4" or 6"?

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indoorsoccerfrea

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I'm will be acquiring a revolver in .357 in the near future, and I would like one that could be both a carry gun and a hunting gun. Obviously a 4" would be easier to conceal, and a 6" would be more accurate.

My question is, are 2" of barrel in a .357 that important? If I plan on hunting with it is 4" adequate?
 
Some states mandate greater than 4" barrels for hunting...almost all mandate no shorter than 4". Since a big .357 like that is going to be heavy and pretty bulky, you may want to go with th 6". It will hunt really well, it will still carry if not very well concealed and quite frankly you'll have a big strong multi-purpose gun on your hands.
 
Depending on powder burn rate, you're going to get 80-85 percent of your expansion in the 4 inch, not too much more in a 6 inch. Sight radius is the big thing. My full loads out of my Security Six (4 inch) run about 1380 fps. At 100 yds it still delivers 425 ft/lbs to the target. It's enough to hunt with and can be pretty accurate out to about 50 yds in my hands . . . prolly better in others.

However, and I know this isn't what you asked in the OP, but neither 4" or 6" are really "carry" guns unless you're open carry. The 4" isn't really a "hunting" gun. Personally, if hunting, I wouldn't recommend the 357, anyway. The 44 magnums + and the many bigger frames in which it is offered are much better suited to the task. I know folks do both with either, but my point is, there's not really an all-arounder. It's like trying to find a boat that's good for both class 4 whitewater and pond paddling. It's just not made. Sure, you can do both with a variety, but you're not going to get the most out of the single unit for either task. Follow?

I have a 2" S&W 60 and more recently moved to a Taurus 617 Total Titanium (2") for carry. I hunt with a Ruger Redhawk 7.5" in .44 mag. I can't see using my 4" Security Six for either . . . it just doesn't fit. I suggest that you make a decision which is more important to you, carry or hunt, buy the gun that fits that niche, then save your money for the gun that fits the other.

BTW, I can't think of a better unit for PD than a DA revolver in .357 mag.
 
The 4" barrell is much easier for carrying. Police dept.s choose this length so the officer can comfortably carry the pistol all day, even when sitting in patrol car.
Some states may limit hunting handguns to 6" barrell minimum. Better see if your state has such a restriction.
I've carried a 6" .357 for years when working on farm, have switched to 4" after trying it. Don't yet know if I'll be as accurate with it as with the 6".
Also as someone noted, depending on your type of carry, you may need an even shorter barrell.
 
I own both, 4" and 6" barrel .357 magnums. These are Smith & Wesson
model 19's; the 6" blued model, I plan on shooting but not the nickel
4" model. The main reason, its pristine; and I plan of keep'in in that
way. Also, I own a 3-1/2" barrel S&W model 27 that I don't shoot
for the same reason as given for the factory nickel model 19. Both
of these weapons are in their original factory box'es with proper
accessories and documents. Plus, I own a NIB 50th Anniversary
Ruger .357 magnum "Blackhawk" in unfired status; as well as a
2-1/2" barrel S&W model 66-4 that I purchased used, but in
excellent condition~! :scrutiny: ;) For long distance shots of 100
yards or more, I prefer my 6" Smith & Wesson model 686-5.

For hunting, the 6" definitely offers an advantage as mentioned
with its longer sight radius. When I first started in law enforcement,
I carried a 6" S&W model 19 in a couple different holster combo's;
but quickly found the shorter, 4" barrels to be more comfortable.
 
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If I intend to hunt, I want the sight radius, but I need all the help I can get. As long as you can hit what your aiming for at your intended hutning distance, go for it.
 
I got a 4.5" Blackhawk for back-country hiking and I carry it while hunting. After multiple close encounters with game, I dreamed up the idea to use it to take an animal if the opportunity arose. This made me wish I had bought a 6" barrel.
 
Just pick one and get it, you'll wind up with both either way. I liked only 6" guns for a while, then 4", and now I am leaning back towards 6" guns, although I just bought an 8" Trooper. I am wishy washy as H***, so I can't settle on one.

I have 1911's in every barrel length except 6", and would like one of them. :)
 
i think with the right holster i could carry a 6". im 5'10" and 190 pounds, with a well-muscled frame. idk about IWB, maybe OC or a shoulder holster?
 
I'd decide between carrying and hunting and choose according to which is a bigger priority.

Personally, I'd go 4" (or even 3") for carry and then get either an 8" .357, .41 or .44 mag and toss a scope on that one.

Right tools for the right job. I know I'd be happier that way.
 
Concealed cary?

When I first started to carry concealed in 1977 in Detroit, I thought my K-frame model 19 with 4" barrel in a shoulder rig was the coolest thing! Guess what? Unless it was the dead of winter and I was wearing a very well-padded parka, you could see the thing sticking out a mile away! Also got to be VERY uncomfortable in a big hurry. A side-mount holster didn't improve the comfort OR the concealment one bit. I bought a Colt Cobra snubby in .38, kept it in my pocket with +P rounds, and never looked back.

