Relative Revolver Frame Sizes: Question

[Matt G]

A little discussion is ongoing between some of us Mods/Members, about frame sizes. Fellow Staph [sic] Member LawDog is at my house tonight, and brought by his new acquistion, a Ruger GP100 4". I was commenting to another Moderator on the phone about how suprising it was to me that it felt relatively petite. (Okay, my hands are sort of large, but I like compact, efficiently-wrought firearms.) I recall the original ad campaign for the GP100 in the '80s, when they were touting the extreme strength of the gun. (They were marketing it as a value in a duty gun, and somehow it seems to have gotten the stigma as a "cheap" gun to some. Strange concept, when you handle one and see how well it's made. But that's another thread. ["Why are Ruger service type revolvers so underrated"])

ANYway, I remarked to a fellow moderator how much smaller the GP100 was than I expected it to be, based on its reputation, and my fellow Staff member said, "Well, maybe it's smaller than you remember, but it's still the same size as a Python, or maybe larger. Just shy of N frame, really." I told him I didn't think so. As I happen to HAVE a Python-sized frame revolver (Colt Officer Model Special HB, .38 Spl 6"), I of course took pictures. (Sorry-- no K, L, or N frames to compare to.)

So how do the popular revolver makers' frame sizes compare? J, D, K, L, Python, N, Ummmm?

He'p me!

 

[dfariswheel]

As near as I can come to a comparison:

The S&W "J" frame (The Chief's Special, etc). There is no Colt Or Ruger comparable frame. The Model 36 type is smaller.

The S&W "K" frame (The Model 19/66) The Colt "D" frames like the Detective Special and Diamondback, and the Ruger SP-101.

The S&W "L" frame (The 686) The Colt "E&I" frames like the Official Police and Python, and the Ruger GP.

The S&W "N" frame (The Model 29) No Colt or Ruger comparable frame, unless you count the old Colt New Service.

The Colt Anaconda and the Ruger Redhawk, no comparable S&W, unless it's the new S&W .500, which I haven't seen.

That's my take on sizes.

 

[P95Carry]

Matt .. my son has a GP-100 .... I agree it is a great gun, well engineered and tough as nails. I personally class it as (in S&W parlance) an L frame equivalent ..... not really ''small'' at all.

It does not IMO get close to N frame ... that would go to the Redhawk series ... being much larger.

I like J for carry useage but otherwise regard them as too ''flimsy'' .... preferring anyways something that is tougher. I also tho admiring the K frames for looks and feel ..... do not give them much consideration due to still being lower on strength . certainly re mag loads and useage.

Once we reach L frame .. instance 686 .... then we start to see some strength - robustness even. But compare the cylinder on a 686 with say . an M27 .. plus the frame overall scale .. ''N'' is certainly one noticeable jump up in size.

''N'' is my fave and always will be - but then I adore large revo's ... part of my ''hand cannon'' neurosis!

Oh . Colt . near forgot .... well only Colt I had was MkIII Trooper in 22 . same size as the .38 IIRC . that to me was bout l frame scale. Python ... that too (guessing a bit) I'd rate as L mainly .. IIRC it is ''sub N'' in scale.

 

[Matt G]

And a rear view:

 

[dfariswheel]

I forgot the Colt Trooper Mark III-Mark V and the King Cobra.
Sort of a "L" frame-Plus.

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmm matt .. lookin at those cyl's ....... maybe that Colt is pretty much nudging N frame after all!

I am not ''Colt literate'' ... never got on with the ''backwards'' cyl release!

 

[BluesBear]

The Python was built on what Colt used to call their 41 frame.

The S&W 29, Ruger Redhawk, Colt Anaconda and Dan Wesson all use the same speedloader.

 

[Jim March]

The Rugers such as the GP100 have four advantages unrelated to size:

* Metallurgy...

* No side plates to blow out (grip frame and action slides up into a "fork" at the rear of the primary frame, in a fashion borrowed loosely from the Colt SAA by way of the Blackhawk design).

* Positive lockup at both fore and aft of the cylinder.

* Cylinder notches offset from the bores (no weak spots to blow out).

The GP100 is probably as strong as an N-Frame S&W 357.

Also, note that in these pics, the GP100 is wearing the smaller sized factory grip. A larger one much closer to the Python's size comes standard with adjustable-sight GP100s, but both types are interchangable on any GP100.

 

[WheelMan]

When I had a GP I had a tight fitting leather holster that I carried it around in, The holster was for a 686, but the GP fit just fine, must be very similar to L-frame size (that's right isn't it? I mix up my smith frame sizes sometimes)

 

[Jim March]

Yes, the GP100 is closest to the S&W Ls in size...closer to the N in strength (although that's in 357, in 44 there's not enough cylinder metal).

 

[Johnny Guest]

Quite inturstin' - - -

While researching the below information, I note that Colt calls their MK-III action revolvers "L" frames as well. They got the jump on S&W with this descriptor by over a decade, I believe.

Anyhow - - - -

Dimensions of assorted revolvers

The following has to do with actual measurements of certain revolvers. The only two dimensions considered are: Cylinder diameter, measured immediately forward of the locking notches, and top strap of frame, measured side-to-side, at approximately same point as cylinder width.
------------------------------Cylinder------------------ Frame------Type

S&W M34-1.22 LR-------------1.306---------------------.532--------J

S&W M37---------------------1.307---------------------.532--------J

Colt Agent, 1962--------------1.40----------------------.560--------D

S&W M&P, ca. 1948-----------1.442--------------------.657--------K

S&W M10-6-------------------1.442--------------------.651--------K

S&W M19-4--------------------1.443--------------------.660--------K

Colt Ofcl. Police, 1968-----------1.548--------------------.679------".41"

Colt ".357" 1956---------------1.550--------------------.679------".41"

S&W 1917---------------------1.708---------------------.652--------N

S&W pre-M27, ca 1953---------1.700---------------------.653--------N

Colt New Svc .44, 1918---------1.695---------------------.724--------NS

I'd be interested in supplementary information of this type on other revolvers, especially regarding the Ruger D.A.s, the S&W I and L-frames, Colt MK-III and Anaconda types. Oh, and the Taurus and Dan Wessons, and yes, Tamara, the Mateba.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Majic]

The Colt MkIII's are J-frames, not "L".

 

[jar]

Don't know if this will help but here are four samples, S&W M-19, Colt DS, Colt Army Special and the S&W M-28.

In my experience, the DW small frame (or earlier 15-2) are about the same as the Smith N frames (and within a couple ounces of the same weight) while their large frame and supermag are even bigger than just about anything out there.