J frame 3"
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Biggfoot44
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More in the Spirit of Thread
I kinda figured the OP was refering to .38Spls .
*IF* the given parameter is specifically for " BEST" J Frame to be a semi-serious Belt Gun , then yes a 3in HB Sq Butt M36 is the answer. ( No , To Me a J Frame .357 is a pointless stunt.) Good balance without needless weight. The sight radius can't hurt , but the 3in Bbl would be worthwhile if only for the increases vel to get prettier mushrooms from old school 158LHP.
BUT , if the parameter is best reasonably concealable S&W belt gun of about the same OAL , I would instead go with my once and current fetish gun , the 2in RB K Frame. ( Have both an M10, and M64 , and use them interchangably. )
And from personal experience , 2in K Frame with with Boot Grips in a Pancake holster is more concealable than a 2in J Frame in a tunnel loop holster. ( The weight difference is meaningless with a vaguely suitable 1.5 to 1.75in leather belt.)
And in somewhat ineresting nostolgia story : Once upon a time in the early '80s ( somewhat out of taditional sequence ) I was studing for a degree in Security Management. The students were a mix of college age students , and mid career professionals looking to advance/ specialize. As people of the gun do , we occasionally discussed guns. One of my fellow students had been a US Customs Agent in late '70s ( specializing in shipboard checks of crewmembers of Internation frieghters in the Cheasapeake Bay ). He related :
At the time , , for plainclothes Agents would be reimbursed for the cost of a "snubnose" revolver , capable of chambering issued ammo , *Of Their Choice* !!!! Some of the lazy Agents wanted a J Frame just to have somthing lightweight. HIS choice , and the most popular among the gun savy agents was a .... 2.5in Python ! Viva El Uncle Sugar ! Second most popular among the gun savy , and admitted would have been picked by most Python guy if they had to use their own money , was as expected ... 2.5in M19 .
I kinda figured the OP was refering to .38Spls .
*IF* the given parameter is specifically for " BEST" J Frame to be a semi-serious Belt Gun , then yes a 3in HB Sq Butt M36 is the answer. ( No , To Me a J Frame .357 is a pointless stunt.) Good balance without needless weight. The sight radius can't hurt , but the 3in Bbl would be worthwhile if only for the increases vel to get prettier mushrooms from old school 158LHP.
BUT , if the parameter is best reasonably concealable S&W belt gun of about the same OAL , I would instead go with my once and current fetish gun , the 2in RB K Frame. ( Have both an M10, and M64 , and use them interchangably. )
And from personal experience , 2in K Frame with with Boot Grips in a Pancake holster is more concealable than a 2in J Frame in a tunnel loop holster. ( The weight difference is meaningless with a vaguely suitable 1.5 to 1.75in leather belt.)
And in somewhat ineresting nostolgia story : Once upon a time in the early '80s ( somewhat out of taditional sequence ) I was studing for a degree in Security Management. The students were a mix of college age students , and mid career professionals looking to advance/ specialize. As people of the gun do , we occasionally discussed guns. One of my fellow students had been a US Customs Agent in late '70s ( specializing in shipboard checks of crewmembers of Internation frieghters in the Cheasapeake Bay ). He related :
At the time , , for plainclothes Agents would be reimbursed for the cost of a "snubnose" revolver , capable of chambering issued ammo , *Of Their Choice* !!!! Some of the lazy Agents wanted a J Frame just to have somthing lightweight. HIS choice , and the most popular among the gun savy agents was a .... 2.5in Python ! Viva El Uncle Sugar ! Second most popular among the gun savy , and admitted would have been picked by most Python guy if they had to use their own money , was as expected ... 2.5in M19 .
Texas Star
US Veteran
I find my 60-15 one of the most useful revolvers I own. While mine is mostly a field gun (a 75 yard coyote would be in big trouble with this gun), I often carry it as a ccw.
When hiking out west, I load it with 180 grain hard-cast Buffalo Bore ammo. With large, closed-back grips it is amazing easly to shoot with this load. And, best of all, it is SOOOO much easier to tote around than my 4" K-frame or 3" L-frame.
Is that knife a Puma Silver Lion? Mine has black handle scales, but I think they had wood options.
JoeM19
US Veteran
It has to be the clean liv'in.
It has to be all your clean living, TexMex. I know Who found that for you and tweaked the memory of the counter man. He's the only One who can put it all together in a flash. - 'ole joe.
Joe, three years ag that model 36 was in a hock shop, and looked new. I gave 325 for it and the counter man said " oh, yeah...theres a box in the trash that it was in, you can have that." It had the orig sales reciept, tools and all other paperwork. Doesn't appear to have been fired at all.
It has to be all your clean living, TexMex. I know Who found that for you and tweaked the memory of the counter man. He's the only One who can put it all together in a flash. - 'ole joe.
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Biginge
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I sure do like the little boogers. Fun, fun to shoot and very accurate. Sorry for the pics, the nickel one almost looks like brushed stainless. Humidity is 111% down here today after all the floods. All three are in really good shape, especially the nickel.
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No doubt about that, old joe.
Just to stay clear: I'm not a Marine, I'm just one of those lucky cats that was in the delivery service
The good Lord does His best for me when I get out ofthe way.
JoeM19
US Veteran
I remembered just barely in time.
I remembered you weren't while at dinner and as soon as I was able I amended the post. You're definitely in the right Service now. - Joe.No doubt about that, old joe.
Just to stay clear: I'm not a Marine, I'm just one of those lucky cats that was in the delivery service
The good Lord does His best for me when I get out ofthe way.
