holster, though.

 

[TNDave]

The only problem with 3" guns is finding good ones. I am a big fan of 3" barrels on J and K frame guns. The 3" gun is one of those things that is better than it should be. Even though they aren't that much smaller than a 4" square butt gun, there is something about a 3" round butt gun that makes it seem so much smaller and handier in the K frame version.
As far a J frames, the 3" barrel is not good for pocket carry, but makes the gun more like a Model 10 that has been thrown in the dryer instead of a hard to hit with 2". Most people who complain about 2" guns being hard to use just need to shoot one enough to get the hang of it, but there is no doubt the 3" is easier to hit with for some reason.
Plus 3" guns are just bitchin'

Model 66

Model 10

Model 36

Model 60

Model 60

Model 65 and 60