Barrels

[slickest]

As Stated in my other post Im looking into getting a .357 for target/plinking, back up for deer hunting and maybe primary firearm once in a while, and also when on my canoe trips since their has been mountain lion sightings.

I have been told a 6" barrel but also the all way down to a 2 1/2" barrel. So I want see the opinions from people who own and see how they feel about it.

I dont believe that i want to go under a 4" barrel but will i be happy with the 6" barrel? My concern is with accuracy more than anything. So what will I be losing/gaining as far as accuracy, range, etc going from a 4" to a 6" barrel or vise versa?  Also what I have been told on this forum so far is the 6" is a pain to carry? I plan on buying a shoulder holster. Will that make a difference?

 Im not so concerned about the concealing of the weapon part. I would rather someone know I have it before I had to use it. Also This will not be a everyday carried firearm. It will just be used for as stated above.

I just really want to make sure to buy the right purchase for my needs.

thanks guys, the info is appreciated

[Mikey]

slickest:  you can do anything you want in 357 with a 4" barrel.  The incredible variety of loads commercially available in addition to customizing your loads to your specific revolver through reloading will give you every thing you need for a 357. 

Shoulder holster?  If you mean the style you wear over outer garmets for immediate access, ok I guess if you prefer carrying it that way and in that context barrel length won't really matter.  Don't buy a shoulder holster that is worn inside a coat because it denies you rapid access.

Accuracy.  I used to shoot metallic silhouette with a 4" 357 and that was a 200 yd shoot. 

The 4 inch barrel on most revolvers seems to be just right for the average joe.  I'd heft a few first and see which barrel length suits you best.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[Savage]

4" .357 in a cross draw holster. It'll likely do anything that needs to be done, and be more accurate than the shooter.
Savage

[Totenkopf]

Not much difference in velocity. Not a whole lot difference in weight. The sight radius, may or may not throw you off for accuracy. I like a 4" personally. Just quicker to clear out of the holster. No people around here, just mean animals. I carry on a choulder rig as well. You won't even know any of them are there after a few outings. The main thing is just go and handle all the sizes and pick the one that ballances the best in hand when aiming.

[Grumulkin]

First of all, check your State regs.  In Ohio, one is not allowed to carry a handgun for "backup" whilst deer hunting the exception being CC license holders who are carrying concealed for self defense.  Also, for deer hunting in Ohio, the barrel has to be a minimum of 5 inches long.

I like crossdraw or strong side belt or paddle holsters in general.  One of my favorite carry guns is a S&W 357 Mag. with a 2 inch barrel that I carry in a paddle holster that works for strong side or crossdraw.  On the other hand, a Ruger Redhawk with a 5.5 inch barrel isn't too long to be handy in my opinion.

Theoretically, a short barreled handgun is just as accurate as one with a longer barrel.  Practically speaking, many have more difficulty getting a good sight picture with the shorter barrel and, the velocity being a bit less, the range for accurate shooting will probably be a bit less as well.  For distances of 25 yards or less, velocity with a 2.5 inch barrel should be sufficient for accurate shooting though.

[Badnews Bob]

I carry a Ruger 6" SS GP-100 in a crassdraw holster for just your stated purpose I have never felt uncomfortable with it and it is very accurate. It is a little heavy but thats a byproduct of being built like a tank, I have carried this pistol for 15 years or more and it has never failed me and has taken several deer in that time, One at 65 paces, a nice 8pt buck.

All that being said I don't think you'd be shorting yourself with a 4", I just prefer the feel and control of a 6". I also carry a Ruger security six 2.5" for concealed carry Its very accurate also but only to 25 or 30 yards, Thats where I start having trouble kepping that shorty on target, And even then I think its the short sight radius and me not the revolver.

My vote is for a 6" but I don;t think you'd be wrong with a 4".

[slickest]

thanks for all the info guys. Guess the thing I will do is walk into the store and pick up a 4 and 6 inch model.

When the sight radius is mentioned I dont quite understand. when people say the have trouble with the short sight radius is that meant by when trying to focus in on the sights far distance objects become blurry?

[Mikey]

slickest:  the sight radius is the distance between the front and rear sights.  Most folk seem to naturally prefer the distance found on a 4" bbl as that gives them about 6-7" overall between sights.  Longer and shorter bbls have longer and shorter sight radia (?) that some folk do not focus on quickly enough to be comfortable bringing it up for a fast shot.  I think.  Mikey.

[Lloyd Smale]

another vote for a 4 inch.

