K frames with 3" barrels are the ideal revolvers for most situations. They're still comfortable to conceal, easy to shoot, and accurate.

If you can find one, the S&W K-frame Mod. 65 with the 3" barrel is an excellent gun. It's similar to the 64, only chambered in .38/.357. I am a retired narcotic agent and carried the mod. 65 for years. I bought it in 1983 for $189. It was versatile enough to carry undercover and to use on arrests and raids. I still carry it.

My first "EDC" concealed carry gun was a S&W M19 with 2.5" barrel and round butt. I bought it as an "off duty" gun in 1974. It has served well as a CC handgun and I still occasionally carry it, though I am retired now and live in a climate where light clothes are the order of most days, so the M19 does not get used as much anymore. If you live in a climate where you can wear appropriate cover garments, the M19 and similar size revolvers work well. My "more often than not" carry gun is now a S&W M642. I have the usual selection of small & medium autos...32, .380. 9mm, .45 but most days I am carrying the 642. The most important gun to have is the one you use for deep concealment...your "always be armed" gun. Buy that one first. The rest, you can choose what you like. I like them all, so I have many to choose from. Choice is a good thing.

Just picked up a Ruger SP101 in 357, put a fiber optic front sight on it and replaced the 14lb hammer spring with a 12lb, and a Hogue grip

"If it doesn't fire, you can always hit him with it" - Boris the Blade

And now comes the Colt King Cobra 3" that seems to check all the boxes: 28 oz., interchangeable front sight, 6 shot .357 mag, and super smooth action right out of the box. Still plenty available online as of 2/12/22.

This series got me to switch to carrying revolvers, took some time but I stumbled into two sweet deals and ended up with a sp101 and a 66-1. Haven’t picked up my glock for a year and no regrets!

Vietnam vet. Former spec ops. 65, 66 and 67. I began night law school in 75. I used to ride the Chicago L home every night at 9 pm. I carried a K frame S&W model 13 round butt with a 3 in barrel in .357 mag. for four years. I put a Barami grip on it. First two rounds were .38 special, last four in .357 mag. Best .357 mag ever. I could carry it on my waist or in a pocket. Wrapped the grip with electrical tape for comfort. Still have it. After a while I got lazy and began carrying a .380. Then one night a guy got on the L carrying a double headed axe and walked up and down the isles looking mean at all the passengers. I, of course, avoided eye contact. Then he got out a the next stop. I went back to the .357 the next day. I used to alternate with a 1911. But the S&W was easier to conceal. With the Barami grip only a tiny bit of the grip came up over my belt line. Yes, I was carrying illegally. Recently picked up a S&W model 60-15. Five shot, steel J frame, round butt, .357 mag with a three inch barrel. Nice. No, I do not routinely carry a revolver anymore.

Well, damn. I guess I will just have to stick with my old Ruger Security 6 in the .357 mag. After all, I have had it since the mid 70's.

Coming back to this after seeing the greater regard you now have for .32, I'd point out that one option you didn't address was a 3" barrel on the SP 101 chambered in .327 magnum: 6 shots, (probably) under 30 oz., and a worthwhile modifiable trigger. It might even give your "best revolver in the world" a little competition.

This channel is great to watch.. not only is it enjoyable. But I like the way this guy makes his point.. he's letting us know what works for him, and from that you can make your own judgment. That's how it should always be.. great videos please keep them coming.. I would love to see more reviews on CCW, that seems to be what I'm really enjoying.

a gun channel without a particularly strong southern accent AND not wearing a cap 24/7 even indoors? wow man, sub just for that.

I am glad you included the Ruger Sp101 in .357 (snub nose I own). This is my go to gun for carry. It is deadly accurate with wad cutters. I have a holster that fits in my front pocket and it sits there very comfortable. I am accurate with it because I have fired so many rounds, and I love the click click bang feel with the trigger. You feel the rotation for the next round, the hammer to sear position,and the bang upon a comfortable squeeze. Makes a real easy gun to master.

