S&W Model 15's 2-Inch Barrel Deserves a Second Look

A 2-inch barrel on a full-size Smith & Wesson Model 15 sounds like an odd pairing, but Roy Huntington makes the case for it in a new American Handgunner video, arguing the short-barreled version deserves a lot more attention than it gets.

Snapshot

Huntington runs a mid-1970s S&W Model 15 in .38 Special, built with the full-size grip frame but a 2-inch barrel, through a quick accuracy drill with Black Hills 148-grain wadcutter loads. He found the revolver shot tightly and the double-action trigger was smooth right out of the box, with no gunsmithing involved.

Key points

• Full-size frame, short barrel: Huntington notes the grip is large enough to fill the hand like a standard-barrel Model 15, which he says makes a real difference in control.
• Untouched trigger: He points out the double-action pull was already smooth with zero work done to the gun.
• Adjustable sights: Unlike many short-barrel revolvers with fixed sights, this Model 15 can be zeroed for a chosen load, which Huntington says is worth using.
• Range test: Firing at a torso target from eight yards with Black Hills wadcutters, he landed five shots close together before admitting he yanked the sixth, calling the miss entirely his own fault.
• Value: Huntington says these mid-1970s Model 15s can still be found at reasonable prices for the quality on offer.

Quick take

Huntington's argument is simple: shooters dismiss the 2-inch Model 15 on looks alone, but in his hands it handled like a proper duty-size revolver and shot better than its stubby barrel would suggest. For anyone browsing used S&W revolvers, his take is a reminder not to skip past one just because the barrel looks short.

Read the full story: americanhandgunner.com