revolver: 4" or 6"

[Fishman777]

Hmm...

If you hunt, or live in Canada, get the 6" model. If neither of these two things apply, I would recommend getting a 4" model. I like Ruger DA revolvers the best for practical purposes. They are more durable and more reliable than any other DA revolver out there. I do however, have a soft spot for Smiths and Colts. I'd like to add Dan Wesson revolvers to that list, but I've never seen one before.

If you are extremely fortunate to find a matching pair of pythons, and have an excess of $$$$, you'd be stupid not to get one of each.

Saxonpig,

Very well done!! Nice pair of colts.

 

[22-rimfire]

Dr. Law, I know it is possible to conceal a 4" full sized revolver. You were a policeman and you really didn't have to conceal it anyway. A bet a 4" wasn't your "bug". Plus your other guns diverted eyes.

 

[StrawHat]

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

For some people, yes

I still carry a 4" M28. (Mine was reworked to handle the 45ACP cartridge. Made the revolver quite a bit lighter.)

I have used a Bianchi 5BH and a Roy Baker pancake holster and either works well for CCW.

 

[swampshooter]

One thing nobody mentioned is that as we age the sights on a 4" bbl. are easier to see than a 6". Elmer Kieth wrote this many years ago and i didn't believe it until i reached that age. it is definitely true. Also a good revolver will shoot groups of 3"-4" at 100yds., even a snub nose, the only limiting factor is the shooters ability. With practice it's not difficult to shoot 12" groups at 100yds with a 4" revolver.

 

[Snapping Twig]

For hunting, you get more FPS from the 6" barrel. For carry and general use, the 4" is better balanced.

If I was to hunt here in California with a .357, I'd have to have the 6" to comply with the law. I hunt with a .44, so barrel length isn't an issue as any size barrel is OK with the larger caliber and I prefer it to a smaller gun like the .357.

Both my .357's 4" and 5".

 

[bflobill_69]

Yeah get a 6" .22lr for little varmints and a 4" .357 for everything else!

70 yards with a 4" .357... well we can dream can't we?

Bflobill_69

 

[DrLaw]

Dr. Law, I know it is possible to conceal a 4" full sized revolver. You were a policeman and you really didn't have to conceal it anyway. A bet a 4" wasn't your "bug". Plus your other guns diverted eyes.

Wasn't on duty all the time. Carried concealed when I was going out. Only had the 27 and the 15, then the 66, and did not have a snubbie until about three years had gone by. No problems hiding any of the three in a hip holster, pancake holster or under a coat in a shoulder holster (66 and 15 only).

My 'back-up' gun was a Sterling .22 either in a handcff case or coat pocket.

The Doc is out now.

 

[rswartsell]

I own a 686 in 6" and I do so for the extra velocity and energy and no other reason. I used the revolver to hunt deer and even if the law didn't require it I would have wanted the benefit.

If you don't believe that the extra velocity and energy is required for your purposes then the 4" is certainly more handy. If you do then I would investigate what holster options (including crossdraw) work best. I wouldn't make the decision based on carry convenience alone unless it is for CCW only. If so then the almost universal choice between the 2 lengths you state is the 4", with most going shorter than that.

 

[kludge]

Last time I went to the range I wondered how my 4" Model 19-3 would do at 50 yards, and found that I can hit a 9" paper plate most of the time. (hint: aim 3-4" high) To answer the question I would need to know what I was shooting at at why it needed to be dead.

A 22 Mag or 22 Hornet would take care of most critters out to 100yds (more for the Hornet), and if you reload, the Hornet costs the same as the .22 Mag. A 22LR would be questionable with some critters at 100yds.

 

[glockman19]

I prefer 4" & 5" over 6" barrel revolvers.

 

[Seven For Sure]

The 6" is only a benefit for hunting and long range plinking. I've got a 6" 686+ and shot it for the first time in probably a year yesterday. My 3" and 4" revolvers see much more use. That said, if you get a 6" which are great also, stay away from full lugs. Mine is very front heavy.

 

[Harve Curry]

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

Yes but it takes lots of practice to memorize yours holds and keep your skill level up. At least for me it takes practice.
I have a 4 3/4" inch, basically it's a 5" and that is what I prefer.

 

[scotjute]

I prefer my 6" barrel Security Six when outside and accuracy is at a premium.
Use a 4" barrell Service Six (fixed sights) for standard carry, self-defense, and miscellaneous.
Get adjustable sights on whichever one you get for enhanced accuracy.
I have a 5.5" barrell .22 mag that I carry mostly on the farm with adj. sights. Its been the best combo of barrell length, carryability, and accuracy I've found.

 

[bflobill_69]

Very long range...