I like my SP101 with a set of Hogue Monogrips on it. VERY big improvement! Even handles hot .357 loads well. You know they're in it, but manageable. I'm also a big fan of S&W K and L frame revolvers. Models 65, and 686. Thumb up for the video.

I'm loving your channel. Your videos are so informative and I've Learnt so much from it. I carry a Rossi 357mag six shot with hornady hollow points. Never let me down, always firing, never jamming, never fails. I love revolvers,ask the mugger who's one knee short.

I carry a RIA Armscore M200, 4 inch barrel, .38spl, 6 shots. Since it's modeled after the Colt Police Positive, aftermarket support hasn't been a problem. Thank you for supporting revolvers!

this video was awesome! a very thorough review of some revolvers to look into. You got me sold on that S&W 386, but its a shame production has been discontinued. Keep up the superb work! you got a new subscriber now

Yep SP101, I purchased the bobbed hammer version and it's been a favorite weapon.

Just discovered your videos after discovering you as a ammo source. I like the thoughtful, informative, non-judgmental review of the options. I’m pleased with my new 2” SP-101 .357 (although my first choice was impossible to find S&W 66). I’ll still get a 3” 66 when the supply chain recovers. Thanx for your efforts on our behalf.

I just discovered your channel, and I'm most impressed. I wouldn't carry that 386 Night Guard IWB, but now that I'm aware of its existence, I sure would like to have one for the collection. Your videos are awesome, you bring up excellent points, and as someone said below, you are very well spoken. Keep up the good work.

I appreciate the fact that you mentioned that the snubby isn't very easy to shoot accurately. I think that's often overlooked when new gun buyers see one and make their choice without having shot one👌

Really like your channel. Just subscribed. I’ve watched a few of your videos over the years and I really like your presentation and logic. I’ve been carrying revolvers since the early 80s both on duty as a primary weapon (80s) and as a backup (2000s). Now I carry solely for bear country (SW 629). After working with my wife on concealed carry firearm options, she settled on a 7 round SW 686 and she took to it like a duck to water. The larger frame allows her to comfortably handle .357 magnum cartridges as a defense load, although she prefers to shoot .38+P at the range.

You're one of my favorite channels. Keep up the good work. Much appreciated friend

I have the Ruger SP101 3" and love it. Not to big not to small, not to light not to heavy its just right in my opinion. All the mentioned revolvers in this video are quality and would serve anyone well. Thats what great now a days plenty of choices. Most important thing is that you have it on you at all times not sitting at home, and being able to hit what you are shooting at.

good video, l like the Taurus 605 5 shot 357.

One gun that wasn't mentioned in the video or in the blog is the Kimber K6s. It meets all of the stated criteria, has an awesome trigger, 6 shot capacity, great sights and unparalleled fit and finish. I checked out numerous smaller revolvers ( including the SP-101), and the Kimber beat them all.

An excellent review of six mid-size revolvers. Thanks very much for posting. Much appreciated.

I carry a Taurus 605 with 3" bbl, fixed sights, .357. To me a 3" bbl feels and shoots so much better than a 2" one. I don't do adjustable sights on any carry gun. Added Wolff springs and Pachmyr grips. Very accurate, easy to shoot, not too heavy, and dead reliable. It is a small frame but I like it. For woods carry I have a Taurus 431 in .44 Spl. Quite a bit heavier but a lot more punch. Also real good with snake loads.

I carried a Model 10 square butt snub as an issued weapon for years. It’s now in my nightstand and makes frequent range trips.

For many years, the S&W Model 13 with a 3 inch barrel was the standard carry weapon of he FBI. It was an excellent balance between concealment, power and handling. Unfortunately, when they switched to automatics, the US Attorney General at the time, Janet Reno, ordered them to be destroyed rather than sold to the civilian market. I would love to have picked one up.

