Sometimes I wish I had gotten the 4", but the 6" makes the most of the .357 cartridge. I have a 2.5" model 19 also, but that short barrel does not use all of the potential the .357 has to offer. The powder does not all get burnt in the short barrel. You get a lot of muzzle flash and recoil, and velocity/power wise I don't think you are getting much, if any more than a hotly loaded .38 special. A 4" is a great compromise between the 6" and short barreled versions but the 6" really make the .357 shine. That's why I have kept mine. I don't care for a 6" gun in a belt holster so I carry mine in Guide's Choice chest holster.