I've Got a "Thing" for Small, 3" Revolvers

[Jeff H]

....Take out one of the nicer ones and I end up wading through mud up to my ears and the gun gets filthier than I do. It's like a curse or something.

It's like a natural law or something.


@RicinYakima , those are beautiful revolvers!

I'd be putting "dummy cords" on either if they were mine. Even if nothing more than tying a string around the skinny part of the grip frame with a constrictor knot.

 

[Rally]

I getcha. The Bulldog or the Charter "Undercover" 22 I had here for a while are more like "shove it in the pocket of your barn coat and go" type guns. But if I lost one I'd spend the rest of my life trying to recover it!!!

Seems like every time I take one of my cheap, ratty guns out nothing ever happens to it. Take out one of the nicer ones and I end up wading through mud up to my ears and the gun gets filthier than I do. It's like a curse or something.

Easy to solve that Bret, quit taking them beaver trapping!! Lol
As an MP for six years, we were required to wear a lanyard. Most of the time mine stayed clipped to my right breast pocket. If asked why, I replied I just left the latrine! We were issued Cav holster, which I hated worse than the lanyards! If we bought our own, we could wear it as long as it was black. Still have my Bianchi 19L, and its contents turned to stainless steal.
My working guns get wet and dirty on my trap lines. If I go in the bog or through the ice they get stripped and cleaned. Most daily they get snow spray on them when riding my snowmobile, can’t tell you, honestly ,that they get cleaned every time.

 

[Jeff H]

Cutting firewood is when mine get the dirtiest/most "abused."

I've carried a "vintage" Target Bulldog" for years cutting firewood. USUALLY half protected under the hem of a coat, but still gets clobbered with sawdust, dirt, junk, snow, banged against the side of a vehicle, trailer or log...

125 PSI air-hose in the garage does the trick when I get home. RIG seems to hang on regardless of the environment and the junk and moisture blows off/out. Light rub-down on the outside and a single patch through the bore and each chamber and it's good to go. I kept that one looking like NEW for many years. Sort of inherited a sad-looking, but mechanically sound one and sold the nice one. Carrying the Mag Pug these days and I guess the stainless is better, but I never had a problem with rust on the CS models in this environment.

Carrying concealed in the South, regardless of whether I was involved in rough and dirty activities, I got rust - even on stainless.

Now, if I were carrying a really nice gun that cost me a bunch of money, it'd have scratches, dings, rust spots,... just like @Bret4207 says.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I purchased my Model 65 more than 30 years ago. It was actually affordable in those days. I could never bring myself to spend $1200 on one now.

The equal to the 3" model 65 is the stainless Speed-Six with the 2.75" barrel. Although Ruger did make some 3" models as well, most for the postal inspectors. The Speed-Six was always a better deal and they still tend to go for less that a decent 65.

 

[oscarflytyer]

Ric - I LOVE that 1909 - AND 32 WCF!!!

Bret - as JeffH mentioned (and beat me to it...) In the Army we called it a dummy cord. 550 cord. loop around the grip 'wrist' and tied to you and done...

 

[Jeff H]

The Speed Six with a 2 3/4" barrel... Would it have KILLED Ruger to add that extra half inch? I know it probably doesn't make a wit of difference, but it always bugged me. Not long ago, I bought a Service Six, stainless, 4". It was a police trade-in from Australia. There must be a law in Australia, which forbids carrying a handgun in a police vehicle - instead, you have to drag it along behind the vehicle on a rope!

That said, it still cleaned up nicely. Bore and chambers were bright and shiny and of good dimension. I replaced the hammer and cylinder stop and did some minor tweaking here and there, but nothing major. Timing was still good and it shot well. I think the most serious thing I had to do was peen the ears in the bottom of the frame that crane pivot rides against and do some filing on the cylinder release to get the nose to extend far enough for smooth opening. The ejector star wanted to rotate a part of a degree too much and could, on occasion, require a tap on the rod to get it to align to fully seat. Moved a little metal to close the flat side of the bore the ejector star shaft slides in and a touch with a file and back to new-like. There's a LOT of meat on these guns, so the fixes were easy and brought it up to speed nicely. The front sight literally flopped about in its mortise, so I made a new front sight and installed that.

My plan was to chop the barrel to an even, FULL three inches. I'm stubborn, I guess. Got tired of it and it weighed a fair bit, so I stuck with the Mag Pug and sold the 'Six. Marvelous guns they are though. My first was a 6" Security Six and I had many after, but never went for a 2 3/4". Probably should have.

 

[Bret4207]

Para cord was just what I was going to use!

Security- Sixes- Used to have a 2 3/4" 357. Only thing that I didn't like was the "tink-tink" noise that the transfer bar or whatever it was made at every step. I've mentioned this before and other guys say theirs never did it. Mine sure did. It was a great gun though. I'd hop on a 4 incher anytime!