I know you're talking mid sized but ya gotta admit the Model 36 is a pretty good carry gun. I've had my Model 36 (snubbie) for a few years now. I contacted S&W, found out my gun left the factory between 1965/66. As mine has the newer (then) contoured cylinder release I would guess 1966. It's a beautiful gun. Pinned barrel, firing pin in hammer, case hardened trigger and hammer, walnut squared (hand checkered) grips and a highly polished blue finish. You can literally see your reflection in the finish! It's non +P but so what.This gun just screams nostalgia. I would never sell this revolver, it truly is a piece of history. I do view this gun as more a collector piece and would probably daily carry something else. There are a lot of good quality revolvers out there, purchased used you can get a great deal. Very informative video, keep them coming.

The SP101 comes in a 3" (and now longer) barrel. The 3" is the best offering in the SP101 line!

For what it’s worth, I just wanted to say I find your uploads straightforward, reasonable, and very useful. Thanks.

Good video. I liked your confidence in what you were saying. In the past i have carried a s&w mdl 19 2.5 inch, s&w mdl 65 3 inch, Charter Arms .44 Bulldog 2 inch. Back in the day i carried a s&w mdl 19 4 inch as a duty gun, i also carried this gun concealed off duty. none of these were uncomfortable iwb carry. the 2.5 in mdl 19 was my favorite all around. I carried it cocealed for hours, also in a belt holster while fishing, hiking and such as that. It was a great shooter as well as an easy carry. Thanks for the video and your opinion.

Something worth considering: the SP101 with 4" barrel in .327 Fed Mag. Yes, you can get some impressive velocities with heavy loads of slow powder, but where this gun really shines is with fast powder. The working pressure of this cartridge is very high, which allows one to get fast powder loads with respectable velocities yet much more "shootable" than the slow powder loads. It's actually quite pleasant to shoot these 100gr bullet defense loads, and probably in the .38Spl +P range or better in terms of effectiveness - right around 1200fps with 5.0 gr of Titegroup. With IWB holsters the longer barrel is not a problem (I never have understood the appeal of snubbies, to tell the truth). The longer sight radius gives accuracy and cuts down on hearing damage in defense situations. The extra round doesn't hurt either. Despite my work on the internals I was not really satisfied with the DA trigger, but I guess I'm just a S&W man in that respect.

I use a gp100 4.2 inch as part of my winter carry options. It isn't too big with the right holster. I shoot great with it is why I got an IWB holster for it and wore it around for a day just to give it a try. Wearing winter clothes it didn't print, it didn't poke me while sitting. It wasn't different than a full size auto pistol.

Man, this is the video I've been looking for! Perfect!

Good comparisons! I settled on the SP101 4" in 327 Fed because of the sights and 6 shots and low weight compared to a S&W K

Yes, I too have a Ruger SP101 357 with a 3" and it shoots like a dream. I am thinking about putting on a night sight BUT put a bright orange spot on the ramp sight and that made all the difference. It's a great carry gun.

I just snagged a S&W Model 66-2 w/ 6 inch barrel. Not a EDC, but a hell of a shooter. I love it.

Your videos are top notch, sir. How did I just now discover your channel?

I recommend the Charter Arms Bulldog 44 sol. I've always had great luck with them.

I am carrying a SW 65 4" .357 and it rides high in my craft holster. Oddly, it seems to tuck in nicely and it feels nice while I drive.

Nice video. U were lucky to find a 3" M-66. They were originally made specially for CA DOJ back in revolver days. If they were ever a regular catalog item, it was not for long. Good commentary on the different sights. I have a 2.5" M-66 and a 2.25" SP-101, both great guns. Hard to go wrong with a 357. Might have to look into those fiber optics for my M-66.

When I'm out in mesh shorts and a T shirt in the summer my alloy S&W 642 in my front pocket gets the nod. When the temps outside drop it's a toss up between a Walther PPS or a Ruger SP101 in 327 Magnum. The SP101 with 6 - 100 grain bullets at 1500 fps from the 3" barrel is no joke. Less recoil than a 38 Special +P, way more power than a 9mm and some lighter 357 loadings all in one of the most shootable packages out there. Points like your index finger and hits like a 4lb. hammer.

