4" or 5" barrel for a 357 magnum?

[Dave T]

Smith & Wesson had a solution to all this in a by-gone era. They made Three Fifty Seven Magnums and Model 27s with 3.5" barrels and with 5" barrels. The 3.5" was chosen for concealed carry (under suite coat) by the FBI for a while. The 5" was carried by gun savvy outdoors men and uniformed officers. It was short enough to wear on a belt but long enough to deliver near top ballistics.

Of course in this enlightened age of ILs, frame mounted firing pins, and two piece barrels their idea of a carry 357 is a fixed sighted, 8 shot with a 2" barrel. Those things are uglier even than Rugers. (smiley face goes here)

Dave

 

[Jim Watson]

Early days of IDPA I had S&W barrels of K, L, and N frames cut to 5" for competition. That does seem a sweet spot for DA barrel length. But they decided that wasn't concealable enough and reduced the maximum to 4" so I had them sawn off again. Sure am glad I didn't get totally carried away and have my old PPC Python cut down.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Had me a python , nickel 6” from 73. Surprised they didn’t offer that in 5”… or Did they?

Regardless, like the Diamond back I had… when benched- I found it sub par compared to my S$Ws. Perhaps I’m mistaken or full of it you say- yet I didn’t keep those Colts very long/ seemed a tad delicate as well.

 

[golden]

I have owned both 4 and 5 inch guns and the real difference comes down to carrying it both concealed and on your belt.
The 4 inch is quicker to draw because less barrel has to clear the holster, so for defensive carry, that wins hands down. It is also lighter and uses a smaller holster. All of my carry .357's have a 4 inch or shorter barrel.
For maximum power and controllability, I would go with a 5 inch. The .357 magnum is a high pressure round and the longer the barrel, the better. It also adds a little more muzzle heaviness, which can be good as well.
A six inch is even better for power, but just too bulky and usually with intermediate framed guns (S&W L-frame and larger N-frame, RUGER GP-100 and COLT PYTHON), they are just really heavy.

If I remember right, Skeeter SKELTON, a legendary handgun writer for SHOOTING TIMES magazine liked the 5 inch barrel on a S&W model 27, the most.

Jim

 

[AJC1]

If your primary reason for buying it is range gun always go longer. If in a pinch it's a truck gun that inch wont matter. If your looking at EDC then the choice would go the other way.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

3” Mod 13 I’d Easy to Carry. Yet the 4” is a Bit long and Muzzle prints even in a cross draw holster.
The 4” can be carried- it would be challenging for me to go any longer.

Yet If I find a 5” 27 - I’d Try it- haha