I have a Model 10-9 made September 1991. Pic attached. I absolutely love this wheel. The 10-9 is well balanced, accurate, and reliable. Although, whenever I see discussions about the 10 I always seem to notice a general preference for the bull barrel. Why is that? What does the bull barrel offer that my pencil barrel does not?

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I like your 10-9.

Just personal preferences.

The heavy barrel is slightly more muzzle heavy, so that would help with muzzle rise during firing. Other than that, makes the Model 10 look like a Model 13 and that also meant only one fixed sight K-frame barrel and frame profile to produce, not two.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

The trend over time in revolver shooting was more and more muzzle weight. Heavy barrels, underlugs. Not for everyone though. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Better balance and stability for some people, especially when aiming seriously.

It is also possible that at some point in history, some folks, especially in LE, prefered the superiority of the heavy barrel as a bludgeon.

Myself, I pretty much prefer the pencil barrel for its lighter carry weight and for its quicker pointing, but the stability of the heavy barrel is not to be ignored.

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Formerly Model520Fan

I prefer a bull barrel to a pencil barrel myself, with that being said I'm also a younger guy so heavy barrel revolvers have pretty much always been the norm for me. I think the pencil barrels look weird, and don't get me started on the early Colt snubbies that have no shroud what so ever! A locking point on the ejector is fine but having nothing there at all is just insanity to me. I don't mind the pencil barrel on my early Security Six but it took some getting used to. But given the choice I'll take the bull barrel every time.

S&W really needs to bring back the 3 inch 13 RB! Talk about the perfect carry magnum! Especially with the new no lock classics, and the new K frame with uncut forcing cone. That's like the S&W version of Glock Perfection for me!

I used a 10-8 for about three years when I was seriously shooting IDPA. The heavier barrel definitely helps with barrel flip when shooting +P-level loads (required back then to meet the power factor) fast. Other than that, some shooters just prefer the way a heavier barrel hangs when shooting.

I've got a 4" 10-5 with a tapered barrel like yours. It's a better carry gun due to its lighter weight, but it's hard to find a holster that works with the tapered barrel.

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Regards,

Chuck

The heavy barrels are just a bit more stable in most human hands; just more mass. I went from model 10 and 64 revolvers to a model 66, later to the heavier yet model 686. With the heavier revolvers, my qualification scores routinely picked up a point or two.

The old PPC revolvers are a good illustration of what I'm talking about.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

The C*** does not need a locking point on the front of the ejector rod, because the hand locks up the cylinder, unlike the S&W, where the cylinder rotates the wrong way (something about a patent). In addition, the locking pin at the rear is much larger on the C*** than on the S&W, although I wonder whether that makes much difference. S&W has functioned well with only a rear lock, even with the wrong-rotating cylinder, and also with two and three locks.

The success of the C*** with only two locks is hardly surprising. That's as many as S&W usually used.

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Formerly Model520Fan

I prefer the standard barrel profile on model 10’s.
I also prefer the “mountain gun” profile on my N frame magnums.

I generally like and prefer the weight forward balance of revolvers in general. But, there’s a limit. I especially dislike the full underlug on longer barreled revolvers for both weight and esthetic reasons.

Well, that’s my opinion anyway.

I prefer the heavy barrel on a 4" Model 10. It balances nicely and feels a little more steady in hand. For a 6" gun I prefer the tapered barrel.

Here is my old 10-1. I believe these were the first heavy barrel 10s:

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

I have a slightly different take on it, from a manufacturer's point of view. You likely would not have bought two 4" pencil barrels, nor two 4" heavy barrels, yes?

We often hear the statement that "LE preferred the heavy barrel for use as a club."

Does anyone think a miscreant could tell the difference between a crack on the noggin by one and the other?

Maybe the guy at Project Farm could rig up a precision mechanical arm, dial in the torque, and test one against the other on pumpkins or watermelons. (But heaven forbid, don't use goats!)

Gun writers could come up with a Relative Incapacitation Index for Unloaded Handguns and create subject matter to fill their publications for the next twenty years.

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You're shy a few manners.

My theory is the heavier bull barrel makes fast and accurate double-action shooting a tad easier.

