I’m not a wheelgun guy. I’m growing to love revolvers, but I don’t know enough to say one design is better than the other. What I do know is that I find the three-inch series of revolvers to be the “sweet spot.” These guns balance size, accuracy, and shootability perfectly. They are the Glock 19 of the revolver world, and the S&W Model 19 Carry Comp looks just right.
The Smith & Wesson Model 19 Carry Comp
The Model 19 is already a legendary fighting revolver. It armed countless police forces and earned its place in the wheelgun hall of fame. The new Carry Comp comes from the Performance Center at S&W and delivers an extremely modern take on this classic K-frame design.
Taming the .357 Magnum
S&W has been adding compensators to just about every gun lately, and the Model 19 features a large single-port Power Port™ well-suited for taming the muzzle rise of the mighty .357 Magnum. This port is quite wide and positioned in front of the front sight. By redirecting gas upward to press the barrel down, it results in significantly less muzzle flip during rapid fire.
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Personally, I’d probably keep it loaded with .38 Special +P to have a truly simple and easy-to-shoot setup. While the .357 Magnum is a powerhouse, .38 Special is more than capable for defensive use and offers much less recoil. This is a hefty gun; combined with the Performance Center grips and the port, it would be a total “pea shooter” in .38 Special.
The Trade-offs of Porting
Of course, ports have downsides. They make the gun noticeably louder, and when firing from a close-retention position, the upward gas can cause some discomfort. There is also increased muzzle flash; while it won’t blind you, it can be a bit of a distraction until you train with it and get used to the signature.
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Performance Center Precision
The port isn’t the only trick up its sleeve. The Performance Center provides a fully hand-tuned action. This results in a smooth, stacking-free double-action and a single-action pull that feels more like clicking a computer mouse than pulling a trigger. I only got to dry-fire the gun on the SHOT Show floor, but I was obsessed: a trigger that nice is basically a high-end fidget toy for gun nerds.
The gun ships with two sets of grips. Since the Model 19 is a beautiful piece of machinery, the custom wood grips are perfect for showing it off. However, when it’s time to actually carry, the included rubber boot grips are far more practical and low-profile for better concealment.
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Sighting and Value
I often struggle with standard revolver sight configurations: the traditional trench and blade aren’t for me. Luckily, the Model 19 Carry Comp features an adjustable rear sight and a tritium front night sight. It’s big, bright, and easy to acquire. Even in low light, you won’t have any trouble finding that front post.
At a retail price of around $1,200, the Model 19 Carry Comp is certainly a premium investment. It isn’t priced like a Glock 19, but it represents a dedicated, top-tier fighting revolver with all the fixings. It is easily one of the most modern and capable carry revolvers on the market today.
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