 

[Bret4207]

Easy to solve that Bret, quit taking them beaver trapping!! Lol

That's EXACTLY how I lost it!!!

Beware guys! We have a mind reader onboard!!!!

 

[Jeff H]

Para cord was just what I was going to use!

Security- Sixes- Used to have a 2 3/4" 357. Only thing that I didn't like was the "tink-tink" noise that the transfer bar or whatever it was made at every step. I've mentioned this before and other guys say theirs never did it. Mine sure did. It was a great gun though. I'd hop on a 4 incher anytime!

I think your hearing is just better than everyone else's.

Short of a round going off, I'm not sure I'd hear it.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Yep, the transfer bar on the DA six's does sort of flop around but it can't go anywhere, so who cares.

Ruger did make 3" Speed-Six's but they were mostly special order. A bunch went to the postal inspectors. I shot a well used one and it was as slick as could be. It was well used but still tight. The action was smooth as glass from years of use.

The 2 3/4" barrel is close enough to 3" for me to lump it in with the 3" barrels.

 

[Thumbcocker]

I'm very partial to this one.

 

[Jeff H]

I popped the side plate off the Rossi this evening with the intention of measuring springs and "cleaning up" a bit in there.

It was clean, nicely machined, properly lubricated and simply rather impressive-looking! I was surprised, but pleased. I think I'll leave it be for now and maybe mess with springs at some point in the future - maybe. The DA/SA pull is heavier than the Mag Pug, but not terrible. I think I'll give it a chance as it came from the factory and see how things go. I did smear a little Lubriplate 130-A on a few things I prefer grease on before buttoning it back up.

Had the hammer out and I REALLY should have deburred that spur. I forgot. It's the ONLY thing on this whole gun which isn't burr-free, but it'll wait.

I loaded up fifty 180 WFNs over 5 grains of Unique to try out. I tired some I have been shooting in the Mag Pug and Service Six with 6 grains and they were a bit much for it. Noticed some resistance in extraction and the cases swelled a bit more than in the Charter, but the chambers measure very close to what the Charter is.

The cylinder being a mere .010" larger than that of the Charter, plus being six shots leaves less meat on the outside of the chambers and between chambers. The cylinder-top cuts are about .040" deep and leaves a pretty thin bit right there and I'm not keen on the idea of having to iron those back out if I happen bulge them. My stiffest 357 Mag revolver loads are more like extra-spicy 38 loads. If 5 grains stays sub-sonic in the 18" carbine, it will be a win-win anyway. 4.5 stays sub-sonic in the carbine and shoots well, but is a bit "weak" in the 3" revolver. I really need to get some time to set up the chronograph. I usually don't do that until I've wrung out the accuracy bit first.

Sights and grips DO need some attention, but I'm impressed that I'm as impressed with this little revolver so far. I'll have to make new holsters for it, but if it doesn't surprise me with some hideous thing I don't like, it's looking like a keeper. That's a tough one to meet for me.

 

[Jeff H]

I'm very partial to this one.

That's a little doll, right there!


@Petrol & Powder , I know you're right about 2 3/4" being close enough. I SHOULD have gotten one when I could get them for $150 to $200.

I remember after I got my 6" Security Six, I saw a 2 3/4" Speed Six in 9mm, under glass in a department/variety(?) store called "B&I" in Tacoma, Washington. Probably in 1982. I was smitten, but never made that leap. I was a GI and spent about three weeks' pay on the 6" just a few weeks previous.

I always sort of figured Ruger didn't make them 2" because they couldn't have fit their whole warning label on so short a barrel.

 

[Outpost75]

Yep, the transfer bar on the DA six's does sort of flop around but it can't go anywhere, so who cares.

Ruger did make 3" Speed-Six's but they were mostly special order. A bunch went to the postal inspectors. I shot a well used one and it was as slick as could be. It was well used but still tight. The action was smooth as glass from years of use.

The 2 3/4" barrel is close enough to 3" for me to lump it in with the 3" barrels.

Bunches of true 3-inchers went to US Customs, Border Patrol, US Navy Investigations, Army CID, State Dept. Security for Marine embassy guards.

About half were .38 Specials. Both blue and stainless were made. Some also for export.

RCMP bought a bunch of 5- inch .38 Specials.

 

[Jeff H]

I had planned on taking some measurements and reporting them, but by the time I get to that, we'll probably on on to other things.

As much as I love Ruger's version of the Charter, they're still a bit heavy for me for everyday use, so weight plays a pretty significant role in my decisions. I LIKE Rugers more, but Smiths and copies weigh less. Charters weigh even less, until we get into the weight-war which heated up with so many states finally recognizing and respecting 2A rights. This is a subjective thing, of course, and a few ounces won't mean as much to some as it does to me.

