The 3" DA Revolver

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Here's a spin-off of the snubnose thread:

The 3" DA Revolver - The Compact, Combat Wheelgun

I've never considered the 3" barreled revolver to be a "snubnose" but it is decidedly not a full size 4" duty gun either. It really is a class all to itself.

For simplicity and to keep the category concise, I'm going limit the class to double action revolvers chambered in calibers over 32. To fit the category the barrels need to be over 2.5" but not longer than 3".

In this category we find the excellent 3", RB, S&W model 13 (maybe the only good idea the FBI ever had) and its stainless brother, the model 65.
We also have the old Ruger Speed-Six with its 2.75" barrel. I think Bill Ruger made the Speed-Six barrel as short as he could without needing to shorten the ejector rod. All Ruger DA Six's have the same length ejector rod. The Speed-Six was available in blued or stainless. There were a few Service-Six models (square butt) that were fitted with the 2 3/4" barrel, but not many.
There were a few S&W model 19's made with 3" barrels (2.5" was far more common).
Moving back to the Ruger line, there is the 3" GP-100. This is a tank of a gun but they shoot beautifully. Speaking of little tanks, the SP101 is often fitted with a 3" tube.
Moving down to the J-frame, there are countless models equipped with 3" barrels and although they don't fit in the snubnose category, they are fantastically useful guns.

Not every 3" DA revolver is chambered in 38/357, there are the Charter Arm Bulldogs in 44 Special and the new Ruger GP-100 in 44 Special (THANK YOU RUGER for finally producing that model).

The above list is far from complete but it's a start.

The 3" DA revolver has a LOT going for it. As a self-defense weapon it excels. The 3" barrel allows a full length ejector rod and a decent sight radius. It gives up very little velocity when compared to a 4" tube. The 3" tube is a little easier to carry and conceal. When set up on a medium frame it gives the user a full size grip.
As a field gun the 3" tube has almost the same sight radius as a 4" gun but a little less weight and bulk.

The last revolver the FBI issued was the S&W Model 13 with a round butt and 3" barrel. I'm not one to praise the FBI but that actually was a good idea.
As a combat weapon normally carried concealed, the 3" barreled, DA revolvers offers a lot of power in a controllable package.

I would like hear what others have to say on this topic.
 
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Missionary

Well-Known Member
The Model 13 is a fine revolver to haul around. We have one down here and is the revolver in my Avatar with the home made Hip-Grip.
Shoulder holster if I am going to do a lot of ground pounding. But the Hip-grip works fine on a two wheeler or a couple hour walk around.
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
I have the Ruger LCRx-3 in 38sp. +P and they make it in 357 as well. I like it, very light, very accurate, decent trigger and adjustable sights.....I like the adjustable sites because I play with different loads, wadcutters, hot wadcutters, 125 Lee RF and 130 gr. Winchester Ranger HP's. The last two shoot to the same point of impact, but the wadcutters do not.
I have the snubby LCR grips on mine by choice for a less obtrusive carry. The little pistol is ugly as snot but I like it just the same.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Two and a half inches, is plenty long for me in a DA carry piece. Anything longer requires a belt holster and I prefer pocket carry in a Mika holster. Also, the choices are almost none existent in lightweight hammer less designs. IMO, a hammer has no use on a true short range DA revolver.
 

S Mac

Sept. 10, 2021 Steve left us. You are missed.
One good reason for a hammer, something has caused my right hand, especially the thumb and index finger to lose the strength I used to have. Cannot shoot double action without using both hands to work the trigger. :headbang:
 

Hawk

North Central Texas
I've got a Smith & Wesson model 60 and a Colt Detective Special.
Both are fine carry guns, but the cylinder makes them a little bulky in my front pocket.
When it comes to that, I'm usually carrying and Ruger LCP in small nylon pocket holster.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
One good reason for a hammer, something has caused my right hand, especially the thumb and index finger to lose the strength I used to have. Cannot shoot double action without using both hands to work the trigger. :headbang:

Time to make an appointment with a hand specialist. IIRC, you work as a mechanic. I would think hand strength is a must. I'm calling today to make an appointment with my bone surgeon. I can not straighten out two fingers on my right hand. It's referred to as DUPUYTREN'S CONTRACTURE...............only good thing is that I'm a lefty but sadly it's also beginning to start there. :sigh:
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Two and a half inches, is plenty long for me in a DA carry piece. Anything longer requires a belt holster and I prefer pocket carry in a Mika holster. Also, the choices are almost none existent in lightweight hammer less designs. IMO, a hammer has no use on a true short range DA revolver.
Winelover, we may be long lost brothers. I cannot tolerate a hammer on a snubnose. However, when we get to 3" barrels and longer, the presence of a hammer spur doesn't bother me.

