My FBI friends used to carry a 3 inch Smith & Wesson 13

[Scott Tschirhart]

I thought it made good sense. Some of the Drug Enforcement guys carried a 3 inch Model 65.

Many years ago I picked up a 65 with the intent to carry it.

I got it out today as I was doing some snubby practice.

I’m really not sure why I left it sitting in the safe. 158 gr cast bullet handload at 10 yards.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Same load in a j frame.

[Ysabel Kid]

Very nice!

My Dad carried a S&W Model 19 with a 4-inch barrel, except when undercover, as revolvers were considered "cop guns" in the 1970's. He carried a 1911 when undercover.

[JMick]

Back in the late '80's a Army buddy and I got 3" 65s. We shot a ton of ammo through them. one of the guys in our unit's wife had a progressive press and would load up a thousand rounds at a time for us. Mostly swc 158gr.
We got pretty good with them.
He later went on to work for a federal agency. I bet he had a 65 close by.

[Scott Tschirhart]

It’s a pretty good compromise and still handles full house .357 Magnum

[piller]

I can see a valid point for a compact revolver which is capable of handling .357 when necessary. The accuracy in the first picture would work great for any situation. Just an opinion, but it seems that some folks substitute power for accuracy. Enough power with great accuracy is better in most cases.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I can see a valid point for a compact revolver which is capable of handling .357 when necessary. The accuracy in the first picture would work great for any situation. Just an opinion, but it seems that some folks substitute power for accuracy. Enough power with great accuracy is better in most cases.

I would not hesitate to use this load for social work. It’s a 158 gr SWC at 800 fps. I think it would punch quite deep.

[450 Fuller]

As a retired GBI and USINS/ICE Special Agent from the early 1970s, revolvers were the regularly carried handguns. Usually Smiths, but I alternated a RB 4in M-19 and 4-in RB M-66 with a 4-inch Colt Python.
Three of the agents in our smaller 4-man office carried 4-inch S&W .357 revolvers. Evan Marshall, Detroit PD, had written "One Shot Stops" with support research as to the actual effectiveness of the .357
Magnum 4-inch revolver. Particularly effective were 125 gr +P Federal hollow points. These were loaded and carried along with 158 gr +Ps in speed loaders for car stops involving fleeing felons.
The Python was an accurate revolver, but the consensus favored the Smith combat or smooth target trigger in DA mode. Round-butt 4-in Model 19s were a favorite of INS/Border Patrol Agents: some came from ONI-Navy and other sources.
These were considered superior in the Model 66, and FBI Agents were curious as to where we got our special RB Smiths.

"Speed is fine, but accuracy is final". Bill Jordan-US Border Patrol
in his "No Second Place Winner"

[Griff]

Back when I joined the S.O. in CA the issue weapon was the 4" S & W mdl 10. With +P 158 LSWCHP ammo. I went to a nickel mdl 19 4" in 1980, finally to a stainless mdl 65 in '88. All were square butts. The mdl 19 & 65 wore the same set of Pachmayr over size grips. I liked 'em all, but really like the 65!

[yooper2]

Short barrels K frames are my favorite CCW revolvers. 3" barrels are nice compared to the 2.5" as the ejector rods are longer and much more forgiving on ejecting magnums. In my 2.5" 19 I use Skeeter loads in 38 Special brass.


Eric

[wvfarrier]

I carried a S&W TRR8 as a breacher. Never felt undergunned

[EdinCT]

Pretty good shooting Scott. I took my Smith 642 out last week and was lucky to get a 8 inch group at 30 feet. I was having a hard time getting a sight picture with my progressive lenses. More practice is coming a friend dropped of Hornady 500 wadcutters that he had no use for and now I know I do!

[Scott Tschirhart]

It’s a discipline to be sure.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Fits under a shirt.

[Paladin]

Many of us old guys still do. I still have to qualify every year with one revolver and a pistol. I have collected many over the years, with the 3-inch being my favorite, then the 4-inch.

Rev c.jpg

My favorite 4-inch

Arch's 2010 020.jpg

My last duty issue (my daughter has it now)

S&W 686 DPS.jpg

[Scott Tschirhart]

I think a 3 inch K frame is a great compromise. Big enough to easily manipulate and capable of handling a reasonable amount of 125 gr Gold Dot .357 Magnum and an unlimited amount of standard.38 special loads.

[AJMD429]

.
"...one of the guys in our unit's wife had a progressive press and would load up a thousand rounds at a time for us..."

That kind of woman is the marryin' kind...