I've read before that LAPD was largely responsible for the heavy barrel coming into production and favor among officers. They had a big focus on marksmanship, and the bull barrel was easier to stabilize for some shooters. I myself find it to be so as well. I have both styles and prefer the bull barrel for accuracy, but the extra weight is a trade-off.

Guess I'm not smart enough to understand how your question is relevant to the op's statement.

Aesthetically my preference is for tapered barrels and round butts, by a considerable margin.

That said, my only 4” Model 10 (a 10-6) has a heavy barrel and a square butt, because it shoots better for me.

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Mark Lathem

^^^^This^^^^

My all-time favorite DA shooter. Not a Model 10, but close:

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

My theory is that they wanted to standardize the K frame by eliminating the extra step down to the non-ribbed barrels.

I appreciate you picking mine first of the "off topic" responses -

Evidently, they all work and because there are different flavors, all are happy. Enough said!

Thanks. Whoever built this 10-9 in 1991 must have been a master. It is perfect in every single way. It's honestly been better than even the 10-5 I had previously. I cherish this piece. I shoot it a lot.

OP your gun is a beauty. I think a lot of people like the aesthetics of the heavy barrel. I have both and shoot them the same.

I think this one carries better.

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Retired LE Instructor/Armorer

When laying down suppressive fire with the Model 10, the pencil barrel would overheat and droop (like in the cartoons). Hence the heavy barrel. ��

I never struck anyone with a firearm, that’s what a baton is for.

Some interesting responses,
Might be as simple as the factory feeling it might sell better, might have also been some bean counters at the meeting saying it took less revolutions to turn down the barrel blank multiplied times X amount of barrels = $ cost savings in tool time and man hours... these are just guesses but bet alot of people traded in their old pencil barrel guns for the new version, bet alot wanted one of each which equals increased product sales.

BTW if you like the 4" Model 10 heavy barrel then imagine it with target sights and a raised ramp front site, now lookup Model 14-2 Hanen special or aka 14-2 Dayton gun.
if you dont want target sights but like a HB checkout the Model 581.

Ps, everyone knows you kabonk the bad guy with the heel of the revolver not the barrel silly

And no one likes a droopy barrel.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

For most people, the heavier barrel makes it easier to shoot well.

I can’t add much more to the conversation. I like the looks of the 4” tapered (standard barrel) better. There is an industrial design philosophy of “form follows function” so there is a reason for the heavy barrel design. Two of the best .38 revolvers from the 20th century.. Carried a 4” Model 10 tapered barrel back in the day as a LEO. Maybe the reason for my preference. Pictured is my 1979 Model 10 and a 1956 Colt Official Police. Both are great shooters but the heavier frame and barrel of the Colt does reduce felt recoil and does seem easier to stay on target with follow up shots.

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I find I can shoot the heavy barrel better ... the front sight just seems to hang onto the target steadier .
The thin barrel is more wobbley .
I shoot a 4" Heavy Barrel much better than a 6" tapered barrel .
So much for the longer barrel will be more accurate Bull-Shot ...
that old wives tale ain't necessarily True ... I discovered barrel weight has more to do with it than just length alone ...
I find a 5" heavy barrel will out shoot just about anything for me !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Haha! Yes, it is surprising how common this problem is.

Makes buffaloing someone more effective with heavy barrel.

Rosewood

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"I don't really care Margaret"

IT'S-NOT-A-PENCIL-BARREL
It is a standard taper barrel!!! Artdoc f/k/a Saxon Pig is currently rolling over in his grave right now. And since nobody is willing to pick up his cudgel (or more appropriately today-his Shillelagh)the task falls to me......

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Forum consigliere

Tapered barrels are for carrying a lot and shooting very little.

Heavy barrels are for shooting a lot, especially during LE training and qualification.

I've got a 10 ND that is a HB. Roy says it left the factory in 1960. I can't remember the exact month.

An old timer told me that the heavy barrel was a better head knocker that the std barrel.

