[Jim PHL]

I meant BARREL!:what:

I have a few revolvers but my wheelie jones is still relatively new. I've got a pocket snub and 2-1/2" and 3" K-frames. My opinion has always been that handguns, unless they're intended specifically for hunting, on-the-belt duty carry or other specific purpose, should be suitable for concealed carry. My 3" M65 has always seemed at the upper edges of that "CCW-ability".

I have recently considered a 686 w/6" barrel, but have never owned a gun with bigger than a 4" barrel. (Actually, my only 4" revo is a Colt Police Positive and that carries more like a j-frame.) I had always intended to eventually get a 4" stainless K or L frame (or possibly a GP100) because I do buy into the thought that it's the best all-around, general purpose, "jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none" handgun. I should also state that I recently shot a new 4" S+W 620 and really thought it was "all that and a bag of chips". A final consideration is I may actually get to take my wife and her friend out for their first shooting session (after almost twenty years of marriage!) and I thought a 4 or 6 inch with the better sites and additional weight with some mild .38 wadcutters would give them a good first experience. I don't own a .22 and the Colt with its relatively lighter weight and smaller fixed sites may not be ideal. I should also state I am not a hunter, so that's not really a consideration.

What I'd like is some opinions and experiences in what you feel is to be lost or gained by a 6" barrel over a 4", or vice-versa. The only advice I am not interested in is to get both, as I really am not interested (or ABLE $!) in building a bigger collection and, in fact, may have to sell one or more other gun to pay for the next one.

Thanks in advance. The High Road is the BEST gun forum on the web!

[Marshall]

Mostly, what is gained by one is lost by the other.

Six inch barrel:

1. Longer sight plain.
2. More weight at end of barrel, less flip.
3. Heavier gun.
4. More velocity from same cartidge.
5. Less concealable.
6. Possibly more accurate.
7. Looks? Up to you.

[unspellable]

I have a snubby, but for CCW I usually run to bottom feeders. I have a four inch K frame for a house gun.

Most of my revolvers have barrels in the 6 to 8 inch range for open carry in the boonies. I think a 6 inch is about the minimum for accurate sighting. The extra length gives a bit more velocity. Part of the equation is appearance. To me a S&W 6 inch K frame or 6.5 inch N frame just looks"right". On my large frame Dan Wesson I run to 6 or 8 inches.

In general I think a 6 inch barrel is about the easiest to shoot with, long enough for good sighting, not so long as to be too muzzle heavy for a beginner. Less muzzle flip than a short barrel.

The 4 inch K frame house gun ispredicated on a decently large grip and not overly long barrel so that at bad breath distance it's easier to hang on to and harder for the other guy to take away.

[perpster]

I have 686P with 5" barrel. I think it's a good compromise between the 4 & 6 inch versions (after reading several reviews).

I agree that shooting light 38's in a 2 lb gun with long sight radius will be an excellent way to introduce a new shooter, while leaving room to "grow" to +P and 357. You might even consider putting laser grips on it FWIW.

Disclaimer: I haven't shot my 686 yet, but haven't heard a bad thing about them--plenty of good stuff, though. Enjoy

[461]

I've only ever had one six inch DA revolver and it was my first, a .357 Taurus 669. I really liked that gun and kick myself on general purpose for getting rid of it, the six inch barrel aimed very well and held very steady and I recommend them strongly. You already have other guns for concealed carry, a six inch is great for range or outdoor use.

Light .38's in a 3" k frame should be very mild for a new shooter, but out of a six inch L frame or a GP-100 they'll be little more than a .22. Personally I'd go with the GP-100 but I'm a Ruger guy so I'm heavily biased. You'll enjoy the six inch no matter which brand.

