4" or 6" Barrel?

[fadetoblack73]

I want to add a nice magnum revolver to my collection. I am seriously looking at the S&W 686 Plus. I need some help deciding between the 4" and 6" barrels. The gun will be a shooter, but I don't plan on hunting with it. I know that I would lose a percentage of accuracy on the 4" barrel because of the reduced sight radius. I also understand that muzzle velocity will be reduced on the shorter barrel. However, I recently shot a friend's S&W 500 with the 6.5" barrel and found that it was hard to maintain a steady sight picture. The barrel seemed to want to wander because of it being so front tip heavy. Maybe it was my inexperience with the gun. With the 686, I just want the best compromise. If the 6" barrel 686 has similar characteristics to the 6.5" 500 (and you don't think time and training will cure my problem) then maybe I should go with the 4". I want the option that I will enjoy shooting the most. Please help me decide.

 

[Oyeboten]

Get one of each...

 

[Virginian]

A 6" 686 ought to handle a lot different than that 500. Get a 4" if easy carry if your prime consideration, and a 6" if accuracy is your prime consideration.

 

[halfded]

4" revolvers are better balanced than 6" in my opinion. I like a gun that almost feels "centered" in my hands, it just feels right.

 

[ichiban]

Before I bought my 686 I spent a lot of time at the gun counter just fondling, er, uh, handling the different barrel length models. In the end I decided that I liked the balance of the 4" a lot better. Any slight loss in accuracy due to a shorter sight radius is a very small factor in my accuracy equation. YMMV.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

With my Dan Wesson, I have the luxury of swapping barrels around anytime I like.
The 4" barrel lives on it because of how easy it is to pack. I've found that I prefer the 4" barrel almost universally because of balance and ease of movement when packing- no giant holster or barrel making movement or life difficult.

 

[Walkalong]

I had a 6" 586 and it was a bit barrel heavy to me. I had a 4" 686, and it felt really good. I think 4" is a better "all around" length anyway.

I have guns in 4" and 6", and like them all, but if I had to choose one length for all around use, it would probably be a 4", but I haven't been able to make my mind up if I like 4" or 6" bettter in all these yearrs, so what do I know.

 

[Radagast]

I find the six inch 686 much easier to shoot accurately, but the 4 inch gun is much better balanced. It's a trade off only you can decide upon.
FWIW, with a six inch 686 I have managed 1 inch 5 shot groups at 25 meter using 158 grain LRN, with another I have managed 10 chicken silhouettes for 10 shots at 25 meters, double action in fairly rapid fire. The 6 inch 686 is a very accurate platform. But I don't own one. My two favourite revolvers that I do own and shoot a lot are both 4 inch K frames, a model 66 and a model 18.
After the first couple of cylinders I find the 6 inch barrel frustrating to try and hold steady. The 4 inch barrels are much more naturally balanced.

Buy the one that suits you best.

 

[Palu]

I had the same dilemma and went with the 6". I could shoot better with the 6 vs. 4. The 4" is smaller, so carrying it easier, but it's not like the 4" is a joy to pack around, either. I felt being able to shoot better outweighed the extra heft. Also, less recoil is good.

But in the end, either will serve you well and you should have no regrets with either one. My next revolver is an SP101 for concealed carry.

 

[notbubba]

I have a 6", it's a great gun, but I think I'd like it even better if it was a 4".

 

[GRIZ22]

A 4" 357 is about the best all around gun made. Start your magnum revolver collection with that.

 

[22-rimfire]

Get the 4" unless you intend to limit your carry and shooting to the range and hunting.

 

[Sunray]

It's about how a revolver feels in your hand. A 4" will be just as accurate as a 6". Shot a 4" GP100 in a target league for eons. Mind you, there was no 6" barrel and 4" barrels weren't evil, up here, when I bought it. Still would have bought the 4". Feels better to me.

