4" vs 5" vs 6.5" Barrel. What's better?

[Tytan01]

I know there are other barrel lengths for S&W Revolvers but 4, 5 & 6.5" are by far the most common lengths.

So my question is...which one length do you prefer over the others?

I just picked up a Model 629-6 5" 44 Mag Classic. I thought it would be the "perfect" barrel length but after matching it up to my other guns in the collection...I'm going back to 4" as my preferred choice. Any length longer on a revolver makes me think of the Joker gun in the Michael Keaton Batman movie. Silly.

Pictured is my 5" Classic. A very nice gun but the barrel just ain't doing it for me at the moment. Like having a kid with buck teeth. You love them just as much as your other children but..." Damn..honey...we gotta find that boy a dentist!"

[bigggbbruce]

4" carry better.
5" has a nice balance on N frames.
6 1/2" has a better sight radius.

That's why they make choices.

[OldChief]

It all depends upon the individual, I have a 629-6 (5") and the balance is just perfect for me. The problem may not be the barrel length but possibly the grip style. To sum it all up, what I find fits me to a tee, doesn't fit you and may be perfect for the next guy and not for the next that comes along after that.

[AveragEd]

I have two five-inch S&W revolvers, a 686-3 National Match and a 629-3 Classic DX. I also have K-,L- and N-frames in four-inch and six-inch but like the five-inch guns best.

Ed

[SLT223]

I typically prefer 4” but i do love my 629-6 5”. It is noticeably more comfortable than a 4” with all ammo. My 44 mouse fart loads shoot like 22’s through a K frame.

[rubiranch]

I have a 5" M27-2 and I've never shot it.
I love shooting my M58.
My favorite gun is my 1960 6.5" M27.
My best shooting and most accurate (for me) is my 6" M686.

I don't think there's a "best" barrel length.

[CWH44300]

I’m going with 4”
I like them, I shoot them well and they are easily concealed with a good holster/belt.
A big plus to me is they’re more likely to shoot different loads close to the sights, where as the longer barreled 44’s don’t

This is an old photo (sorry)
Most of these guns but not all are still here

[75Vette]

Originally Posted by Tytan01

I know there are other barrel lengths for S&W Revolvers but 4, 5 & 6.5" are by far the most common lengths.

So my question is...which one length do you prefer over the others?

I just picked up a Model 629-6 5" 44 Mag Classic. I thought it would be the "perfect" barrel length but after matching it up to my other guns in the collection...I'm going back to 4" as my preferred choice. Any length longer on a revolver makes me think of the Joker gun in the Michael Keaton Batman movie. Silly.

Pictured is my 5" Classic. A very nice gun but the barrel just ain't doing it for me at the moment. Like having a kid with buck teeth. You love them just as much as your other children but..." Damn..honey...we gotta find that boy a dentist!"

Silly huh???

[Tytan01]

75Vette,

I have a long standing "debate" with my brother who loves those long barrel revolvers like what you have and I always get back to... " if you want a rifle..buy a rifle!"

You gun is beautimous! Especially the unfluted cylinder. But I gotta ask...do the deer run off laughing or drop straight to the ground laughing when that little "POP" flag pops out of the barrel?

J/K....

It's is a bad-@ss looking weapon. I'm a tad jealous.

[ContinentalOp]

Personal preference, and dependent on application.

My experience is limited to J, K, and L frames, for the purpose of self defense. For that reason, I prefer shorter barrels. 2" for J-frames, 2-3" for K-frames. My only experience with L-frames was a 4" 686 I carried as an armed guard. For myself, I probably wouldn't be getting a L-frame and just stick with J and K frames. Well, I might make an exception for a 696 or 69 as I'd like to have a .44 Special revolver, but would prefer to avoid N-frames. In the meantime, .38 Special/.357 Magnum would suit my needs/wants. A 4" K-frame would make for a good home defense revolver, IMO.

Beyond that, I don't have an interest in any revolver with a barrel longer than 4". Nothing wrong with longer barrels, they're just not for me.

