Barrel to frame ratio.

[makarov1989]

What is the ideal bbl to frame ratio in your view? I am talking mostly about S&W revolvers.

Here's mine:
J-frame, 1 7/8"-2"
K-frame, 4" but my 6" M-19 is nice and so is the 6" K-38 and K-22.
L-frame, 4"
N-frame, 5" Why this length wasn't more popular is a mystery to me.

These lengths seem to balance the best in the frames of diferent S&Ws. There are exceptions but it wouldn't seem right to have a 8 3/8" j-frame or a 1 7/8" N-frame to me.

 

[BigG]

When revos were carried by uniformed police officers, anything more than 4" would be hard to wear getting in and out of cars, etc. Not having to carry a revo on a uniform rig, my pleasure is 6 1/2" in the big N-frame maggies. Nominal 2" on the snubbies, whatever on the L-frame as I don't plan on having one. The K-frame works well with 4 or 6" for me, but the two I like most are J and N.

 

[PJR]

To my eye, frame to barrrel ratio varies whether the sights are fixed or not.

The 2" K-frame with fixed looks too short but a 3" fixed barrel works.

The 4" K-frame with fixed sights is right but the 2-1/2" (Model 19/66) is acceptable but the 2" Model 15 always looked odd.

Fully agree on the N Frame. The 4" always looked too stocky while the 5" is magnificent.

J frames with 3" barrels and fixed sights are very appealing but a 4" fixed (Model 34-1) looks unbalanced particularly with factory round butt grips. And yet the 2" with fixed sights looks not as appealing as the fixed sights.

It's all subjective and YMMV.

Paul

 

[C.R.Sam]

I like 4" in I, J, K, L, and N frames.
Except for target pieces.
And others.

I seem to be breeding 2.5" Model 19s.

Guess I don't care.

Sam

 

[sm]

Hey Sam,
If your needing to get rid one of the litter...

I like old smith wheelies
4" all around favorite.
Special place tho' for 3" J, K frames

but if someone needs to thin the breeding of model 19's in 2.5 "....heck, I'll even take a healthy one that is ugly

 

[Tamara]

2" J, 3" K, 4" L, 4" or 5" N.

 

[C.R.Sam]

I think it is kinda cute to lay a 4.25" 1903 I frame next to a 6" 19.
One looks like a scale model of the other.

Sam

 

[9mmepiphany]

2" J-frame
3" (especially heavy barrel) K-frame
4" L-frame (although i bet a 5" would look cool)
5" N-frame...but i due have a special place in my heart for my blued 8.375" m-27.