Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Here's a spin-off of the snubnose thread:
The 3" DA Revolver - The Compact, Combat Wheelgun
I've never considered the 3" barreled revolver to be a "snubnose" but it is decidedly not a full size 4" duty gun either. It really is a class all to itself.
For simplicity and to keep the category concise, I'm going limit the class to double action revolvers chambered in calibers over 32. To fit the category the barrels need to be over 2.5" but not longer than 3".
In this category we find the excellent 3", RB, S&W model 13 (maybe the only good idea the FBI ever had) and its stainless brother, the model 65.
We also have the old Ruger Speed-Six with its 2.75" barrel. I think Bill Ruger made the Speed-Six barrel as short as he could without needing to shorten the ejector rod. All Ruger DA Six's have the same length ejector rod. The Speed-Six was available in blued or stainless. There were a few Service-Six models (square butt) that were fitted with the 2 3/4" barrel, but not many.
There were a few S&W model 19's made with 3" barrels (2.5" was far more common).
Moving back to the Ruger line, there is the 3" GP-100. This is a tank of a gun but they shoot beautifully. Speaking of little tanks, the SP101 is often fitted with a 3" tube.
Moving down to the J-frame, there are countless models equipped with 3" barrels and although they don't fit in the snubnose category, they are fantastically useful guns.
Not every 3" DA revolver is chambered in 38/357, there are the Charter Arm Bulldogs in 44 Special and the new Ruger GP-100 in 44 Special (THANK YOU RUGER for finally producing that model).
The above list is far from complete but it's a start.
The 3" DA revolver has a LOT going for it. As a self-defense weapon it excels. The 3" barrel allows a full length ejector rod and a decent sight radius. It gives up very little velocity when compared to a 4" tube. The 3" tube is a little easier to carry and conceal. When set up on a medium frame it gives the user a full size grip.
As a field gun the 3" tube has almost the same sight radius as a 4" gun but a little less weight and bulk.
The last revolver the FBI issued was the S&W Model 13 with a round butt and 3" barrel. I'm not one to praise the FBI but that actually was a good idea.
As a combat weapon normally carried concealed, the 3" barreled, DA revolvers offers a lot of power in a controllable package.
I would like hear what others have to say on this topic.
The 3" DA Revolver - The Compact, Combat Wheelgun
I've never considered the 3" barreled revolver to be a "snubnose" but it is decidedly not a full size 4" duty gun either. It really is a class all to itself.
For simplicity and to keep the category concise, I'm going limit the class to double action revolvers chambered in calibers over 32. To fit the category the barrels need to be over 2.5" but not longer than 3".
In this category we find the excellent 3", RB, S&W model 13 (maybe the only good idea the FBI ever had) and its stainless brother, the model 65.
We also have the old Ruger Speed-Six with its 2.75" barrel. I think Bill Ruger made the Speed-Six barrel as short as he could without needing to shorten the ejector rod. All Ruger DA Six's have the same length ejector rod. The Speed-Six was available in blued or stainless. There were a few Service-Six models (square butt) that were fitted with the 2 3/4" barrel, but not many.
There were a few S&W model 19's made with 3" barrels (2.5" was far more common).
Moving back to the Ruger line, there is the 3" GP-100. This is a tank of a gun but they shoot beautifully. Speaking of little tanks, the SP101 is often fitted with a 3" tube.
Moving down to the J-frame, there are countless models equipped with 3" barrels and although they don't fit in the snubnose category, they are fantastically useful guns.
Not every 3" DA revolver is chambered in 38/357, there are the Charter Arm Bulldogs in 44 Special and the new Ruger GP-100 in 44 Special (THANK YOU RUGER for finally producing that model).
The above list is far from complete but it's a start.
The 3" DA revolver has a LOT going for it. As a self-defense weapon it excels. The 3" barrel allows a full length ejector rod and a decent sight radius. It gives up very little velocity when compared to a 4" tube. The 3" tube is a little easier to carry and conceal. When set up on a medium frame it gives the user a full size grip.
As a field gun the 3" tube has almost the same sight radius as a 4" gun but a little less weight and bulk.
The last revolver the FBI issued was the S&W Model 13 with a round butt and 3" barrel. I'm not one to praise the FBI but that actually was a good idea.
As a combat weapon normally carried concealed, the 3" barreled, DA revolvers offers a lot of power in a controllable package.
I would like hear what others have to say on this topic.
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