[jack the toad]

Originally Posted by Tytan01

4" vs 5" vs 6.5" Barrel. What's better?

Cant say which is better but my order of preference is 4, 5, 6".

[CWH44300]

Originally Posted by 75Vette

Silly huh???

Yo tinknocker

That is one bad horse pistol

I’m liking it big time

[Lou_the_welder]

Originally Posted by 75Vette

Silly huh???

I'd love to shoot that one with the red dot.
Nice!

[CWH44300]

Originally Posted by Lou_the_welder

I'd love to shoot that one with the red dot.
Nice!

I’d like to torch off a full load of 2400 over the screens
I’m thinking it would be quite speedy

[Benchrest1]

I have all of the different barrel lengths and like the 5" best. Not too long and not too short. Plus the balance is the best with that size barrel.

Also I have a 5" 629 Classic set up just like STL223's.

[jcs266]

For me the 4" barrel is the best all-around length... It has good balance and is good for all practical distances out to 100 yds on steel targets. It carries comfortably in a vehicle and isn't too difficult to conceal with an untucked shirt.

I carry my guns regularly so too long a barrel is a non-starter for me.

[Bullzaye]

I have to agree with *Benchrest1* and others. I find the 5" bbl to be the perfect length. Well, perhaps a better way to state it is the perfect compromise. I don't know why there haven't been way more 5" barreled guns in the past.

When I was younger, I never cared for anything less than 6" bbls. The 4" always felt too abbreviated, to me.

But then...I happened into a 3" 629. I almost didn't buy it, because of its "short" bbl. So glad that I did! Love that little beast! Then I got a Dan Wesson .44 with a 4" bbl, and I came to appreciate it, too.

Still...overall, 5 inch is my fav!

[StrawHat]

For me, the ideal barrel length depends mostly on the frame size. My I and J frame are best with 3” barrels. I prefer the 5” barrel on K frames and N frames serve me best with the 4” barrel.

For target revolvers, I let the rulebook tell me what barrel length to use.

Kevin

[bearman49709]

Ks 2 1/2"-3"
Ls 6"
Ns 8 3/8"

[lppd4]

I have a 629 5" and to me it just looks right. With that said I like 4" barrels on K & L frames, 5" barrels on N frames if they are of the full lug variety and 6" or 6.5" barrels with the short ejector rod shroud

[elm_creek_smith]

I like 4 inch for K frames and 5 inch for N frames as long as they are not full lug barrels. (Heavy barrels for magnums, tapered barrels for specials.)

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

[oink]

I appreciate them all. My first duty gun was a 4" 66 and I loved that gun. New gun fever led me to trade it for a 4" 686. Turned out I didn't like it as much. I also got a 6" 686 and liked it a lot. I later went to a 6" 629 for a duty gun and loved it. In a high ride holster it was fine, even seated in my car. I also have a 4" and a 6" 19. I like them both equally.

Now days if carrying concealed, it would be none of the above. It would be my snubbie 19 or 69 or 629. However,I recently replaced the 4" 686 that I traded off long ago. I just did my last 218 qualification with it. I enjoyed it much more than I remembered enjoying the 4" 686 in the past but I don't know why.

But yeah, for range or plinking I guess I still like a 6". I'm no longer on the job so I never carry a 6" any more but in S. FL even a 4" is a little much for comfortable every day concealed carry.

Now days I like the 69 a lot but I haven't found the perfect factory load for it. I never got to shoot the short barrel 44 mag rounds and unfortunately they no longer make them.

As of late it's mostly been my XDs 45. It's just easy and comfortable to carry.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

Whatever you like is better..........Best to have some of all.

[Fishinfool]

Originally Posted by 75Vette

Silly huh???

It needs a bipod....

Larry

[ameridaddy]

Originally Posted by bigggbbruce

4" carry better.
5" has a nice balance on N frames.
6 1/2" has a better sight radius.

