Or at least that is my opinion.

6 1/2 is great too.

Below are some of mine.

Let's see a few of yours.

I have another that I will pick up soon, a 6" 14-3. I'll add a picture of it when I get my hands on it.

Model 25-2



Model 28-2



19-4.



657-3 Classic Hunter

work best - yes
look best - maybe
most practical - maybe not.

I will say that I love my 6 inch 28-2 more than my other revolvers.

Great guns you have there

Beautiful specimens. I like non fluted cylinders especially in 6-61/2 inch barrels for iwb concealed carry. Seriously though I need to get a range gun like what you have. All mine are snubs that usually leave my hands a little sore.

Interesting.

I rotate carrying all four of the above in an ankle holster. Sometimes one on each ankle.

And if you believe that, I have this bridge...

Model 29-2 Photos by Laketime1 | Photobucket

Here is a link to the two I currently have.I like both the 6 and the 6.5 equally .

Nice model 28 you have

Yeah, You're right.

__________________
Why, I aughta.....

When I was young and dumb I always bought the 8 3/8" barrel.
I am outdoors man, not a patrol cop. The 83/8 is a misrable gun
to carry. I can't shot any better than a 6". A 4" gun is harder to
shoot than either 6 or 83/8. I don't buy any pistol for looks. The
6" is best balance,not bad to carry. This includes 5" & 6 1/2" too.
This is not to run down guys that carry a 6" m-19 in duel ankle
holsters. He ain't really that tough, I'd worry about the guy on his
back trail !

For me 6" or longer barrels belong at the range or in the field. Though my dad carried a 6" Colt on duty, I find barrels longer than 4" or 5" a little too cumbersome for patrol; I prefer4" or shorter for admin duties. However, for recreational target practice or hunting I prefer the longer site radius. I am glad I had never had to shoot a BG at 312 ft, that extra 2 inches of barrel may have came in handy. :-)

While 6" guns do shoot somewhat better, they don't carry better. Walking around with them is fine, sitting and or driving with them isn't very handy. I was a 6" guy, but ended up with a 4" S&W N frame and it has become my favorite just because it is easier to carry with little loss of accuracy or power. It kind of like rifles. I love my 24" barreled 338WM. I much prefer to carry my 18" barreled Mohawk 600 in 308. The 308 has killed more deer and elk than the 338 because I carry it more.

I never bought many of the 8-3/8" guns but my overall experience is the same. I never could hold the long barrel as steady and follow-through as well with it as I could the 6-1/2" and my attempts to use both for silhouette shooting proved it to me conclusively. I always shot the 6-1/2" gun the best.

These days I have to admit even the 6-1/2" gun gives me a little trouble. I can see the sights better on a 4-inch gun, which is a bit depressing, but I do not shoot the 4-inch gun any better, so I guess my opinion of the 4-inch magnums has just "improved" somewhat.

One thing that use to bug me years ago was the blueing being rubbed off the tips of my 6.5 inch barrels from a shoulder holster.Never happened with six inchers, due to the extra half inch of space at the bottom of my holsters.

This is my favorite 6". I don't shoot it any more but it is a great shooter. The pre 27 has been relegated to retired display case duty. Kinda like me.

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Or...you forgot to mention that you are 6' 11" tall.

I'm sure I'm an oddball. My favorite 'do near everything' barrel lengths are 3" and 5".

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I agree with the OP. Unless you are carrying the revolver, I think 6" is the way to go. But if their is a nice 4" out there, I sure would not hesitate to buy it if the price is right.

James

My favorite barrel length is 6"/6 1/2". But the 5", 8 3/8" , and 10 1/2" also gets my vote. My m58 4" is growing on me. But nothing under 4" in N n frame.
The 6"/6 1/2" and bigger gets shoulder holstered anyway.

I like them all,but out in the field,I'll take a 4" gun.

I actually prefer 4" guns but this 586 can really reach out there and touch something.....

http://smith-wessonforum.com/members...2669-m586.html

***GRJ***

I couldn't decide which I liked more so I gave up and now I like 'em all the same.

Each has it's own appeal...sorry for the same old pic...

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My trick with a shorter barrel than 4" cover the spot you want to hit with the barrel. Look down the barrel to line it up. Another problem I had was trying to shoot too many guns at onetime without taking the time to really settle down to master each one. I didn't shoot as often as I would of liked too. At first in the mid 70's I was shooting 3 to 4 times a week and reloading on my off days. Then the kids and house came. I slowed down a lot.

Ok guys a longer barrel then 4" go with a shoulder holster.

M-25, M-27, M-57, and a couple odd looking ones.

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At first I was buying the 6" barrels at that time there was plenty for sale.

I have to say,most of my Smith are 6'. I like them on the range. But if I could carry a ccw here, for a Revolver I would go with the old 65 in 3'. 1 Speedloader for backup. As much as I like the long Barrels it would take me to long to get them out of the leather.Nothing fancy ,just KISS.

the german guy

In the woods or on hunting another story. I would pack my 29 in 6 1/2' . Nice rig thats it

Attached Images

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I allways was partial to a 6 or 6.5 just got the new classic 25 and added it to my model 17 Masterpiece target

This one gives me unfair advantage at the range.

24-3



Here's a 5" 27-2



Another 5", a 25-7

Great photo composition, very artsy.

Actually 5" n frames, and 4" k frames look better, in my opinion.

I also prefer 4" n frames to the 6" and 6.5" guns. To each their own though.

My 4" guns, which are as good looking as anything on here beg to differ:

My 19-4


Highway Patrolman wearing Kuracs:


My 27-2, in Nickel:


My prized 629-1 wearing Kuracs:


And finally a 629 wearing Keith Browns:


They'll give the bigger guns a run for the money!

I like to pull my 629 8 3/8 bbl revolver out at the range and have the young guys come over to see what I'm shooting. Most have never seen anything like it. Makes those 9mm look very small.