Why are longer barreled P&R less valuable?

[BigBill]

The movies and the gun rags do influence us to a point. I do see the gun rags miss a point what's there rating or review isn't always good for everyone. They can sway the market either way.

I purchased a new Auto-Ordnance Army WW 2 copy 1911a1 before I read the review. I found this 1911a1 ww 2 clone to be as close to a ww 2 1911 as we can get. The new AO has been flawless for 500rds. They talked about ftf, stovepipes when I had none. Do they rate fair and put in or add problems to cover there ratings/review?

This is we're we on the forums can post our experiences.

 

[Doc44]

I have always been fascinated by the 44 Magnum with an 8 3/8-inch barrel and this one is also very accurate. (click on the photo for a better look)

Bill

 

[Jack Flash]

The sport of Silhouette Shooting was another reason folks used to buy revolvers with 8-3/8 inch barrels. The popularity of that sport seems to have waned.

The longer barrels are not as handy in close quarters, whether that involves hunting in thick brush or a home defense / self defense scenario.

Also, holster-carrying anything with a barrel that long would be awkward, especially if you need to work, hike, sit, drive a car, etc.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Giving complete credit to most of the foregoing answers are very much correct in all respects I think the KEY answer is usefulness over aesthetics. With concealed carry being extremely important today small guns of all types are all the rage, to use a cliché. Before someone buys a long barreled revolver they're going to think, "What will I use that for?" That doesn't come up when a short barreled gun is being considered - everyone KNOWS what the purpose of the gun is.

That said, I did buy a 6" barreled M586 a few years ago. The price was right, for one thing, and I didn't have such a gun in my collection, for another, and I knew the use - long range shooting - and believe you me, that gun is a LONG RANGE SHOOTER! Pretty nice looking, too. But I don't even think about holstering it.......

***GRJ***

 

[blackdeuce]

There are a lot of 8 3/8" guns on GB now. It seems to be a good time to buy one. If popularity ever shifts, they might go up in value.

The short barrel N frames are higher than a kite (mostly 3 1/2" and 5"). I often wonder what would happen to the value of these guns if the popularity shifts.

I think a 6" N frame looks about right. I have 4", 6", 7 1/2", and 8 3/8" N frames.

 

[Jack Flash]

There are a lot of 8 3/8" guns on GB now. It seems to be a good time to buy one. If popularity ever shifts, they might go up in value...

True... Someone may invent some new long range handgun shooting competition that is iron sight only. "The Elmer Keith Challenge" ??

I'm not sure the longer barrel "doesn't look right." For collecting or just admiring, the 8-3/8 inch barrel is just fine, IMHO.

 

[Tom K]

Yeah, nobody likes long barrels. Good - leaves more for me.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/76269-long-barreled-smith-wesson-thread-2.html

 

[jglsprings]

It is my humble opinion that if you are going to have a Model 29 it should be a long one...

I used to shoot silhouette with the long barrels and I got this one for old times sake.

It isn't as easy to shoot as the shorter barreled pistols and it's heavy to pack around up and down the hills. It sure does shoot tho!

But, it is outnumbered in the safe about 30 to one by shorter barrels.

 

[Rick_A]

I think revolvers as primary field use guns is becoming increasingly uncommon, as is the art of long range hand gunnery.

 

[BigBill]

Elmer Keith did make a 260 yard shot with his 4" barreled s&w n frame and hickok45 on you tube did the same shot. It's practice, practice and more practice. Plus quality ammo too.

 

[Tom_R]

Elmer Keith did make a 260 yard shot with his 4" barreled s&w n frame and hickok45 on you tube did the same shot. It's practice, practice and more practice. Plus quality ammo too.

Got the link to Hickock45 doing it?

I'd love to take a look at that one.

He is the man.

He's the best.

 

[flundertaker]

Yeah, nobody likes long barrels. Good - leaves more for me.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/76269-long-barreled-smith-wesson-thread-2.html

What's the story on the long boy all the way to the left? Makes the silhouette look like a CCW

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

 

[TAROMAN]

Started out with an 8-3/8" 29-2 that I used for hunting and silhouette competition.

