{"id":3234,"date":"2015-03-18T18:06:40","date_gmt":"2015-03-18T22:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/?p=3234"},"modified":"2015-03-25T21:57:19","modified_gmt":"2015-03-26T01:57:19","slug":"three-inch-k-frames-glock-19-revolvers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/three-inch-k-frames-glock-19-revolvers\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Inch K-Frames: The Glock 19 of Revolvers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"wheel-gun-wednesday-banner\"<\/a><\/p>

The middle of the week is here and that means it’s time for… Wheel Gun Wednesday! This series of posts is devoted to exploring the deeper issues of using a revolver for self-defense \u2013 both the good and the bad. Today I\u2019m continuing\u00a0the \u201cQuest for the Ideal Carry Revolver\u201d that I\u00a0started last month. Get caught up on part 1<\/a> and part 2<\/a> if you missed them!<\/p>

Heavy Metal<\/strong><\/h3>

Last week, I shared my initial impressions of the Smith & Wesson model 386 — the first gun\u00a0on my short list of revolvers to try out as a potential temporary replacement for the M&P9c 9mm that I normally carry every day. I like the 7-shot capacity of the 386, and the fact that its lightweight alloy frame gives it a weight very close to the M&P, but the action could use some work, and I’ve had a tough time finding a good holster.<\/p>

The 386 represents some of the most advanced technology that has ever been applied to the modern fighting revolver, but now we’re going to change pace a bit. The next candidates on the list are a pair of all-steel Smith & Wesson K-frames; the Model 66 and Model 64. For those not up on the Smith & Wesson lingo, K-frame revolvers are the medium size in the S&W lineup, between the small J-frames and the medium-large L-frame.\u00a0The Model 386 from last week is built on the L-frame, so the 64 and 66 are slightly smaller overall, but they’re heavier due to their being made from steel rather than an aluminum-scandium alloy.<\/p>

Three Inch Perfection<\/strong><\/h3>

The S&W K-frame .38s\u00a0were the most popular\u00a0police sidearms in the 20th century, especially the ubiquitous 4-inch barreled Model 10.\u00a0 With a production history starting in 1899 and continuing today, it’s one of the most enduring firearm designs of all time.\u00a0Starting in the early 1970s, S&W began making K-frames that would accommodate the .357 magnum cartridge, but also continued production of the .38 special only versions. Variants in both calibers are available with fixed or adjustable sights and blued or stainless finishes.<\/p>

\"dirty
Stainless finishes always look better with a healthy amount of carbon fouling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

K-frame revolvers are most commonly found with 4-inch barrels, but the snub nose 2 and 2.5-inch barrels are also fairly common. In between are the 3-inch barrels, which are not nearly as common, but are arguably the most coveted today. Smith & Wesson currently produces only 4-inch K-frames, so any of the shorter barrels will have to be found used. The 2 and 2.5 inch models are not too hard to come by at affordable prices, but the 3-inch versions of the same models often go for hundreds of dollars more.\u00a0Collectors appreciate their\u00a0scarcity,\u00a0but shooters just want them because they’re awesome.<\/p>

The key to understanding the appeal of the 3-inch K-frame is “balance”. They’re\u00a0the Glock 19 of revolvers (or rather, the Glock 19 is the 3-inch K-frame of semi-autos); the ideal balance of shootability and concealability. Three inches may\u00a0be only\u00a0an inch shorter than a full “service size” revolver, but it makes a revolver far easier to conceal for most, and still provides\u00a0a decent\u00a0sight radius.<\/p>

The 3-inchers also provide a nice balance the more literal sense of their weight distribution. This is a somewhat subjective quality, but it’s far from arbitrary —\u00a0balance can make a very real difference in how a shooter will perform with a given firearm. Among other things, balance can have an effect on draw speed, felt recoil, recoil recovery, and target transitions.<\/p>

\"S&W
The 2.5-inch barrel of the S&W 386 (top) can only accomodate a partial-length ejector rod while the 3-inch barrel of the S&W 66 (bottom) allows for a full length rod.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

A similar balance can be found in the 2.5-inch models, but those lack a key feature found with a 3-inch barrel: a full-length ejector rod. The long .38 and .357 cartridge cases have a tendency to get stuck in their chambers during a reload. The extra length of the ejector rod on the 3-inch and longer barreled models goes a long way in preventing this problem.<\/p>

Models 64 and 66 Compared<\/strong><\/h3>

The two K-frames I’m working with are very similar on the surface. They’re both 6-shot stainless 3-inch K-frames, and they can share\u00a0grips, holsters, and most of the same internal parts. So why bother with two of the same thing? There are some key differences, and I thought it would be worthwhile to explore the advantages of each.<\/p>

The Model 64 is chambered in .38 special and has fixed sights. This particular sample is a model 64-3, made sometime in the early 1980s and used by the California Correctional\u00a0Youth Authority (as evidenced by the letters “CYA” stamped on the side of the frame). The finish must have been rough on this surplus gun because its previous owner had it bead blasted to a nice matte grey. I picked it up for\u00a0$515, including a set of VZ composite grips. I swapped the VZ grips over to the Model 66 and replaced them with a set of Hideaway Grips by Precision Gun Specialities.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"Model<\/a>
S&W Model 64 with Hideaway grips.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

 <\/p>

The Model 66 fires .357 magnum as well as .38 special, and is outfitted with adjustable sights and an ejector shroud beneath the barrel. It’s also two ounces heavier and about 3\/16″ longer than the 64. This 66-6 is from the early 2000s and was the first variant of the model 66 series to include the internal lock. \u00a0The 3-inch version of the 66 is in particularly high demand and even this late production model was $750 used.\u00a0I would love to have sprung for a pre-lock model, but those are going for about $200 more.<\/p>

\"S&W<\/a>
S&W Model 66 with VZ grips and Bowen Rough Country rear sight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

So now I’ve got a pair of similar revolvers, but one will handle magnums and can be fitted with a wide array of aftermarket sights while the other shoots .38 special only and I’m stuck with the shallow fixed sights that are machined into the top strap.<\/p>

Semi-Auto Comparison<\/strong><\/h3>

Based on the features I believe are important on my\u00a0semi-auto carry gun, I outlined some pretty specific criteria<\/a> for the carry revolvers I was going to be looking into for this project. Let’s see how these two K-frames measure up:<\/p>