K or L frame

[AveragEd]

Another vote for a 66 over a 686.

But for carry purposes, I bought a 4.25" S&W E-Series 1911Sc. Its flat shape molds well into bodies, the .45ACP round is plenty stout enough without bringing over-penetration dangers into the scenario, it offers an eight-round capacity and with its Scandium alloy frame, weight is not an issue.

Just a thought...

Ed

 

[gwpercle]

S&W is again making the model 66 , right now with a 4"barrel , but I bet a dollar to a dough-nut that other barrel lengths will soon follow.
a 3" model just might make buy a new gun....like I need another !
K-frame 357 magnums are just about as good as it gets.
Gary

 

[Targets Guy]

K Frame for carry.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Hi everyone, Not trying to change subject here. I just wanted to take this time to thank the Kernel for his service to our great country and for his knowledge of S&W and other firearms and willingness to share it with the rest of us. Thank you sir

Why do I get a feeling Graywolf is getting ready to ask to borrow my circular saw?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

We all have opinions..........

If you want to carry .357 Magnum loads and think you might want to hit something in a hurry twice you're way better off avoiding J-frames. The more I shoot J-frames the less I like them, anyway, compared to a 2" K-frame.

If you're willing to shoot high performance .38 Special ammunition (my recommendation) then any K frame snub will work, as will an L frame. Due to their fatter cylinders L frames are far easier to carry OWB than IWB; the 66 2.5" can go IWB in comfort.

If you want to shoot .357 Magnum in an easily concealed weapon go with the 66 or a 19 in 2.5" if you can find one.

 

[India Actual]

I'll try to expand a bit on my bringing up of this topic. I do own a 3" SP-101, it still needs some polishing on the internals to smooth out the trigger, but a solid firearm indeed. I would really like a 6 shot or better .357 for carry. After I picked up my two J-frames I really got on the S&W kick. It's like a disease.

One reason I decided to purchase a 640 Pro in the mean time was to give .357 a try in it and if I don't like it, I'll just carry .38 spl +P in it and buddy it up with my 642 for carry. Then I can share rounds between the two weapons. If anything I just picked up another S&W and I'm sure you can all attest to how that goes.

 

[scooter123]

I'm going to go against the grain just a bit and ask what you want to shoot in your new revolver. If it's only 38 +P or hand loaded Magnum Lites using a relatively "fast" powder such as Accurate #5 then get the model 66. If you want to shoot full house 357 Magnums and use your pistol as a flame thrower then get the 686, it's been specifically beefed up to tolerate heavy use of full power Magnums.

BTW, I have a 2 1/2 inch model 19 and it is a pure joy and a bit of a kittycat to shoot with my Magnum Lite handloads featuring a 135 grain Gold Dot SB Hollow point over a moderate charge of Accurate #5. I'll have to wait until next summer to get the chronograph out but at a guess this load is pushing that Gold Dot to something between 900 and 1000 fps. So, basically it's a near equivalent to the power of a 9mm and it's a load that is real easy on the wrist and ears to shoot.

 

[jeeps]

I use the 686 7 shot with 3" barrel with full ejector rod to clear cases fast and positive. When I carry the 357 I use full power 125gr. Magnum loads,not the watered down stuff for LW 357mags and k frames. It can Handle and shoot full powered ammo with accuracy and control. Anything lighter and smaller I use 38+p . The full powered 357 magnum is a beast and needs a beast to handle it. It will put the bad down! With a good gunbelt a pancake it carrys well!

 

[AveragEd]

Jeeps, the only problem with your carry load of choice is the very real possibility of those bullets passing through your intended target and on into an unintended one. Larger, heavier, slower-moving slugs are much safer in an urban environment and a short barrel probably isn't delivering all the moxie those shells have to offer anyway but will blind and deafen you on the first shot fired in the dark.

Ed

 

[jeeps]

The 125gr. 357 magnum was the law enforcement carry load for 2-3 decades. Still rated a good stopper of bad guys.

 

[DD357]

First off: The one shot stop thing came from Marshall & Sanow's book which has been debunked, forget about "one shot stops" (stopping power and knockdown power should also be banned from everyone's vocabulary). How any one person reacts to being shot is quite unpredictable unless you make a CNS hit. I've had multiple snub K & L frames over the years and I much prefer to carry the K's, now I do carry iwb. I no longer have any L frames.

 

[India Actual]

Learned today one of my co-workers ponied up the cash for a 327 PC and he carries that. To be honest I was impressed. He had nothing but good things to say about it.

 

[Not So Dirty Harry]

I have carried full sized L and K frame. While I can do both no problem I do admit the K-frame is much more comfy to carry.