4" vs. 6"

[ATBackPackin]

Hello,

Let me start by stating that I am by no means a gun expert nor guru, so I apologize if this question seems ignorant.

I am looking to get a gun for my wife for HD and obviously for the range too (for practice and fun). I have been told by a lot of people that for (most) women a revolver is your best option for HD. So since there is no need to be concealable I am thinking at least a 4" barrel. My question is what are the pros and cons of a 4" barrel versus a 6" barrel? I know the weight is slightly more (although I do not think it is enough to make a difference), but other than that I am clueless.

I am most likely going to get a .357 mag so she can shoot .38 spec loads. I am looking at the Taurus 66. Opinions about the caliber and model would also be appreciated.

Thank,

Shawn

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Even though the 6" barrel gives you a longer sight radius and will aid in accuracy it's a bit long for HD IMO. As a range gun the 6" barrel would probably be a better choice as a target gun but I would (and did) choose a 4" .357 Magnum for the home. I bought a S&W M686, it's a really nice revolver with a great trigger. I also like the Ruger GP100 but I'm not crazy about the Taurus revolvers. There are many Taurus fans here and on other forums, I just don't care for them personally. There once was a big price advantage to buying a Taurus revolver, now, not so much.

 

[Oro]

The only proven thing a 6" barrel will get you is a few (maybe 75) fps of muzzle speed with hot loads. It does not improve accuracy, and certainly not at typical SD ranges. For home defense, get a 4" or even a 2.5" if she's more comfortable with that. I got my other 1/2 a 2.5" S&W 66 and she's quite fond of it (I think).

I have a large number of guns I can rotate through my "nightstand duty." Usually it's a 4" S&W 686 or 1911; sometimes a 2.5" S&W K frame. Those are the guns I feel most comfortable with the idea of handling groggy in the middle of the night or in a stress situation.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I never said a 6" barrel improves accuracy. I said, "The 6" barrel gives you a longer sight radius and will aid in accuracy" which it does.

 

[ATBackPackin]

Thank you both. Will a longer barrel reduce the recoil? I always thought snubbies had a pretty snappy recoil. If it does reduce the recoil would there be any noticeable difference between the 4" and 6" barrels?

Thanks again,

Shawn

 

[BullRunBear]

I've trained a number of women in the basics of safety and sight acquisition including some rather tiny women completely new to handguns. For centerfire, they all preferred a K-frame size revolver with a 4 inch barrel using 38 specials. The balance and recoil was the most comfortable. Those who went on to get their own guns went with a S&W K frame or a Ruger GP100.
The one exception was a Taurus 3 inch barrel (model 431?) in 44 special with moderate power handloads. They all loved that one. Wish I still had it.

I'm not familiar with that particular Taurus but if it's in the same weight class as a Smith or GP100 it should do what you want. Never had a problem with any of the Taurus revolvers I've shot.

Jeff

 

[ATBackPackin]

So you are saying that even though the 6" barrel is only a few ounces heavier it doesn't balance as nicely as the 4" barrel? Makes sense. So you don't think a 4" barrel with .38 spec loads has too much recoil for a woman fairly new to shooting. Obviously I am going to have her shoot one before buying, but just trying to get some info here first.

Thanks

Shawn

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Will a longer barrel reduce the recoil? I always thought snubbies had a pretty snappy recoil. If it does reduce the recoil would there be any noticeable difference between the 4" and 6" barrels?

Shooting .38 Special ammo from either won't be a problem. Shooting full power .357 Magnum ammo will be more lively. I'm not sure about the Taurus revolvers but the with the S&W M686, the 4" weighs 40oz and the 6" weighs 44oz. I doubt the extra 4oz will make a big difference in felt recoil but the additional weight in the barrel will probably lessen the muzzle rise. IMO the felt recoil from an all Steel revolver isn't much of a problem in .357 Magnum for the most part.

For HD you really won't want to load .357 Magnum ammo anyway. In a small enclosed area (bedroom) in the dark (at night) you really don't want to touch off a .357 Magnum round. It would be like a flash-bang and quite uncomfortable for those on both ends of the revolver. Many including myself will load .38 Special +P ammo in their HD revolver. I normally load the "FBI Load" which is a .38 Special +P with a 158gr semi-wadcutter hollow point bullet. From a 4" revolver you should get close to 900 fps from that round. (more than enough to stop the bad guy if needed)

 

[ClemY]

My home defense gun is a 4" Ruger GP100. I feel it is a better length for HD than 6", but it is a matter of personal preference.