[Ala Dan]

For target shooting or handgun hunting, you simply can't beat a 6" tube~!:D
I own a 6" S&W model 686-5, and when I really want accuracy from a long
distance; well this is the weapon I turn to~!:cool:

[P95Carry]

I agree with Dan - my 6" 686, (with it's barrel weight), is excellent for PPC shooting. Good for control and accuracy

Another 6" I have is Model 19-3 and that shoots very nicely too. Oh and my pre K-22, another case of longer tube making for a very nice shooting gun.

I do like long tubes but when it comes to carry and more compactness, without giving up too much - then 5" and 4" certainly make for a nice compromize too.


http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/cb_gun2/m686-weight-49-s.jpg


http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/cb_gun2/m19-3-03-s.jpg


http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/cb_gun2/pre_k22_02_s.jpg

[riverdog]

No pics, but I have a few 6" revolvers:
S&W Model 19-4, 28-2(S), 28-2(N), 29-3 and a Ruger GP-161. The Mod 19-4 is set up with target sights and a very light, glass-breaking-crisp trigger and the N-serial 28-2 is a real sweet tack driver that is nice to shoot even with full magnum loads. The Ruger is a good solid shooter. The trigger isn't quite up to S&W standards, but the gun is still accurate and very strong, handling full loads quite well.

I'd like to find a nice early 686 or 586 w/ 6" barrel.

[wanderinwalker]

My 629-1 .44 Magnum has a 6" barrel. I favor the longer tube for target shooting and reaching out and whacking stuff. I also like the balance. Plus, it just looks right to me, but I really don't care for extra-long tubes over about 6.5". For a woods carry/hunting/range gun, it is fine. It doesn't need to hide from anybody in those roles, and there is no doubt it won't get overlooked.

However, I am not beyond a 4" tube, even on something like a .44.

[fiVe]

P95Carry: Great pics. I particularly like the 19-3.

[MCgunner]

Mines 12 inches............my contender I mean.;)

[Stainz]

My first ever .38 was a 2" 10... my first ever .357M was a 6" 66. They came from the same closeout dealer at the same time 9/03 - and were made 1/03 - odd, as they weren't cataloged. My entries to the world below .44 were interesting, the 2" 10, +P rated, is a great house and CCW, and was left in it's original condition, with service wood boots added. The 6" 66 even came with 'The Lock'... and gained Ahrends square conversion f-g cocobolo stocks, a lowered power spring set, and a HiViz front sight. It started with my reloads, and still hasn't seen a 'real' .357M round. It's usual loads are 158gr LSWC and RN/FP from 820-900 fps. My other DA's were all 4", save the 3" 696 and 7.5" SRH... I loved it! Sadly, so did my wife... for a while. Now she is off guns for a bit, and it is all mine.

The 6" tube made the sight picture better for accuracy, no doubt. The HiViz isn't the best bullseye sight, but it is fast to acquire. The combo of the 6" half-lug barrel, K-frame, and HiViz sight is great for steel plate challenge and general plinking. The former use would benefit from an extra round, so when the '04 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' was announced, a 5" half lug 686+ with both the same Ahrends stocks and HiViz sight, as well as the V-notch rear sight, I put it on my 'short list'. My CTS problems having worsened, I elected to ultimately trade my old friend, and first DA revolver, a 7.5" .454 SRH, for that 5" 686+. As it and the 6" 66 are very similar, which do I say good-bye to?

Short answer - neither goes, despite my thinning of my 'collection'. I really like the 6" 66... it and the 5" 686+ are similar - both 'look' great to me - the half lug barrel is the key, but the Ahrends help. So does the HiViz - just not so much in looks to some, as they are too 'modern'. Oddly, I now like SS guns... The weight difference is small. The balance is the same. They have the same grip size, although the standard 66 stocks of recent years have been the backstrap enclosing squared Uncle Mike's combat grips, which I like better than the usual 686 Hogues. The trigger feels similar (same springs), although the pull and timing are a tad different in the 686+ - could be that 7th hole - I guess the 66 gets the nod here. If I only had 4"-ers, and wanted a great range plinker, I'd find a 6" 66 or 19. If that 7th round was important, I'd opt for a 5" half lug 686+. Of course, some folks love full lugs... YMMV.

