Which short barrel S&W pistol ?

[two-bit cowboy]

I offer another voice for fixed sights.

J-frame, double action only, .38 Special.

Luckily I've never been in a bad situation. I train and practice for
one. Close up. No time to cock the hammer. Front sight on target.
Trigger -- five down the barrel four seconds after clearing leather.

 

[Laketime]

A snub 19 or 66 is hard to beat. I owned a 19 at one point but always carved a 66 snub for the longest time.

 

[Silver GT]

Smith & Wesson Model 60

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

It depends on your stature and the time of year. If you are a big man and are wearing a light or winter coat, an OWB holster with a K or L frame snub is great.

If you are on the smaller side and it is summer, and you only have a polo shirt covering your weapon then a good J frame is probably the answer.

For every day carry in the summer, it's a Chiefs Special in the waste band for me, but in the colder months when I wear a jacket, it's a 3" J Frame or a 2 1/2" K frame in a OWB holster for me.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Thanks for the help. I will start looking for model 19 or 66 or 686-7. Will see which fits my hand better and a holster I like. Marty

Well prepare to spend 3 hours staring at 3 guns and still not being able to make a decision then. they will all fit your hand the same. The balance will be slightly different on the different frames.
If you see a 3" jump on it.
If you are allowed, learn about checking cylinder gaps, barrel alignment and if possible buy some snap caps from the store and ask to dry fire at least once. The store might be fine on the stainless guns.

 

[dsf]

New to the pistol world. Always a rifle shooter. I bought a brand new S&W 617 couple months ago. Wow one hole pistol.
I am needing a Carry revolver. I want something with adjustable sights in a 357/38 or could go the 38 cal. This pistol needs to have real short barrel under 2 3/4 barrel. I will be carrying this pistol in a sneaky peat holster out side waste band. The holster looks like cell phone holster. I know few guys with these holster and they work well for their application. Smith Wesson has so many different model numbers so wondering if you guys could give me a some company model numbers I could start researching ?
Thanks. Marty

I've had a CCW or LTC since 1976. I started out with a Model 28 and a Colt Commander.

I predict you'll end up with a Model 638.

Or should.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Many very good suggestions posted above. You didn't say why you are limiting your carry method to a sneaky Pete. I do not think that it is the best choice especially for a K frame, if they even make one to fit it. There are several inside the waistband, tuckable holsters that would be better suited for that purpose. tuckable holsters can be worn inside the waistband but your shirt can be tucked in so the whole works is inside the waistband, under your shirt. I think that sneaky Pete's are OK for small frame flat semi auto's but not so great for revolvers due to the thickness of the cylinder and overall size.

 

[DesertFox]

386 Night Guard if 357 Mag / 38 Special is the call.

629PC 2 5/8" if 44 Mag deemed necessary for brown bears.

Not Smith but a Taurus 856 HyLite for light, pocket carry 38 Special.

Snubbies are cool.

 

[Benchrest1]

I forget the name of the company, but there is a fixed sight replacement for the rear sight on a M19/66. I've never tried one but what I've heard is good. This could solve any snag issues one might have.

 

[JimCunn]

I too, vote for fixed sights, and J-frames are coke can accurate out to about seventy-five feet. I carry an Airweight 637-2 that I further lighten up with a titanium cylinder and usually fire the first round single action since it doesn't require any additional time on first round. Followups are double action. It takes about a minute and a half to swap out cylinders, and this particular example will chamber .38Sp, .357Mag, and 9mm (I don't fire .357Mag in it though - too painful in a 12 ounce gun and hard on the frame).
I usually carry 147gr 9mm to take advantage of the reduced reload time due to the moonclips, and usually use the old Herrett Shooting Star conversion grips instead of the Altamonts in order to reduce recoil pain when shooting 9mm. In a 1-7/8" J-frame barrel, the 147gr 9mm gives an average 952fps and 292 ft-bs at the muzzle. I haven't tried +P.

 

[chief38]

With the parameters you've given the M66 or M19 sounds like what you've described. That said, it's large, heavy and bulky for a Sneaky Pete type holster. IMHO you'd be better off with a M60 or M36 if you're intent on the SP holster. Some J Frames are chambered in 357 magnum however shooting magnums out of a 2 1/8" bbl is not a lot of fun! Most can't handle that out of the little light revolver.

