I've read it suggested that the Bull Barrel on a model 10 is stronger than the lighter pencil tapered barrel. But what is the significant difference. Each one will fire any .38 Special+P round made today and yesterday. Even on non-bull barrel, a M-28 or 27 will handle a .357 Magnum (not quite the same thing of course).

What was the purpose behind doing bull and pencil barrels?

Theoretically yes, they are stronger. But that doesn't have anything to do with what rounds it can handle, necessarily. The main, significant difference is the weight of the bull barrel can help reduce felt recoil and get the gun back on target quicker.

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More weight towards the muzzle aids recoil control.

Also, one bothers Saxon Pig more than the other.

In Handgunner's Guide 1960 by Chic Gaylord he admires the, then, new bull barrel of the S&W Model 10 saying he got it from somebody he knew at S&W that it could handle hotter loads but that he (Gaylord) personally would feel better if the cylinder was a little larger with a little more steel in between chambers. (Gaylord admired the Colt's Official Police more than the S&W Model 10 as far as service revolvers go)

I'm not saying that you did not read that but it is B.S. The weak link in the system is the cylinder, not the barrel. When reloaders assemble cartridges with crazy high pressures cylinders distort before there is any barrel damage. However, heavy barrels are more resistant to bulging if a bullet is fired into a barrel obstruction located forward of the frame.

If you are particularly sensitive to recoil you might notice a difference but I doubt that faster time between shots with a heavy barrel could be demonstrated.

Among the colorful things that have been written about Model 10s are claims that a heavy barrel can be swung harder as a sap without bending it but the standard barrel's taller sight catches your eye quicker for fast shots fired looking over the gun rather than aligning the sights. (The most important thing in that long sentence is the correct name for a "pencil barrel.")

There are two differences that matter to me. First, standard barrels look more old fashioned and hence seem more collectable. More important, a long time ago I was provided a standard barrel 10 on a job so they are nostalgic.

Any model 10, bull or pencil, even with 'less metal' around the cylinders will handle the toughest .38 special +P loads around. When they say, "Strong, modern firearms in good condition" they could just say "S&W Model 10". They are so strong and modern that they would have to be seriously abused not to be in 'good condition'.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Personally I find that the "pencil" barrel on my model 67 makes it much easier to transition between targets than my "bull" barreled model 620. Yeah, the 620 features a 2 piece barrel assembly but the effect of that particular assembly is noticeably heavier and I do feel it when shifting to a new target. As for muzzle rise during rapid fire, really don't notice any benefit because as hard as I have tried I just cannot move my trigger finger as fast as Jerry Miculek. In fact I'm still scratching me head on how any Human can move his finger that fast. As much as I enjoy shooting my 620 for it's accuracy, for simply shooting with 38 special I don't think that there has ever been a revolver made with a finer balance than the "pencil" barreled model 15 or 67.

One is slender, svelte, artistic.

The other one is a piece of pipe stuck on the end of the gun.

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John 3:16 .

Got that right.

And now for the purists: Pencil barrel, pencil barrel, pencil barrel.

P.S.: Pencil barrel

Hmmm ..... "piece of pipe," catchy. We may have new forum slang.

Bill Jordan preferred the bull barrel, saying it "pointed" better for him due the extra weight out front.

I like the bull barrel on the M13 and the pencil barrel on the M&Ps.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

If S&W had done the heavy barrel M10 in 6", and whipped up something like the Bomar rib/sights, they could have saved a bunch of PPC nuts some money back in the day.

Heavy vs. taper, I like'em both. Have to say that when I hear someone trot out the term 'pencil barrel', to me it just screams 'noob'.
Sorry, too many hours behind the gun counter.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Yup, piece of pipe stuck on the end of a gun. . .bull barrel. I could not agree more. The "pencil" barrel is my favorite with the exception of the non-tapered barrels you find on the M19 and many others.

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Dr. B

In theory, the bull barrel should vibrate less and be more mechanically accurate. In practice, with a 4-6" barrel this is a non issue. I personally prefer the bull barrel with ejector shroud. I find the balance to be just perfect.

I agree with k22fan on the faster sight acquisition with the pencil barrel, and, for me, going from one target to the next is faster, also. However, with the right grips, sometimes I like a heavy barrel. It seems more stable. That can be good or bad.

