4" or 6" .357?

[Devonai]

I am trying to decide between a 4" or 6" Colt Trooper .357. They're both $325 and in good condition, so the sole choice between barrel lengths has been driving me nuts (harr).

Assuming I'm using Remington 125-grain JHPs, will the 6" barrel help with recoil and muzzle flash? The higher velocity will be nice but I'm primarily interested in controllability.

As a boondocking gun, weight isn't really a factor either, and if I could afford one I'd simply get a Python for the full underlug.

 

[10-Ring]

The 6" (or longer) wheelguns tend to be a tad too heavy & off balanced for me, so I'd go w/ the 4".

 

[Preacherman]

If it's for boondocking, ask yourself what you're likely to have to shoot at. If it's two-legged enemies, the 4" will be a bit quicker to draw and faster to manoever. If you might have four-legged problems, the 6" barrel will give greater energy to the heavy anti-critter loads, and is worth it from that perspective.

 

[444]

.............will the 6" barrel help with recoil and muzzle flash?

Yes.
I of course have no idea how you intend to use this gun. The 6" barrel will definitely give you better performance. More velocity, longer sight radius, less muzzle flip, less flash.......................
For me, one of the things that dictates barrel length is sitting down in the pickup truck. A 6" barrel pokes into the seat and tries to pull my belt up over my head while my roll of fat tries to keep it in place. Of course this could be avoided with a shoulder holster.
The 4" doesn't have this problem. It rides very nicely on the belt sitting, standing, or something in-between.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

If the full under lug of a expensive Colt Python suits
you, then the weapons weight must not be any
problem? Guessing from your detail's, I would
most definitely opt for the 6"; as it offers a longer
sight radius, which aids in overall accuracy.

Any brand of 125 grain .357 magnum JHP's will
be excellent performer's out of a 6" tube.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Jim March]

The extra speed out of a 6" won't matter much for personal defense. It WILL matter when hunting deer, boar or defending against black bear.

Long-range accuracy from the longer sight radius will be an issue too, and may tip you one way or the other.

As to "feel": some people like a "muzzle light" feel, some like a degree of muzzle heavy. That part is completely up to you. I'm personally a "muzzle light" shooter and am comfy with snubbies, but that appears to be a minority position.

 

[learnedmonkey]

I'm going to try and commandeer the mother/sweater protocol:

I like 6" better than 4", therefore you should buy the 6".

 

[Rob96]

My own personal preference is for 4" 357's. The 6" tubes just don't balance right for me. Plus, when I do carry my 4" GP-100 concealed, I can still sit comfortably in my truck.

 

[SirVette]

Assuming I'm using Remington 125-grain JHPs, will the 6" barrel help with recoil and muzzle flash?

Yes. Helped a friend buy a 357. Suggested 6" in 357 (Python) for his purposes. He went w/ the King Cobra 357 in 6".
The 6" shoots nice in the 357. Have the Diamondback in 4".

 

[Gary A]

I'm generally a fan of the four inch for general use. However, I have both a full lug and a half lug six inch GP100s and for shooting they can't be beat. The half-lug balances like a four inch full lug (I can't believe Ruger is discontinuing this model) but for precise or extended shooting the full lug six inch is truly nice. All depends on personal preference and planned use of the revolver, seems to me. For carry and self-defense (woods or otherwise) I'd say the four inch. For home defense and planned shooting, target or hunting, the six inch.

 

[Checkman]

Please stop talking about all this practical stuff. The six inch barrel is just prettier on a big handsome .357 magnum. I give it two snaps.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I'd go with the 4" max. It's easier to handle without losing anything on accuracy.

 

[Devonai]

Well, I found a Dan Wesson .357 with 4, 6, and 8" barrels for $395. Should I go for it?

 

[Ala Dan]

Att: Devonai

Sounds like you found a Dan Wesson "Pistol Pack"?

Yes, by all means thats a heck'eva deal to pass up.
I've seen those things go for much more than that, here
in DixieLand.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Devonai]

Not only does it look brand new, but it's got the three barrels, the tools for swapping them, rubber and wood grips, and a padded case. Looks like I need to snatch this up ASAP.

 

[461]

I'd definitely snap it up, take a look on the Dan Wesson site and see what they are going for now and you'll be quite surprised.

 

[Devonai]

I put it on layaway. One thing I still don't know is if this pistol is the equivalent of a L-frame or N-frame. It certainly didn't feel as large as an N-frame, but I forgot to ask.

 

[Gordon]

It's called a .41 frame and it is a little smaller than an N frame Smith(which is a .44 frame) and bigger than a K frame. It does take the Python speed loaders(if it is an old Trooper and not the latter , cheaper versions(Mk 3 and mark !V)

 

[WESHOOT2]

ASSUMPTIONS

One assumes that a longer barrel will increase velocity, but that is only an assumption.
Actual testing required.

A longer barrel WILL increase sight radius and weight. Usually.

BTW, that DW Pistol Pack is a "BUY NOW!!!"

 

[Devonai]

It's on lay-a-way, since I had some car repairs coming up and I couldn't justify buying the DW until I knew the cost of the work. It will be mine within the month, however.

Gordon, my frame question was actually about one of these Dan Wesson model 15 revolvers.

 

[Ol' Badger]

2 in. Mod. 60 is what I like. Nice little .357

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I used to have a 6" 357, and never really warmed up to it. It looked great, but just didn't "work" for me.

 

[Beren]

Why not both? I have a beautiful 5" S&W Mod. 27.

 

[Black Snowman]

I prefer long barrels for the reasons listed above but I don't carry so . . . I guess you'll have to make up your own mind, or come up with the extra money to get both as suggested.