non-snubs for concealed carry?

[N3rday]

Okay, how hard is it to conceal a non-snub? I've been thinking about picking up a revolver, but for the life of me, I'd really feel undergunned with 5 shots of .38 spl out of a 2" barrel. Are there any revolvers out there with a barrel closer to 3", that hold 6 shots, but are still fairly easily concealable? It seems like there are lots of 4" and 2" barrels, but not too much in between.

[isp2605]

With IWB holsters the difference between a 2" and a 4" isn't an issue. It's not the barrel that you need to worry about concealing. It's the butt of the gun that rides under the shirt which prints.

[JERRY]

most folks who do this for serious self defense, carry a K frame 3" with a round butt, ala S&W model 65 l.s. if in cooler climate a 4" L frame isnt hard to conceal at all.

[Texshooter]

The GP100 in 3 inch is Da Bomb.

Gotta Gotta Get It.

[cslinger]

My 3inch GP100 does great but quite possibly the finest carry revolver I have ever found is my PC681. Seven shots, 3 inch barrel, small grips, awesome trigger, fixed sights it truely is a masterpiece.

http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/086060.JPG

http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/086061.JPG

http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/059008.JPG

[N3rday]

Cslinger- 7 shots? does the GP100 come in a 7 shot version? O_o

[Srigs]

A Smith K-frame in 3 inch would work great. I have a Model 15-4 with a 4 inch and I can carry it with no issue. I'm looking for a Model 10, 13 or 15 with a 2 inch barrel to use as a bug.

[bpisler]

I carry a 3" 65-3 under a loose fitting
shirt.With a good belt and holster it
hides very well.It's not hard but it
does take some thought to find the
right combo that works for you.

[BullfrogKen]

Many folks have said the Colt Detective Special was a small snub nose that handled like a medium frame.

The 6 shot .38 Special and 2" barrel were the most common, and I say were, as its not been produced by Colt for over a decade.

But, they were made for a few generations length of time this past century. There are plenty in circulation.

I love my Colt Cobra, which is nothing more than the alloy frame offering of the same. I'm getting worried, though, because my wife discovered it in the safe and started to comment about the same characteristics that endear it to me.

[HiWayMan]

I carry a S&W M21-4TRS in .44 special. That is a 4" N-frame. Carried OWB with a camp shirt overtop it can't be beat.

[WT]

I know 2 retired cops who carry 4" K-frames concealed. It is what they carried on duty for 20-30 years and they feel confortable in their abilities to conceal and use the weapon.

The S&W Model 65 in 3" is probably the best concealed carry revolver out there.

[LAH]

I carried a 4" M-29 for several years with no trouble. They are heavy, the ammo is large, but if you dress correctly & you really want to, they will be out of sight & out of mind..........Creeker

[Kevinch]

You mention concealed carry, but not the method.

Will this be IWB, OWB, SOB, shoulder, or crossdraw? Depending on how you want to carry, different barrel lengths & cylinder diameters can be accommodated.

[Marshall]

What's wrong with a 3" Model 60? It's 357 Mag and small enough to conceal being a J Frame. Granted it holds 5, not 6, but 1 more round isn't really that big a deal. Maybe you don't like adjustable sights on a carry gun?

If I had to go to a new K Frame, the 3" Lady Smith would be a good choice. The problem with CCW with older K Frames is the square butt, a round butt is much easier to conceal. I have a 4" Model 13 and it is not an easy gun to wear concealed. I love the gun though.

[Brian Williams]

I firmly believe in my S&W 3" 13-4, it has got to be a revolver lovers ultimate carry gun, barring the finding of a 3" S&W 19.

But I carry a S&W 642 more often.

[Kevinch]

What's wrong with a 3" Model 60? It's 357 Mag and small enough to conceal being a J Frame. Granted it holds 5, not 6, but 1 more round isn't really that big a deal. Maybe you don't like adjustable sights on a carry gun?

I don't know about N3rday, but the adjustable sights are the reason I would place the 3" M60 lower on the selection ladder.

Although I haven't seen them, my understanding is that there are non-adjustable rear sights to replace the standard S&W unit that comes on the gun. That might be an option if you found a used M60 at the right price, but then you still have that tall front sight to deal with.

The SP101 is a good option as long as we are talking holster carry - again, it has only 5 rounds - but IMO, any SP101 I've ever handled (mine included) is in desperate need of a good trigger job as the factory pull must be a ton. :barf:

[N3rday]

Thanks a bunch for the responses guys! I'm very new to the world of revolvers.

To clarify...I think I'd definitely prefer some better sights, not the ones I commonly see on snubs...or don't see, as the case may be!

[dfariswheel]

As above, it doesn't get much better than a S&W Model 65 with the heavy 3" barrel.
This is the gun the FBI carried for years.
Sights on these fixed sight S&W's are actually excellent, completely unlike the usual "snubby" sights.

Another nice choice a LOT of cops carried in the 70's and 80's is possibly the finest "snub" Magnum of all time: The S&W Model 66 Combat Magnum with the 2 1/2" barrel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/dfariswheel/SW2.jpg

If you're lucky enough to find one, over the years S&W made a few small runs of a S&W Model 66 Combat Magnum with a rare 3" barrel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/dfariswheel/SW3LeftSmall.jpg

While a little larger and heavier than most snubs, the S&W "K" frame revolvers with 2 1/2" or 3" barrels are quite possibly the finest CCW revolvers ever made.

[cslinger]

No 7 shot Rugers all in all I feel fine with 5 though.

[miko]

Recently I have been bought the S&W 686Plus 4-inch barrel 7-shot .357 Magnum.

I just stuck it in my belt on the right underneath my short. The barrel is not the issue where concealability is concerned. The grip did buldge my shirt somewhat but nobody seemed to notice I was packing. I went around my house for a few hours, had a dinner with guests and drove my car around.

I plan to replace the factory rubber grip with smaller/shorter one (Hogue Bantam) to make the bulge even less conspicious.


I was also lucky to just buy the S&W Model 66 in 3-inch barrel.

miko

[Matt King]

Go with the 3inch ruger GP100 .357. Thery not too expensive, and shoot wonderfully.:)