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

[hitecrednek]

The 5" is what they need to make!

I started with a 5" M-19 (it was a 6" that some lunitic with a hacksaw had bobbed) and it handled realllllly nice. Faster recovery time than a 4" and more dynamic handling than a 6"... But it finally died from a twisted yoke. I"ve been using it for parts, and its sort of gutted at the moment, but someday I'll have it re-built...

 

[hitecrednek]

Originally posted by hitecrednek:
The 5" is what they need to make!

I started with a 5" M-19 (it was a 6" that some lunitic with a hacksaw had bobbed) and it handled realllllly nice. Faster recovery time than a 4" and more dynamic handling than a 6"... But it finally died from a twisted yoke. I"ve been using it for parts, and its sort of gutted at the moment, but someday I'll have it re-built...

(but I still have 3" that I really like)
click me-

 

[cometpx4]

I agree. I want a 3inch 620. I have a 5inch 686.

 

[Smithist]

What is the 'significant ballistic gain' of a 3" barrel over a 2 1/2" barrel? In say, .357 magnum.

 

[casingpoint]

What is the 'significant ballistic gain' of a 3" barrel over a 2 1/2" barrel?

Around 40-45 fps which, when squared and run through the formula for kinetic energy, results in a gain of 29 ft/lbs ME with the Gold Dot 135 grain 327 MAG round. Is that a significant gain? Probably not inside twenty feet.

In a recent edition of Shooting Times, the Remington Golden Saber 357 MAG load averaged 1192 fps from a 2.5 inch Night Guard barrel, losing only 28 fps
off the advertised 1220 fps from a four inch barrel.

That's a pretty wild swing from the norm. But if that limited ballistic loss is consistent across the board, those Night Guards are well worth their money in my book.

A couple of years back a gun magazine published a velocity for the Remington GS 357 MAG of 1122 fps from a 2.5 inch barrel M19. The energy loss is around 64 ME.

If that is not considered significant, a loss of that magnitude certainly starts to get attention.

 

[Guest]

Aside from the marginal improvement in energy/velocity, the extra 1/2 in. has two other advantages.
One is functional - the full length ejector rod is high on the usefulness list.
The other is looks....

I find the three inch models to have a better look in overall proportions. The shorter barrels look too stubby for me.

 

[casingpoint]

One is functional - the full length ejector rod is high on the usefulness list

Is this really a big deal? Seems like it would be if 357 MAG cases hang up during ejection from under three inch guns. Some have said this not a problem.

 

[animalmother]

My PC 586 L-Comp has a three inch barrel. It was made in 2002. This has been my main defense gun since 2002.

 

[rhodnett]

I have a current production M60-16 in .357 with a 3" barrel.

 

[eich]

I simply can't stand the 3" guns...
66-2

66-3

NY-1

625, about to be reunited with it's original owner...Albert, you there?

 

[SIGWolf]

My dealer has a couple of 3" 686es, new ones. They make them but it seems in only certain models.