I load mine with slightly less than full power loads and loads optimized for shorter barrels. If I ever have to use it, I don't want more recoil than necessary and I don't want to light up a dark room like a flash bulb. I use .38 special class loads loaded in .357 brass for practice.

I personally won't buy a Taurus. I have seen too many that had spotty QA which resulted in parts too soft and wearing quickly, or parts too hard and fracturing. Not all are bad, but enough are bad to make me look elsewhere. I like Ruger and S&W.

 

[johnnylaw53]

I would go with the 4" or a 3" K frame something to think of the more barrel you have out there the easier it is for someone to grab it. I know don't let anyone get that close to you but it can happen. That was another reason I use to carry a snub nose working undercover since sometimes you ended up pulling on someone very close to you. It was just one of the things the old narc back then that was training me told me and back then since he was an old narc I listen to a lot he said, had to be some reason he was still around to be an old narc.

be safe

 

[dogngun]

Back in the old days, the 6" barrel got the last bit of energy

out of standard .38 Special cartridges, and provided a longer sight radius. Later, it was determinded that a 5" barrel was the IDEAL length for the .38 Spl, and S&W made a few revolvers on custom order for some police departments using a 5" tube. I have had several old Smiths and Rugers with
6" barrels, and I like them, but they are a little harder to carry, and I think you would be very happy with a 4".

It might help if whoever will be shooting the gun could actually handle several of each length - they feel a lot different, and one may be more comfortable to shoot than the other.

For HD, I'd recommend a used Ruger 4" .
mark

 

[gwnorth]

My 3" barrel S&W 65-3 weighs about 34oz, so it is more then heavy enough to be very manageable with .38spl and .38spl+p loads, even for those who are very recoil-shy. A 3" or 4" barrel k-frame S&W (64, 65, 66, 67) is just about ideal for a home defense gun, IMO. I also have a 3" Ruger Service Six, which is also great, and weighs about 3oz-3.5oz more then the 65-3. Both guns give me the option of moving up to .357 loads if I ever felt that was necessary (I don't personally, and I load them at home with .38spl+p, currently 130gr Winchester PDX1 bonded JHP).

I also have both a 4" ss (weights about 39.5oz if I remember when I put it on the kitchen scales) and a 6" blued GP100 (about 42oz), but the full underlug and larger frame of these makes them less well suited to HD then the other two 3" (not unsuited, just not quite as good a fit in that role as the 3").

That's just my opinion, but I'd recommend you try a 3" or 4" S&W k-frame or a 3" or 4" Ruger Service or Speed Six if you can find them to check out. The full underlug models (eg. GP100, S&W 686) make great range guns and woods carry, but the classic heavy barrel open ejector or half-lug shrouded ejector models in 3-4" barrels have excellent handling, balance and plenty of mass to soak up recoil. Much better suited to the close quarters of a home defense situation.

 

[frankiestoys]

A 4'' would be a better HD gun and will give you good results at the range, while some people say that the Taurus are fine my choice would be a Ruger or a Smith A GP, 686
cant realy go wrong.

 

[Walkalong]

4"

Better balance. Easier to handle in close situations. Accuracy difference in a self defense stiuation in close quarters in a non issue.

The suggestions for a shorter barrel have merit, but recoil will go up.

 

[ATBackPackin]

Wow, thanks for all of the great replies. I guess that settles it, 4" .357 mag with .38 spec loads. I am going to try to get her out this weekend to the range and rent some .357's.

Thanks for all of the help and if I keep hanging out here I won't be a complete moron.

Shawn

 

[Mr. T]

6" is more accurate and will give you better ballistics.
Considering the 2" as a detriment to home defense is ludicrous. If the home invader gets that close to you to make that even a factor, you're probably already dead anyway. 6" Ruger GP100 all the way.

 

[rcmodel]

A point to ponder.

It is far easier to disarm a person holding a 6" revolver then it is the same person with a 4" or 2 1/2" revolver.

That long barrel will give a gun grabber a lot more leverage then your three-finger grasp on the grip can counter.

I think a 4" is about an ideal compromise for accuracy, bullet energy, recoil management, and gun retention.

