For uniformed carry a 4" bbl is optimal. Before they converted to HK P7M8's, the NJSP carried 4" Rugers with 38 Special +P JHP ammo. I still see NYPD uniformed officers carrying 4 inch S&W's. A 4" can be carried concealed but takes a little more work.
Many federal agents used to carry 3" or less .357 S&W's. Leroy Thompson, in a HANDGUNS article (August 1991, p. 48) pointed out that the Secret Service and BATF used to carry 2 1/2 inch Model 19 and Model 66 revolvers. The FBI just about carried everything in existance at one time or another, may with 3 inch bbls. US Customs carried Model 686's with 3 inch bbls.
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