Thinking About a 38 Special

[qrachel]

Hi: I've been thinking about a nice 38 special with a 3" barrel but haven't seen very many - one posted this evening which is a great piece of custom work based on an M681.

Not sure if I'd prefer a K or an L frame but I would like a near-full or full under-lug, a round butt with Ahrends Combat Retros. Would definitely want a very hi-visibility beaded front sight with a spacious notched rear sight, as my eyes struggle with lighting a bit now.

I'd love a 686 in a pure 38 Special with a 3" barrel - I've got a 686+ 4" and love it, and would like to add a great 3" pure 38spcl to the family.

Is this doable?

Thanks,

R

 

[Gunsnwater]

3in is least popular, model 60 is probibly your best bet. A nice 4in 64 would be easy. I like the 10 and all the j frames but the 3in is rare. At least around here.

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

Model 60 Pro

At a not so LGS I handled a Model 60 Pro series with the 3" full lug barrel. Compared to my 640 Centennial I would prefer it because it should be more accurate at 7 yards especially with adjustable sights. I think it would be a better carry gun or bedside protection.
Product: Model 60

 

[KLYDE]

Just about all of your dedicated .38 Spl guns have an open ejector rod. No under lug. Probably a M65 Lady Smith would fill the bill except it is .357. Does have the 3" bbl and ejector rod shroud.

 

[Jdavis]

If you are open to other makes, Ruger offers a GP100 that would meet your specifications. Have a look at the Ruger Wiley Clapp model it is .357/.38Spl caliber but it should be a perfect fit for you.
Go here:http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100DE/models.html

 

[Lobster Picnic]

The Model 60-4 is 3" with full underlug and adjustable sights, .38 Special only. Looks like a baby 686. Firing pin on the hammer, no MIM, no IL.

 

[kaaskop49]

The above posters have some VERY good ideas. If only these guns were available! Over 3 years in Clark Cty, many LGSs visited. have seen exactly one 3" bbl Smith: a worn M36RB from a private seller. The Ruger Wiley Clapp model is one heckuva revolver, but not the easiest to carry concealed, if that is your intent.

 

[mg357]

grachel: Your best option would be a S&W Model 60 .357 magnum revolver with a 3 inch barrel. you can also shoot .38 special ammunition in this gun as well.

 

[qrachel]

Hi: Thanks for the responses. It confirms this type of gun is rare. Again, thanks everyone . . . just have to luv this place, so many knowledgeable people.

Take care all,

R

 

[LostintheOzone]

Did they make a 686 as a 38 special only? I'm not aware of it if they did. I don't see any currently on their site. It would be a waste anyway as the L frame is better suited for 357. I prefer the K frame for 38. It seems to be the perfect match for that caliber. I have a model 19 that isn't much different than a K38. I would be searching for a J frame if you really have to have a 3" but a 4" K frame is magic.

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Check the ads for Bud's Gunshop. Bud's is offering returning Model 10s at a decent price. At last check, Bud's was offering some with 3" barrels. The 3" K-frame is an ideal configuration for carry on a duty belt or carrying concealed. 3" is the ideal barrel length for 38s.

 

[hotrod150]

Someone posted recently about their custom 3" L-frame (681?). Very nice piece. Why a dedicated 38 spl? You can shoot 38's in a 357 & as long as you never plan to shoot 357's you don't have to worry about fouling the chambers. I would suggest a 3" 64 or 65- they don't have the full underlug but they're plenty beefy enough for 38 spl's. A little lighter & handier than L frames too. I am a Chief Special nut but I recently saw a 2-1/2" M19 that sure looked sweet. That'd be the bomb, loaded with hot 38's.

 

[QB Too]

Did they make a 686 as a 38 special only? I'm not aware of it if they did. I don't see any currently on their site.

Yes, they do. I purchased a NIB one this year....SKU 164338. Had what I believed to be unacceptable tooling marks in the charging holes and sent it back to S&W and they replaced the cylinder (got the shipping label emailed to me, sent it off and back to me in nothing flat....a couple of weeks or so). Anyway, now I'm very happy with it.

I've not seen another one for sale but someone did say they pop up occasionally...something about an overrun from agencies that require .38 special or from a non-usa contract, I don't know, I've only ever found this one. I haven't shot mine yet and don't know when I will.....bummer.

Since someone mentioned the GP100....I also have a couple of GP100 SS 3" with adjustable rear sights that are also in 38 special only. Same story on them....a small number of them appeared and then gone (maybe 20 or so).

There are currently some GP100 blued guns, 3" 38 special only with fixed sights for sale on GB and they are inexpensive (compared to what I paid for the 686 and the SS GP100 with adjustable sights). So I guess that's another contract overrun or something because several dealers are selling them. Came from Davidsons (or at least some of them did). In fact, so did my two stainless ones now that I think about it.

grachel - bottom line.....they are out there..........sortta kinda & hard to find......not sure about being able to get one in California. Good luck with your search. Oh....someone told me about a 586 Brazilian that is 38 special only? I'll have to go find that PM. Talk about hard to find and I decided not to pursue it because I don't know what to look for in a used revolver and more than likely would have to purchase sight unseen (i.e. auction or forum sale).

Here's some really POOR pictures of a couple of mine:

S&W 686 38 special only - 6 shot - thinking about some new grips but can't decide because there are so many pretty ones out there!!!

Ruger GP100 38 special only - 6 shot - this one now sports a fiber optic front sight but I don't have a new picture of it. The front sight is easily changed in about 2 seconds. The grips are the older style, I didn't like the way the Hogue's looked for some reason.

 

[shouldazagged]

I know the three-inch barrels are hot items right now, and many people love them. But in all honesty I prefer the balance and slightly longer sight radius of a four-incher in a K-frame. In a J-frame I prefer the concealed-carry ease of the 1.875-inch barrel.

Guess I'm a traditionalist. YM, of course, MV.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Rachel:

S&W made some 686s in 38 Special, but you have to search around as they are not easy to find.

The Performance Center did some 3 inch 681s also, but again, you have to look around.

There were 10s and 64s in 3 inch, but no underlug.

The CS-1s were available 3 inch, but they were .357 Magnums.

It would not be original, and it would be a magnum, but you could get a 3 inch 686 and send to Cylinder and Slide to have their fixed sight installed with a dovetail front gold bead. That might be the closest you get without having to search for a "needle in a haystack."

There were also 3 inch 19s and 66s, both of which had lugs, but they were magnums. Some of the 3 inch 19s had fixed sights, but they are really rare.

Shawn

 

[Ranger514]

Ruger GP 101 is a five shot .357 mag. that is available in a 3 inch barrel with fixed sights. It would make a great concealed carry. I saw one about two months ago at a LGS $515 NIB.

 

[QB Too]

Ruger GP 101 is a five shot .357 mag. that is available in a 3 inch barrel with fixed sights. It would make a great concealed carry. I saw one about two months ago at a LGS $515 NIB.

The GP100 should be a 6 shot and the SP101 is a 5 shot.

 

[Ranger514]

Sorry. My bad.

 

[flagman1776]

As much as I love my 4" 19s & 66s... I regretted I could not talk my ex-GF into selling me the 3" 13 I'd bought for her when we parted ways. I consoled myself by buying a 3" 66 (1986)... That 3" 66-2 is the sweetest gun I own... runner up is a 3"HB 36-1 RB. If you ever handle one, you'll fall in love with it too.