Author Topic: favorite barrel length (Read 1414 times)

pastorp · « **on:** January 24, 2010, 04:03:45 AM »

I've been shooting handguns a long time now and I was thinking about barrel lengths that I have used. Most of the times I seam to like shorter barrels, With 4-5" being my favorites on a revolver. I do have a few 6" barrels but nothing longer.

Whats your preference?

Regards,

cwlongshot · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2010, 04:11:52 AM »

Everything with a hand gun is a compromise.
Different barrel lengths have different specific uses. Shorter conceals better but doesn't tend to shoot so well as sighting radius is shortened. (At the very least, takes a much better shooter to make them shoot well) Longer barrels will shoot better (for most) because of the longer sighting radius but are darn hard to conceal and are heavier to hold.

What is your purpose for this firearm?

CW

EDIT:

With a second look here I see we are in a rimfire section. Many, (self included) don't like a rimfire for a primary self defence weapon. So let me revise my post removing this part.
I shoot bullseye competition thru the winter with a couple rimfires. Primarily a Walther GSP target pistol with a red dot. My back up is a Benelli MP95 with a MP90 fire control also with a red dot. I really like Rugers 6 7/8 target pistol with custom sites. It handles very well and shoots like a house-a-fire.

I have had a number of rimfire handguns and liked the 4" smith M63 in 22Mag as one of my favorites. I also carry a couple different single actions. An old model single six 5.5" barrel in 22LR and a Colt 4 3/4 22magnum.
CW

Duane · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2010, 04:50:05 AM »

well for my woods walking gun and fishing carry gun and glove compartment gun its a single six in .22 wmr with 4 5/8 barrel and my hunting gun is a single six in 6.5 barrel length both shot well enough for my taste

SAA · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2010, 06:31:27 AM »

My current .22´s are a Walther PP and a cut down Single-Six 3" so I guess I prefer my .22´s small.
I would love to have a S&W mod.18 with 4" barrel thou, I guess I prefer 4" barrels on revolvers both for balance and esthetic reasons.

mbopp · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2010, 08:06:28 AM »

9 times out of 10 if I'm going for a walk in the woods I'll have my 4" M19. It's just so - handy.

jim ritchie · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2010, 11:13:04 AM »

Here's my "never leave home without it" piece.
H&R model 686 12"

LOL!
Actually, the 12"er usually stays in the case. What I take out more than any is my 5.5"er.

c1skout · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2010, 12:26:04 PM »

I prefer the shorter barrels too, but not snubbies..... guess I'm a middle of the road kinda guy. My H&R is my longest at 6".
Jim ritchie that's a sweet set of H&R's you've got there.

jim ritchie · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2010, 05:03:50 PM »

c1skout,
Thanks! Glad you like them. Those 2 are actually only 2 of the "set" of 5.
I have 1 of every barrel length offered. 4.5", 5.5", 7.5", 10", and 12". All made in 1980, except the 10" which wasn't offered until 1982.
I don't have a huge collection, About 30, but they are all very nice pieces, and most have the original boxes.
If you are a H&R fan, you will enjoy this You Tube video.
A friend of mine made it from pictures from my photobucket account.
Here is a link, check it out.
Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vebGtbq4l84

c1skout · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2010, 03:25:37 PM »

cool slideshow. I'd like to get one of those top break jobs.

Old Fart · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2010, 08:20:03 AM »

Quote from: c1skout on January 24, 2010, 12:26:04 PM

I prefer the shorter barrels too, but not snubbies..... guess I'm a middle of the road kinda guy.

I'm kind of the same way. I really like anything between3-6" on my plinker-knocking around guns.
Got a couple snubbie for when I am just carrying to be carrying.
And a couple longer ones when I need the longer site radius, old eyes.

jim ritchie · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2010, 03:11:09 PM »

c1skout,
Yeah,
You really can't beat the Sportsman models!
I have not had either of the 4" models out for a test drive, so I can't say much about them, but the 6" models have all been excellent shooters!

Brett · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2010, 03:16:59 AM »

Depends...

For casual plinking, woods tramping, camping, fishing or canoeing I prefer 4" barrels for their compactness and liter weight. Much shorter than 4" and the site radius is to small making longer shots more difficult for my old eyes .

For more serious target shooting (bullseye) and squirrel hunting I like longer tubes in the 6" to 7" range.

I find uber long barrels (10"+) too muzzle heavy and awkward feeling since I generally shoot offhand and not from a bench or rest.

mangulator · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2010, 01:29:30 PM »

My favorite barrel length is between 4 and 6 inch. I do find carring the six inch more often.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2010, 01:41:50 PM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on January 24, 2010, 04:11:52 AM

Everything with a hand gun is a compromise.
Different barrel lengths have different specific uses. Shorter conceals better but doesn't tend to shoot so well as sighting radius is shortened. (At the very least, takes a much better shooter to make them shoot well) Longer barrels will shoot better (for most) because of the longer sighting radius but are darn hard to conceal and are heavier to hold.

