What does handgun BALANCE mean to you?

[RonJ]

My Dad liked a gun to be muzzle light. I prefer just enough weight in the muzzle so I can feel where it's pointing. My easiest pointing handgun is my 1851 Colt Navy replica. It's a bit muzzle heavy but I like the way it feels.... the BEST balanced gun I own is my 6" 17-3. It's marginally better than my 6" 19-4.

 

[Bailey Boat]

To ME a "balanced" handgun is one that doesn't feel like it weighs as much as I know it does. That tells me that it sits in my hands with a neutral (not muzzel light or butt heavy) feel and is well distributed. A 5" Mod 27 is one of those guns in my opinion...... Maybe that's why I own 4 of them...

 

[USAF385]

Hmm tough for me to say. For me, the one I love to shoot the most is my dashless 4" 681.

What balance means to me.. well I don't really know. I do know that when I pick up a gun a can tell if I like the feel or not. I think in general I like somewhere heavier barrels.

 

[jbouwens]

To me, I add natural point, to the balance or feel of a gun. A model 10 heavy barrel (4") square butt is about the best that I have in my collection that feels like I can close my eyes, bring the gun up, open my eyes and the gun is right there ready for the shoot. Not too heavy, not too long, the ammo does'nt seem to add weight to the gun (like when you jam a magazine in a lightweight pistol) and they shoot different as they empty. Theat model 10 shoots great and I seldom use the sights, I just point the gun and it hits. In the N frames models, I like the 5 inch barrel with a half lug and in J frames I like the 2 inch barrel steel guns for the feel I talked about. When I shoot the J frame airweights, the feel of the gun with 5 live rounds is different than the unloaded feel (I look at this as a safety devise for me, I know when it is loaded when I pick it up) So feel came be a good thing or an informational thing when you look at it in those terms. The gun that realy points and is balanced is a 4 inch luger. I can look at the target, close my eyes, raise the gun, fire, and the result is a hit (99%) of the time. I caution anyone just trying this, be safe please, I generally keep my eyes open when shooting, for me the grip angle is perfect and amounts to you raising you shooting hand and pointing at something, the Luger's grip is so natural for me--thats why I can shoot it as I described earlier. A close second for me would be a 4 5/8 inch single action revolver, jerking the revolver from the holster, turning the barrel up and shooting results in a pretty desent hit (even from the hip), the gun seems to be a natural for me to shoot. My shooting pal loves the birdshead design because it fits his hands better and I can't shoot them to save my life. So I guess it is a combination of things that makes a good shooter for someone.

I hope I didn't bore anyone.

 

[max]

Balance is how much money I have in my gun fund.

 

[TNDixieGirl]

One in each hand.

 

[Noah Zark]

Handgun balance? Hard to describe but I know it when I feel it.

To me, in general 5" N-frames are "perfect," as are underlugged 4" L-frames.

In single-actions, either 4-5/8" or some of the 3" or 3.5" "Storekeeper" models are "perfect" for balance.

But that's me.

Noah

 

[Indiana George]

Stainless Smith & Wessons,
Blue Smith & Wessons,
Nickle Smith & Wessons . . .




In equal numbers.

 

[Spotteddog]

3" K frame, 4 1/4" length 1911', 3" J frame, 3 1/2"-5" N frame, 7 1/2" SAA weird I know?

 

[m657]

For pure 'aesthetic' sensory feel, perhaps the 51 Navy or other Long Jim open tops;

for equalizing the balance in a serious social encounter, Colt full size 1911 model;

for tiny holes in a tiny cluster leaving the balance of the target untouched, High Standard bull barrel 10X a little muzzle-heavy as supremely accurate and therefore "Balanced";

for maximum balance between a LOT of bullets downrange with decent accuracy & STILL got some in the magazine, G34;

For balance in the hand as the buzzer sounds, a 3 7/8" unfluted 610;

for balance at the belt or in a shoulder holster tucked away, a brace of birdshead Ruger Sheriff model 45 LC;

geez, I'm pretty balanced there as many bottom feeders as Revolvers listed....

ok....
a proper 1873 SAA in 4 5/8' 45LC usually is usually 'balanced'....

 

[zoom6zoom]

One in each hand.

Like she said!

 

[oak1971]

I can tell you which of mine feel best in my hand. 1st my Les Baer 1911. 2nd 6.5 inch 629-4 power ported. 3rd SIG 220.