Perfect size barrel length?

Hotrodcorvette1976 · Dec 16, 2020

Hello all.
Looking through my antique smith’s and just wondering what you consider the “perfect” overall barrel length? Everything considered, me personally, i prefer the 6”. It can hunt, looks aesthetically pleasing, and in a pinch could be ccw. For me, the
4”s would be a close second. I know right now, shorter barrel revolvers are commanding a premium and are more sought after. Just curious as to what you personally feel is best for you?
Have fun.

two-bit cowboy · Dec 16, 2020

It depends upon the frame.

I-frame: 2", with a square butt, although my 3¼" round butt .32 Hand Ejector with a Tyler-T from 1929 is mighty sweet.

J-frame: 3", without question! Preferably with a square butt.

K-frame: 3" round butt or 5" square butt

N-frame: 5"

X-frame: 2¾" or 10½", it's a toss-up.

Benchrest1 · Dec 17, 2020

5" works the best for me.

dwh · Dec 17, 2020

For me it a 3in barrel on J, K or L frame smith’s. Ruger da revolvers it 2 3/4 or 3in barrels and 5 1/2in on single actions.

hittman77 · Dec 17, 2020

This in a J frame:

And 3-inch in revolvers this size:

NY-1 · Dec 17, 2020

For K-frames and larger I prefer a 4" barrel. Maneuverable, not too unwieldy, and aesthetically pleasing with either a half or full underlug. On J-frames the standard 1.875" or 2" (not sure of the exact measure) is fine in my book.

Though I do love the 3" barrel option on the SP101 and some K-frames as well.

Sevens · Dec 17, 2020

The first revolver that I ever bought was a 6-inch 686-3 and the look was absolutely perfect and I think it still is. The weight is also a nice thing to have when letting loose the heavy stuff. Experience, maturity and maybe age convinced me that in a full-lug L-frame, a 4-inch is likely a better choice. The 6-inch full lug gets gangly at about the “one box” mark on a range day.

But on the N-frame 27 or 28, the 6-inch is goldilocks! It looks rights, it balances well, it loves the heavies, and I couldn’t find a reason to own a 4-inch 27 or 28.

I also absolutely love a 6-inch K-frame but at the same time, it’s difficult to express how much I also love the 4-inch heavy barrel 10 and 64.

Tell you the odd duck that I have never quite understood, rarely EVER see in the wild but would love to try? The scarce 5-inch J-frame Model 60. I’m not sure what the idea was behind this one but I would love to spend a few sessions with one. I’d try everything from 148gr mid-range wadcutters to 125 & 158 grain .357 Magnum bombs through it just to see what it’s like.

I suspect that recoil would be nasty and that the novelty would wear off, but it is still an unanswered question.

reccpd101 · Dec 17, 2020

2.25-3" I and J frames so the ejector rod clears the empties in 38.
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3" in K, 4" in L, 5" in N see below for Ns

Don't shoot 357 in J or anything in X, just too much of a good thing in my small hands.

StrawHat · Dec 17, 2020

The ideal lengths for my style if shooting and carrying?

I/J frames need a 3” barrel (at least in centerfire).

K frames are best with a 5” barrel.

N frames are at their best with 4” barrels.

I have lengths outside of those but longer or shorter don’t get used nearly as much.

Kevin

Laketime · Dec 17, 2020

Hard to beat a properly sighted 4 inch N frame in .44 magnum for overall use.

glenwolde · Dec 17, 2020

For me, 6"....and 8" can be O.K. if it's not a full underlug barrel. It's not about what is visually appealing, it's about what works best for shooting.

So far in my over 5 decades of shooting I have expended well over 100,000 rounds at target ranges. I have expended 0 rounds in any other endeavor.

Now on those occasions that I do carry a weapon I carry a short barreled version of the ones I shoot at the range. I figure familiarity goes a long way. But if I could only have one I'd still take the 6" because of the way I actually use it, and I would not worry about a compromise length trying to cover all the highly unlikely eventualities.

gerhard1 · Dec 17, 2020

J-frame: either two or three-inch

K-frame: four-inch

L-frame: either four or five-inch

N-frame: four, five, or six-inch

Of course, YMMV

steelslaver · Dec 17, 2020

Depends on the frame size, caliber and intended use.
2 of my favorite 45 colts have a 5" barrels
45 acps 4" barrels except my 325 carry gun is a 2 1/2"
K frames mostly 4" 22 or 357
J frames 2" except adjust sight 22s 4"

ContinentalOp · Dec 17, 2020

J-frame: 2".

K-frame: 2-3".

L-frame: Not a huge fan of L-frames, but I like 3-4".

Not interested in anything bigger than L-frame.

BAM-BAM · Dec 17, 2020

My first question is "for what?" intended use?

Concealed carry for me a 3inch K-frame 66 or 65 .... or my 3" 60-10 J-frame

Hunting 6 inch 686 .357 for Pa. deer or a .22lr 17 for small game.

Target shooting 6 inch K-frame 14 or 19

jjmIII_Ruger · Dec 17, 2020

3" rules!

GerSan69 · Dec 17, 2020

2 to 3" is my size range, usually 2", and no larger than a K-frame. I know the larger ones have a lot of fans, but they're just not for me. I have a couple of 2" Js (638 and 640) and a few semi-autos (6906, 3913, 457, Kahr CM-9, and Beretta 85) in the carry rotation. I like variety.

jcs266 · Dec 19, 2020

For me a 3" to 4" bbl is what I prefer in a K or L frame. For an N frame a 4" is perfect.

Neversink n Klapperthal · Dec 19, 2020

6 1/2 inch

Perfect size barrel length?

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