School me on Revolver barrel length

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Now that I’ve settled down a bit….

Allow me to join this discussion.

I have a lot of revolvers, most with barrels of 4” or less. A 6” barrel on a revolver is a dedicated target gun or hunting gun. A 4” barrel is about the perfect “universal” length for a DA revolver barrel and capable of excellent performance. That extra 2” of steel hanging out there on a 6” barrel nets a little more potential velocity with some loads and a little more sight radius (and not enough to matter 95% of the time). So for a rather severe penalty of weight and bulk, you gain a little potential velocity and a little extra sight radius that you may or may not be able to exploit.

But here’s a completely unscientific observation. In all my years of haunting gun shops and looking at the used revolvers on consignment or otherwise offered for sale – I’ve noticed the USED 6” barreled revolvers outnumber the 4” barreled models by a consistent large margin. It would appear that owners of 6” barreled revolvers are far more willing to dispose of those revolvers than the owners of 4” barreled revolvers. I think a lot of people buy 6” revolvers and regret that decision. I’m not saying that everyone that buys a long barreled revolver regrets that barrel length choice but it does appear that there is more displeasure with the longer barrels than the shorter ones.

And it doesn’t have to be a concealed carry gun or even an open carry gun, to be unwieldly.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I have Both & I Like Both ( S&W's) I see no difference on the 10 yard targets at My local range! Now on the 25 yard range the longer sight radius has the edge! If I want to carry it The 4 is the way to go.....If I ever hunt with it I would pick the 6 ! The gun dictates what it is best for.
If I had the 4 and wanted a 6 I would save up and buy a complete 6, not re-barrel!
 

Jeff H

NW Ohio
The fixed-sighted Service Six was not available in the 6" length, so an adjustable-sighted Security Six would be the closest option, unless one were willing to compromise one's standing among certain of their peers and buy a vintage Charter Arms. Charter Arms made a 6" 357 with fixed sights. I wouldn't mind having one of those, though it would definitely be a woods/range gun only. It was obviously voted out of production by folks voting "no" by withholding their dollars.

I most recently had another 4" Service Six, but wanted a 3". I did the logical thing and sold it, but had it not already been a tad too heavy for my liking, I don't think lopping off an inch and repositioning the front sight would have been all that illogical.

I want what I want. I spent many years wanting what everyone else wanted and was never quite satisfied with any of it. Now, my aim is to have what I really want and chop, swap or modify as necessary to achieve that. It might take more effort or cost more money, and might not be what someone else wants, but if it's truly what I want, I won't be fretting about "resale" value or who wants it when I'm gone.

One bug in that ointment is that blasted Colt, King Cobra, which REALLY pushes a lot of the right buttons, but I'm not falling for that again, especially for $900 only to find out I'd have to change something.
 

JustJim

Well-Known Member
I have this mental picture of a M10 4" heavy barrel scaled up to the N frame as perfection. But I have a 6.5" M55 target barrel waiting on me to do a thing too .
You mean a Model 58? Whether in the original 41 mag, or converted to 44 mag, it is near-perfect. Going to 45 acp or 45 Colt is just a hair too light.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Going all the way back to the OP,

Why do you think there is a 6" barrel available on flea bay? Is it perhaps because someone removed that 6" barrel in order to install maybe.... a 4" barrel, and they now have a surplus 6" tube they need to dispose of?
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
The fixed-sighted Service Six was not available in the 6" length, so an adjustable-sighted Security Six would be the closest option...........
/\ I think this is correct. I do not believe Ruger made a FIXED sight, Service-Six with a 6" barrel.
However, Ruger made a LOT of variations of the DA Six series revolvers, so it's possible there was some limited run of 6", Service-Six models with fixed sights, but that's highly unlikely. But......never say never unless you're sure.

SO, that 6" barrel is more than likely to have a front sight set up for an adjustable rear sight, and therefore not suitable for the OP's fixed rear sight frame.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
More and more, I am carrying a 2" Colt DS. I like the 38 SPL cartridge and in spite of having seen one bear within a half mile of our property, don't feel too terribly under-armed. I think if I had my way, I would carry a 3" DA in 41 mag, but load it with with 41 SPL. Because of my somewhat advanced years and the physical degradation that accompanies age, I'd also mount a LASER on it.
For a ranch carry or EDC that might be the best "jack of all trades".
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I'm a huge fan of the 38 Special cartridge and a 2" DA revolver. For a EDC, I think it has a lot going for it.
A 4" DA revolver chambered in 38 Special is the "universal" handgun if concealment isn't a priority.
The 3" 38 Special DA revolver is close to the "goldie locks", "just right", combination.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I'm a huge fan of the 38 Special cartridge and a 2" DA revolver. For a EDC, I think it has a lot going for it.
A 4" DA revolver chambered in 38 Special is the "universal" handgun if concealment isn't a priority.
The 3" 38 Special DA revolver is close to the "goldie locks", "just right", combination.
I had use of a S&W Model 13 x 3" for several months. It was awesome for CCW.

I have several sidearms I carry for social interactions (and fervently hope that it remains a waste of effort). My most-carried is the Glock 23 (4.02" barrel) about 60% of the time. Next most-carried is my S&W Model 686 x 4" about 30% of the time. Way down the list in 3rd place is my Glock 43 @ 10% of the time.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Well, sounds like i should just stick with the 4".

Not going to use it for hunting, just like the 6" look. Obviously look doesn't win a fight.

