Model 97 with a 10" brl. ?

[Bob96]

   I have always liked long barrel revolvers. I will be picking up a 97 in 7 1/2" brl. on 8/20. I am already thinking about a future F.A. I have fantasys about a 10" brl on the next one. Are  these just to unweildly to be practical?  I wouldn't be using a holster just target use. Happen to like the extra sight radius and the balance of a long brl. but don't know if 10" is going too far?

[Graybeard]

No it's not going too far. My avatar for years was me and my S&W Model 29 with 10-5/8" barrel. I used that gun in competition, practice and hunting in several states for many years. The avatar was taken from a photo of me with a boar I killed in TN back in '93 I believe it was. I'd love to have that gun back but the fellow I let have it won't let go of it.

A 10" barrel revolver is a very practical gun and I carried mine in a shoulder holster rig for years while hunting.

[Ken ONeill]

I used a couple of Ruger 10" SBH's for IHMSA Metallic Silhouette shooting for years, as well as a 9'' revolver and 10" semi-auto .22 in the .22 version of the game. The extra sight radius is very helpful, and will add several targets to a shooter's score. The revolver competition in Metallic Silhouette today is RULED by 10" barrel FA's. Buy one.

[revo]

I spent some time with a FA 97 22lr with a 10" bbl and was absolutely floored with how well it handled. [For me] if it were for range use only (and if I had the cash), I'd have bought it on the spot. After considering advice here and more handling, I found it was a bit too long for me to hunt with though. Seemed like a lot to tote. However, this is really subjective. Much more experienced folk than I say they're cool with toting a long bbl.

Man...those FA 97 10 inchers really point though, eh? Slick lookin' gun with that long pipe.