[Graybeard]

I dunno about that "most people" comment Mikey as it seems to me we just can't all agree on anything. I'm one who likes longer rather than shorter barrels with 4" being about as short as I'll tolerate but much prefer a 6" to a 4". That prejudice really came about more in the past than as things are today.

In answer to your question slickest the issue of "seeing the sights" is really an issue of seeing the front sight. The human eye cannot focus on front, rear and target all at the same time. The older you get the less flexible the eyes are in this matter. So it's really the front sight you should focus on and let the rear sight and target blurr slightly as they will do anyway. Keep that front sight as sharply focused as your eyes will allow.

That is where the barrel length issue comes into play. As we age and to some extent for many even when younger there is some distance from the eyes at which things begin to blur or in some cases at which they begin to clear. It's a matter of whether you are far sighted or near sighted or if truly blessed neither. For me all those years when I was younger my eyes had some serious problems with close focus and still do but these days the problem is less acute as my eyesight has actually made a major improvement in recent years.

I went from 20/80 left eye and 20/250 right eye to 20/20 both eyes after retirement. Nope the eye doctors don't understand why but I'm not complaining. At the same time this was happening the distance at which my short range vision clearly grew closer as well. Whereas once it took a 8-3/8" barrel at the least to see the front sight clearly and even longer was much better now I can actually focus on the front sight of a 4" barrel gun.

Some old farts like Lloyd seem better able to see close than far so those snub nose guns are their favorite. They do carry better for sure.

I'd suggest you handle both 4" and 6" and see what seems best to you personally. The same goes for single action vs double action see what seems to best suit you and chose the one you are most comfortable with. For me that's a 6" DA really but these days I can live with a 4" OK as well but 15-20 years ago you'd almost never see me with less than a 6" and seldom less than an 8-3/8" revolver.

[SHOOTALL]

bbl length  , i like 3 inch and 5 inch , just me .
if i was going to carry a lot and shoot a little ie; back up or camping or canoeing it would be a 3 inch . If i was shooting alot or hunting with it a 5-6 or longer would work nice . for CC carry a 2 inch bbl works good for me .
Hope you see that it is important to choose a weapon to suit the need . If it must do many varried task then a comprise will be made in most cases . From what you say you want to do - a 4 inch looks likly to fill the need .
i like a shoulder holster , if possible get a store to allow you to try one on with the gun you want . sit down with it on as a 6 incher might be to long . Different people are different shapes and what fits me might not agree with your build. I have tried a few and Galco worked the best , leather is by far my choice . One less expensive option i have been looking at is the military rig that tankers etc. used that puts an auto or med. frame revolver more to the left front as opposed to the side . seated in a canoe or blind it may work better .

[mcwoodduck]

I like the 6 inch for hunting.  I have two one in 357 mag and one in 44 mag.
Neither are particularly awkward in a holster, even on horse back or in a truck.
I do have a 4" S&W model 28 for around the house.
If you are worried about different barrel lenghts then see if you can find a Dan Wesson Model 15 HV pistol pack.
I had one for a while. It comes with 4 barrels.  A 2", 4", 6", and 8"  the 2" in my opionin was useless.  the 4 was good for around the house and in a cross draw it was comfortable for outdoor activities.  The 6" is what I carried when hunting and the 8" was what I would stick on to plink at long range.
I would still have it if the guy I bought it from did not want to buy it back.

[slickest]

What brands of revolvers can you switch the barrels out on? Starting to think more along the lines of what mcwoodduck said.

[Totenkopf]

Dan Wesson is the only I am familliar with that doesn't require gunsmithing.

[mcwoodduck]

Dan Wesson is the only one I know of too.  Although I would love to see a S&W L frame done that way.
There is a gauge that you use to set the cylinder gap.
The only down side to the DW was the cylinder release.  I'm used to the Smith or Colt design and not having it in the same spot screws me up for a split second.  But if your hunting you will not need a speed load.

[williamlayton]

In some respects, some, and that is not hunting, a 4" or 5" length is a quicker response than a 6" and at short ranges a 3" or so is quicker also.
I have a .22 that has a 6" barrel and the target acquisition is slower than the shorter.
The experience is at 25 yards, paper target.
Blessings

[slickest]

Thanks for all the help guys. I have been looking for a DW pistol kit and havent found one but I had noticed that CZ is now making DW signature pistols. Wondering if they are going to come out with revovlers or is it going to be the 1911 series and thats it?

Heading to sportsmans warehouse today and gonna go look at a couple different lengths and see what feels right.

[S.B.]

I can dig 4" revolvers.
Steve