Why 8 3/8" for S&Ws?

[Jimfern]

I am curious why S&W settled on 8 3/8" for the barrels on some of their revolvers. I'm sure there was a reason they picked it. Google was not helping out on this one. Thanks for any information you can provide on this one.

 

[rcmodel]

Because at the time, NRA Bullseye competition had a 12"? limit on how far apart the front & rear sights could be placed.

So, the 8 3/8" barrel, plus the length of the N & K frame was as long as they could be and still be legal for NRA Bullseye competition use.
Still, that measurement comes up a little less then 11 1/2" from muzzle to rear sight lief so they could have been a little longer.

There is also some speculation 8 3/8" was as long as the barrel rifling equipment they had at that time could make barrels.

rc

 

[Jimfern]

Thank you Sir.

 

[SaxonPig]

The original longest barrel S&W offered was 8 & 3/4" (pre-war 357 Magnums) but then the rules changed to limit sight radius or someone pointed out to S&W that 8 & 3/4" was too long for compliance and the shorter length was adopted.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Similarly, it is rather odd that the six-inch barrels are actually 5 7/8" and two-inch barrels are actually 1 7/8". What is the reasoning behind that?

 

[unspellable]

Why?

It's to emulate caliber nomenclature where the caliber designation generally doesn't have much to do with the actual caliber. Such as the 44 Magnum actually being close to a 42 caliber.