IMO, it is mostly a matter of preference as to balance, and may have a lot to do with whether the target is static or not. Even for moving targets, though, folks disagree as to which is best.

For me, the most significant difference is sights. I think that for most people, it is handling (weight and balance).

Incidentally, "bull barrel" might not be such a great name. To me, it means a very heavy cylindrical barrel, like on some PPC guns. I'm pretty sure, however, that you are referring to the factory heavy barrel.

The bull barrel is slang terminology for a heavy barrel and I think the main advantage is the extra weight out of the front of the gun allows many shooters to shoot more accurately. Pencil Barrel is slang terminology for the standard or tapered barrel and it makes the gun lighter and easier to carry. Some people think the tapered Barrel is more aesthetically pleasing.

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No life story has happy end.

My opinion is that the factory found it is cheaper to not taper the barrels and they had their slick advertising people to come up with reasons why they are better and the majority of the public fell for it. Larry

When the 'heavy' barrel was introduced, many felt that it was due to the
"Border Patrol" desire for the heavier barrel.
The revolver was commonly called the 'Border Patrol Model'.

Speaking from a strictly "Old School Cop" point of view. The bull barrel just made a much better "teaching tool" for those situations requiring a sudden attitude adjustment.

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Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

You can "draw" quicker with a "pencil" barrel. :-)

If my memory serves me right, back in the mists of time, the "bull barrel" terminology for the heavy barrel (which was S&W speak) was originally introduced by Ruger for their .22, and then over time became a more generic term for "extra thick" barrels on guns of any brand (rifles too) that also came in a regular edition.

As for the effect of the heavy barrel, it does put more steel and therefore more weight up front, thereby shifts the center of gravity forward and reduces actual recoil. That's simple physics, not subject to anyone's opinions. Whether the overall additional weight on a gun that's carried all day justifies the benefit isn't for me to decide. With standard .38 Special loads, the K-frame certainly doesn't NEED the heavy barrel, and as others have said, the standard barrel looks classier. On something like the Model 13, it's a different story.

What you are calling "taper" is actually termed "standard" barrel by S&W . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

The standard barrel is indeed, tapered. Or at least partially tapered. Some.

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Halfway and one more step

Model 10 Strength? The only revolver I've ever had fail was an old Model 10 that cracked at the barrel throat. This was with standard velocity 38 spls. It was old and well used when I got it so I don't know what it had been subjected to in the past. I got a replacement barrel changed them out and its been fine since.
Jim

The only difference I experience is I come back to the aimpoint better with my Model 10-8 than I do my Model 10-7.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

The first time I ever heard the term "pencil barrel" was in the late 1970's and it was in relation to a Ruger M77R rifle, the model with the standard weight barrel and no open sights. That descriptor seemed to make sense at that time, more so than in reference to a revolver barrel.

I like my 4" barreled Model 10-5 standard barrel and my 10-6 heavy barrel equally. It is nice to have the contrast.

When it comes to 2 & 1/2" or shorter barrels, it hardly matters.

I think your first point was exactly what Gaylord was making when he said he would feel much better if the cylinder had a little more steel in between the chambers.

Today the m10 anything old or new bull/heavy or pencil/taper can handle .38 special anything out of the factory and most reasonable handloads. But then, Gaylord was talking back in the day when they still had the .38-44 hi-speed cartridge was still around and rated for certain .38 guns and not for others

While S&W has made tapered barrel modern Classic Model 10s their frame that is shaped to accommodate a lock and their MIM internals look wrong with the old standard barrel. Heavy barrels look right on modern Model 10s. (Hopefully my tarring and feathering for mentioning them in this sub-forum will kill me before it hurts too much.)

While I owned it I called my feather weight Savage Model 99's barrel a Noodle Barrel. If we'd had the internet I imagine that I would have been corrected and told to call it a Thin Spaghetti Barrel.

My dad was issued the pencil barrel in the academy in 1954. He later traded it in for the heavy barrel after his partner hit a guy over the head with the bull barrel. Personally, I like the pencil barrel myself since I don't carry a 10 and will never have to hit someone with it.

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