Howdy
Be careful what you wish for. This S&W Model 17 has an 8 3/8" barrel. 8 3/8" was one of the standard barrel lengths for Smith and Wesson. But with a tiny 22 caliber hole in the barrel, it is very muzzle heavy. Difficult to hold steady one handed, at least for me. This target was shot from a rest.
Larger caliber revolvers have lighter barrels because the hole down the center is bigger. This Target Model Triple Lock has a 7 1/2" barrel, but the 44 Special hole down the center reduces a lot of the weight, so it is not as muzzle heavy as the Model 17.
The same with the 45 Colt, 7 1/2" barrel on my old Blackhawk.
And this 45 Colt 'original model' Vaquero with its 7 1/2" barrel.
And this 45 Colt Stainless 'original model' Vaquero with its 7 1/2" barrel.
You would think with its 7 1/2" barrel the 45 Colt 2nd Gen at the top of this photo would be more accurate, but I actually usually do better with the 4 3/4" barrel of the 45 Colt 2nd Gen at the bottom of this photo.
Go figure.
This Colt New Frontier in 45 Colt has a 7 1/2" barrel and it is quite accurate.
As is this 45 Colt New Service with its 7 1/2" barrel.
Cap and Ball revolvers often had long barrels. I have always felt this was so the loading lever could be long enough to generate enough leverage to ram a ball into the chamber.
This 8" Pietta replica of the 1860 Colt Army is one of a pair, with 8" barrels.
My old EuroAms Remmie sports a cartridge conversion cylinder these days, but it still has its 8" barrel. With its 45 Colt conversion cylinder it is the most accurate 45 Colt revolver I own. But that is probably due more to the precision of the conversion cylinder than the long barrel.