Hey, guys.

I'm partial to the looks of the heavy barrel in a Model 10, but I've just found a 10-7 (standard taper barrel) in great shape. Any pros or cons to one or the other, aside from the personal preference of looks?

I prefer the tapered or standard barrel just for balance and ergonomics.

IHMO its just purtier..

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John 3:16

My preference is for the standard barrel, but it is based on looks and feel alone.

Heavy barrel always felt, well, heavy.

I guess it would be a better skull cracker if you were so inclined.

I prefer the standard barrel as it is more pleasing to my eyes.
Dave

I like the LOOKS of the ol' pencil barrel, but I like the heft of the heavy barrel when shooting.

The standard tapered barrel just has IT, the heavy barrel doesn't. If the 10 (or M&P) was supposed to be with a heavy barrel, it would have started out that way, but it didn't. Long live the standard barrel!

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Dick

Pencil barrel is for me too!
But the Model 13 looks so nice with it's 3" heavy barrel.
And to top it off
I prefer the 5" pencil barrel for overall playtoy!
Peter

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

I prefer the heavy barrel m10's. They just feel "right".

I prefer the standard tapered barrel.

(especially seeing that's what my 10-5 has) :-)

Standard. Would really like to get a 5" 'er
If it's to be a heavy barrel, just as soon it be a 13/65

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Forum consigliere

I have mostly been partial to tapered barrels, although I do like heavy barrels on some models.

I have one "Jordonized" late Model 10-11 with the heavy barrel that shoots uncommonly well.

As for the tapered barrels, the pre-war contour is more attractive to me than the post war variant. I suppose it is the look of the half-moon sight that I prefer.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Also, I know that it started many years ago and stuck, but why call a tapered barrel a "pencil barrel?"

Pencils have no taper to them, except when you sharpen it.
Tapered barrels bear no resemblance to a pencil.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

The classic, standard barrel. Love 'em!

Jerry

To avoid angering those who detest the description "pencil" barrel,
let's henceforth call it the shapely barrel as opposed to the obese barrel.

Well, I'm sentimentally attached to the "obese" barrel but prefer the appearance of the "shapely" barrel.

I like the heavy barrel for looks. If I am going to
shoot I prefer adjustable sights, like a model 14,
15,or 19 etc. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

IMNSHO, the anemic anorexic appearance of the wafer-thin barrel simply is a grotesque machinist practical joke that went unnoticed for far too long...

The Rubenesque qualities of an m10 with ample structural design added to the ergonomic artisanship are far more satisfying to the eye as well as actual use....to some of us....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

The standard or pencil barrel is the classic. Everyone should own at some point. I only own one, a M 10-5 and like the classic lines.

Different strokes for different folks.

True, the 4" pencil barrel is absolutely the classic, however there is nothing sweeter than a HB 3" Model 10!

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G.P. Charlie

My 10-7 has the tapered barrel but I actually prefer the heavy barrel.
Actually I'm happy to have "any" barrel!

I like the heavy barrel, both for looks and for shooting.
But the tapered barrel is lighter to carry.

Hello. My preference is for the heavy barrel.

Best.

I prefer the heavy barrel.

Thanks, all. Good to read the varied responses. The prize for "Most Original Answer" goes to m657, with danski coming in a close second!

I'll take a better look at this 10-7. While I would like to own one of each barrel type, I can only get one, and I haven't seen a Model 10 HB in as great a shape as this one in a long time.

Have a nice weekend, folks!

Ok...stupid question time.

THIS is a standard/pencil barrel...right?



And THIS is a heavy/bull barrel...correct?



Then...what type of barrel is on the 15, 19 and 66 models? It's heavier than a standard barrel, yet lighter than heavy barrel.

Here's a recent pic from our very own Allen-frame to better describe what I'm saying.



The muzzle on the right is the new 3.25" model 66 he just recently accquired. It sports a heavy barrel, but what do you call the other two barrels? They are too heavy to be called a standard barrel and they don't taper. But on the other hand, they aren't as heavy as a run of the mill heavy barrel.

I'm confused.

