What .357 K-Frames were available w/ 2" Barrels?

[maxfam]

Diamondback SDR

Not a Smith & Wesson, but I purchased one of these last month. Have not had a chance to fire it, but am very impressed with the quality and design. Good reviews on-line, or at least no disaster reports. K frame size with a J frame grip size. No more points Tom, please.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I'm always surprised that the .38 Special gets short shrift like it's inadequate for self defense or something. With the understanding that shot placement is everything, the .38 Special has been with us since 1898, developed as I recall to replace the .38 Long Colt to defeat Moro warriors shields. Whatever.......the point being that a 2" revolver in .38 Special is one of those everything you need nothing you don't handguns that you can ride the river with.

M-10

4" Model 64 turned into a 2" by The Shootist of this Forum

M 649

Or, you can shop around for the rare, little-known 4" Model 10 .357 Magnum and ruin it by making it a 2"

But, sorry, you can't have that one!

 

[The Gila Bender]

My old 13-2 and 640-1. My neighbor stole my 3" Model 60, which I think is near-perfect for carry. .38 Special +P is certainly adequate for defense. Just for grins, my cut-barrel 44HE 3rd transitional and 1917 Army are nice coat-pocket warmers.

 

[steelslaver]

Ballistics by the inch shows almost every 357 loading losing over 200 fps when dropping from 3" to 2" with a low velocity of 858 with the Federal 158 JHP to 1950 with the Cor Bon 125 DX

The 38 special lost 100-150 fps going from 3" down to 2" ranging from 675-810fps with loads using very similar bullets losing about 200 fps from the 357 loads

A 3" 38 is about the same as a 2" 357. I have a few 2" revolvers and some 3" ones. It isn't any harder to conceal a 3" and the weight difference is negligable

 

[shawn mccarver]

I'm looking for a stubby K-frame that chambers .357 but doesn't have adjustable sights. I like the size and looks of the 2" model 10 but it's a .38 only. I keep looking at model 65 but the shortest barrels I see are 3".

Can you fine members educate me on what .357 K-frames (new or old) were produced with 2" to 2.5" barrels?

It's late and I'm tired, so I may be wrong, but the only K Frames I can think of in .357 Magnum with barrels between 2 and 2 1/2 inches are the 19 and 66.

 

[Mike LaNier]

I have a 2.5" Model 19 that is my 'go-to' carry gun, but for years I carried a Model 13, 3", which was a great handgun; sadly it was lost in a fire in 2020. I have found the Model 19 with Magnum loads is a handful, with what I would call excessive 'blast'... lot's of flame and noise, and it seemed the extra 1/2" on the Model 13 moderated that somewhat. Nonetheless the Model 19 is an awesome tool, and having sights is helpful if you are a geezer....

 

[Eddietruett]

I'm looking for a stubby K-frame that chambers .357 but doesn't have adjustable sights. I like the size and looks of the 2" model 10 but it's a .38 only. I keep looking at model 65 but the shortest barrels I see are 3".

Can you fine members educate me on what .357 K-frames (new or old) were produced with 2" to 2.5" barrels?

Get a 2” mod 10 and cream the chambers to 357

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Kimber K6S DA/SA .357 Mag 2" Barrel, Stainless​

 

[GaryinOKC]

2" you might as well stick with 38 spl.

They made a very small number of of 19's with 2". But 3" is the way to go in my book. You loose little but gain a full length ejector rod.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Kimber also have a DAO 357 hammerless two inch.

Realistically self defenders are better served with a .38 Special +P in a two inch.

 

[walkin' trails]

I think the only two inch .357 Mag in the S&W lineup is going to be a J-frame. If you’re heart’s set on a two inch magnum K frame, find a four inch Model 13 or 65 and have the barrel cut down. May have to have the grip frame cut to accept round butt grips also if that is important. I haven’t really been a fan of the Kimbers - mainly because of the price - but by the time you get done with custom work, it may be a wash. .

 

[413Maxwedge]

Wow I'm surprised this thread is getting this blip of attention so long after I started it. I do like the looks and reviews of the DB and Kimber snubbie .357s. But I'm trying to stay with S&W since I have stripped & rebuilt them many times and have $1000s in grips and extra parts for them.

Since posting this I have bought a 2" m10 RB and a 2" m64 RB. Both are the perfect size and they pocket-carry as well as a steel J Frame, but I want something that handles .357 in a snub K frame.

**Also, I can't hit the broad side of a barn with either of these guns. I'm perfectly competent with my M&P 340 J frame and my 3" 686+, but the M64 I cannot see the front ramp and even on my M10 where I CAN see the front ramp, I can't hit squat. If the bad guy is more than 10' from me I'm screwed.

I don't "enjoy" firing .357 from my scandium J Frame. But I CAN. That;s what I'm looking for... for all my revolvers to be .357/.38sp. So if the S ever does HTF, every handgun in my house will chamber EVERY round in my house.

A few years ago I was working 2+ hours from home and the Wife started texting me that the cops were chasing people through our back yard (we have a meth house up the street). She's not a gun nerd like me, but she can shoot and is familiar with the safe combo and where all the loaded revolvers are.

I don't want her (or me!) grabbing a m10 and a box of .357 ammo and hiding in a corner. That's why I want all .357 chambered handguns. I want to keep it so simple even I can do it at 3am.

 

[wbraswell]

It might be really hard to clear a .357 cylinder with a short ejector rod. The 3" guns have a full length rod.

 

[crasig]

May I suggest a .357 snub nose Like mine. IT is a Taurus model 651 - a clone of the S&W model 49.
IT was Very Affordable as NOS, & is beautifully made - with nice action. I prefer the wood grips on mine, & not a problem firing .357. It has a shrouded hammer that can be cocked for single action accuracy - but won't snag a pocket.
I was told the Taurus 651 was made when S&Ws parent company owned Taurus - looks to me as though they used the same plans - or assembly line ? IT is one of my favorite revolvers.

 

[lightstar_actual]

My Model 19-4 is 2.5" but has adjustable sights

 

[USSR]

FWIW, I have a 2.5" Model 19 like pictured above as my carry gun. Although it is a .357 Magnum, I have never shot Magnum ammo in it. My load is a .38 Special +P load that I created with a 158gr LSWHP that does 940fps out of the short barrel. This is nothing to sneeze at, and is all that is needed for a self defense load. Just MHO.

Don

 

[flundertaker]

A touch over 2.5”