revolver: 4" or 6"

[sernv99]

thinking to get a stainless Ruger or SW revolver, in .357. I'm trying to decide between a 4" or 6" barrel. I would like it to be an all around handgun: out on the farm plinking pesky animals, defense, possible carry(which throws out the 6" option).

Can a 4" barrel be sufficent for ridding of pesky animals out to a reasonable range? say 70 yards?

 

[tinygnat219]

I think 70 yards with a 6 inch pistol is difficult, but I think you already answered your questions. Get the 4 inch. It will answer almost all of your questions.

For the 70 yard critters, why not get a .22 rifle, or a Levergun in .357? That way, you can share ammo. The .357 Levergun is pretty good out to about 100 yards IMHO before the bullet drops too much.

 

[calaverasslim]

Pesky?

70 yards is a long shot for most hand guns regardless wether 4" or 6".

Sounds like you can't make up your mind what you want the pistol for.

If you want one for CCW, then 4" is the way to go. That is good out to 25-30 yards, for sure, maybe a little farther.

6" will maybe get you 50 yards, but really hard for concealed carry.

All this is my opinion but I'm not far off. I know some folk will weigh in with statements like, Heck I can hit a gong at 200 yards with my 4" 38 special. True, some can but those folks are rare.

Sounds like what you want is a small cal. plinking rifle, 22 or so, for pesky critters, rats, gophers, snakes, tin cans, etc.

A 4" for conceal carry.

 

[Iggy]

You fellers are underestimating the 4 and 6 inch revolvers at 70 yards.
The gun will do it if the shooter is up to the task.

That said, for what you want, the 4" would probably be the most practical.

 

[foghornl]

For pesky critter plinking and perhaps ccw the 4" should perform well.

Now, if you plan to modern handgun hunt for deer, etc, check with your local Game-N-Fish Guys. Some states require 5" or greater barrel length; Ohio is one of those states.

 

[sernv99]

I have an AK and a HK .308 clone and a few 12 gauge shotguns so I can use those to rid of pesky critters but sometimes while walking in the field, I may come upon a coyote or groundhog or wild dog so I wanted to know if the 4" can dispatch the critter out to a reasonable range, if I chose to carry a revolver. I will not hunt big game with it.

 

[TAB]

if you plan on using it for hunting, check your state hunting regs, most have barrel length restrictions. If your regs say you need to have a 5" barrel and your cuaght "hunting" with a 4". Its going to be a very bad day.

 

[StrawHat]

For years we used 4" barrels for PPC competition out to 50 yards. If you are up to the task so is the 4".

 

[Matt-J2]

I know the OP said he won't be hunting, but as an aside:
Check the regs, and then check em again. Maybe even a third time. Here in WI the regs say it has to be a 5.5" barrel, and I always got hung up on that. Well, after that it says to the effect of "from muzzle to firing pin". So given the length of a .357 chamber, the 4-4.5" barrels make the cut.
Something to consider for anyone else reading this thread that has hunting in mind.

 

[Majic]

You said possible carry and nothing about being concealed so why are you dismissing the 6 inchers?

 

[csmkersh]

Practice on your part will determine how far you can hit what your aiming at more than barrel length. For years I fired a .45 caliber 1911 at 50 yards and kept my shots with in the 8 ring. My .357 with a 6½" barrel put me on target way past 100 yards.

Get what you like and practice, practice, practice.

​

 

[sernv99]

sorry...yes I was considering concealed....hence why I dismissed the 6" option

 

[Tacbandit]

Get a 4"...easy, more comfortable carry...as was said earlier, pick up something else for the greater distances. Good luck,

 

[Archer1945]

A good 4" is probably the best all round barrel length on a handgun. Relatively easy to carry concealed and capable of hitting any realistic sized target out to at least 100 yards. By that I mean if you know what you're doing the gun will easily put all bullets into at least a 24" circle, probably much less, at that distance. The only real advantage of the 6" barrel is if you plan to use open sights for hunting at 50yds, and up, or compete in Bull's-eye competion.