----TOO LIGHT FOR 357-----------------------------------
Ruger, 3" LCRX, 38 Special: UNDER 16 ounces
Taurus, 3" M85, 38 Special: 16.4 ounces

---JUST RIGHT FOR 357---------------------------------
Charter, 4" Target Bulldog, 44 Special: 22.2 ounces
Charter, 3" Mag Pug, 357 Mag: 22 ounces
Smith, 3" M60, 357 Mag: 23.2 ounces*
Taurus, 3" 605, 357 Mag: 23.7 ounces
Ruger, 3" SP101, 357 Mag: 27 ounces
Rossi, 3" RP63, 357 Mag (SIX-shot): 27 ounces
Colt, 3" King Cobra, 357 Mag (SIX-shot): 28 ounces*

---TOO HEAVY FOR 357 (FOR ME)----------------------
Rossi, 3" M720, 44 Special: 30.8 ounces
Ruger, 4" Service Six (SIX-shot): 33.6 ounces
Ruger, 5.5" Flat Top 44 Special: 37 ounces (for general reference)

RED text: *never owned one, but thought about it
BOLD text: what I am carrying/using at the moment
All Else: stuff I own/have owned and liked

These are the only 3" guns I ever thought to actually weigh, but I've liked them all. The Taurus 605 was a SWEET little 5-shot, 3" 357, but the trigger pulls were horrendous. The 38s, well, the Taurus I did NOT like and the Ruger is my wife's. The LCRX is every bit as BIG as many guns weighing much more. It's nice, but not for me.

Everything between the ----- lines is within the parameters I have settled in with over many decades for an all-'round, general-use carry-gun. I LOVE the 44 Special, but reserve that for the single-action and fun/hunting. Large primers are RARE these days and I conserve them by only shooting the 44 Special for fun.

The 357 Mag, as much as I've hated it for so many years, is so versatile and useful in a carbine that I've gravitated to it for my current carry-revolver as well. It finally dawned on me that I don't HAVE to load it like it was originally loaded, and with heavier bullets, I can scale back the velocity a lot and still have an effective round for most purposes.

 

[Outpost75]

If the choice is between slightly modifying the gun versus LOSING the gun; that’s pretty easy choice.

I just did a quick survey of a few of my handguns and found that a lot of them have lanyard loops. Some incorporated as part of the original design and some that were additions, albeit often factory options.

If I’m never going to sell the gun, then the addition of a lanyard loop is a non-issue. If I lose the gun and cannot sell it because I don’t have it, then maybe a lanyard loop would have been an acceptable modification.

Lanyard rings were indicated for "mounted" use, either horse, open cockpit biplane or motorcycle, small boat crews, gate guards, military police, and for night operations in No-Man's Land. Source Tracey, 1914.

 

[Jeff H]

Bunches of true 3-inchers went to US Customs, Border Patrol, US Navy Investigations, Army CID, State Dept. Security for Marine embassy guards.

About half were .38 Specials. Both blue and stainless were made. Some also for export.

RCMP bought a bunch of 5- inch .38 Specials.

Still, you sure don't see them popping up for sale very often.

Such a shame!

I like 3" revolvers and FIVE-INCH revolvers!

I don't think it's because I know better than everyone else - it's got to be my hillbilly DNA that makes me stubborn, obstinate, "difficult" and makes me run counter to the crowd on things. But, DANG, they seem to "point" so well and handle so well...

Ed, I always appreciate the history you share. That you (and some others) hang out here and bother to contribute such useful information is a gift to the rest of us. I truly appreciate that.

 

[david s]

I've only two 3-inch revolvers neither of them is what I would call small. The K frame model 65 in 357 and the L framed 696 in 44 Special. Both get carried in holsters as my pockets aren't that big. With the 3-inch barrel medium framed pistols and the 3 1/2-inch N frame model 27 there is a bit of Goldilocks and the three bears to them in that they just seem just right.

 

[david s]

Bret4207, Hamilton Bowen Classics use to make a lanyard screw that replaced the mounting screw on Houge one-piece grips. The only one I can recall actually seeing was for the rubber grips if I recall correctly. It didn't require any permeant modification to the revolver, and I remember it looking like a neat idea when the fellow was showing off his pistol, but I never actually went any further with it.

 

[Jeff H]

I've been thinking about the no-mod lanyard thing...

Find an extra set of grips like the ones you shoot well with and put the pretty ones away.

From the bottom of the grips, rout, drill, carve a semi-circular channel on the bottom/inside of each panel, centered and extending past the web of the bottom of the grip frame. Extend it into the first cavity/void in the grip frame. Loop a piece of 550 cord around the bottom web of the grip frame and tie a fisherman's knot it it under the butt. Lay each panel onto the grip frame with the 550 cord lying in the groove cut into the inside of the grips and screw them on.

I could easily bear to drill/tap holes in my guns, but I'm thinking this is the way to go. No extra parts, no extra noise, no rust. It won't be a "QD" affair, but it would be simple and silent with no new protuberance to annoy you.