 

[BlindJustice]

I had a 686P 4" Bbl. - great balance - I got Guy Hogue finger grooved
and checkered compact K.L grip in Rosewood and a Milt Sparks
holster - the #AW200 - great belt holster that shields the hammer
from hanging up on a jacket or vest. I also had 4 HKS 587 speedloaders
Absolutley a great revo, I just didn't connect with it. I sold the
entire package to my best friend, and ex-riding buddy for $600 live & learn
his smaller hands fit the grips better than my larger and long hands


I found I just don't like the .357 Mag recoil, and muzzle blast - I have a
Model 60 3" Bbl. .357 Mag. and use a carry load of .38 SPecial +P
Double Tap SPeer Gold Dot JHPs for better recovery -and- my favorite
revovler is a 625 5" Bbl. .45 ACP & .45 AUto RIm

FYI - S&W did make in the pre-lock days a couple of small runs
a few thousand each, of a 5" 686 you might find come up at
Auction on Gunbroker.

Randall

 

[sfc_mark]

I bought the 4" Model 581 (same as 681 only carbon steel/fixed sights) about 6 months after they came out. I absolutely love the balance on the four-incher, and I just don't care for like the look of six-inch DAs.

On a side note, I let off just one shot outdoors from the 4-inch .357 without hearing protection, and I would never do it again unless it was a matter of life and death.

 

[Snobal]

I have GP100's in 4" and 6".

They shoot about the same size groups from a rest at 25 yards, but I tend to shoot the 6" more than the 4".

I replaced the new finger-groove grips with the old style grips because I do better at one-handed NRA bullseye shooting with the smaller, old-style grips.

The grip style does not seem to matter much for me in slow-fire matches, but for shooting double action in timed- and rapid-fire --- my scores are better with the smaller grips.

JMHO

 

[RUT]

I'd go 4" myself....easier to wield and easier to sell. (and someday you WILL sell it)

 

[Elvishead]

I was going to recommend the 6" for hunting but it sounds like a 4" would be better balanced for you, and it would make a fine hunting gun.

 

[Stainz]

Below is my 5" half lug 686+ 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive', SKU #164284, which I bought new ~ five years ago - great bargain. It came as shown - HiViz front sight and Ahrends square conversion fg cocobolo stocks, as well as a V-notch rear sight. It was actually $10 less than a standard production 4" 686+ in the same display case. Consider a 4" 'variant' very similar to the 5" h-l shown - just differing in having SS hammer & trigger, the usual Hogue rubber grip, and an orange ramp front sight - with an inch less barrel. That would be the model 620 - a bargain. It 'points' better than the full lug versions, easy to figure as the 4" 686+'s additional 2 oz weight is all out at the muzzle in that full lug.



I went to my pusher's 5/08 to buy a 620 - finally, as I needed a 4" .357M - and came home with the 627 Pro shown at bottom above - great buy - keeper! I still want a 620...

Stainz

 

[JustinL]

Personally a full underlug 6" barrel is just too nose heavy for me.

 

[Guillermo]

notbubba is right. The 4 inch 357 revolver should be the basis on which your revolver collection is built.

The 6 inch should be a 44 magnum

 

[texas bulldog]

obviously, i can't answer for you.

my first handgun was (is) a 6" 586. i still really like it, but i sometimes wish i had waited for a 4" to come along. so take that for what you will. who knows, maybe i would have felt that way about the 6" if i'd bought a 4"...

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors// fellow 6" 586er Hi TB( mine is a 1983 )
Yep I like the 6" // I hang a leather bag with shotgun shells from end of barrel for wrist workout . I'm up to 12 #4buck // Do this for a while and you won't notice the difference in weight between 4"and 6"just the accuracy. IMHO

 

[frankiestoys]

fadetoblack73
There's alot of good info here,but it really depends on what you want out of a revolver
I own a 2,4,and 6 inch the 6 is the most accurate but it is heavy, but that weight helps with recoil on heavy loads.
I know your heart is set on the Smith its a great gun! (ive owned 2 smiths ) but i might suggest to look at a Ruger GP 100 they are IMO second to none.

 

[Loanshark]

I'd go 4" myself....easier to wield and easier to sell. (and someday you WILL sell it)

Did I miss something? Do you know the OP or something? Why would he sell a .357 magnum? One of the most versitile firearms made?


4" was my choice as well. There isn't much you can do with the 6 incher that you can't do with the 4"' It also feels better to me.