That's why they make choices.

8 3/8" even better sight radius
10 5/8" no need to shoot, just poke 'em in the eye

[seldon14]

Depends on use. Fir concealed carry, 2 and 3 in J frames are great, as well as 3in K frames. When concealment is not an issue, the 6in k frame with target stocks feels, points, and shoots like no other for me.

[Ghost Magnum]

I currently have two revolvers. A 586 with a 4 inch barrel and a 686 plus pro series with a 5 inch barrel. I prefer a 4 inch barrel. But I carry a shoot my pro series more often.

[roberth]

I picked a 629-6 5 inch.

[Tytan01]

Originally Posted by Fishinfool

It needs a bipod....

Larry

Or it's own Sherpa..... LOL!

[jtcarm]

All depends what you’re gonna do with it.

6.5” hunting/longer range shooting.
4” general carry/SD
5” compromise, or what I call a “field gun”, one that you carry on a belt in the boonies.

I’ve found 5-5.5” to be as long as I can carry comfortably when just knocking about, driving, running a tractor, walking, etc, and that’s on a dedicated gun belt (not trousers) which allows for some shifting when you climb in the truck or otherwise change posture.

[wproct]

On a double action revolver the 5 inch is my favorite followed by the 4 inch. On Single action revolvers it is the 4 5/8 inch barrel, in other words the barrel and ejector rod housing are the same length. I don't carry my handguns so my preferences are all about looks, balance, etc.

[Mike_Fontenot]

Another vote for a 5" full-underlug barrrel, at least for an N-Frame 629. That's what I carry every day, from pajamas-off until pajamas-on, in a homemade under-the-shirt cloth vertical shoulder holster.

[CH4]

I have N frames with 2.6, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 5.5, 6.5 and 8 3/8” barrels. For me I think 44 mags with 4” barrels provide the best balance for most uses.

[Bumpus13]

Originally Posted by Tytan01

I know there are other barrel lengths for S&W Revolvers but 4, 5 & 6.5" are by far the most common lengths.

So my question is...which one length do you prefer over the others?

I just picked up a Model 629-6 5" 44 Mag Classic. I thought it would be the "perfect" barrel length but after matching it up to my other guns in the collection...I'm going back to 4" as my preferred choice. Any length longer on a revolver makes me think of the Joker gun in the Michael Keaton Batman movie. Silly.

Pictured is my 5" Classic. A very nice gun but the barrel just ain't doing it for me at the moment. Like having a kid with buck teeth. You love them just as much as your other children but..." Damn..honey...we gotta find that boy a dentist!"

88 Magnum Shoots Through Schools - YouTube

[rich5674]

I’m on my third with a 5” barrel. Pre 27, 625, now a 686. Maybe a629 in the future. 2” for snubs. No use for 3 and 4”. If somebody gave me a 6” revolver i’d take it but not seek one out

[Glashaus]

3" , longer barrels are for rifles

[stansdds]

4 inches makes a good OWB or shoulder holster carry revolver and a full underlug helps with muzzle rise and balance.

6 to 6 1/2 inches makes a good hunting or range revolver, but not nearly as easy to carry as a 4 inch revolver. I find a full underlug on this length of barrel to be muzzle heavy.

I do not have any 5 inch barreled revolvers, but they strike me as a good compromise between carry, if you can find a holster specifically for this barrel length, and range/hunting use.

[NY-1]

4 inch barrels are my favorites. They handle well, are generally comfortable to maneuver with, allow the gun to be stored more easily, and tend to look the best IMO.

(The 5" N-frame models do look nice with the barrel extending just a bit further beyond the ejector rod shroud's taper though. And I prefer J-frames in snub-nosed barrel lengths.)

[klhender]

I'm in the market for a S&W 629 and a S&W 610. After a great deal of reflection, I've decided on the 5-inch models.

Generally, I'm a 4-inch barrel guy, but these N frames have a different feel so I'm "Moving On Up" to the 5-inch.