Stainz

[pezo]

funny, I was just appreciating my 6" gp100 at the range after shooting a 2 and 3" in .357mag. If ccw is not an issue you cant beat this barrel length for all day shooting of .357's. Go ahead and put the wickedest loads in the thing, it will be manageble.

[MCgunner]

My Taurus 66 is a 4". This is all I got in the 6" category. It's a very accurate .357 and shoots a stout load. 6 1/2 inch barrel.

Little bit of excessive silicone grease, but I don't want it rusting.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=36061&d=1140748446

[ARTiger]

The only 6" I have is my 629 .44 mag. Love it - it's been my favorite revolver for a while. I just strap the thing in a Bianchi belt holster when I'm out in the country.

JMHO, but I really do think a 6" barrel is more accurate than a 4" especially in a larger bore round. The weight up front helps some with muzzle flip - when I shoot .44 specials it's easy to keep on target for follow up shots. I would think the same would apply with 6" .357's shooting .38's.

[Checkman]

I own several 6" revolvers. I like them for shooting and I believe they just look right - especially the 585 and the Model(s) 27/28. For carrying I own several snubbies and a 4" 686, but my preference is for the 6" tube.

[.38special]

I also think the 6inch is more accurate. I have serval and I prefer them over my 4 5/8" single six.

This is my GP 161. Its heavy, but easy to control.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/NoSboy3702/Picture008.jpg

[MCgunner]

The one thing that a longer barrel adds for practical accuracy is sight radius. I see a big difference here from a 2" snub to a 3". Four to six, well, there's some difference at longer ranges, but not so much as I lose sleep over it. I do prefer the Blackhawk for hunting. The longer tube does get more velocity out of a given .357 load, too, if you're hunting with it.

[shooting time]

I have a ruger security 6 with 6"bbl and same gun with a 4" and there is a noticeable difference .

[6inch]

Well Jim... I own four 686's, two 4" and two 6". What I can tell you is I AM more (much more) accurate with the 6"ers than the 4"ers from 25yds and out.

If it helps any, the only revolvers I own in 4" are the two 686's. All the others are 6" and up.

[PlayboyPenguin]

Well, I like longer barrels on revolvers for the range. I have a Ruger SRH Hunter with a 7.5" and a Ruger GP100 with a 6" barrel. :)

[grendelbane]

You mentioned almost 20 years of marriage. Don't know how old you were when you first got married, but I bet that you are getting old enough that your eyes don't work as well as they once did. If that is the case, the 6" barrel may not be your best choice. I really liked them when I was younger, but now it seems they cause more strain on my eyes after a long shooting session.

3 and 4" barrels work better for me now. I plan on keeping the 6" gun that I have, but I shoot it less and less as the years go by. It is no problem for a couple of cylinders full, but a long shooting session is harder on my eyes with it than with a 4" barrel.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

[_N4Z_]

I have a gp100 ss .357 w/ a 6" barrel.

It is my current favorite handgun at the range and will make make ragged holes in bullseyes for me even shooting DA. Have had and shot several different models and calibers and this one works best for me.

Acquired it in a trading match and sacrificed a Beretta96 to get it. Best trade I ever made.

[wheelgunslinger]

I have a Dan Wesson with interchangeable 4" and 6" barrels. There is a noticeable difference.
However, with the 6" barrel, I find it more difficult to draw quickly and efficiently. So, if I carry it, I just swap out the barrels and use the 4".

[seeker_two]

I have a 6" K-38 as my nightstand gun and a 6.5" Blackhawk as my "front door" gun. Both will hit a 8" steel gong at 100yds. with .38+P. And .38+P is moving pretty good out of a 6" barrel... :cool:

I'm keeping mine... :D