If you must conceal something of that size then you should look a 2" barrel, and practice hanging on to it at the range if you really intend to load it with 357 mag rounds.

Personally I'd get (and in fact AM getting) the 8" barrel for hunting and find something else, smaller, better suited for CCW purposes.

Best of luck to ya!
 
5 inches.. . . . Genius! That's the answer. Or, just get both, as Walkalong said. Maybe you can find an old Dan Wesson with interchangeable barrels.
 
4" for Dual Purpose

Dear ISF,

It is my experience that a 4" revolver (k-frame in my case) is the longest that I can carry concealed in a belt holster that will not stick out below my sport coat or other jacket. By the way, with the right holster (Desantis 34 in my case), such a revolver carries in that way very comfortably.

Summer carry is another matter. Having tried IWB with my 4", I do not recommend it! So far my 4" is for cool weather only.

I'll chime in with some others and recommend that you go with two guns. Decide whether hunting or carry is the priority, and buy that one first. Perhaps you could choose a 2" revolver for carry and a 6" or longer revolver for hunting.

Of course, for the price of that second gun for hunting, you could have a nice 30-30 or other rifle. So how about a 2" revolver for carry first, then a rifle after that?

LBS
 
Four inchers are easier to carry and easier to re-sell. (and at some point, you will sell it)
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Why would you? Some folks hang onto guns forever, ya know.

Anyway, from how far away do you ever see yourself defending yourself? I realize that you never know, but for a defensive firearm . . . 7 yrds? That's CC training distance. Myself, I hope I can assess the situation before a baddy gets that close, let's say 15 yds . . . 25 . . . 30? Any further and you're supposed to run away :) . . . ok . . . back to point. At 25 yards I am deadly with my model 60. Lot's of rounds down range, but unless I really throw one, we're talking 3" group, single action . . . 7-8" group rapid double action. At 15 yds, well, the double action groups get's a little better. This is a 2 inch barrel. My buddies, with their 2 inch Smiths & Tauruses do the same. WHY WOULD YOU WANT A 4" BARREL to carry on your person unless you're a law enforcement officer? Heavier . . . harder to weild . . . and what have you gained at those distances? With my 6" 686 I can't do any better double action than with the 2 inch . . .

Hunting . . . why not buy something suited, designed for the task? 6-8" Anaconda, 7.5 Redhawk/Super Blackhawk, numerous longbarreld S&Ws and Tauruses. Practice enough and 100+ yard shots DO NOT require a scope (optics are for rifles! . . . though I had one on my Redhawk, initially).

There's no gun that fits all niches, AND 4" barrels are cop guns . . . that's what they are suited for. I hate to see someone try and make a firearms do soemthing it's not purposed for then be disappointed when it ain't working the way they expect/want it to in any endeavor.

In this case, buying smart is not trying to get an all-purpose revolver . . . in my not so humble opinion.
 
a 4" would be easier to conceal, and a 6" would be more accurate.
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Yup.:)

And an 8" barrel is more fun for target shooting. With a good trigger job.

And a .44 is better for big game.

And a .22 is cheap, accurate, low-recoil and fun for plinking.

That's how we end up with a big pile of guns. Somebody explain this to our wives. Please.:)

Dan Wesson used to make sets, where you'd get a frame and 3 barrels, short, medium and long. Unfortunately, all Dan Wesson makes any more is 1911s. Nothing wrong with 1911s, but everyone makes them anyway. I wish Dan Wesson still made revolvers, since there are fewer good revolver makers around.
 
I have had and shot both. The majority posters here are correct that a 4 inch revolver is very difficult to conceal. A better concealment option is a snubby or small frame auto.

Therefore, if the hunting option is all that is left, get the one that you feel most comfortably will meet your expectations in hunting. If you want to use only the iron sights, the 6 inch will help in getting more consistent hits beyond 25 yards.
 
Yup.

And an 8" barrel is more fun for target shooting. With a good trigger job.

And a .44 is better for big game.

And a .22 is cheap, accurate, low-recoil and fun for plinking.

That's how we end up with a big pile of guns. Somebody explain this to our wives. Please.
Click to expand...

That made me laugh out loud, thanks! (I just bought a .357 magnum revolver, as a "vehicle concealed gun" as opposed to my other automatic carry weapons. My wife and I had a "discussion" when I came home with it...'nuff said!)
 
haha well mojo i hope the discussion was a peaceful one...

methinks a 2" will suit my carry needs, just how accurate are the 2"? lets say...20 yards. can i expect a tight grouping? the revolver in question is a .357 rossi
 
It will be harder for you to shoot tight groups with a 2", but the gun will have just as much potential accuracy at 20 yards as a 6" version would.

If it's for self-defense/carry, you're probably not going to shoot at 20 yards. That's called "short-range hunting". :)

2" or 3" for carry, and as long as you want for hunting/plinking. There's no panacea in this situation.
 
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