Model 14 Smith vs 15

2” of barrel isn’t going to do a whole lot for sighting. Yes it’s better, but how much better is highly debatable. There are a lot of options for things you could do on your m15 to improve sight picture that would likely be as helpful or more helpful than a longer barrel.

Walkalong said:

In general, sure, a longer sight radius is a little easier to shoot well. I had a 4" M-15 and foolishly sold it. I have a 6" 14-3 and love it. (Nearly 63 year old eyes)

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I agree.

I have a 4” model 15 and a 6” model 14. Not only does the longer sight radius help, but the 14 balances a bit more forward which helps stabilize the sights, in my hands at least. Both are a joy to shoot. Grip design makes a big difference too, especially with arthritic fingers like mine. I have no experience with Herrets. But the S&W “target” grips help. I found a set of Fitz wooden target grips and presently have them on my 14; it feels like the gun is holding my hand rather than the other way around!

My 15-3, bought when the great police revolver sell off happened.
It’s a great shooter.

Steve Milbocker said:

That’s a beautiful revolver! West Kentucky what would you suggest? Keep em coming gentlemen

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My personal preference is actually from one of those 4 letter word companies... I had a Taurus 689 with a white line U on the rear and the bright orange insert in the front blade. It worked incredibly well. You want colors to vary so that you can easily distinguish one from another and that white box around the notch in the rear sight was incredibly easy to use. I sold that gun years ago and have regretted it ever since. I have seen similar setups on various guns. I am certain a similar sight is made for the S&W guns

I’ve always preferred shooting my 6” barreled K frames over my 4” K frames mostly due to the difference in balance. It is a personal preference.

But, the 4” guns get there work out as well.

Since I had cataract surgery, I need to wear readers to see to see the sights for more precision shooting. Except for a slight improvement in precision with the longer sight radius, I really don’t find in advantage between the two barrel lengths.

Steve Milbocker said:

Hello gentlemen long time lurker finally joined this great forum today. I dabbled in revolvers back in my youth and sold all of them when I started my family. Now 30 some years later I’m at a point where I can afford to buy a few revolvers again. I’m fairly fond of the 38 Special for punching paper and recently picked up a Model 15-4 nickel with Herrett grips. It’s a wonderfully balanced revolver but I have been wondering how much I’d gain by possibly acquiring a model 14 with a 6” barrel. Would that help these 64 year old eyes a bit? I’ll thank you all in advance for your advice.

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The 14 and the 15 are basically the same revolver, configured for different uses. Before S&W went to model numbers, the 15 was the Combat Masterpiece and the 14 was the Target Masterpiece. The 14 differs by *usually* having an easier to see upright front sight instead of the easier to draw from a holster angled front sight of the 15. The 14 also *usually* comes with the wider Target Trigger and Target Hammer. 14s also have a trigger overtravel stop.

I have never understood why 4" 14s were made. The advantage of a longer sight radius is small, but real, and there are no small advantages in serious target competition. A 4" barrel is a lot easier to carry in a holster, but if you want a revolver to carry in a holster, get a 15.

My 6" is a pure joy to shoot. My eyesight has started giving me a fit over the last few years. The longer barrel will have a little more light around the front blade and that may help.



Plus it's always nice to have options.

For some people, balancing a 4" inch barrel for target use is easier than a 6". However some barrels are so well balanced, there's hardly a difference.
The target grips of revolvers back then were incredible in my opinion. They were perfect for balancing and maintaining a good grip.

Similar to Walkalong, I have a pre-15 4" Combat Masterpiece (mfg 1955) and a 6" Model 14-2 (mfg 1965). Although I love the 4", I shoot the 6" Model 14 quite a bit better. I am more consistent with it and with nice soft-shooting wadcutters (if you can find them to load these days!), you barely know you shot the revolver. Very pleasant. And my eyes are a year older than yours.

A 6" 14 is nearly a perfect target gun love mine. I don't have a 15 but do have a sweet 2 1/2" 19 that was somebody's ringer snub PPC gun it's trigger is glass rod crisp.

Walkalong said:

I have kept my eye out for a 4" 14-5 for nearly a decade now, with no luck.

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Generally over the life of K-frame 38 Special revolvers, S&W made the Model 14 with 6" and 8-3/8" barrels and the Model 15 with 2" and 4" barrels.

There were some special runs of Model 14's with 4" barrels and towards the end of the production life of the Model 14 and Model 15 K-frame guns in the late 1980's and early 1990's, the Model 14's were discontinued and replaced with Model 15's versions.

So, finding a 38 Special K-frame S&W 38 Special revolver that is different than the "standard" offerings is like finding a Model 16-1 through Model 16-3 K-frame in 32 S&WL.

I wish you luck in completing your quest for a 4" Model 14 and more successful than my quest for a 32 S&WL Model 16.

This is one of my 15-4s (I labeled the pic 15-3, but it's a -4). Personally, I find I prefer the 4" barreled .38s; I have a 5" Model 10 that's great, but the 4-inchers are my personal sweet spot and the longer sight radius of a 6" barrel has never made that much of a difference to me (not being a bullseye shooter, mostly recreational).

In theory Smith & Wesson devoted extra fitting to the model 14 as it was a target revolver and had to compete with the Colt Officers models.

So a 14 may be more accurate than a 15.