Taurus 942 .22 Magnum 3"
Model: 2-942M031
Taurus 942 .22 Magnum 3"
Model: 2-942M031
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The 3" 942 is the same all-steel 8-shot Taurus revolver as the Taurus 942 2" with one inch of additional barrel and the small weight bump that comes with it. The change isn't cosmetic. Most .22 Magnum loads gain roughly 100-150 fps from 2" to 3" of barrel — enough to push some defensive hollow points into reliable expansion that won't open from a snub barrel. The longer sight radius also makes aimed fire past 10 yards noticeably easier on a basic-sights revolver.
The trade is concealability. The 7.5" overall length is a full inch longer than the 2" variant and harder to hide in a pants pocket. The 25 oz steel weight remains the gun's defining characteristic — it absorbs magnum recoil far better than scandium-frame alternatives at the cost of being almost twice the weight of an 11.2 oz S&W 351 PD. Cylinder capacity is 8 rounds, two more than the Ruger LCRx. Owners with extended round counts note that spending the velocity-bump money on a defensive load specifically designed for short-barrel .22 Magnum (Critical Defense FTX or Gold Dot SB) is what makes the 3" barrel pay off — without it, even the extra inch won't push standard hunting ammo into reliable expansion.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The 3" barrel typically adds 100-150 fps over a 2" snub with most .22 Magnum loads, which is enough to push some defensive hollow points into reliable expansion that won't open from shorter barrels.
- Longer sight radius and 8-shot cylinder make this the most practical 942 variant for range and field use.
- 7.5" overall length is a full inch longer than the 2" variant and won't pocket carry well for most people.
- Same fit-and-finish caveats as the rest of the 942 line. Triggers loosen up noticeably with use — most owners report a meaningful change within the first 200-300 rounds. The Ruger LCRx family ships with a noticeably smoother stock trigger.
Category Rankings
How the Taurus 942 .22 Magnum 3" ranks among subcompact .22 Magnum handguns.
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Alternatives to Consider
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Smith & Wesson 351C .22 Magnum
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Smith & Wesson 351 PD .22 Magnum
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Ruger LCRx 1.87" .22 Magnum
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Frequently Asked Questions
What defensive load actually expands from a 3" .22 Magnum barrel?
Hornady Critical Defense .22 WMR with the FTX bullet is the most consistently recommended choice — it's engineered to expand at the lower velocities short barrels produce, and the 3" 942 puts it in the velocity window where it works as designed. Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .22 WMR is the other common pick. Standard hunting loads (CCI Maxi-Mag, Federal Premium) often don't expand at snub velocities and behave more like hot .22 LR. Test whatever load you plan to carry — published velocities are usually from longer test barrels.
Does the 3" barrel make a real accuracy difference?
Mostly through the longer sight radius rather than the barrel itself. Most .22 Magnum revolvers are mechanically accurate enough that the limiting factor is the shooter's ability to align the sights, which the 942 3"'s extended radius makes meaningfully easier than the 2" sibling. Owners report 25-yard groups tighten up noticeably. For shots inside 10 yards, sight radius doesn't matter much and either barrel length will hit a target reliably.
Is the front sight replaceable on the 942 3"?
No — the front sight on both the 2" and 3" 942 is a serrated ramp machined into the barrel rib. It cannot be swapped for tritium or fiber optic without gunsmithing. The Ruger LCR family is the only snub-class .22 Magnum at this price point with a user-replaceable pinned front sight. If sight upgradability matters, that's a meaningful point in the LCR's favor.