I like a 3 in. SP 101 with a bobbed hammer,Novak site. & the spring kit

I love the sp101! Glad to see it getting some attention!

I carry a 3" model 60 loaded with 38 special +P every day and love it. I like the extra weight.

I agree on the mid-sized revolver. six shot capacity, controllable, accurate, not too heavy, packs a punch. I know this video is before it came out, but the reissue Colt King Cobra in 3 inch is very nice.

From time to time, I do carry the SP101 on Belt Holster with 3 inch barrel, trigger job and changed out the grips. Great carry gun. Perhaps review the new Kimber Revolver that just came out.

I have a 3" barrel SP101 and really like it. I can't fault anyone choosing the 66, my brother has a 2.5" model 19 and really likes it.

Thanks. What you like in a revolver is what is important for me as well. Thanks for the review.

I bought a sp101 when they first came out I still carry it today,,,, Best mid size gun hands down

Ok, this is a great review. Hickok45 loves his model 65, but they are hard to find. 3" barrel seems to be the dream gun everyone wants.

great video! I like the S&W model 64 with a 2 inch barrel and 6 shots..IMO this is one of the best mid size carry guns. Great trigger on it too.

I had the 2in version of the kimber k6 and loved it as my daily carry. It’s was very slim for a 6 shot 357. Unfortunately I had to sell it to help pay for my wedding. I’m carrying a full size px4 storm in 40 for the mean time, but I really miss my wheel gun. I think I’ll upgrade to the 3 in barrel with night sights since that’s now an option compared to when I got it when they first came out.

A short barreled revolver only needs to reach across the room in case y’all didn’t know

My Model 19 (4") is my favorite. So a 66 snubbie would be perfect! SP101 would be cool too.

I picked up a Colt King Cobra 2" carry and I love it. Its my New York reload gun

SP101 or Ruger LCR are both good. I have carried a Match Champion GP 100 on a belt holster hiking or mowing and it works well. I have carried a Charter Bulldog in 44 Special.

for me the best med. size revolver is the SW 686+

You guys have one of the most informative channels on KZfaq. I’ve purchased approximately 4000 rounds of 38 and 9 mm from Lucky Gunter in the last three years. Love your stuff.

Just picked up a Ruger SP101, love the look and action. Gonna go plant some freedom seeds on the range tomorrow...

This video was fun to watch and enjoyed listening to your opinions.

I LOVE my Wiley Clapp SP101. Built like a tank.

Charter Arms Professional is a small/medium frame 7shot revolver in 32 HR Mag. Definitely worth considering (they may have even used this video as a template for making the gun...)

Some good thoughts and comments. But trained and carried 2" to 4" fixed sight S&Ws for 40 years and would disagree that the sights are hard to pick up. The 3" M65 is my all time favorite. My daily carry now is a M642 and I find it easy to shoot and very reliable.

I love my 640 pro , I use mostly 148 gr. wadcutters even for edc and it’s very reliable and precise out to 75 feet , at 25 ft. It does erase the 2 in. Red bullseye target with ten shots .

Never thought I’d carry a revolver but for me a 2.5” .44 special is awesome..

I carry a 3 inch model 13 everyday. Usually loaded with 38 plus p 158 grain led semi wadcutter hollowpoint s. Great carry guns

SP101 4.2 in barrel, got an extra inch & love it! Wolff springs & Hogue grips, I'm set!!

I love my SP-101. Out of the box perfection. Smoothest DA trigger I have ever used.

Smith and Wesson model 65 357mag pre lock with a 3 inch barrel, round butt, combat grips. Best medium in my opinion.