Thanks for the advice.
Keep your eyes open for what you want then. I recently handled a Smith N frame with the ridiculously long 8 3/8" barrel. I also have a Ruger SSM with the 9 1/2" barrel. They are like holding a push broom and pointing the handle to me. But there's no doubt someone out there lusting after such critters. To each their own. For target work I can see it.
 

JonB

Halcyon member
I recently handled a Smith N frame with the ridiculously long 8 3/8" barrel. I also have a Ruger SSM with the 9 1/2" barrel. They are like holding a push broom and pointing the handle to me. But there's no doubt someone out there lusting after such critters. To each their own. For target work I can see it.
Long long time ago (nineteen eighty something?), I bought my first 44 mag pistol...a S&W 629 with 8.375" full lug barrel. My friends lovingly called it "the Car Bumper"...this was back when cars had shiney silver bumpers LOL. The Gun was surely a good shooter, but I was young enough to not know or care about muzzle weight...It was a great gun, it's what got me hooked on 44 mag. Years later, 44mag is what got me into reloading, and then swaging, then casting.

Now I no longer own a 44 mag...I converted to 41 mag.
and the longest barrel revolver I own is a Mod 57 with 6" barrel (not full lug).

OK, I'm done rambling, LOL :D
 

glassparman

"OK, OK, I'm going as fast as I don't want to go!"
I actually have an ASM ball and cap revolver that has a 12" barrel! Never shot it yet but i did buy the mold to cast the balls. I feel like I'll need both hands to hold it up.
 

JonB

Halcyon member
I actually have an ASM ball and cap revolver that has a 12" barrel! Never shot it yet but i did buy the mold to cast the balls. I feel like I'll need both hands to hold it up.
Yep both hands.
.
Talk about a two handed pistol...
I had a TC scout pistol with 12" 50 cal. barrel.
There was no way of holding the gun with one hand on the forestock, unless you had a welding glove on, LOL.
As you can see in photo, there is a "exhaust port" on each side of the receiver, just under the rear sight.

Photo stolen from gunauction dot com
1672326373346.png
 
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waco

Springfield, Oregon
One of my current favorite packing around the woods gun is my Ruger Bisley 45 convertible with a 3 3/4” barrel. It packs in a strong side or cross draw holster nicely. At 10-15 yards I really can’t tell a difference in accuracy over a 4” revolver.
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Nearly all my revolvers are 4"-4 5/8" - the Perfect Packing size, to quote one famous gun krank. Cpl very old revolvers are 6", because I wanted the model, not the bbl length. And one 6 1/2" 624 in 44 SPC. Cause I am a big 44 SPC fan. That one would only sit a hip in a deer stand...

I do like a 3" too.

My latest, fwiw, is a Ruger Redhawk 45 Auto/45 Colt. Big heavy thing. But with the 4.2" bbl, and a GOOD pancake holster, it is very comfortable to carry.
 

david s

Well-Known Member
Keep your eyes open for what you want then. I recently handled a Smith N frame with the ridiculously long 8 3/8" barrel. I also have a Ruger SSM with the 9 1/2" barrel. They are like holding a push broom and pointing the handle to me. But there's no doubt someone out there lusting after such critters. To each their own. For target work I can see it.
I've a friend with a scoped Ruger 9 1/2" Super Redhawk in 44 magnum, it's quite a bit less than a pound lighter than my Browning 92 carbine in 44 magnum. I'd laugh at him about it but then he'd just remind me about how much my 14" barreled Contenders weigh. The first pistol I ever bought was the Ruger Single Six. It began with the 9 1/2" barrel. After about a year I cut it to 7 1/2 inches. The six months later 6 1/2 inch's then again six months later another inch to 5 1/2" and finally again to the end of the ejector rod. Took me awhile to figure out short people need short barrels to keep a holstered pistol from punching them up under the ribs when they sit down. I've a model 28 with a six-inch barrel and four of the Ruger single actions with 5 1/2-6 1/2-inch barrels. The model 28 doesn't get carried much and the Ruger's use Merickel's holsters that ride higher than most, allowing comfortable seating. Other than that, revolvers are 4-inchs or less and autos are 5-inch or less. That said Bret4207 you can put me down as one of those "someone out there lusting after such critters". I've always wanted a model 57 or a 29 with the 8 3/8" barrel and it has to be the nickel finish! I have no good reason for this lusting other than I've always wanted one, practicality be damned. But then again, I've been known to date red headed women. As an aside the Ruger Speed/Service 6's have always looked better to me with a 6-inch barrel. Thier chunkiness just looks better with a bit more barrel length.
 
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RBHarter

West Central AR
You mean a Model 58? Whether in the original 41 mag, or converted to 44 mag, it is near-perfect. Going to 45 acp or 45 Colt is just a hair too light.

Probably......I'm not well read in the gross S&W .

Just a full frame width half underlug about 5" . The donor is reamed 45 S&W as the 45 Colts on hand.......too long and probably up into 25kpsi . Not good for the old frame and barrel extension kissing OAL . The hot S&W loads at 18kpsi should be fine .
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
"I've a friend with a scoped Ruger 9 1/2" Super Redhawk in 44 magnum"

Once upon a time, I had a Ruger SBH in 44 Mag/10 1/2" bbl. Back when I was big time handgun hunting, have to admit, that one was a HOOT! I once ran two 30-30 scoped rifle shooters off the 200 yd range! They couldn't hit the 200 yd 24" square plate. And I was hitting it 5 of 6 times, shooting a 265 gr RNFP jacket! I LOVED it!