Outpost75 - you may be causing a shortage of 3" Colts all by yourself !
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
I like them also for all the reasons stated.
 

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Dale53

Active Member
The only 3" J-frame that I have is my 60-4. .38 Special with target sights!



Amazingly shootable and compact piece. From the time I first took this little gem to the range, I could hardly believe how well I could shoot this baby!
I can actually shoot it better than I can my 631 (4" barreled .32 H&R Mag J-frame). Both have superb actions but the double underlugged barrel of the 60-4 seems to hold better with that extra weight out front. I have taken a bushel basket of small game with this piece. My favorite load for it is a full charge wadcutter with either the H&G #251 (double ended wadcutter of 148 grs. or the #50 button nosed wadcutter of 148 grs.). The shoot equally well but the #50 wadcutter is a four cavity mould and the #251 is a six cavity iron mould. As I have gotten REALLY old, the nearly five pound weight of the six cavity iron mould is just about more than I want to handle. I can sure turn out the bullets in a hurry, tho'. They just fall out of the six cavity.

FWIW
Dale53
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
The only 3" J-frame that I have is my 60-4. .38 Special with target sights!



Amazingly shootable and compact piece. From the time I first took this little gem to the range, I could hardly believe how well I could shoot this baby!
I can actually shoot it better than I can my 631 (4" barreled .32 H&R Mag J-frame). Both have superb actions but the double underlugged barrel of the 60-4 seems to hold better with that extra weight out front. I have taken a bushel basket of small game with this piece. My favorite load for it is a full charge wadcutter with either the H&G #251 (double ended wadcutter of 148 grs. or the #50 button nosed wadcutter of 148 grs.). The shoot equally well but the #50 wadcutter is a four cavity mould and the #251 is a six cavity iron mould. As I have gotten REALLY old, the nearly five pound weight of the six cavity iron mould is just about more than I want to handle. I can sure turn out the bullets in a hurry, tho'. They just fall out of the six cavity.

FWIW
Dale53
I waited a long time to talk a friend out of this exact revolver. It is everything Dale says it is. I think of it as the perfect Eastern "packin' pistol" if we can call a revolver a pistol. I too use a double ended wadcutter, (Magma mould), and 3.5 grains of Bulls Eye following Outpost's recommendations.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Dale53, Great minds in the same rut? My only 3" is a 60-10 in .357 that is a twin look a like of yours. Favorite load is a 200 grain RNFP with 4.0 grains of Bullseye at 750 f/s over the chrony. Shoots good groups with .357 brass, but not so good with 38 Special brass. It gets carried in a Geo. Lawrence holster made for it just before they went out of business. Great walking in the sagebrush revolver. Ric
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
That's beauty Dale! I saw a J frame 38 Smith, set up like that, only in blue and with what had to be a 5 or 6" barrel. It could have maybe been a 4" but my Kit Gun is a 4 incher and it surely seemed longer. The guy wanted some crazy price for it and I walked away, but it always looked like about a perfect 38 field gun to me.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Yep, they were a special run for one of the wholesalers in the late 1980's? Five inchers and nobody bought them, so they are a rare revolver now!
 

Dale53

Active Member
I carried my 60-4 crossdraw when I used it in conjunction with my bird gun (Beretta Silver Snipe O/U). I hardly knew I had it on until I needed it. I did a lot of grouse hunting in Eastern Ohio and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was perfect for cottontails in Ohio and Snowshoe rabbits in Michigan. It worked very well for sitting or wounded grouse. It is fair to say that it exceeded my expectations (by a bunch)...

Dale53
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Dale, that's a great setup. Stainless, Nice sights, durable grip for field use, a full lug barrel but not bulky. The overall package is small enough to be unobtrusive but yet still big enough to get the job done. That's a great "Kit Gun".