Model 10 Tapered vs Heavy Barell

VaTom · Sep 11, 2016

I am looking at a used Model 10-6 that has a 4" heavy barell. As a LE officer in the 1970's-80's we always carried Model 10's with the 4" tapered barell.

What would be advantages of heavy barell over tapered ? Less recoil due to more weight, better balance, more accurate, longer life, etc.?

I always like the look of the tapered barell.

Muss Muggins · Sep 11, 2016

Opinions vary widely. I don't think there's any difference in performance between the two. I prefer the standard (what you're calling tapered) barrel.

Mike SC Hunter · Sep 11, 2016

The original tapered barrel looks classy and shoot well......Mine does......To me the fat barrel detracts from the gun....To me the ugliest revolver Smith ever made was the 581 series.....But I digress.......

peterdeb · Sep 11, 2016

Have both and shot both. the 10-5 seems a bit more balanced and the 10-6 a bit barrel heavy. Both are great shooters.. Buy them both and find out for your self...Its a win win

Ashlander · Sep 11, 2016

I like the standard (tapered barrel), but the extra weight and mass of the heavy barrel help with muzzle flip and second shot follow-up. It also just looks more intimidating (not an insignificant factor in law enforcement). The barrel also takes longer to heat up if you're shooting a lot of rounds in a couple minutes (but once it's hot -- it takes longer to cool off).

That said, the standard barrel is a whole lot lighter and I find the front sight easier to acquire on bring up (it's a lot taller on the tapered barrel).

kbm6893 · Sep 11, 2016

Heavy barrel for me. The tapered barrel looks wrong to me.

NB4EST · Sep 11, 2016

Model 10s with 4" or 5" tapered barrels are my favorites.
.

Rick_A · Sep 11, 2016

The heavy barrel dampens a lot of wobble shooting unsupported as well as dampening recoil with +p loads.

Steely85 · Sep 11, 2016

Tapered, cuzz you can't get this with a heavy barrel.

lamarw · Sep 11, 2016

I have a blued 10-5 standard barrel, a factory nickel 10-5 standard barrel and a blued 10-6 which are heavy barreled revolvers. Bliss is variation even if it is a small assortment.

All of mine have 4" barrels. It is probably a coincidence but my two 10-5's seem to have the best trigger pull in both single and double action. I do like the heft of the heavy barrel and the trigger is just slightly less wonderful.

Laketime · Sep 11, 2016

Really not enough energy or bullet weight coming out of a .38 Special to have to worry about muzzle flip. My understanding was this was to help female officers back in the day in qualifying.

Absalom · Sep 11, 2016

Laketime said:
...... My understanding was this was to help female officers back in the day in qualifying.

This seems very unlikely considering the timeframe. The heavy barrel began replacing the standard barrel on a large scale with police departments, e.g. NYPD, in the early 1960s with the Model 10-6. This was a time when the number of regular female patrol officers qualifying with standard-size service guns rather than special "female sized" sidearms (I seem to recall for NYPD that was a 3-inch Model 36) was neglegible to non-existent.

rockquarry · Sep 11, 2016

Regardless of looks, the heavy barrel gun is easier for most people to shoot well. The standard barrel revolver seems quite muzzle light in comparison because it is.

In the hands of a pro, however, this means little. There should be no difference in accuracy between the two.

shouldazagged · Sep 11, 2016

I have a four-inch 10-5 that I prefer to a heavy-barreled revolver. To me it seems to balance and point better.

I also like the graceful retro look of the standard barrel, but that's a secondary consideration.

k22fan · Sep 12, 2016

VaTom said:
[...] As a LE officer in the 1970's-80's we always carried Model 10's with the 4" tapered barell. [...]

My guess is that you will be happiest with a duplicate of your service revolver because that's what's nostalgic for you. The weight difference is only a couple ounces which does not make a whole lot of difference any way. There is no hurry to buy the one that is offered to you today. Considering that there are millions of Model 10s it is very likely that you will find exactly what you decide on fairly quickly.

VaTom · Sep 12, 2016

Thanks all for your responses. Yes I am partial to Model 10's due to that's what I carried and trained with 40 years ago. Passed on a nickel Model 10-5 4" standard barell in excellent condition at a gun show recently due to price and now regret it. Thought about it for 30 minutes and went back to the vendor table and it was gone! (I have a Model 15 and a model 64 2" barell but would like to add a Model 10.)

If you see it and want it, buy if you can!

Targets Guy · Sep 12, 2016

First image is of a 10-7 (tapered) at 7 yards

Second image is of a 10-8 (heavy) at 7 yards

Targets Guy · Sep 12, 2016

First image is of a 10-7 (tapered) at 7 yards

Second image is of a 10-8 (heavy) at 7 yards

both were 4" barrels. 10-7 used 130 gr, 10-8 used 158 gr

BE Mike · Sep 12, 2016

Targets Guy said:
First image is of a 10-7 (tapered) at 7 yards

Second image is of a 10-8 (heavy) at 7 yards

Practice makes perfect! I'm thinking that stray shot on the first target is operator error. At 7 yards all the shots should be touching, regardless of barrel type.

Aircrewman · Sep 12, 2016

I'm with shouldazagged. The Heavy Barrel does "point", significantly, for me, much better and I would expect for most shooters. At least in a combat situation it would be perhaps a little better for a sidearm to have a more natural "pointer." Also, more weight does improve follow up shots if needed. I like them both but I would use a heavy barrel for a combat situation. The standard barrel is a lighter holster gun, but not by much. Either one will be suitable however for any matter they would be called to perform.

Model 10 Tapered vs Heavy Barell

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