Why are 3" revolvers rare?

My 3" stainless factory DAO Ruger GP-100 in .357mag. It was repatriated from a Canadian Police Force and was like brand new when I got it. It was my first DAO and 3" gun. I love the trigger and the balance and it is scary accurate. It is one of my carry guns and I carry it IWB in a Tucker holster. I have both 2.5" and 4" revolvers and I much prefer this 3" barreled gun.

wcwhitey said:

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Both these models were made for the NYPD

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I'll add another NYCPD contract DAO 3" Ruger Speed Six 38spl from 1987-88. The USPS contract model was this same gun but DA/SA in 357 Magnum.

Seems like the SP101 3+ is a very popular revolver for carry. The bigger frame guns in 3" might not suit because of weight. Those with more belly than waist need suspenders to carry anything of significant weight. There the talk is mostly rationale for how a little semi is sufficient protection.

I only have three 3" guns now. A model 30-1 in 32 long, an I-Frame in 32 long and a rare model 36-6 in 38 special. S&W only made 615 of those guns. They have a matt finish like a model 28 with full lug barrel and adjustable sights. I call it my "Field Masterpiece".

I did have a 3" SP-101 I stupidly sold I would love to have back. Also an older Taurus model 94 blued with 3" barrel in 22lr. I was a total idiot for letting that gun go.

I am like the poster in post #22. I hate when someone cuts the spur off the hammer.

Can’t explain why but 3” barrel revolvers are appealing to me.

They do have appealing proportions.

My only 3". A colt cobra lw in .22. It's very light. The benefits are obvious for concealment. Thinking about getting one in .38.

I recently bought my first DA revolver. I had narrowed my choices to a 3" Kimber K6s, 3" King Cobra, or 2.75" Model 66. Went with the Colt.

If I hadn't already owned a 6.5" Blackhawk for a range toy, or never intended to carry it, I might have gone with a 4" 7-shot instead. As I planned to put it into my carry rotation, I wanted something smaller, but I've never been a fan of the snubbies. I have a smaller carry pistol for when this one is too large for easy concealment.

I love the size of this revolver. Zero regrets, though I do wish someone would make a better-fitting speedloader for it. The HKS K-frame and DS ones sorta fit, as long as you don't try to jam the rounds all the way in before releasing them. The Pachmayr is a little better, but not much. Safariland won't work at all.

As for the OP question, it seems like there are more 3" revolver models than there used to be, or maybe I just never looked for them until recently. Kimber and Colt covered that length fairly early with their new lines. But the tradition has been mostly 2" & 4", as mentioned upthread. Who would have thought the revolver market would be full of traditionalist?

I think it is the proportion of barrel length to grip length that just screams "balance"

A 4” gun gives you lighter recoil, longer sight radius for better practical accuracy, more velocity, and is plenty packable if you’re going to be open carrying all day in a duty context.

A 5” or 6” gun gives you more of the same but doesn’t work as well when sitting in a car or getting in and out.

A 2” or shorter barrel makes for better concealment and is the lightest weight, perfect for the chief or anyone whose gun is more of a badge of rank than a tool.

3” would be competing with 4” and although popular enough it’s not going to do anything dramatically better from a service point of view.

696 44SPL

60-4 38SPL
Both three-inch barrel.

I carried a 3" Chief (S&W 36) heavy barrel for years before we went to Glocks.

Thought it was the best compromise for concealment and accuracy. Still fit nicely in a holster designed for a 2" gun, and the small amount of extra weight wasn't noticeable.

Have to say though going to a Glock 26 was a big plus, 11 rounds of a more powerful round vs. 5, quicker reloads, and size wasn't that much different, but narrower.

Now long retired, wouldn't mind having another 3" Chief though.

As has been stated, 3" revolvers fill a certain niche; they seem to be a perfect balance between a "duty" gun and an "off duty" gun. The final NYPD-1 guns were 3" DAO S&W and Ruger .38 Specials in...gasp...stainless steel (NYPD had previously banned stainless guns for MOS carry). The thought was that with a 3" barrel the MOS could carry the same gun on and off duty - beware the person with one gun as they probably know how to run it! When I was a young copper my "off duty" gun was a 2 3/4" Ruger Speed Six. I liked carrying six rounds (because back then it was all you needed).

