Why an 8+ inch barrel?

NCBeagle

NCBeagle

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What is the purpose of an 8+ inch barrel? I understand that the increased sight radius might have some advantage, but that is a lot of barrel. I've been looking for a 586 and just ran across a 586-2 with an 8" barrel at a local pawn shop. It looks cool, but something like that is way too big to carry. I may buy it just for fun, on the range. I also see quite a few Pythons with this large barrel. The .357 does not strike me as the best hunting round...so, what are your thoughts. What do you do with our long barrel revolvers? Most that I've seen look have have been safe queens.
 
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The 8"+ barrel lengths were made exactly for that...sight radius and weight for target shooting. The Registered Magnums came with up to an 8 1/2" bbl, but some official shooting association (USRA ?) had a limit and so Smith trimmed them back to 8 3/8" to be legal for competition. Smith stuck with that bbl length as their standard until they came out with a 10 5/8" bbl for silhouette shooting...different rules.
 
1 - sight radius (simply physics)
2 - balance/counter weight.

I shot a 629 with the 8 inch barrel and the balance of it when firing was outstanding.
 
I am shamlessly bragging. I have a 27-2, a 57no dash and a 29-2, all 8 3/8" and all nickel. Each have killed a hog or two. I enjoy the 27 at the range and the longer barrels work good with my tri-focals.
 
The Long Barrels

I hunt with these long barrels having 10 of them in all the calibers Smith made. I've have no trouble carrying them in shoulder holsters and find the hunt more challenging. Using them in my work I've taken Elk with the .22 Jet with no trouble and Bear with the .357. The long sight radius is very effective, and I really enjoy shooting them.
 
sisters.jpg
Here they are if it works.
 
Why and 8+ inch barrel?

Hmm.. No one mentioned the 3rd factor for the longer barrel: more muzzle velocity and more kinetic energy downrange... right? Yes, I have a 29-2, a model 17-4 and a 25-5, all with the 8 -3/8" bore.. (and a few others).. I love 'em all! With the right over the shoulder holster, they all can be carried afield easily....

PS. My thanks and regards to all on this forum. You have been a wealth of knowledge and wisdom...
 
Yes the .357 is sufficient for deer hunting. Phil Shoemakers' daughter does or did carry a model 66 in Alaska for protection against the great bears. She is an excellent shot and Phil taught her to shoot 'em in the head.
 
Who said long tubes?

Here's the K frames. That's one in every caliber they made!
8inKs.jpg


But these are the barrel length I like the most. That extra couple of inches help when your shooting 100-200yds!
SilA.jpg


jcelect
 
Weight/Sights/Performance

I purchased a new 686 8 inch when they first came out. It is a great shooter, accurate with any bullet design and weight (sight adjustment required) and handles like a dream. I use mine just for long range plinking with relatively warm loads. I also have a 27-2 with the 8 3/8ths but enjoy shooting the 686 more.

Yes, it does not carry well afield, but that is a small problem compared to the performance and sheer pleasure of shooting it. My old eyes are able to locate the front sight better than a 6 inch and considerably better than a 4 inch. It is one of the few handguns I can shoot well without a scope or dot.

The extra weight created by the additional two inches with under lug is very noticeable. The weight is hung out front rather than over the hand, allowing for considerably less recoil and muzzle flip (for lack of a better term).

Four inchers are for carrying, 6 inchers are for utility, 8 inchers are for shooting.
 
hey tlflag,
what kind of work situation would require shooting elk with a 22jet ?
 
I have an M657 with an eight and three eighths inch barrel.
Bought a holster for it off the ad board here last year.
In July I put it in that holster and shot it in a steel plate match. The gun made me look good, even on small plates at about 40 yards.
It does not approve of missing.
 
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