Tapered barrel or Heavy/bull barrel
 

We love what we love. I can walk by lets say...a model 36 with a 3 inch tapered barrel and keep on walking, but if that model 36 has a 3 inch heavy/bull barrel I have to stop and check it out. So what do you prefer?

I only like bull barrels on days that end in "y". However on days that end in "y" I like tapered barrels.

I PREFER the heavy barrel, especially in the 3" versions (K-frames). A standard weight, straight taper barrel is OK as well, at least to a max. of 3" in length. But, the "pencil" barrels I can't stand. They just don't look right to me (though others feel differently.....and that is fine).

For me, it's esthetics. A tapered barrel just looks "right" to
me. I won't turn down a HB if it's priced right, tho. TACC1

I have both and like both. I like the bull barrels on shorter .357 Magnums (like a 3" M65) but like a pencil barrel on an older classic 4" M10 or M15.

Chief38

I like the looks of both, but prefer to shoot a heavy barrel.

I like both. I own more with heavy barrels, but the few tapered barrels I have, or have in the past, owned were ones that I grew up with. A good example of this is the Model 10-5. This and earlier versions with the tapered barrel just look right to me because that is the way that I first remember them as a youngster. Nothing wrong with the heavy barrel model 10s, they just don't look right to me!

I too have both and they both shoot to my likeing. The heavy barrel seems to return to POA with less recoil. The pencil barrel just looks better IMO.

The two model 10"s I have are both tapered barrels so that's how I voted.

4 inch
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...54InchLeft.jpgnch
6 inch
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...-5leftSide.jpg

Most of my more recent Smiths are heavy barrels. My older Smiths all have tapered barrels. So... I like 'em both... just depends which Smith l'm chasing.

Hog

I have on 10-5 and one 10-6. One is blue, one is nickle. I enjoy them both. I've never thought about Chief's Special variants, but I'd probably prefer a thinner barrel.

I prefer tapered, but I don`t turn up my nose at heavy barrels.

After several years without owning a handgun, I decided that I was going to purchase one and knew what I wanted. I wanted a reliable, basic weapon that was a classic. The first thing that came to mind was a Model 10 pencil barrel.
My tastes have evolved and I am all about utilitarian weapons. The Model 10 HB is a classic in its own right and utilitarian to boot. I owned both at one time. The Model 10 HB perfomed much better for me in that it did not jump in the hand compared to the tapered barrel. So, I personally would choose the Model 10 HB as both a classic and a utilitarian weapon.