Barrel Lenghts....Pros/Cons?

duppie

duppie

Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2012
Messages
956
Reaction score
741
Location
Central New Jersey.
I expect this question has been asked many times before but please indulge me.
I have a model 27 with what I believe to be a 4 inch barrel lined up as soon as my permits come in but I also want a model 686 with a 3 inch barrel...more so since scanning through the S&W snubby picture gallery and threads.
My question is, other than a certain esthetic and visual balance quality to say a 66 or 686 with a 3 inch barrel, is there a significant benefit to a longer barrel length?
Primary use is obviously a factor so lets just say it's primary purpose will be HD with occasional forays to the range and frequent fondling...let me reiterate...that was frequent fondling.
 
Register to hide this ad
A longer sight radius is always better for accuracy. And the longer barrel will give the bullet more velocity. Over the years I have read that there is a 35-50 FPS advantage for every inch. Not really that big of a deal with .357 Magnums.
What is the "dash" # of your 4" M27? If it is a M27-2 or older, it's quite valuable.
Jim
 
P&R Fan said:
A longer sight radius is always better for accuracy. And the longer barrel will give the bullet more velocity. Over the years I have read that there is a 35-50 FPS advantage for every inch. Not really that big of a deal with .357 Magnums.
What is the "dash" # of your 4" M27? If it is a M27-2 or older, it's quite valuable.
Jim
Click to expand...

Not sure since I only handled the gun briefly but all appears tight,faint turn marks and excellent finish with no visible holster wear.Complete presentation case with tools but no paper work...she's a big girl and will properly have to swap out grips in order to fit my hand but can't wait to get her to the range. As to the 686... 3 inch it is. Thank you for the info.
 
The main advantage for a 3" barrel is concealability and speed out of a high ride holster. There is a 50 fps penalty compared to a 4" barrel, and a somewhat shorter sight radius. All things being equal, a 4" is more barrel heavy, hence "hangs" better for slow fire SA at the range. Things are not equal, however, since the 686 has a full length barrel lug, which gives it about the same feel as a 4" with a short lug and tapered barrel (e.g., a mountain gun or M27).

I put Ahrends boot grips on my 3" 686+, which look and feel well proportioned. I find it reasonably easy to control, even with hot magnum loads. At 42 oz, it is not a light gun. It is well-suited as a side arm when hiking east of the Mississippi, concealed as to not "scare the horses."

I haven't carried my 4" 686+ much since getting the 3". It's nice to shoot, but requires exaggerated arm bending to draw from a pancake or IWB holster. For hunting or target shooting, I'd find a way to carry a 6".
 
I have a 3 1/2" 27-2 and a 4" 27-2. Full power handloads with a slow
burning powder, 2400 , show a loss of 75-100 fps in the shorter barrel
with my chronograph. The 3 1/2" barrel actually measures 3 7/16" and
the 4" measures 4 1/8" for an actual difference of 11/16". Many S&W
barrels are not exactly specified length. Expect a significant velocity
loss with an inch shorter barrel with full loads.
 
Thank you Gentlemen for all the info, as I indicated a firearm with a 3 inch barrel will not be a primary range gun as I have 2 9mm for that purpose. I have always loved not only the heft but the esthetics of a wheel gun every since holding my grandfather's k frame now lost to history.
 
Just FYI the advantage of slightly longer barrels in certain revolvers is a full length extractor rod. For example, the 3" Model 66 is more popular than the 2-1/2" because the shorter barrel required a shorter extractor rod. IRRC some 625s with 3" barrels have shorter extractor rods.
 
Nibbiness about barrel length is just personal preference (and nothing wrong with that). S&W always considered 4-inch revolvers their "combat" models, 6-inchers their "target" guns, and the 8-inch guns (especially in the magnums) were mostly intended for hunting and some specialized type of target shooting. In reality, that works out pretty well. You don't really gain much in terms of hiding a 3-inch gun over a 4-inch of the same model. The barrel is not what it hard to hide.

Some people do seem to attribute a certain machismo to shorter barrelled revolvers. That's nothing new, and if that appeals, then why not? I have to admit I sort of like 2.5-inch Model 19s and 66s, but I would also admit they make no sense, if you just think about them objectively. They are kind of handy for training. If you can accurately shoot one of them, you can probably easily shoot any other .357. ;)

TheTinMan has a valid point about extractor rods.
 
TheTinMan said:
Just FYI the advantage of slightly longer barrels in certain revolvers is a full length extractor rod. For example, the 3" Model 66 is more popular than the 2-1/2" because the shorter barrel required a shorter extractor rod. IRRC some 625s with 3" barrels have shorter extractor rods.
Click to expand...
I presently have a Taurus 605 with a 3 inch barrel as my primary HD firearm and those few extra MMs on the extractor rod would indeed make a difference when dumping .357 shells so I see what you're saying.
 
Despite what some here say, the difference between a 3" and a 4" in terms of concealability is virtually zero when it comes to a K, L or N frame.

And concealing an N frame, good luck with that.
 
I buy all the 3 inch revolvers I can get my hands on, and very rarely go over 4 inch unless it's something like a Heavy Duty, Outdoorsman, K22 or a Freedom Arms. Even all of my 44 mags, except one are 4 inch( 5" Classic) or shorter. I'd say 75% of my revolvers are 4 inch or less, less being mo' better, imo. I just like shorter barrels, and don't care about minor velocity issues. :)
 
Concealing the barrel is not the point - it's the grip. A 3" barrel feels balanced with a boot grip, whereas a 4" barrel seems too muzzle-heavy to me. The other factor, which I mentioned above, is getting it out of concealment holster. A revolver has to be pulled about 2" further than a pistol with the same barrel length, because the pistol length includes the chamber. An inch makes a BIG difference in that regard.

I have no problem concealing a 3" N frame in an IWB holster with a boot grip, or even a full-length round grip, under a loose-fitting, untucked shirt. It's even easier under a windbreaker. With a polo shirt, I'd stay with a pistol, preferably a small one (e.g., SIG P239).
 
Groo here
The 3 in range seems to be the place where the bullet speeds take a jump,also at 5in then again about 7in.
I have little use for a longer barrel except for hunting where I try to get the most out of gun and load..
I had 4in for years , then got a 3in,,, 3in from then on, they just feel better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Barrel swapping
Replies
6
Views
403
md8232
M
C
Clocked barrel question.
Replies
0
Views
260
Colt Commander
C
T
Beginner barrel length question
Replies
10
Views
789
StrawHat
StrawHat
W
Model 64 Tapered Barrel
Replies
13
Views
464
ken158
K
S
New 632 Titanium barrel looks off
2
Replies
20
Views
930
-BTM-
B

Latest posts

Back
Top