4" or 6"

[hsc]

Thank You for all your great input! It has been very helpful in making my decision. The 4" wins and I will be buying it in the morning. Thanks again and this forum is great!

P.S Too bad they don't come in 5" like my 29-6 Classic.

 

[chief38]

What it really comes down to is if you're going to fire a lot of 357 Mag's the ballistics for that cartridge are much better out of a 6" bbl. If you're going to just use it for informal plinking and mostly with .38 Specials, the 4' might be the way to go. Personally my M586 is a 6" version and I love it. When I want a 4" for .38 Specials, I'll go to my M19, M15, M10, etc.

Chief38

 

[MDGasman]

I'd get the 4" only because I already have the 6".

 

[jack the toad]

So many posts I agree with.
IMO, the 4" is hard to beat for all around ideal barrel length and would be my first choice.

 

[BigBill]

I say get both. When ever i hit a fork in the road i end up getting both anyway. For CCW carry i have carried up to 10 1/2'' barrels so a 4'' or 6'' won't matter i've carried both and bigger.
Lastyear i purchased the S&W M58 in 41mag w/4'' barrel and then went back for the S&W M57 w/ 6 1/2'' barrel in 41mag. both are in nickel finish. Everytime i'm torn between the two i get both anyway.

 

[BigBill]

I have to respectfully disagree. I shoot my 3" with accuracy all the time at 25 yards. I don't really see the point of shooting targets at less than that distance.

I'ts sight picture not barrel length that gives accuracy.

Ditto me too my 6'' 357mag python was accurate at 100yds. I can ping small rocks on the 100yd berm aiming dead on, so its not the barrel length its the distance the gun is accurate at. My CZ in 9mm using 3' of kentucky windage can make pin point shots at 100yds.

 

[brucev]

I've owned several 586's and 686 in both 4" and 6" barrel lengths. I have found that the 4" length better suits my needs at the range and out in the fields and woods. If I were buying a .357 Mag. for target shooting at ranges beyond 25 yds. or for hunting, I'd buy it with the 6" barrel due to the gain in velocity and the fact that the slightly longer sight plain would be help deal with potential errors of index, etc., on distant targets.

 

[i.hunt]

I bought a 6" 686 mid 80's, shot on a pistol team with it for a long long time, it's still my favorite Revolver to shoot...

 

[hsc]

Bought the 4" and will probably get the 6" as well. Thanks for your input and support.

 

[DesertFox]

Maybe you should just look for a 5" model 27.

Exactly. Something about the 5" feels right and shoots right to boot.

 

[RobsTV]

I have to respectfully disagree. I shoot my 3" with accuracy all the time at 25 yards. I don't really see the point of shooting targets at less than that distance.

I'ts sight picture not barrel length that gives accuracy.

I am not saying shorter barrels are not as accurate.

"Shooting distance?

Here, for easiest to achieve great accuracy, I have generally found that barrel lengths of:
3" 10 yards or less.
4" 25 yards or less.
6" 50 yards or less.
8" 100 yards or less."

To me that means, almost anyone can pick these barrel length up and should be able get great accuracy with very little work.

Also, sight picture is usually longer with longer barrels, aiding in accuracy.

However, at greater distances, longer barrels will usually give more accuracy than same exact version in shorter barrel, due in part to bullet and powder spending more time in the barrel to push and spin.

 

[jack the toad]

Bought the 4" and will probably get the 6" as well.

Sounds like the actions of a very wise man.

 

[Rivers2k]

Thank You for all your great input! It has been very helpful in making my decision. The 4" wins and I will be buying it in the morning. Thanks again and this forum is great!

P.S Too bad they don't come in 5" like my 29-6 Classic.

They do! my shop has a bunch of them. Its the Talo addition. They have them in 3" 5" and 7"