38+p / 357 Mid-size All-Rounder

[Jackal1]

Your thoughts are appreciated and bonus points for inputs from grandpa's LoL

If a person has a S&W J-frame airweight centennial hammerless 2" 38+P covering pocket duty, and an N-frame 4" 44 covering home defense-to-range-to-hunting... which new production preferably stainless S&W fills in the gap for hip IWB CCW (non-pocket carry), hiking, and can also reasonably cover home defense and be reasonably fun at the range? Will mostly use 38+p but I desire tolerable felt recoil with 357. Also, seeking something which in 20yrs will be reasonably heirloom-ish for passing down, and I guess simplistically I'm looking at something like:

• J60 2" with boot grips - Beautiful, but doesn't seem to fill much different of a role than the J-airweight. 357 recoil is uncomfortable. Perhaps the right answer though because it is a convenient small size, and a classic and would be great to pass down.
• K66-8 2.75" with boot grips - Seems to be the right practical answer, but has the ugly/fat 2-piece barrel... is this look gaining acceptance or is it doomed to always be considered ugly? I would hate to try and hand down granpap's 357 and kids think of it as 'the ugly S&W'
  
• L686 3" with boot grips - Seems larger than ideal, seems to be encroaching on the N-frame size, but only slightly heavier than the K66-8 2.75" so maybe put up with the larger cylinder diameter in favor of its classic design... its size seems perhaps the least practical of the options, but is a classic and would be comfy at the range and be great to pass down.

 

[ECVMatt]

My first choice would be this:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/k-frame-12039

It's not stainless but should be fine in the woods.

But this:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-60-3-

Or this:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/performance-center-pro-series-model-60

Might be worth considering.

 

[WisBorn]

The 686 is a great revolver. If you said steady diet fo 357 loads and OWB carry It would be my choice.

The 60 is a nice carry choice, but doesn't offer a lot of advantages over your current pocket carry in the range fun department.

That leaves the 66. The K frame is a 38 special range fun IWB carry option that can shoot 357mags. I am with @ECVMatt the 19 carry comp is a good choice, just not stainless.

 

[nick22]

I have the 66-8 and agree about the ugly 2 piece barrel. I had some issues with it out of the gate with light strikes on double action. I have an inside connection with a retired gunsmith and now it shoots wonderfully it's my carry revolver. If you want heirloom beauty an older 66-2 or -3 would fill the role you're looking for and be beautiful as well. I have the 66-8 to sweat on and a -3 to shoot on occasion and admire at least every other time the safe door is open.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Id go 686. L-frames carry a lot easier than their stats would suggest, especially the snubbies.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

686

 

[Starter52]

K-frame.

 

[e rex]

I have a 4" 686-4. It is a wonderful revolver but it is heavy. For mostly .38 Specials with a few .357s I choose a model 19.

 

[Tallball]

K frame

 

[Armored farmer]

Kframe 66

 

[Riomouse911]

For what you want, I will join the chorus and agree that the K frame is the better option.

If you want to go full stainless with an heirloom possibility, there are lots of nice, older Models 65 (fixed sight, easier ccw with less snagging) and 66 revolvers out there. Most will be 4”, which were super common, so ccw may be a bit trickier but shooting them well is easier with the longer sighting plane. The only downside is the 2.5” barreled 66’es, like the one @Armored farmer owns, are pretty pricy now.

Most older K frames were shot primarily with .38 ammo back in their day, so they will still have decades of service life left for you and your heirs to enjoy.

Good luck with your search.

Stay safe.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I went with a 3" J-frame with adjustable sights as my primary CCW & nightstand gun, so it's already a bit closer to your midsize quest.



I'd look for a 4" K-frame with an adjustable rear sight. I had a 686 and while I liked it greatly the L-frame is a bit heavier.