The other thing is, a 6" barrel with a full under-lug like the one in the photo you posted will be a handful to hold up for long for someone with less wrest strength.

rc

 

[W.E.G.]

6" for longer sighting radius - target shooting
4" for better balance and easier to carry - self-defense

 

[Mr. T]

For starters I don't shoot my pistols/revolvers with one hand I use two. I practice both one handed and two handed shots...but for argument's sake let's say I have the choice -- I choose two hands to shoot my pistols. If I'm holding my 6" Ruger with two hands, there aren't going to be too many people that will be able to take that gun away. I'm not saying it can't be done by those who are trained, but that's going to be a limited few. Even those with training would have a tough time. Regardless of all that I plan on shooting the individual before they can take the weapon; personally between a 4" and 6" I don't see the difference -- if someone's that close that they could grab either gun I think the differences would be negligible.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, but the OP's question was started with:

I am looking to get a gun for my wife for HD

She most likely isn't a manly man like you who can't be disarmed by anyone less then Steven Seagal.

For her, I stand by my assertion that a 2 1/2" or 4" is going to be far easier to retain in a gun grab then a 6", regardless of the grabber's level of training.

rc

 

[Rexster]

Well, if you move to B.C., keep in mind Canada's barrel length restrictions. Assuming you remain stateside, it depends on what SHE likes. I would avoid Taurus. Many are good guns, but there have been enough posts here about bad Taurus customer service to give me pause, and enough posts about the good CS of S&W and Ruger to make me feel better about them. I own mostly Ruger, and some S&W revolvers. Pre-owned Rugers are often a better deal than pre-owned S&Ws.

I do know that women who have handled my Ruger SP101s want to keep them, but usually hand back larger revolvers willingly, and soon. Consider a 3-1/16" SP101. It balances a bit more toward the muzzle than the snubbier versions.

 

[Walkalong]

2 1/2" 686 .357 Mag & 4" Model 19 .357 Mag.

Both fine choices, as well as other fine K & L size .38s and .357s, such as this Dan Wesson

 

[warnerwh]

You may want to consider a snub. In closed quarters a 6" barrel can slow you down on getting the shot off. Split seconds can make all the difference in the world. Odds are pretty low you're going to have ideal circumstances. A 4" barrel will make it easier to point shoot I believe. Unless you're fairly good with guns a 2" may be a bit much to practice with.
For many years I used a Taurus 2" .357 for HD. Now I use a 4" Dan Wesson .357. The reason I changed guns is because there was a deal on this Dan Wesson but I had to sell the snubby to pay for it. Otherwise I would personally use a 2". I have had extensive practice so the blast and recoil from a 2" doesn't bother me with full power loads. There are mid power loads available and of course .38 Special. Once your fight or flight kicks in the noise and blast will not bother you. It's kind of surrealistic slow motion.If by chance you were the one with the gun and the BG gets a hold of it your chances of retaining your gun are good all else being equal with a 2". A 4" and especially a 6" barrel give the BG significant leverage to the point where a weaker person could have the advantage.

I'd like to suggest you research Dan Wesson revolvers. They are superior in quality to a Taurus. They are no longer made but you can get a decent 4" for 350.00 or maybe less which I think is about what a new Taurus would cost. Trust me these guns are a bargain. I'll let you do the research and draw your own conclusions. A place that is certainly biased but extremely knowledgeable is: http://www.danwessonforum.com/

 

[NMGonzo]

4 inch

easier to conceal

better all around

then for the summer you need a 2 inch sp101

 

[ironvic]

I like a 4" barrel. The six inch is a little too long for an inside the house gun, the 4's a good compromise without giving up too much velocity, but has better ballistics than shorter barrels like a 2 1/2 incher. Most hollow point ammo performs well in the 4" barrel.
That said, I have used a S&W 686 Plus (7 round) 2 1/" revolver for house duties, but I found it to be a heavy gun, although balance was rather nice. With the heavier 7 rd cylinder and full lug barrel, the thing just sat and nested in the hand like a natural pointer. And my new carry gun is a 1 7/8" barrel J-frame S&W Model 642. For me, it's a tool that's right for the job. But for an all around gun and for use as a home defense weapon, I choose the 4" .38. Mine's a Model 10, before that it was a 4" Model 15 S&W revolver.

Even though I have shot and owned all kinds of handguns in many calibers, I always come back to a 4" .38 Special. I guess that's why they call it "Special."