4" or 6" Barrel?

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If you are a LEO and this will be your main onduty handgun then consider the 4". You will find that sitting down in a car or at a desk that the extra 2"s of the 6 incher will cause your gun to hit the seat and push your duty belt up. The 4" is more comfortable.

I am not an LEO but have known some. That is how I know.
 
I started out with a 6" M19 in the late 70's, and wished it were 2" shorter almost immediatly. I now have a 686 4" that is perfect for me. I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 7 1/2" bbl to keep the long-bbl longings in check but all the rest are now shorter. They are eminently wieldy... :rolleyes:
 
It's a toss up for me, I have 4" and 6" barreled guns. In OH you can hunt with a 6" barrel but not a 4" so there is something a 6" can do that a 4" can't.

At one time it was vogue to have a long barreled gun, now it's how short can you get. I have some short barrels but nothing over 6", that's my limit.
 
WOW!!!!

Thanks for all of the great info & responses.

A lot of you suggested to get the one that feels best to me. The problem is that my favorite gun shop has to special order whichever I want.

After reviewing all of your responses and seeing this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j26aIgo667w

... I have decided to get the 4" version.

And BTW 'RUT', I never sell a firearm. That would be counter-productive.

Thanks Again!
 
It's a toss up for me, I have 4" and 6" barreled guns. In OH you can hunt with a 6" barrel but not a 4" so there is something a 6" can do that a 4" can't.
Click to expand...

I did give this some thought before I bought my 4 incher. I decided I have better hunting implements than any handgun...

To the OP you may want to look at the GP100 as well. It comes with the hogue grip now, very comfy!! I shoot better with my 4" GP100 than my father in laws 6" 686...
 
Ha ha. I'm with cleetus. My 5'6" 110lb wife can handle the GP100 6" full lug. She does say it's a little nose heavy, but....... SHE'S A GIRL!!!! :D
 
I own two 6" .357 magnums, one is a six-shot S&W model 686-5; the
other one is a S&W model 19-5~! But, I also own a LNIB S&W model
19-3, that is a safe queen~! ;)

FWIW, if you ever handload you will like the advantages of the slower
burning powders coming out of a 6" barrel. Years ago, I ran some tests
using the old Hercules 2400 powder; pushing a Speer 146 half-jacket
bullet at some amazing velocities, as fired from a 6" Colt Python~!
 
Slugo

WOW, nice looking gun.

I'll give you $80 for it, will you take a post dated, two party, out of state check?

Where is the icon / emoticon of a guy drooling over a gun he aint going to get?
 
Slugo and Glock Holiday have it right....Those are the 686s that i would buy, assuming I was able to track down examples like those. Anything that left the factory with wood grips.
 
My personal opinoin is that there is no better all around handgun than a 4" .357 Magnum.

I prefer Colts myself, but a nice S&W or Ruger isn't a bad choice either. I'd personaly skip the new models and look for a nice older version of a Smith or Security Six, if I couldn't have a Colt.
 
Primarily for hunting = 6"
General purpose and field carry = 4"
Concealed carry = 2"

IMHO, four-inch .357 mag revolver is the handgun to have if you're only having one.

YMMV
 
savit260:

My personal opinoin is that there is no better all around handgun than a 4" .357 Magnum.

I prefer Colts myself, but a nice S&W or Ruger isn't a bad choice either. I'd personaly skip the new models and look for a nice older version of a Smith or Security Six, if I couldn't have a Colt.
Click to expand...

Red agree, blue not agree.
 
Firstly, the choice of a new 4" or 6" barrel is highly subjective - within the constraints of availability. For example, if you want the 65 or 66 replacements, the 7-shot L-framed 619 or 620, you will get a 4"-er. Simple. That's the only way they come. You really want a Colt? They haven't been made in a while... true 'LNIB' examples are fewer and further between ... and very dear in cost. An older blued S&W you say? They don't make them like they once did? True... they never made an N-frame 4" .357 Magnum with an eight shot capacity, moonclip ready, decent trigger, and spring-loaded front sight before 2008. Sure, CCH parts look better - but MIM parts are far more uniform and just as strong. The 'Infernal Lock' - not something I'd order - but I have a mess of so-equipped S&Ws and they have been no problem.

