Can't decide between 4 and 6 inch 357 magnum

[TimboKhan]

Like virtually everyone else, I say go with the 4 inch. My main reason is simply that it is easier to handle. There may be some minor tradeoff in accuracy or power, but I can't shoot to that tradeoff, and so I go with what feels more lively in my hand.

 

[jhvaughan2]

I agree with virtually everyone here. To sum it up: 4" if you want to quickly draw it from a holster. 6" if you want to hunt. DW if you want both.

 

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

I have Colt Trooper III's with 4 and 6 inch barrels. I seem to always go to the 6" when I head for the range. That 50% longer sighting radius makes it easier for me to hit what I'm shooting at. Less muzzle jump and more velocity with heavy loads too. Since you already have a couple of CC guns you might consider the longer barrel.

 

[VeeArDoubleyouSee]

I have a 6" .357 that's delightful, never tried a 4" but no desire to either.

 

[skidder]

I Couldn't Decide, So....
I thought about it a long time and suddenly the solution hit me. It was so obvious I wondered why I hadn't thought of it before. I got all three barrel lengths and didn't want the hassles of buying a Dan Wesson Pistol Pac.

WOW! Nice pistol pack, I'm still in the hunt for a short Six.


Confederate-- I like the way you think. The Ruger pistol pack is a solid choice.

 

[Zoober]

I have a 4" 686 and just yesterday fired a 6" Highway Patrolman. Between the two with 158gr loads, I didn't notice the difference between the two, and that's saying a lot considering how big the HP is.

In an L-Frame, a 4" barrel is the best balanced IMO.

 

[Ala Dan]

Simple

4" for carry, and 6" for shoot'in~!

The longer sight radius from a 6" barrel tends to lend its-self to better accuracy.

 

[LNK]

All good answers. You have to decide if hunting (6")with it or carrying (4") it is in your future. If so, decide accordingly. There is not enough of a difference in performance/accuracy to matter. Handle them both and decide which feels better. Then buy that one.

LNK

 

[NG VI]

Personally I like the balance of a 4" revolver much better than the same sized 6".

 

[glug]

Thanks for all the input guys, I didn't expect so many replies! Still seems pretty close with good points on both sides.

I notice many folks saying 6" for hunting, but wouldn't a 44 magnum be better for that? I don't hunt, at all, btw, I just want a nice looking revolver that goes boom and will be fun to take to the range... At this point I'm ever so slightly leaning toward the 4" just out of personal aesthetic preference, but all my friends are telling me go big or go home I may have to make another trip to the range and rent both at the same time to make the final call.

 

[Stainz]

My first ever .357M was a new 6" 66-6, bought on closeout 9/03. I added Ahrends grips and a HiViz sight the day it arrived. I have never shot 'real' Magnums in it - fun/accurate/balanced shooter. Sadly, I added a new 5" h-l 686P '04 Stocking Dealer Exclusive' 12/04. Even more fun - 7-shooter, too. The 6" 66 would languish...

Skip ahead - 5/08 - I went into a LGS to buy a new 4" 686SSR... left with a new 4" 627 Pro. Moonclip-ready, spring-loaded front sight, great balance... an 8-shooter! Now the 5" 686P and 6" 66 both have cobwebs...



Now, my 6" 66 does balance pretty well... but, it even looks long!



The 4" 627 Pro is pretty hard to beat. Of course, my 2 5/8" PC627 UDR is just as much fun.

Stainz

 

[jmr40]

I've always felt that if I needed a handgun with more than 4" in barrel length to get the job done I'd rather carry a rifle. Handguns are meant to be small and easily carried. But that is just me.

 

[Coyote3855]

When I was young and foolish (say in 1962), I sold a 4" S&W Combat Masterpiece and bought a 6.5 inch Ruger .357 Blackhawk. I still have the .357, but seldom carry it. I'm a small guy, 5'7" and 150 pounds. The Blackhawk was too long to be comfortable for daily carry when I was in and out of pickups and on/off horses all day. My go to carry revolver now is a 2 3/4" Ruger Speed Six. So I vote for the 4" barrel over the 6"..

 

[Nutbustd]

I say get both!. I have a Dan Wesson in .22 with large frame and the interchangeability is awesome. In fact I am looking to find the 2" barrel in blue if any body knows where to find them or other lengths drop me an Email thru THR. 4" for carry 6" thru 7 1/2" for hunting. pretty simple. Good luck

 

[230therapy]

Get the gun with the 4" barrel. It's more handy in case you decide to carry it.

 

[Olympus]

Why not split the difference and add an extra 2 rounds to your capacity?

S&W 627 Performance Center 5" 8-shot .357

 

[barnbwt]

Why not split the difference?

THANK YOU!
I can't believe it took 41 posts for someone to say it! I personally find my 5" eight-shot TRR8 to be a great compromise: nearly the sight radius of a 6", and probably weighs less (without the goofy rails) than a full-lug 4" steel frame. Oh, and it carries as many shots as a Coonan, too.

TCB

 

[cerberus65]

I would go with the 4". To me the height of an N-frame looks best with a 6" barrel. The shorter height of an L-frame looks best with a 4" barrel. Honestly, though, you're picking between better and best. It's hard to go wrong with a .357 Mag. I have a J, a K, and a L. And if I really want site radius I grab the 1894C. I've been tempted to get a SA of some sort but haven't done it yet. I've also been tempted to get a N-frame .357 but I have done that yet either. I never seem to have enough rounds loaded for the ones I already have to feed.

 

[AFDavis11]

I prefer the 4inch. I feel more recoil flip with a 6 inch and more push with a 4 inch. I like the comment about rifles, I only buy handguns with the potential to be carried.

Once you see the simplicity and power in action you may not want to carry an auto very often, then you'll be kicking yourself if you get the 6inch. You'll have no desire to kick yourself over the 4 inch, cuz you'll not be using it for hunting anyway.

 

[bikemutt]

I notice many folks saying 6" for hunting, but wouldn't a 44 magnum be better for that? I don't hunt, at all, btw, I just want a nice looking revolver that goes boom and will be fun to take to the range...

.44 mag may be better for hunting depending on what you are hunting for. Unless you reload though, .44 mag gets real expensive at the range. As hard as I try, still can't think of my .44 mags as fun guns, they are my serious guns. Fun guns are .357 mag

 

[Bullz]

Some points to considering on the barrel length:

1) You'll get higher muzzle velocity out of the 6" barrel and better bullet stability.
2) The action should be more manageable out of the 6" barrel (this is obviously subjective)
3) Depending on where you live, the 6" barrel might be legal for hunting applications.

 

[NOLAEMT]

Split the difference...

Get a 5" barrel...

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57895_757775_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

 

[GP100man]

Go ahead & "Make your Day !!!

Pull the trigger .


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=269872349

 

[Vlad357]

I have to agree with a lot of the other guys. I have had a 4 inch Colt for 30 years for day to day carry (when I'm not carrying the wife's LC9). But most of the 300 to 400 rounds I shoot each week come out of a 6 inch barrel, it just feels better.

 

[stormborn]

You guys are really making me question my decision to pick up a 4" GP100 as my first non-.22LR firearm.