8 3/8” love

[KenTheHunter]

I tell people that they will be surprised by how well the long tubes balance, especially the K frames. Try it, you'll like it.

My experience has been different in that I much prefer 3" barrels for all around use

 

[larstusor]

5" is my favorite. Not too short and not too long. Good for everything except real long range (get a rifle) or belly gun type concealment.

 

[Riposte1]

Not all barrels are created equal and some are "faster" than others.

Yep, I have often commented that one of my SW M-19s was made on a Friday. Actually I have no idea when S&W changes their worn tooling but this one has a tight bore and chambers and gets more than 150 fps more than a 6" gun with the same load, even though it only has 4" of barrel.

As for Flash gaps, I have S&W that only have .002" and I have S&Ws that have .008" - I'm farily sure that is not in spec but I've certainly seen new S&Ws that don't have it.

The chamber mouths matter as well - I have a pinned barrel 25-5 that will pas a .458 bullet on two chambers - I've never paid a lot of attention to the velocites but I'll bet those two chambers are slower - at John Linebaugh's suggestion I bought a non-pinned barrel 25-5 and they throats were more consistent and about .452 or slightly over - it is a much more accurate gun!

OTOH, I had a 3-Screw Ruger in .45 Colt that had a .45 Acp cylinder - it shot OK but I never measured the throats until I was interested in doing a project - the cylinder throats miced out .448!

Riposte

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I have the 17,617,41,57, 2 27-2, 14, and 460 S&W Mag.

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a 16-4 with a Burris 1X scope on it.



First 2 5 shot groups at 15yds from it shooting 95gr SWC.

 

[Pauldg]

I acquired this set from a family member a few years back. 25, 27, 29 and 57.

The photos don't do them justice. I do fire them, but not often.

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

I had a 8 3/8" 586 ND for over 20 years, but I didn't like the long barrel, so I had it cut off.

 

[adrianolsen]

model 25 and model 57

 

[65-2x2]

The Joker makes an in-the-waistband holster, as seen in the 1989 Batman when he shot down the bat wing, if you want something a little more practical

The only thing impractical about the ankle holster is you have to draw it from the top. That negates wearing drawers for you draw. You have to be careful not to be charged with indency in public if you have to draw it, and for heaven's sake draw it on the first attempt or you may end up on the sex registery!

 

[TheTinMan]

I only have two long barrel Smith & Wessons.

25-5


29-1


My 8" Dan Wesson 744-VH8 gets shot the most. It weighs just under 4 pounds making full house magnums fairly tame.