Big Bill, excellent revolver; I'd have bought it if I had the chance.
They're not as easy to conceal as a Charter, but as has been mentioned, handguns are compromises.
One of the best hideout guns I have is a modified S&W M10. It started as a basic skinny barrel gun. The modifications are shortening the barrel down to just in front of the extractor rod lug (front sight remounted), removing the hammer spur and round buttting the frame. It fits in the front pocket of a pair of regular blue jeans.
Boss Hogg said:
Refresh me on how the barrels are measured.
Shadan7 said:
BossHogg, revolvers are measured from the forcing cone forward, semi-autos measured from the back of the receiver.
If I may (and it doesn't look like anyone can stop me)
Holstermakers measure revolver barrel length from the muzzle to the rear of the barrel, front face of the cylinder; autos are measured from the muzzle to the face of the breech supporting the rear of the cartridge. (Which is probably exactly what Shadan meant.)
Ballisticians measure barrel length from the base of the bullet in a loaded round to the muzzle. So a 'three inch' revolver has a longer ballistic effective barrel length than a 'three inch' autopistol. In fact, a 'three inch' autopistol effective length is three inches
minus the length from the breech face to the base of the bullet. A 'three inch' revolver has an effective ballistic barrel length of three inches
plus the distance from the front of the cylinder to the base of the bullet.
Someone is going to bring up the cylinder-barrel gap. Sounds like a problem for Ballistics by the Inch (BBTI). But remember to factor in the actual effective barrel length.
As a final note (for those who are still awake) about velocities; looking at the
most excellent information published by the heroic and dedicated staff at BBTI, one notes in all instances for the .38 Special or 9x19 velocity data
the load that registers highest velocity in the longest barrel also registers the highest velocity in the shortest barrel. So the idea of 'special loads' for short or long barrels is a pretty ephemeral concept.