What is your purpose for this firearm?

CW

EDIT:

With a second look here I see we are in a rimfire section. Many, (self included) don't like a rimfire for a primary self defence weapon. So let me revise my post removing this part.
I shoot bullseye competition thru the winter with a couple rimfires. Primarily a Walther GSP target pistol with a red dot. My back up is a Benelli MP95 with a MP90 fire control also with a red dot. I really like Rugers 6 7/8 target pistol with custom sites. It handles very well and shoots like a house-a-fire.

I have had a number of rimfire handguns and liked the 4" smith M63 in 22Mag as one of my favorites. I also carry a couple different single actions. An old model single six 5.5" barrel in 22LR and a Colt 4 3/4 22magnum.
CW

+1.
Depending on USE will dictate what length barrel.
I have 22LR guns in 2", 5.5", 6.5", and 10.5" and depending the task at hand is what I will grab. Carry, Hunting, target, or Plinking.
We will not get into the center fire that range from 2" to 14".

Cookiemann · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2010, 01:36:16 PM »

Awesome slide show, Jim. Love the look of the Top Breaks.

I only have 1 handgun, a Buckmark in 4 in. I can shoot it OK and hit more than I miss at 20 yrds or so. I think I would do better with the 5 1/2 in. Old eyes here too.

jim ritchie · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2010, 03:03:58 PM »

cookiemann,
Thanks, It's really nice to find a few guys that appreciate the H&R's.
Too often, I just hear negative comments about what I collect.
Values are rising quickly on many of the H&R models.
I know they will never have the following that S&W or Colt has, nor the value.
It won't keep me from always being a H&R junkie though!!
Jim

Oldshooter · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2010, 03:14:45 PM »

I have had a high standard for years with 4 1/2 inch barrel. I recently acquired a 6 1/2 inch barrel for it and I am satisfied that "IT" shoots much better now!

Brett · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2010, 05:05:49 PM »

Jim,

Very nice collection and a sweet slide show! I noticed you have a couple of High Standard revolvers in your collection. I have a Double Nine 6.5" "Camp Gun" manufactured in East Hartford Conn. sometime in the early '70s I believe. Beautiful revolver and a great shooter tho I don't take it out much in fear of something breaking and not being able to find parts. Do you have any info on the HS "Camp Gun"? Years of production? Numbers produced? Whether or not they have any collector value?

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2010, 07:06:26 PM »

My favorite holster gun is a Ruger MKIII 22/45 4" Bull Barrel with HiViz Fiber Optic Front Sight. I have modified this Ruger some, removing the raised molded in grip panels and installing 1911 Grip Screw Bushings with Hogue Rubber Finger Groove 1911 Grips, as well as a Clark Custom Guns Steel Ruger Trigger and Volquartsen Target Sear. This Ruger carries quite nicely in an Uncle Mikes Kydex Paddle Holster made for a 1911.

When it comes to punching holes in targets at our Indoor Shooting Range I much prefer my Ruger MKII Stainless-Steel 5 1/2" Bull Barrel. It too has a Clark Custom Guns Steel Ruger Trigger and Volquartsen Target Sear along with other accessories. This one wears a Burris Fastfire Electronic Red Dot Sight in the Burris Mount that replaces the Rear Sight.

Both of these suit my needs for a Rimfire Handgun quite well. At some point I want to add a Ruger Single Six to the line up also.

Larry

jim ritchie · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2010, 05:12:54 AM »

Brett,
Thanks!
I have a lot of time invested in finding pieces that "fit' the collection.
I am really concentrating on the 1980 H&R pieces. I have a long way to go , to get one of every model and barrel length offerd in 1980! But hey, it's a goal.
I don't have a lot of info on the High Standards. When I first saw a picture of the Hgh Sierra, I fell in love, and had to find one. Not really in my realm of collecting, but since it was a convertible, I was able to justify it!! LOL
The Hombre, I got from my sister in law. It was her father's. I just didn't want my only other HS to be lonely.
Here is a link to John Stimson's High Standard website.

http://www.histandard.info/

LOTS of info can be found here. If you can'r find it, you can also ask him questions, and he has been very good about answering mine.
Hopefully this will help you out.
Good luck!!
Jim Ritchie
p.s. I did find a little in the Blue book. Is your camp gun a convertible?

R109 series, 22 s/l/lr # 9342 mfg 1976-77
R109 series, 22 mag #9343 MFG 1976-77
R109 series, combination 22/22 mag, # 9393 MFG 1977-84
VALUES
100% = $250
98% = $225
95% = $200
90% = $ 155
80% = $ 120
Add $ 50 for combination gun with both cylinders.
Best I can do for you.