586 redux - 5"??

[ISCS Yoda]

We were having a discussion about sights on a 586 - to answer the question I checked my 586 this morning:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/390752-calling-all-586-owners.html

My follow up question is about barrel length - and it's not like I don't know how to measure a barrel - I might not know what the internals of my guns are but I know their barrels. But, sometimes, issues arise, such as this one:

Because I had my 586 in my hand, and because just yesterday I was discussing an amazing long shot that I made with it a year or two ago, I was thinking, "How long is the barrel of my 586?" I told the guy in my discussion it was 6 inches. But here's the problem: From the muzzle to the frame that barrel is just about exactly 5 inches. If I move the ruler back to include the frame it still does not reach 6 inches. The SCSW says the 586 came in various barrel lengths but not 5 inches.

Someone please explain this to me.

Thanks.

***GRJ***

 

[sw357nm]

5-inches

ISCS

Barrel length is from the end of the barrel to the front face of the cylinder. The lengths are only nominal and can vary by an eighth of an inch or more.
You have what S&W would call a 6-inch barrel.
John

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Thanks, John. I always figured that was the correct way to do it because the barrel does go all the way but because the barrel is almost precisely 5" in front of the frame it gave me pause.

***GRJ***

 

[Pizza Bob]

Some competitive sanctioning bodies are now eliminating the barrel/cylinder gap as part of the barrel length dimension. They now measure from the beginning of the forcing cone to the muzzle.

A lot of guns for export are required to have barrels slightly longer than 4" (to a designated metric dimension) and measuring from the face of the cylinder precludes the use of these guns in some gun games.

Adios,

Pizza Bob