Why are longer barreled P&R less valuable?
- Thread starter wesson1911
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LimaCharlie
US Veteran
It is all personal preference. My first owned handgun as a teenager in New Mexico back in the 1960s was a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum with a 10 1/2" barrel. I bought it from my brother-in-law when he was short of cash. He had dropped a bull elk with it at around 110 yards with one shot.
Long barrel .44 magnums are still my favorite handgun. I have an 8" stainless Colt Anaconda, a 10 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk, a 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk, an 8 3/8" nickel S&W 29-2, and a 4" blue S&W 29-2. I use the long barrels for hunting or open carry in the woods. I use the 4" 29-2 for concealed carry in the woods.
Long barrel .44 magnums are still my favorite handgun. I have an 8" stainless Colt Anaconda, a 10 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk, a 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk, an 8 3/8" nickel S&W 29-2, and a 4" blue S&W 29-2. I use the long barrels for hunting or open carry in the woods. I use the 4" 29-2 for concealed carry in the woods.
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I've collected and hunted with handguns for 40+ years. If you're an open sight hunter don't let anyone tell you the longer barrels don't have a distinct advantage over the short tubed ones for the average shooter.
As far as the market price is concerned I believe it is more a regional/use intended issue. Serious handgun hunters I've known have always opted for 6" or longer barrels. Many of them have no interest in shorter barrel lengths except where concealment is the logical and common sense choice..
I believe the vast majority of handgun purchasers only think of them as tools for self defense and casual range shooting. They tend to be urban/city dwellers whose only "big game" hunting experience may be shooting rats at their local city dump.
When an attempt is made to "sell" a short barreled handgun as the single all-around best choice for every purpose, including hunting, that's where they lose me.
Short barreled handguns have been selling for a slightly higher price because they appeal to more peoples intended use.... simple as that.
As far as the market price is concerned I believe it is more a regional/use intended issue. Serious handgun hunters I've known have always opted for 6" or longer barrels. Many of them have no interest in shorter barrel lengths except where concealment is the logical and common sense choice..
I believe the vast majority of handgun purchasers only think of them as tools for self defense and casual range shooting. They tend to be urban/city dwellers whose only "big game" hunting experience may be shooting rats at their local city dump.
When an attempt is made to "sell" a short barreled handgun as the single all-around best choice for every purpose, including hunting, that's where they lose me.
Short barreled handguns have been selling for a slightly higher price because they appeal to more peoples intended use.... simple as that.
Personal preference.
I owned a 29-2 8" for 30 something years. Shot it once in a blue moon. Finally got serious about handgun shooting so I bought a 629-5 4" (used-the price was right) and did a shoot-off between the two as I intended to keep one 44. I found I was just as accurate with the short barrel as the long one. 3 shots into 8" at 100 from a self supported shooting position, magnum loads. Sold the 29-2.
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Watchdog
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"Why are longer barreled P&R less valuable?"
The more I've thought about this over the past couple of days, I've decided that...they aren't.
A quality revolver is a quality revolver, no matter what the length of the barrel may be. Revolvers may be an example of the "size matters" debate, but for me, the size issue relates more to caliber than barrel length.
The more I've thought about this over the past couple of days, I've decided that...they aren't.
A quality revolver is a quality revolver, no matter what the length of the barrel may be. Revolvers may be an example of the "size matters" debate, but for me, the size issue relates more to caliber than barrel length.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I held my m58 w/4" barrel yesterday and my 6" m28 not much difference in feel or balance I still had a handful or revolver.
They all shoot the same to me.
They all shoot the same to me.
skypilot1941
Member
I agree with those that have said that it is a matter of preference. Back in the day, I had a 7 1/2" SBH and a 4" M29. I shot the Ruger more and more accurately. I know some are saying, "you shot it more accurately because you shot it more." Could be, but I just preferred the long barrel. Now I own a 8 3/8" 629, but have a m69 coming. I hope to shoot both of them a lot and shoot them equally well. We'll see.
silentflyer
Member
To each his own, I just like the long tubes, both S&W and Dan Wessons. I shoot paper and "action" targets out to 100 yards, and the long toms work well. I hunt with them in a shoulder holster rig, no problem, but that being said I am 6' 4" with large hands.
Have a nice S&W 19 with a 4" for CC in a shoulder rig, works well for me.
Short or long I like them all...never seen a wheel gun I didn't like. Not much on springs and plastic.
Have a nice S&W 19 with a 4" for CC in a shoulder rig, works well for me.
Short or long I like them all...never seen a wheel gun I didn't like. Not much on springs and plastic.
jrs70
US Veteran
I also like cars. They say when the top drops the price goes up. I see the same thing in revolvers. The shorter the barrel the higher the price.
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Lobster Picnic
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I like 'em short, medium, and long. It depends on the intended usage. When I spotted an 8-3/8" Model 14, it made sense since these are target/range pistols.
Watchdog
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It's ironic to me that short-barrelled rifles (barrels 18-inches or less) are often referred to as "brush guns". Yet they're longer than a revolver, and they have that long piece of wood sticking off the back. But a revolver with an 8.5-inch barrel isn't considered "handy" for hunting in thick brush. Go figure.
Watchdog
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I'll agree with you on the art of long range hand gunnery part.
Fessor
Member
Without getting in to the semantics of the implication of the terms value vs. price, the reason the prices of short barrel Smith & Wesson revolvers is higher than long barrel revolvers is simply that they are in favor by buyers at this time. A similar argument can be made for corporate stocks. Since the market is influenced greatly by investor emotions, if an industry or company happens to be in favor (ie. tech stocks 15 years ago), even though a stock might be over-valued, because the stock is favored by investors, buyers will pay a high stock price for very little earnings or dividends, resulting in a high P/E ratio, resulting in an expensive stock: lots of investment for little return.
Simply put, if an item is popular, its popularity can support a high price.
Simply put, if an item is popular, its popularity can support a high price.
The Model 48, 22mag. with the 8 3/8" barrel generally brings the top dollar and is the most desirable. Mine was bought this pass Christmas time, off of Gun Broker and was like new, with box and all else. I feel was worth the $960.00 paid for it, oh it is a dash 4.
It's a Dan Wesson .357 with a 15" barrel. Here's a link to my original post (#144) in the thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...eled-smith-wesson-thread-3.html#post136768263
Here it is next to an 8-3/8 Model 14:
Those two made me remember the movie "City Heat" with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds, and their "mine is bigger than yours" gun rivalry... look at time index 2:12 in this trailer and you'll see what I mean.
City Heat Trailer
BigBill
Absent Comrade
If we look at the gun for sale prices online the barrel length doesn't matter.
It's condition, condition, condition.
It's condition, condition, condition.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Thanks for the movie trailer the 10 1/2" barrel looks good now.
skypilot1941
Member
I'm with you all the way silentflyer. I'm definitely a wheel gun man, esp. long barrels, but wouldn't turn down any revolver, esp. S&W. I do own one auto loader, but it gets shot very little.
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