I've only recently begun to appreciate them.

The Rossi 720 is a long-time favorite. It should have clued me in that I like 3" barrels.

The Taurus 82 is basically a Model 10 clone with a coiled mainspring, originally marketed to smaller countries that couldn't afford S&W for military or LE issue. They are cheap and common. The 3" I happened to end up with had barely been shot. I "butchered" it regardless. I wanted an OWB hiking/walking revolver. A 3" barrel is good for that, IMHO. I wanted boot grips for a little more concealability. All of my carry pieces are DAO, so I ground off the hammer spur. Some prefer to carry a revolver with a hammer spur. That's cool. To each his own. I am naturally gifted at being able to snag anything onto almost anything else. The hammer spur might as well be a fish hook as far as someone like me is concerned.

I'll get a 3" S&W j-frame eventually. It's at the top of my list ATM.

rs525 said:

. . . is the coveted 3 inch length barrel.

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Because they're rare!

Dave T said:

I don't think manufacturers. . . give a (expletive deleted) about what the buyers want.

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I won't insult your intelligence by implying that you might believe what you just wrote, but it is possible that you missed just how humorously it is. Even the dumbest money-grubbing MBA (and that's pretty dumb) knows that success is found by filling demand, not ignoring it.

I submit that humans in general prefer to specialize and that gun companies in general prefer to make money.

As such, why make a 3" compromise gun when your customer base would rather buy both a 2" and a 4"?



-Stan

A 3" barrel is definitely easier to conceal , especially in an IWB holster, compared to a 4" revolver. Neither conceals as well as a 2" barrel. The positive is that for most, the 3" barrel will be more accurate compared to a 2" barrel. Own both and shoot the 3" better and prefer it on longer range sessions over my 2" revolvers. I prefer using IWB holsters so the 2" revolver gets carried way more than the 3" revolver.

Here is my modest family of Taurus revolvers. Top to bottom; 85 with ported 3" barrel, 856 and 942 with 2" barrels. Yes I prefer the Model 85 wood grips over the rubber grips.


.

I really want to get the 942 in a 3" version but they were not to be found when I bought it.

I like that 3" model 85.

I checked my notes, out of the 32 revolvers I've owned, 4 were 3" guns. There's a fair number of 2.5" and alot of 4" guns as well.

For L Frames and larger I prefer a 4" barrel and they'll get carried OWB

J Frames, I prefer about a 2" barrel. They'll go in the pocket or IWB.

A K Frame, with a 2&3/4"-3" barrel rides well either inside or outside the belt. They carry easily and shoot well.

Currently my carry revolver is a 3" 65-5

Rule3 said:

Rare? Because they don't make many

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Or because some socially irresponsible people hoard them?

I like the 3" because of the longer ejector rod, just enough to clear the empties from the cylinder.

My favorite 3" S&W 13-3 #Yost





Second Favorite 13-3 Nickel

WVsig said:

My favorite 3" S&W 13-3 #Yost

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Second Favorite 13-3 Nickel

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Nicely Done! Love the sights and finish! And you kept the hammer.

The US Customs service issued a S&W 686 with a 3" barrel. They were stamped CS-1 inside the crain. They were cheap when they surplused them out. I would love to find one now (at a reasonable price).

WB

I like 3" revolvers. I currently only have a S&W model 64 that I had a 3" barrel installed and my custom "Pinto" model 10-8. I had custom 3" Charter Arms 38's built at the factory but sold them. I've had two 3" Stratford Bulldog 44's, but I sold them. I sold the S&W 3" model 36. And I regretfully sold my Taurus model 431 .44spl. I have sold 2 others which aren't pictured- a 3" Rossi 38 and a Colt Police Positive which was rough which I had a 3" Detective Spl barrel installed.

For Show & Tell -- a couple of 3-inchers...

I snagged the S&W Model 65 (top) in pristine condition at a gun show some years ago (it came with the factory wood grips -- I added the Pachmayr).

The 60 Pro (bottom) now wears a CT-305 laser grip.

Actually, I also have an NAA 3" Earl mini-revolver... But I don't think we're talking the same animal anymore...