If the standard S&W rear seems too fragile for you purposes, Bowen's Rough Country sight might be worth looking into.

https://parts.bowenclassicarms.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3

 

[Sistema1927]

I love S&W, but I think that based upon your post, you couldn't do better than this for an IWB CCW revolver.

Kimber K6S DAO 3". Excellent sights, six shots, no snag, decent trigger, great ergos.

 

[chicharrones]

• K66-8 2.75" with boot grips - Seems to be the right practical answer, but has the ugly/fat 2-piece barrel... is this look gaining acceptance or is it doomed to always be considered ugly? I would hate to try and hand down granpap's 357 and kids think of it as 'the ugly S&W'

For an all purpose utility gun, the current 66 would be my choice. I have a 66-2 2.5" but it's on the edge of collectible status in comparison to a new 2.75" barreled 66.

Edit:

L686 3" with boot grips - Seems larger than ideal, seems to be encroaching on the N-frame size, but only slightly heavier than the K66-8 2.75" so maybe put up with the larger cylinder diameter in favor of its classic design... its size seems perhaps the least practical of the options, but is a classic and would be comfy at the range and be great to pass down.

This would be my choice if it won't spend a lot of time in a holster and if I had someone worth giving it to in 20 years.

 

[shoebox1.1]

686 2.5 inch 7 shot

 

[Jackal1]

So I am hearing a large consensus on L686 or K66 and maybe the 19 carry comp is an idea, the finish does seem to be fairly rugged compared to the normal 'blued'. I had also hoped Colt might introduce a 3" New Diamondback but I don't see them doing that. Their King Cobra seems to cover that space but without the panache of the Diamondback (just my opinion).

 

[buck460XVR]

To be “reasonably fun at the range “ with legitimate.357 loads, your best option from your list, is a 686. As for “heirloom “ to pass down in 20 years, the 686 will fill that niche nicely too. If you know who will inherit it, my suggestion is to buy new and register it with S&W in their name. That way, they will never have to pay for a repair during their lifetime.

 

[beag_nut]

SP101.

 

[bangswitch]

Your thoughts are appreciated and bonus points for inputs from grandpa's
Also, seeking something which in 20yrs will be reasonably heirloom-ish for passing down....

Personally, I don't think any of the S&W's made since MIM parts and 2-piece barrels came along will become heirlooms. S&W has taken all the art out of making a fine firearm and now produces tools that fire bullets. They may do it well, but they aren't like the guns from the mid-1980's and earlier. You want an heirloom, buy one of those, and they are still fine weapons to use on a daily basis.

How many points do I get?

 

[shoebox1.1]

20

 

[defjon]

Finding exactly what you're after is still hard, has been for the past 3 years. Maybe a bit better now.

I think the 686 would be the easiest to wrangle and a 2.5 or 3 inch (even 4) would do what you're asking.

I like the 2.5 inch plus myself. You aren't giving up but maybe 100 fps and it sure packs well. I use a wrangler ccw belt, it's pretty stiff, and a Turkish made leather holster that was around 30 bucks. Excellent fall/winter hiking carry!

 

[NeroM]

Echo the Kimber suggestion........

 

[JCooperfan1911]

LCRx with 3” barrel.

Once you shoot it and realize how lightweight and easy to carry it is, you’ll forget all about its ugliness.

 

[cfullgraf]

A K-frame shooting 38’Special +P. If you reload, load them in magnum cases.

The L-frame gets heavy with its full under lug barrel.

I load a light 357 Mag load (heavy 38 Special +P) in 357 Mag cases. 158 grain SWC bullets at about 1000 fps or so from a 4” barrel. Nice load in my K-frame and L-frame revolvers but also quite acceptable in my 3” Model 60 J-frame revolver.

But it depends on your tolerance to recoil.

 

[Blue Brick]

If I was in the market....

I would get a 4 inch Mag Pug. It weighs in at 23 ounces but its a 5 shot. They make a 6 inch barrel that I think is a fantastic back up hunting / backpacker / trapper gun.