Out of a 2" revolver there is nothing wrong with Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP-GC 38 Spl. +P which will give you 1025 fps-that's serious medicine and approaching magnum velocities out of a 2" tube (with 158 grain magnums).

 

[nipperdog]

I own a M640 Pro which I carry alternately with my K6S.
It is reliable and carries nicely in my hip pocket. Grips are VZ in Predator Green

 

[Green Frog]

If you're going to go for a good concealable, you have to decide what you are willing to give up to get to the size you want/need. First, while you can even find a tiny 44 Spl (from Charter Arms) a realistic all around cartridge in a revolver is the 38 Special. Small? Concealable? A five shot J frame is your Huckleberry. Want to carry it a lot and not have to spend an hour on it every night or two cleaning and oiling? Go stainless. SURPRISE, it's a Model 60. Most EDC guns tend to be sorta rough and ready, the standard 2" Model 60 and you are there… but if you insist on adjustable sights, you'll need another inch of barrel (which is still readily concealable) and voila! You have a Model 60-4. That's my choice.

Froggie

 

[ironhead7544]

For a K-frame the M66 or M65 is best. An IWB from Andrews Custom Leather will conceal it.

If you want to go lighter, the M12 in 38 Special with the alloy frame would be the one to look for.

 

[jtcarm]

It depends on your stature and the time of year. If you are a big man and are wearing a light or winter coat, an OWB holster with a K or L frame snub is great.

If you are on the smaller side and it is summer, and you only have a polo shirt covering your weapon then a good J frame is probably the answer.

For every day carry in the summer, it's a Chiefs Special in the waste band for me, but in the colder months when I wear a jacket, it's a 3" J Frame or a 2 1/2" K frame in a OWB holster for me.

I conceal a 3" K-frame all-day every day in Texas (my computer says it's 100-degrees outside) under a T-shirt.

The secret (if there is one) is a good AIWB holster, a good belt, and purchase your clothes around carry (waist 2" bigger than you actually wear for IWB.)

I'm sure my mother is looking down and shaking her head in disapproval at the untucked shirt tail[emoji51]

A J-frame rides in a pocket holster when I'm sweating out in the yard. Often it's there as a BUG or NY reload.

A lot of people pooh-pooh adjustable sights on carry guns, but my old eyes love 'em. Running a modern S&W with pinned FS, I replace the 1/8" ramp with a 1/10" FO post. With that my eyes pick up the FS quickly without having to position my head just-so to focus. They don't give up any precision to the chunky ramp front that blocks out the light.

 

[Glenn54]

It's interesting that you choose to carry a revolver in this day of high capacity polymer pistols. However, many of us do! Here are a couple of suggestions if you haven't already made up your mind.

Model 642-2...small J-frame .38 Special, very accurate and dependable, easy to conceal. One of my EDCs, carry it in a pocket holster but would be fine in a Sneaky Pete.

Model 19...small K-frame .357/.38 Special, very accurate and dependable, quite easy to conceal in an OWB holster.

Model 627-5...N-frame .357/.38 Special, 8 rounds, very accurate and dependable. Not as concealable and a little heavy- I carry it in a crossdraw OWB holster, and use Crimson Trace laser stocks. I also use this as a console gun when traveling...lots of firepower!

Which speed loaders are you using? Looks like they are all aluminum. Appreciate any info you can provide. Thanks.

 

[John Patrick]

If you insist on a Sneaky Pete, then a J frame or a Colt's Cobra, Agent or Detective Special. I checked SP's website, the list holsters for the Colt's, which are all the same size, and the J frames.

I'd be fine with 38spl, but would look at S&W 32 options too, especially 32 magnum.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

A five shot J frame is your Huckleberry. Want to carry it a lot and not have to spend an hour on it every night or two cleaning and oiling? Go stainless. SURPRISE, it's a Model 60. Most EDC guns tend to be sorta rough and ready, the standard 2" Model 60 and you are there… but if you insist on adjustable sights, you'll need another inch of barrel (which is still readily concealable) and voila! You have a Model 60-4.

I wanted to "Like" this more than once so thought it worth repeating.

If you simply must have a 2" with adjustable sights you could consider the Model 60-1 made for Ashland Shooters Supply.

 

[Invictus357]

Easy answer.

Model 66 | Smith & Wesson

Carry 5 rounds of 38 wadcutter. Have the last chargehole chambered with a Speer 357 Gold Dot.