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Author Topic: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???  (Read 1025 times)

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Offline Dobermann

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What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« on: September 19, 2007, 03:32:32 AM »
No pun intended here,
I am about to order either a SIG SAUER P 226 X-Six 9mm or X-Five.
The only difference I can see is the length of the barrel either 6inch or 5inch and the groups and accuracy of both guns
is very similar in that at 25m you would need to fire them from a machine bench to see the difference
or am I missing something?

Regards

John

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Offline blhof

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2007, 03:44:33 AM »
No you aren't missing anything.  1" won't make a significant difference on anything, but sight picture is slightly better with the extra inch and some prefer the balance of a longer barrel, otherwise performance will be essentially equal.
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Offline rockbilly

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2007, 05:34:06 AM »
An inch will make no difference in the way the gun performs, the five inch may be a little easier to conceal.
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Online Lloyd Smale

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2007, 09:35:45 AM »
some people shoot longer barrels better im not one of them but then just about every shooting comp wants long slide guns. Im sure they probably hold a little better on target for some guns and another big advantage is the barrel weight keep muzzle flip down and gives you a faster recovery for a second shot. Something that matters in competition shooting.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2007, 09:50:46 AM »
some say the velocity is higher for hunting ! but an inch i would ? how much !
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Offline Flash

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2007, 02:20:34 PM »
An inch in a handgun barrel is all about balance.
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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2007, 05:08:40 PM »
i have a 6" 1911 45 acp. It recoils less and has less muzzle jump than a 5" which equals faster recovery time between shots.

Cheese
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2007, 02:38:33 AM »
balance ? , for some maybe , i liked the five inch over the 4 because the sights worked better for my eyes , and liked the 5 over the 6 because it carried better ! some like the shorter bbl because it gives a faster draw ! some longer to tame recoil ! and i'm sure others can find more reasons !
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Offline Glanceblamm

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2007, 03:02:12 AM »
I was used to the 7" to 7-1/2" from cap n ball to centerfire.
When I picked up a little 3-7/8" birdshead Vaquero, I really couldn't tell that much difference!...even with a wide variety of handloads!
I think that the thing was just nagging me to take it hunting!

This is hardly an automatic but rather a comparison between short & long barrels by myself. I did not have any problem adapting to the shorter sight radius but a lot seem to have an easier time with the longer barrels.
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Offline corbanzo

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2007, 08:59:50 AM »
Agreement with above, it's all about weight and balance and your preference for that short of a difference in barrel length. 
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2007, 02:23:07 AM »
It is said the colt SAA was shortened from 71/2 t0 51/2 for cannon cockers so they wouldn't stick the bbl's in the dirt when loading a cannon , then to 43/4 so lawmen could carry them easier then to 3 inches for sheriffs and 21/2 for bankers / shop keeps or some such order ! so balance may be part but not all ! if it were Ruger and S&W would not have come out with the bear guns ! i had a 6 and switched to a 5 because it carried better !
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Offline Savage

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2007, 06:05:54 AM »
Of course the longer barrels on the original guns were for better performance with black powder. You get greatly reduced performance with the shorter barrels. The shorter barrel models were a concession to convenience. As far as accuracy goes, all things being equal, the shorter barrels have the same accuracy potential as the longer ones. As Lloyd pointed out, often the longer sight radius makes the gun easier to shoot accurately. In a handgun, my preference is a 4". It's all about balance and convenience to me.
Savage
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Offline Dobermann

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2007, 05:57:57 AM »
Will be going for the 5 inch as it is suitable for more competitions thanks again for the advice.
Just don't tell the wife she's still is under the belief its six :)
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Offline Buckfever

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2007, 02:09:57 PM »
My girl friend says there is no difference between 5" and 6"s.   Which got me thinkin she doesn't know anything about guns sooooo  how does she know.  Guess I don't want an answer to that question!!

Buckfever
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2007, 01:34:38 AM »
did she tell you that before or after you let her use the credit card ?
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Offline Buckfever

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2007, 04:05:21 AM »
Hell Shootall, you know how this works she kept the credit card.  Before you tell me that was a mistake , it gets awful cold for a long time here in MN.
P.S.  #1500.00 card limit.  I am not totally stupid!

Buckfever
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What the big difference between 5 and 6 inches???
« Reply #16 on: September 25, 2007, 04:18:55 AM »
that's not a mistake its standard operating procedure ! north or south !
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