Now, the fact that the long guns are "less desirable" to the purists just means more bargains for me.

 

[RKmesa]

Aesthetics???

I am very glad that the longer barrels are less desirable from a market stand point. When I first started collecting S&W's, I thought that any gun with a barrel longer than 4" was not aesthetically pleasing - then I picked up my 1st RM:



At that point, my perspective of what was aesthetically pleasing grew (both figuratively and literally). Fast forward a decade or so and although I still like the shorter barreled guns, it is the long tube ones that get my heart racing (just more to love I guess...). And probably the most wanted gun on my current "want it super bad" list is a certain 8.375" barreled transitional 357 that once belonged to a Mr. J. Hatcher. (I have an 8.375" 357 from all N-Frame P&R engineering changes, except for a transitional...) The Hatcher gun now resides in the collection of a forum member and when he posts his photos of that gun, I kind of melt from the inside out (think Indiana Jones).

Needless to say, I think the long-tube beauties get a bad wrap as they are a delight to behold and to shoot. Here are a few additional reasons that I love the long ones:









BTW - keep it quiet, as I love being able to pick these beauties up on the "cheap".

 

[mrrick]

IMHO I prefer a longer barrel for magnum calibers, especially .41mag. and .44mag. Any shorter and you're not going get the benefit of the magnum.
My 29 and 57 are 6 inches, my 19 is 4 inches, but thats an EDC type revolver, at least in the old days.

 

[rwsmith]

6" or more gets you

6" gets somewhat higher velocity, if it's needed, as in hunting. They also have a longer sight radius. Balance wise, my 6" feels nose heavy, though it shoots fine. I wouldn't want anything longer and it would definitely balance better with a 4" barrel. The 6" is good for deliberate aiming and shooting, but not as fast in action as a shorter barrel. I use mine for the range. For general purpose a shorter barrel would be tops. The thing about longer barrels being more accurate than shorter barrels is hooey. Hickok45 on youtube rings gongs at 80 yards with a snub nose.

I don't have a P&R, but a 6" 586/686 is easier to find and costs less than a shorter barrel of the same model for the very same reasons.

 

[Tom K]

What's the story on the long boy all the way to the left? Makes the silhouette look like a CCW

It's a Dan Wesson .357 with a 15" barrel. Here's a link to my original post (#144) in the thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...eled-smith-wesson-thread-3.html#post136768263

Here it is next to an 8-3/8 Model 14:

 

[Stirling]

I prefer barrel lengths of 3" to 5" because they're aesthetically pleasing to me and are more portable. I would buy a 6" revolver at a stretch. That said, I have used 7.5" and 8" barreled revolvers and they were a joy to shoot, particularly an 8" Dan Wesson HV .44.

 

[TEXVET]

Back in January of this year I purchased a really nice 8 3/8" blued M29-2 that had been on consignment at a LGS for a few months. I gave the seller $695 + tax ($750 out the door). I later acquired a presentation case for the gun from a fellow I know. He sold me the case for $40. Like all of those older cases, the blue flock had turned to dust. Joe Cebull restored the interior. That was $35. I sold the gun on Gunbroker two weeks ago. The buyer paid $1,300 for the gun and case. He said he had been looking for a gun like mine for two years. Overall the long barrel guns may not be as popular as in years past, but to many they are very collectible.

Everyone talks about short barrel .44s for CCW being the reason short barrel guns are more popular than 6" or longer guns. With the spate of small frame lightweight polymer guns, I can't see carrying a 6shot heavy gun for CCW. I personally carry a CZ 75 P-01 (13+1) in my console and a Springfield XDS (6+1) in my back pocket.

 

[DRYHEAT]

In the early '80s I was big into the silhouette game. My first gun for that was an "off" brand long barrel .357:

I went on to a 8 3/8 M29-2 and lusted after the 10.5" Silhouette model. Today I only have my first game gun. I wish I had not sold the S&W "long tom".