I have two SP101s. One with and one without a hammer spur. Great guns, and cheaper than S&W. I usually carry the SP101 in cooler weather with a jacket or sweatshirt over a soft appendix leather IWB holster. Bought an LCR for warmer weather carry with shorts or lighter clothing. Going with a sneaky pete holster for that. I am built kind of like you, and have a hard time concealing most guns bigger than an SP101. I useds to carry a Glock 26, or Glock 19, but I like the extra power of the 357 over the capacity of the 9mm. Just my choice. You put out some great info on revolvers and tactical reloads. Thanks!!!

tons of us agree with you. concealability, size, weight, perfect combo in the 66 3"

I always enjoy your reviews, keep up the good work.

I'm a retired drug agent and I use to work a lot of undercover in 80s. I carried the S&W K frame model 65, 3" barrel. Very similar to the current model 64, but chambered for .38/.357. Perfect for undercover work and doubled as my raid gun. The fixed sights weren't a problem and that's when standard range qualifications included shooting from the 50 yard line.. Back then, the model 65 and 66 4" were the standard law enforcement issue in many agencies in the country so holsters and speed loaders were readily available. Still have it and shoot it.

I carry a 640 pro and love it. I trade between this and a G19 depending on my mood.

I prefer the SP101 with 2” barrel in .357. For me, i shoot it well and can carry it concealed. It carries well on an IWB or OWB. For really deep concealment, I prefer the S&W Mod 36. It is limited to standard pressure .38 Special but it’s better than no gun and it fits nicely in a pocket holster. These are just my opinions.

I have the best mid size carry revolver, the S&W 386 Mountain Lite with a 3 1/8th inch barrel. This has both a Scandium frame and a Titanium cylinder for an unloaded weight of 17 oz. A little snappy but manageable with the Sorbothane grips I installed. . I carry this outside the waistband.

Get your kicks with a Smith & Wesson 66.

I got the 4" SP101 in .327 Fed Mag, with some larger aftermarket grips. Need to fix the trigger, but otherwise really like it. Handloads with faster powder make it a joy to shoot but still provide enough velocity for an effective round. For some reason I never could stomach snubbies; 3" barrels are the minimum for me.

I'm a "revolver guy," I learned to shoot with them, I prefer them to most autoloaders, they have been my principal firearms for every use for 50+ years, and I carry them frequently. My personal preferences include Rugers (SP-101s and GP-100s) and Smiths (of all types, but especially N Frames). With this said - and especially for Summer concealed carry - I have found a fairly uncommon semiautomatic alternative: Kahr’s all blackened stainless, .40 S&W, K-4044. Here’s why: - It’s built like a tank and the quality is outstanding, with excellent machining and exceptional fine design and manufacturing tolerances (yeah, I agree that polymer frame Kahrs have many issues - personally, I wouldn’t own one - but I’m telling you with confidence that the larger, all stainless, Kahr K Series (they all have 3.5 inch, polygonal, match grade, stainless, Lothar Walther barrels and are available only in 9mm and .40 are truly first-rate). - It’s hefty (again, all steel), which soaks up recoil very well. - It conceals WONDERFULLY, easily and comfortably (it is narrow and compact, not too heavy, and rather small); I carry it all day- with no issues - IWB in an basic Bianchi holster. - In fact, I have found that it is fundamentally a small autoloader that feels and shoots like a large, excellent revolver (much like a DAO GP-100). - The trigger is great, for me (Kahr’s unique design is a striker-fired DAO semiautomatic, which results in a longer pull - no external safety of decocker - but one that is EXTREMELY smooth with a crisp, predictable break and with no take-up of staging). - The sights are excellent. - It has 7+1 or 6+1 capacity - plenty for my circumstances - of .40 S&W. Essentially, imagine a top-quality DAO revolver - but one with an eight round (nine in 9x19mm) capacity - that’s less that’s an inch wide, that is smooth and narrow throughout, that has an excellent trigger and sights, and that has a 3.5 inch barrel with no cylinder gap, and is utterly reliable and very accurate (note: Kahr indicates that a 250 round, as I recall, break in period is required; I found this to be true, BUT have experienced ZERO failures in approximately 2,500 rounds fired after the initial 250). I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EDC AUTOLOADER FOR CONFIRMED REVOLVER PEOPLE.

