4" or 5" barrel for a 357 magnum?

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Stopsign32v

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Lord help me on choosing which one I want to go with! So I have a whole entourage of carry handguns ranging from a CZ P01, German Sig P228, Stainless Sig P220 compact, H&K USP Compact, to a striker fired Sig P365, Sig P320, and CZ P10C.

So my chances of carrying a revolver are slim to none. BUT maybe...I don't know...Possibly...Who knows...I get a wild hair up my ass and want to carry OWB. I suppose I could possibly need to maybe carry this revolver.

With that said I'm completely torn on a GP100 in 4.2" barrel or the limited edition 5" Davidson barrel setup. The 99.99995% duty of this revolver will be nothing more than shooting it at the range with HOT loads. So what do you say?

Ruger_GP100_.357_Stainless.jpg

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Everything that Gunny said.

If it were me, I would be thinking about a 3", really, if I expected to carry it sometimes. That would be easier when driving and at restaurants so forth.

For the range the 5" would definitely be the most fun. :)
 
The 5" all day, every day. That extra inch will make it more controllable with a little more velocity (or if you're a handloader, then the same velocity with a little less powder), and it just looks the best to my eye, as well.
 
Between the two I like the looks of the 4.2”. It looks balanced. I have no experience with GP100’s so this one is purely an aesthetic observation.
 
Stopsign, I have 4" and 5" .357s. Both lengths are certainly practical, but for all around use I prefer the 4"/4.2" guns. BTW, I had a 5" GP100, and now have a 4.2", though both were 10MMs. Still prefer the 4.2"...
 
Well, a rough day at work and a few downs of Captain Morgan 100 proof spiced rum when I got home had me placing an order for a GP100 in 5". Tombstone Tactical had them for $750 free shipping and my FFL said basically jump on it if I could.

So I think what I will do is pass on the 4" completely and instead get this 5" right now and later I will get a 3" for carry.
 
Skeeter Skelton was quite enamored of the 5" S&W M-27. I have a 5" barrel and shroud for my Dan Wesson M-15, when the company was resurrected yet again in 1997 they made some from leftover shrouds and barrels.
 
My 5 inch GP100 is a lot to carry but I can do it. Hides well under a vest. Texas boiling summer heat is nixing that for now.
 

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Five inches is a nice length. My 5" S&W 625 probably gets shot more than any of my other big-bore revolvers.
 
In the long run, Objectively, I doubt very much if .8" is gonna make much difference in velocity, accuracy because of sight plane, balance or ease of carrying OWB. Subjectively, it could vary, especially when the esthetics factor is put in the shuffle. I have no experience with the Rugers, but I do have 4", 5" and 6" 686s. The differences between the 4" and the 6" are noticeable. Between the 5" and the others.....not so much. Get the one that trips your trigger and quit worrying about what others think.
 
Stopsign32v said:
Well, a rough day at work and a few downs of Captain Morgan 100 proof spiced rum when I got home had me placing an order for a GP100 in 5". Tombstone Tactical had them for $750 free shipping and my FFL said basically jump on it if I could.

So I think what I will do is pass on the 4" completely and instead get this 5" right now and later I will get a 3" for carry.
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After a few 100 proof Captain Morgans, I probably would 've bought both. Good deal, you're going to love your 5" GP. I've got the 4.2" and the 5" and they both carry well IWB in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake(pictured) on hikes. The 5" is a great range gun and balances better, IMO, than the 6" I handled. As far as the 3" GP100 for carry, you might consider a Speed or Service Six 2 3/4". You could probably pick one up in good shape for less than a new GP. I found this one for $580 OTD about a year ago.
 

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My experience with shooting hot .357 loads says go with the longer barrel. The slightly greater weight and moment arm means less muzzle jump, and the longer sight radius is better for accuracy. Personally, I like the shorter barrel on medium frame revolvers for appearance and carry weight, but for your stated purposes, I think the longer one is better. As said above, the difference in 4" or 5" is small, but every little bit helps.
 
Had a 4" GP-100 which I liked. I sold that and purchased a "previously enjoyed" 5" GP-100 which I like you use as a range gun. Really like the extra inch of barrel. Balances nicely. Let us know how you like the new GP!
 
3" for carry, 5" for range use (or even better the S&W 7") - see their 3 5 7 series
 
The 5-in barrel gives you greater velocity accuracy and the ability to legally hunt in almost every state and it's only one inch more so it's still very carriable.
Get the 5-in if you're only getting one.
But I would recommend getting a 3 in all the way up to 7-in and everything in between and 357
Plus the 5 in the hand is just way awesomer it's a combination of a small sledgehammer and a 357 revolver all-in-one especially in stainless steel
 
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