First off, you have a very nice revolver. Barrel profile is kinda subjective and a personal thing. I first started shooting handguns at a young age back in 1965. I started out on .22 caliber guns that I could afford to shoot. My main interest was casual target shooting, and I was looking at Ruger MKI semi-auto pistols and I liked the looks of the 5.5 inch heavy barrel over the 6 7/8 inch tapered barrel. I had a chance to shoot both and also a Colt Woodsman Match Target, and this made me really like the heavier barreled pistols. Then when I looked at a Colt Python it was love at first sight. And then came the Smith & Wesson 586 - 686 revolvers and that seemed perfection to me. I like the forward weight, it steadies me, but that doesn't mean its for everyone. Plus, if it's a carry gun you don't want or need the extra weight.

I have both. I like both.

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Bobby SWCA #4067
SWHF #1144

From "Handgunner's Guide" Copyright 1960 by Chic Gaylord (author)

Page 42 "Smith & Wesson is bringing out a redesigned .38-caliber Military and Police that has a heavy stovepipe barrel four inches in length. Douglas Hellstrom of Smith and Wesson assures me that the cylinder is made of a new and stronger steel. The gun has a very nice hang and balance. The sights are far superior to the sights on the current Military and Police. The cut in the cylinder for the cylinder stop is still the thinnest part of the chamber wall. If they would only move that cut over into the thick webbing between the chambers, I'd feel more comfortable about shooting hot loads. However, they do say that the new steel gives the gun sufficient strength to handle high-speed loads successfully."

People of the day considered the Colt stronger than the S&W revolvers. Mr. Gaylord recommended a heavier firearm for recoil control. He also favored the 200 gr "Super Police" load in the days before modern bullet design.

Geoff
Whose library is interesting.

So now we have the pencil barrel or the stove pipe barrel. This just took off in an unexpected direction!

My job here is done!

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Forum consigliere

Altho I like the looks of the standard tapered barrel ...

I shoot the heavy barrel models much better . The 4" length HB doesn't add much weight but sure makes for steadier holding ...
With the heavy barrel the front sight seems to hand steady on the bullseye .
My model 58 41 magnum and model 64 38 special are both heavy barrel and most enjoyable to shoot .

I want Cajun Lawyer to take note ... I never used the word "pencil" or "stove" or "pipe" or "bull" ... not once ,
I'm Learning , thank's for your post (#34)
Now if we can get them to stop calling the 45 Colt ...
... 45 LONG Colt !
my pet peeve !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

There was twelve of us hired under the Safe Streets Act in 1973 and the department was just then moving from the "pencil" barrel to the "bull" barrel. One of the rookies asks, "Captain, how come we're getting heavy barrels" The training Captain doesn't bat an eye, "we keep bending the barrels when we pistol whip suspects"

Along with the S&W 10-6 we were issued night sticks and blackjacks. My experience was that most felons were whacked with D cell Kel Lights, because that was what you had in your hand. Next was a Motorola radio, they were huge. I'm sure the blackjack saved my life twice. They are damn effective, especially when adrenaline is leaking out your ears.

I do believe choke holds and blackjacks kept a lot of felons alive who today are simply shot because the lawyers have taken away some very effective tools. Nobody wants to address that. What part of "force" in Law Enforcement is not understood?

The Motorola Mt 500 was like getting hit with a brick but the 4 D cell Maglite was like getting hit with an 18" lead pipe.

Ah yes, MT500 AKA "the brick".

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Amen! One problem, the firearm industry perpetrates the problem by mislabeling what they are selling.

Kind of like Motor Oil, says it on the bottle. It is Engine oil.

Rosewood

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"I don't really care Margaret"

FWIW, I doubt LAPD had much if any influence on the HB M10 as they tended to or even mandated the adjustable sight models (M14, M15, M68). Their emphasis on marksmanship in days gone by required the better sight picture. I am one of those for whom the fixed sight models don't work well - faster precise shooting and the fixed sights are not a good mix for me.

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NHI, 10-8.

Back in the cavalry days on the western frontier, Army supply officers would specify the "long Colt" 45 so as to not receive the "short" S&W Schofield 45.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I would like your post, but I just can't bring myself to ruin your perfect 8,000 likes.

Somebody's gotta do it..