 

[wuchak]

Get the 4".

 

[22-rimfire]

My personal belief is a 4" revolver is very difficult to conceal effectively.

Around the farm or in the woods, either a 4" or 6" revolver is fine. The 4" is easier to carry in a belt holster.

My first quality revolver was a 4" Colt Diamondback in 22rf. I found it perfect for general carry around the woods and fields where I frequented at that time. These days, I would probably lean toward the 4" Smith 617 for general carry due to cost and availability. I didn't take 70 yd shots with it. They can be trying with a 22 rifle at times if you are an accuracy nut.

To back up a bit, if you don't have any experience with revolvers or handguns in general, I would lean toward a 22 to start out and it will be useful for most of what you might need a revolver for.

If I wanted to carry and I like to carry a revolver around the farm or woods/field and you are comfortable with practice with a more expensive ammunition to develop some proficiency, then I would choose a 357mag revolver as you mentioned. I think the 4" Smith 686 or Ruger GP100 would be quite useful and could be concealed with effort. You still aren't going to be making accurate 70 yd shots with it unless you practice A LOT. Think in terms of 50 yds max and probaby 25 yds is more appropriate as a normal maximum if you expect to hit anything beyond a refrigerator or the end of a 55 gallon drum. That is not to say it isn't fun to shoot at longer ranges and better accuracy is possible with practice.

Choosing a 4" or 6" is pretty much personal preference. If I'm not planning on hunting with it, I'd choose a 4" these days. Years ago, I would have chose a 6", but that was when I was a newer shooter.

 

[M203Sniper]

have you considered a 10mm? Should be an easy shot

 

[sernv99]

my experience with handguns has been with a 9mm CZ-75 and a Kimber TLE II .45.....

 

[Fumbler]

I have a 6" GP-100 that I carry as a sidearm while hunting.

It is combersome. It's simply too long if you want to sit with it on a belt holster.

The practical accuracy of a 4" isn't much less than a 6" if you practice a lote.

 

[csmkersh]

Fumbler, switch to cross draw. Makes a difference even with the same holster. BTDT.
​

 

[Walkalong]

Can a 4" barrel be sufficent for ridding of pesky animals out to a reasonable range? say 70 yards?

Yes.

If all you want is the most velocity, get the 6", but for better balance, easy of carry, etc., the 4" is better, and as stated, it will do the job just fine. I have both, but the 6" guns are mostly range guns. The 4" ones get packed around the woods much more often.

 

[DrLaw]

You fellers are underestimating the 4 and 6 inch revolvers at 70 yards. The gun will do it if the shooter is up to the task.

Since all my revolvers have 4 inch barrels or less, S&W M25-5, M27, M586, M66, M15, M12, M36, M940, I would say, 6" barrel should be your choice.

Granted, you can do 70 yards. I shoot 100 yards with my Model 15 at gallon and 2-pint bottles. I can still hit them.

However, a longer barrel gives a better sight picture and hence, if you are shooting at animals (pests), the chances of getting a good hit improve with that mere two inches.

Also, the bulkiest parts of a revolver are the cylinder and stocks. Barrel length actually does not factor in much in terms of ability to carry a gun, even in a vehicle. A hide-ride or cross-draw holster will take care of that problem, which again, isn't really a problem.

Yep, I would go with a 6 inch barrel.

The Doc is out now. (and this was my 500th post here)

 

[DrLaw]

My personal belief is a 4" revolver is very difficult to conceal effectively.

Not so. I carried my Model 27 in a pancake holster and nobody knew it was there back when I was a working copper. My 66 and 15 rode in a hip holster and it was still concealable, and I was not a thin guy then, either.

The Doc is back out now.

 

[SaxonPig]

I can never decide so I just get one of each.

 

[rswartsell]

Awesome Pythons Saxon, after owning them for awhile did you make your mind up so that I can have the leftovers?