Pencil barrel with stag grips quite a combination !

To add to Iggy's comment, the NYPD 10-8 4" heavy barrel I have never did shoot anyone but did make a great club and left its mark on a number of skulls according to the previous owner, however, those days are long gone.

Would you look at all of them thar $5.00 words. I am impressed!!

I carried a Model 10 with 6" standard barrel for over half my career. It worked for me.

I also like the heavy-barreled models and currently own two Model 13's with 4" heavy barrels (one blued, one nickel-plated).

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

tapered barrel for me.

Glock 'em Down,
The Mod. 15 has a petite barrel (not current production) while the Model 19s and 66s have barrels that are most kindly referred to as borderline obese.

As to the obese Mod. 10 barrel being Rubenesque (see Mod657's posting), that's not fair to that great artist who also gave us that delicious corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut deli delight, which of course can make people obese and leave a smearing of Thousand Island dressing on any gun picked up right after eating said sandwich.

I prefer the heavy barrel versions.

I have versions of both, but I prefer the standard barrel in 5 inch length.

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Stan

I carried a tapered model 10 daily for about 10 years that belonged to my uncle (Sam).
I guess the nostolgia factor makes me kind of partial to the tapered.

Mine are both snubbies, so it is the heavy barrel for me.

First centerfire revolver I could hit with was my Dads
from his short time on the Richmond,Ca. PD.
4" pencil barrel with a tyler.
He got frisky selling and buying at gun shows in the late 70's
and it went away in some deal.
I just bought a pencil for $140 as part of the bargain
buy.As good or better than my Dads.
If I could,I would trade for the original.

In short,pencil.Just feels right,but the heavys look good in
a beefy way.
Lookin for a used tyler now.

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I Love This Site

I'm fortunate to own both types, but for shooting I prefer the heavy barrel. Also have one of the surplus Aussie 3" police guns, they have a barrel weight midway between standard and heavy.

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I shoot, therefore I am.

The only one I own is a 6" w/ box I traded from my neighbor the Lawyer. It has a tapered barrel and is in excellent condition. I finally shot it the other day w/ 158 reloads and it stacked em up right on top of the front sight at 25 yds or so. I would really like to get all popular barrel lengths of tapered Mdl. 10. The long answer is I prefer tapered, but I would love to own a 3 or 4" w/ heavy barrel.

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beaver

I like them both, but the 4" tapered is a classic.
Bob

Like RoninPA, I too have a couple of these fixed-sighted wonders in various configurations:

And like Ron, I find that the 3" semi-heavy barrel, sq-butt (mine is also an Aussi-bring back) to be the best balanced and easiest to shoot. That said, my preference (or if I had to only own one M10), would be a 4", pencil barreled (I think I do it just to antagonize), sq-butt model; probably a Victory, just for the history and class. -S2

I prefer the heavy barrel. I used to think the pencil barrels didn't look good at all, but after seeing a bunch of pictures of'em on here they're starting to grow on me a little.

I would definitely buy one if I ran up on the right deal.

I only own one Model 10 and it's a 10-5 that my Dad bought new in 1968 and then he passed it on to me. It has less then 50 rounds through it and will reside in our family from now on. I personally like the heavy barrel but this one holds a special place in my heart with it's pencil barrel.

Was Dad's

Howdy

Pencil barrels for me.

I prefer the heavy barrel.

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otis

I guess I'll close out this thread, since I started it. I ended up buying a Model 64-3 with heavy barrel for $200 on Gunbroker.com. Cost to my door was $285. The gun is in excellent condition. I prefer blued, but the price was too good to pass up.

Have a nice Thanksgiving, all!

This was a BD present from my wife a few years ago. I understand the advantages to the HB for serious shooting, but I don't much serious shooting so this one is perfect IMO.

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No life story has happy end.

I prefer the heavy barrel.

I'm fond of Heavy Barrel... preferably 3". 4" if I must.
Russ

4" heavy barrel, Round Butt.

I was issued a Model 10 with heavy barrel when I joined the Dept. in 1972. I prefer the heavy barrel.