At 61, I've done my share of hollering at windmills. I recently found my 1970 Audi 100LS's window sticker, their largest and most expensive model then. It came with a 4 sp MT and radio antenna & noise suppresion. It was $3,761. Thirteen sets of brake pads, six sets of plugs, ten valve lash adjustments, clutch, etc. I paid nearly $21k five years ago for a stripped 'Sport' model 2005 Jeep Liberty. It still came with A/C, AT, PS, cruise, terrific radio, etc, not available on that Audi. Nearly the same mileage now - I've changed the oil - and been comfortable year round. A new Audi would be a lot more today. I really love that Jeep far more than I did that Audi - and it sure didn't last five years! No, they don't make a lot of things like they once did - or at that old price.

The new S&W naysayers generally just repeat what someone else said - their experiences generally aren't original. To deny 'new' S&Ws is unacceptable here - such examples as the 625JM, 627 Pro, and 686SSR are just too fine, not to mention the .500 Magnum (Everyone needs pachyderm protection...), to ignore. Seriously, 'Give new a chance!'.

Yeah, for utility - a 4" .357 Magnum. For dedicate range use - maybe hunting - a 6"-er.

Stainz
 
Last edited:
Stainz


Firstly, the choice of a new 4" or 6" barrel is highly subjective - within the constraints of availability. For example, if you want the 65 or 66 replacements, the 7-shot L-framed 619 or 620, you will get a 4"-er. Simple. That's the only way they come. You really want a Colt? They haven't been made in a while... true 'LNIB' examples are fewer and further between ... and very dear in cost. An older blued S&W you say? They don't make them like they once did? True... they never made an N-frame 4" .357 Magnum with an eight shot capacity, moonclip ready, decent trigger, and spring-loaded front sight before 2008. Sure, CCH parts look better - but MIM parts are far more uniform and just as strong. The 'Infernal Lock' - not something I'd order - but I have a mess of so-equipped S&Ws and they have been no problem.

At 61, I've done my share of hollering at windmills. I recently found my 1970 Audi 100LS's window sticker, their largest and most expensive model then. It came with a 4 sp MT and radio antenna & noise suppresion. It was $3,761. Thirteen sets of brake pads, six sets of plugs, ten valve lash adjustments, clutch, etc. I paid nearly $21k five years ago for a stripped 'Sport' model 2005 Jeep Liberty. It still came with A/C, AT, PS, cruise, terrific radio, etc, not available on that Audi. Nearly the same mileage now - I've changed the oil - and been comfortable year round. A new Audi would be a lot more today. I really love that Jeep far more than I did that Audi - and it sure didn't last five years! No, they don't make a lot of things like they once did - or at that old price.

The new S&W naysayers generally just repeat what someone else said - their experiences generally aren't original. To deny 'new' S&Ws is unacceptable here - such examples as the 625JM, 627 Pro, and 686SSR are just too fine, not to mention the .500 Magnum (Everyone needs pachyderm protection...), to ignore. Seriously, 'Give new a chance!'.

Yeah, for utility - a 4" .357 Magnum. For dedicate range use - maybe hunting - a 6"-er.

Stainz
Click to expand...

TMI? I got A.D.D. or I drink to much!
 
Elvishead,

I am a retired college instructor - still accustomed to 'giving examples'.

For the A.D.D. folks, the gist of my diatribe:

They make practically nothing like they once did - things are generally far better made now - often with features never dreamed of before. Inflation has caused goodies - and food, etc - to cost a lot more nowadays. Drink the Kool-Aid... buy a new S&W - you know you want one!

Stainz

PS Or... does misery like company??
 
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