I've done some searching but cannot find this topic. What kind of gain might I expect from a 6" barrel over a 4" with a 158gr .357 round? I'm considering a 6" model 686 instead of a 2.5" or 4". The main application would be outside on my rural Alabama property or as a light protection piece while hiking in eastern mountains. Due to the length I probably wouldn't carry it anywhere else.

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63, 640, 65LS, 66, 1894C

I've done some searching but cannot find this topic. What kind of gain might I expect from a 6" barrel over a 4" with a 158gr .357 round? I'm considering a 6" model 686 instead of a 2.5" or 4". The main application would be outside on my rural Alabama property or as a light protection piece while hiking in eastern mountains. Due to the length I probably wouldn't carry it anywhere else.

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63, 640, 65LS, 66, 1894C

Depends on a lot of factors. Variation between individual guns can be so large that one 4" can shoot about the same velocities as another 6". Types of loads, and powders used, makes a big difference. If I had to guess a number for general use, I'd say 75fps. Your results may vary.

A generic rule of thumb would be 50fps loss per inch

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Eccentric old coot

Quite a bit more fps, plus more accuracy.

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NRA Lifetime Member

I have both 4", 6" and 8" 686s, and I wind up carrying the 4" most often on "walkabout" trips through the brush.

Depending on whether I load with 231 or 296 expect 50 to 100 fps difference for the added two inches on the 6".

However, most important to me is that I can carry a 4" in a strong-side OWB holster and still sit comfortably. The 6" seems to keep getting in the way when I sit. And if I have to use a bandolier holster, I might as well carry the 8".

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Science plus Art

I have read quite a number of trials over the years. In one case a long barrel was progressively cut back, to eliminate variables from gun to gun. The best answer seems to be that you'll gain from 50-75 FPS per inch.

But if I was buying a M-686, I'd take the four-inch. With a M-27 or M-28, I'd take a six-inch. Has to do with barrel weight and balance.

Ruger has discontinued its half lug GP-100, but it was a good compromise. The full lug GP-100 is, like the 686, better in four-inch, in my opinon.

Handle both barrel lengths, then make your final decision more on which individual gun is best fitted and finished.

If you need higher velocity, you can use 140 grain bullets. Hornady's have a good reputation for good penetration on game animals. But expansion may be a little slow for optimum results on humans.


T-Star