My carry gun for a number of years was the Taurus Model 82. .38 Special +P in a 4 inch barrow. Cartied with one reload of a speed loader. Inside the pants holster. Sadly I no longer have it. My parents home was broken into and my parents ended up with my pistol for their self-protection. My father passed away and a family member sold it in error for my Mom. He failed to retrieve the weapon. Niw I have a knife for protection as my health and income went south. Good video. :)

yes sp101 or the regular 640 SS all the way !! fixed sites !! no playing with triggers !! it's the person not the gun if you can't shoot it !!

686 plus! 7 rounds of 357 in an easily carried k frame 3 inch with a performance center trigger! Done!

I had a 4" barreled Model 19 that I loved carrying. It usually stayed in a paddle holster in the truck while I was on recruiting duty, but ended up being stolen during a burglary. I picked up a Model 29 a few months ago, but it's a slight bit large and heavy for concealed carry. Also picked up a Taurus 856, kind of coming full circle from my first revolver, a Model 85. Another Model 19 is on the list, though.

Would love to see you review the lcr .327. 6 potent rounds. Has been a great companion. Thanks for the quality videos.

man i like the sp101 and after watching your vid, is a done deal, i want it for inside de waistband, my mp9 full size is to big for ccw is time for a change thanks for the vid

Should revisit this video, reviewing the all new 7-shot Ruger GP100 2.5" revolver. Adjustable rear sights, interchangeable fiber optic front sight 34oz. Stainless, perfect for precision accuracy.

Again, VERY informative with a practical approach. Thank you Chris for sharing. Agreeing with +Smiddy Wesson, I don't agree with 100% of your logic, BUT that's what makes America GREAT!

I picked up a brand new Taurus 9mm with 5 round clip that I really like. I only paid 300.00. It's got a 2 inch barrel. Snub nose. Very easy to conceal and has decent mid range stopping power.

Check the stats on a 3" barrel in 38 vs a 2" in .357 and you might find the tradoffs worthwhile. The extra inch buys you velocity, not accuracy, of course.

I prefer the 327 Fed Mag in a revolver. 6 shots vs. 5 shots in a mid and small frame revolver.

You mentioned spotty reliability for the Rhinos on the blog, but mine has worked like a dream since I got in a year ago. It's the 20DS. I had a chance to shoot it opposite my buddy's Smith J Frame and the recoil was at least halved. Between three different shooters and two guns, we started out with 500 rounds of .38 on a range day, and due to accuracy, performance, and sight picture, we all were shooting the Rhino by the end. True holster availability is spotty, but I've carried with an OWB concealed holster that it came with pretty much everywhere. No problems.

I found a model 64, 4". Thought shiny guns were not my style. I fell in love with the thing. I'd love to find the scratch to have it worked over and cut to 3" by one of the masters that does that kind of work.

Smith Model 60 is a great carry gun; I also like it on the range.

I just think they’re really cool looking guns

I feel very comfortable carry the S&W .357 J frame,and hit the target right out of the box!

I tried a couple of these .357 revolvers and I just can not hide one on my smallish body. In Florida, your carry gun can not poke out or show since it is illegal to open carry in Florida at present. I did look at a 4" barrel .38 special and the .38 revolvers are a tad bit thinner and lighter then a .357 mag. The .38 is strong enough to get the job done. I too like revolvers. You can have the hammer down on an empty chamber and when you pull the trigger, it just advances to the first loaded chamber and the thing goes bang. Most D/A revolvers with an exposed hammer can be fired either D/A or S/A which is really nice. The reason I prefer revolvers is that I have never had a failure to fire with a revolver or a jam. I can certainly not say the same for any and all auto loading pistols I own or have used. If I had to bet my life on my carry piece going off, it would be a revolver.