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

...Thats VERY LONG range for the average/above average shooter... even with a 6" barrel

Not saying it cant be done with a 4" barrel, but you better practice ALOT and eat your Wheaties =P

Bflobill_69

 

[Smaug]

If it is for critters, a 22LR is a better bet. Go for around a 5.5" barrel in a shoulder holster. If it has to be hip carry, 4" barrel.

If it may have to defend against humans too, you're right to lean towards the 357. To shoot beyond 25 yards, you're going to need to know your trajectory well, as well as needing a rest.

Regarding what is legal for hunting, IL has a law that the barrel must be at least 5 or 5-1/2", but that is measured from the muzzle to the firing pin, not just the barrel itself. In that case, a 4" would probably pass. You'll have to know your local laws.

 

[Noxx]

70 yards with a 4" .357... well we can dream can't we?

Actually very do-able in single action. I trust my 686 out to a hundred yards on anything bigger than a coffee mug.

 

[bflobill_69]

Quote: "Actually very do-able in single action. I trust my 686 out to a hundred yards on anything bigger than a coffee mug."

You Sir are truly a marksman!

...I hope to get there someday

Bflobill_69

 

[Stainz]

Here is my version of the new this year S&W 627 Pro. With S/T it was $761 - a bunch - but what a nice revolver. I changed the front sight - in seconds - and the grip. I needed a 4" .38/.357M - I have one now - and it's an 8-shooter. I sold some Ruger revolvers, three SAs and an SP101, to fund my S&W buying spree - which also included an ANIB 64-8 (4") and a 617 (4") 10-shooter. I am happy! S&Ws are great.



As to shooting a revolver at distance, I did that regularly when I was a public range RO. Folks were amazed - they had trouble hitting the 12"-16" steel plate at 110yd - with their scoped and bench-rested hunting rifles. I could hit it standing and free-hand shooting my 2" 10 with some 158gr LRNs... 2-3 times out of 6 - once I figured the drop (4-5 feet!). Of course, I got a lot of shooting time in... anyone could do it!

Stainz

 

[CSA 357]

The 4 Inch , It Just Better For Carry, And If You Cant Hit With A 4 Inch Hows 2 Inches Gona Help? I Have Heard About Longer Sight Plane Hog Wash! You Will Be Happy With A 4

 

[Noxx]

You Sir are truly a marksman!

...I hope to get there someday

Thank you for your kind words, however they may be misplaced. I can shoot quickly, or I can shoot accurately. People who can do both, now there is something to strive for!

 

[papajohn]

My dos centavos says get the 4-incher, for an all-around handgun there are few, if any, better choices. The 357 is a wonderfully versatile caliber, and it shoots flat enough that zeroed for 35 yards, there is very little drop out to 75 or so. Most of my practice with a revolver is with warm 38 ammo, and hitting clay pigeons at 50 yards is our standard warm-up drill. Some days we have to sit down and shoot two-handed braced, other days we can do it in double-action, two-handed standing. True, most of us have been shooting a long time, but if you have fair to good eyesight and steady hands, it's not that hard. A good sight picture, good trigger and good ammo will practically guarantee hits at 50 yards and beyond. I would say hitting a coffee mug at 100 yards impressive, but Elmer Keith was hitting stuff at 600 yards.......with a big-bore snubbie! Now THAT'S Impressive!

Papajohn

 

[BADUNAME37]

If you reload your own ammo, then you can work up a real accurate load, no matter what length barrel you have.

That being said, I used to have a 6" stainless S&W (686-6 seems to come to mind for the model number) which I loaded for and it was really accurate. A friend and I were shooting nuisance red squirrels out to about 80 yards, most times, just resting the gun against the side of a tree, or on a branch.

I was loading 158g semi wadcutters with Unique powder.

I think with either the 4 or the 6, you can't go wrong, especially if you work up real accurate loads for it (or find some factory loads that the gun really likes, and stick to them).

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I think some people just don't have enough respect for the .357 Magnum.

I'm not great shakes as a shooter, but a friend and I regularly ding a rock that's been set up out just a hair past 200 yards. Here's my bud smacking it with a 6 inch 586, but we also use 4, 5, and 6 inch barrels.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I've got a 4" 586 and a 5" 627-0, both shoot real well out to 100 yards w/o holdover, etc. Point and click.

I find that my .357's shoot flat enough, pretty much like a .44 mag and I have no problems hitting things out to 100 yards with them.

One day I'd like to find a longer range and try to see just how far out I can reliably hit something, but for now I'm limited to 100 yards.

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[Stainz]

Okay - here is a compromise. It was a 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' in 2004 from S&W. It's a 5" half-lug 686+ (7-shooter). It came with the HiViz front sight, Ahrends cocobolo grips, and V-notch rear sight - and was priced $10 less than the 4" 686+ near it in my pusher's display. It has great balance - and is as accurate with my admittedly mild loads as my 6" 66.



They are out there - you may have to search for a bit. There was an earlier version with a full lug, too.

Stainz