I had a 3" 60-15 which S&W still offers as far as I know, but found it pretty much defeats the purpose and negates a lot of the advantages a small framed snubnose offers in my opinion without offering any real substantial benefit. There were 3" Centennials offed years ago IIRC, but I've never personally ran across one of those for sale, so I would say those are pretty rare.
Check out my post #17..... IMO this is where 3" J-frames shine!!!!
Have a 3 inch Jovino m60 38sp from late 1984. Fired 6 times by me. I keep telling myself I'm going to use/carry it but so far remains in the safe. I'm curious of how nice a gun it is. One of these days I'll give in and begin using it.
bemisgt
Member
I have one. Its a 60-10 pre-lock chambered for .357 magnum. This is a great j-frame for many uses. The extra barrel length and the sights really add to the shootability of the j frame platform. Being all stainless steel, shooting .357 magnums is quite manageable. I do it quite often. I've chronographed this gun side by side with my 6" mod 19. Both 38 spec. and 357 magnums and the difference between 3" and 6" barrels in these two guns is 50-75 fps. so you give up very little with regard to velocity. So you can pack quite a punch in a small package but its still shootable. Lets not forget about the full length ejector rod on the 3" j's. The short rod on the snubbies is a real downside to me.
It is not a pocket gun. However, with an iwb holster this gun is very easy to conceal under a tee shirt. Much easier than my mod 64. Lots of grip options for round butt j's. Great for a kit/outdoorsman/trail gun. Its a better choice for home defense over a 2" snub. I've shot matches both IDPA type and ICORE in the BUG division. Compared to the ruger lcrs and snub nose j frames it is almost cheating to use the 3" mod 60.
My wife can shoot this 3" gun much better than the 2" mod 60. And she'll actually shoot it. How many ladies do you know that hate shooting snubbies?
Some guys will say that a 3" j-frame is pointless. I'll say that these guys are wrong. For the many uses for a small frame revolver, the 3" does many things better than the shorter ones.
It is not a pocket gun. However, with an iwb holster this gun is very easy to conceal under a tee shirt. Much easier than my mod 64. Lots of grip options for round butt j's. Great for a kit/outdoorsman/trail gun. Its a better choice for home defense over a 2" snub. I've shot matches both IDPA type and ICORE in the BUG division. Compared to the ruger lcrs and snub nose j frames it is almost cheating to use the 3" mod 60.
My wife can shoot this 3" gun much better than the 2" mod 60. And she'll actually shoot it. How many ladies do you know that hate shooting snubbies?
Some guys will say that a 3" j-frame is pointless. I'll say that these guys are wrong. For the many uses for a small frame revolver, the 3" does many things better than the shorter ones.
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BlackTalonJHP
Member
629shooter
Member
I agree. But, if I ever find a 60-10 for a good price I might have to take the plunge.
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Also, if you ever have a new shooter learning a revolver, a 3" J with or without adjustable sights is a handy tool, due to the weight and grip size. I like to start with a 34-1 .22, and then use either the 3" 60 or 36 to introduce .38s. The don't bite as much as a snub.
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The Model 60-10 is my favorite!!!
I like the speedloader there- Boy Scout motto!
The Model 60-10 is my favorite!!!
LOL....... eenie meenie minie mo..........and first up is ..........
Neat Smith's.
Here is a model 30 1960 MFG.
I have grown fond on these little 32's.
even if I don't know what they are good for.
There is it's twin in the model 36 at a local pawn
shop for $399.00....which means $325 OTD is likely.
I reckon I should go fetch it.
Here is a model 30 1960 MFG.
I have grown fond on these little 32's.
even if I don't know what they are good for.
There is it's twin in the model 36 at a local pawn
shop for $399.00....which means $325 OTD is likely.
I reckon I should go fetch it.
bronco45
Member
I've shown my 60-4 several times, so here is another image of my 36-1. I carry this on occasion and I love this guy, great fishing, low country hiking gun. Disappears under a large T shirt and an IWB holster.
flagman1776
Member
I bought my 3"HB 36-1 RB new in 1980. The extra inch of barrel is no hinderance in any proper holster. I use a Bianchi IWB. It's a superb shooter. I can swap the factory SB targets off my kit gun if I want a SB profile. If you can make the deal, you'll not regret it.
I also own a 3" 66-2... a fine handling gun too but not IWB.
I also own a 3" 66-2... a fine handling gun too but not IWB.
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wesnellans
Member
I feel like I got a great one in mine, (now missing) internal lock and all.... wifey took one shot, then gave me the look.... It'll do.
Was $375 a good price to pay in this day and age? Picked it up two weeks ago unfired in box - production 2010...
It'll do.Was $375 a good price to pay in this day and age? Picked it up two weeks ago unfired in box - production 2010...
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Lobster Picnic
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I like the full underlug barrel of the 60-4 and 36-6. The extra weight up front helps keep the muzzle steady.
Great. Now you guys have given me another S&W to lust after.
As if two K frame 3" guns weren't bad enough.
As if two K frame 3" guns weren't bad enough.
How about the .32s?????
then the .38….
then the .38….
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PDX1953
Member
I acquired this 3" 36 with box and accutraments about 8 years ago. Appears unfired from factory since it only has the three burn rings on the cyl. The cyl shows it has been dry fired, showing a drag line on the cyl.
Mickey, you just solved a mystery. I have a BNIB SS 637 & I noticed three burn rings on the cylinder. They aren't on consecutive chambers so I surmised they were test shots but now I know they are. Thanks.
