The great 8-3/8" S&W barrels (Calling Old Fuff!)

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Beagle-zebub

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What was the deal with the 8-3/8" barrels on Smith and Wesson revolvers from a couple decades ago?

What was the rationale for these?

Did they sell well?

Did they at least help moderate the blast of full-house .357 and .44 magnum loads?
 
Bullseye Target competitions "back in the day" had a maximum overall legal length for competition.



From what I understand, for the Smith & Wesson N frame's, the 8 3/8" barrel length took you right up to that dimension and kept you legal.
 
Yup... He's right.

When the original S&W .357 Magnum came out in 1935 the longest barrel length you could get was 8 3/4 inches. To a degree they were popular with shooters that experimented with loads while shooting off a bench, and some hunters. In more recent years some Metallic Silhouette shooters, who knocked over steel rams at 200 meters (or sometimes yards) use one. It also produced the highest velocity.

But someone pointed that NRA Bullseye Match rules limited back-to-front sight radius (distance) to 10 inches, and to make it legal one needed to subtract 3/8" off the barrel length. I highly doubt that many match shooters used the .357 in competition, but S&W shortened the barrel anyway. This had no noticeable affect on performance, but did slightly reduce the muzzle blast.

Last but not least, if you have one it's easy to get a conversation going at the local shooting range. :D
 
I have a 29-2 8 3/8 and I like the sight radius. I baby it so only factory magnum loads hunting and some plinking. Otherwise I shoot specials. It is nickel plated and screams 'look at me!'
 
There is always a reason for these manufacturer decisions. Consider the 4.2" Ruger SP-101.
 
I know a fellow with one of these guns. It is a great silhouette piece. It has an adjustable front sight with I believe four settings. You can calibrate each setting to a specific range for your bullets exact drop.
 
I have 2 of them. One is a PRE-29 (.44 Mag of course) and a 27-2 (.357 of course). All the old P&R 8 3/8" guns I've seen are magnificently finished. WONDERFUL guns in all ways EXCEPT for CCW! Absolutely AMAZING shooters!
 
I've got a Model 14 target gun with a 8 3/8" barrel. Love the long sight radius. Wasn't planning on carrying it concealed.
 
I believe the others are correct. The story I heard was they was shortened from 8 3/4 to 8 3/8 to meet the NRA sight radius regs. Regarding the 4.2 inch Ruger, I believe any handgun with a 4 inch barrel or less cannot typically be sold in Canada. Above 4 inches is ok, which is why Ruger might have gone with the oddball 4.2 inch length.
 
K1500 said:
I believe the others are correct. The story I heard was they was shortened from 8 3/4 to 8 3/8 to meet the NRA sight radius regs. Regarding the 4.2 inch Ruger, I believe any handgun with a 4 inch barrel or less cannot typically be sold in Canada. Above 4 inches is ok, which is why Ruger might have gone with the oddball 4.2 inch length.
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Natman's law, #23:

If someone is doing something that makes no practical or economic sense, there's usually a government regulation behind it.
 
One of my father's favorite guns was a S&W Model 17-4 with a 8.375" barrel and Burris 2x scope. Yes, a .22 rimfire. They aren't all that rare and make a good squirrel gun. The extra weight helps steady the old hands holding it.
 
I've got the S&W 629 .44 magnum in 8 3/8". I wouldn't mind having a .357 magnum 8 3/8" to go with it.
 
I own and shoot...

...a Model 14-3, with the 8.375" barrel. Shoots more like a rifle than a revolver; a bit more accurate than my 6" version of the same revolver.

SWModel14-3Mfd1975LFT.gif
 
Long tubes

I just bought a Clark 8.25" Python barrel for my 1965 Python. When I bought the revolver it was already drilled and tapped for a Weaver mount on top. Looking forward to seeing how it works at the range.
 
I had a roommate in college with an 8 3/8 nickel plated 29-3 that shot 4 inch 6 shot groups at 100 yards.

Also did a great job of blowing up two and three liter bottles filled with water :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Makes you look better out at the range. Ups the fps too. Did not chrono any of these but here were some snubbie, vs 4" & 6" stats. Oh and a rifle in .357

S&W 66 no dash 2 1/2" averaged 1104 fps
S&W 66 no dash 4" averaged 1171 fps
S&W 66-1 6" averaged 1205 fps
Ross R92 lever 24" averaged 1475 fps

Here are my 3, a 14-3 .38 special K38 up front, then a 27-2 "S" prefix and an unfired 27-2 in the background.

DSC03014.jpg
 
I believe Eastwoods 29 was a 6-1/2"

Anyway, i've won a ton of long range silhouette matches with my M-29 8-3/8", includeing 11 matches in a row. I just used the same load in it that i used in my "carrying/hunting" M-29 6", and i'm still using the same load today.

23.0 of H110 under a RCBS 250KT semi hard cast bullet, i've taken big game animals from moose on down with this combo. It's been very accurate in every 44 revolver i've tried it in...

DM
 
Had a 29-2 nickeled Smith with that barrel, in a presentation case I might add. Stolen in a home robbery in 91. Still miss that gun. It was a one armed rifle! The weight made all but the heaviest reloads very controlable.
Replaced it with a 6 1/2 629. The insurance Co.called foul and said the 629 was an update and they would not cover it. I was tickeled pink and told the agent if he would OK it I would put the word out I wanted another one, I was sure the store where I bought the 629 would be more than happy to sell me a 29! The 629 was $625-650, as I recall and a 29 in the same condition as the one I had was running about $800-850 back then. When he found out what it would cost to replace it, he said to go ahead and keep the 629. If you have ever had to put in a lost firearms clam, you'll know that you must purchase the weapon THEN submit the paperwork for rebursment. In 91 I didn't have the $800+ to go 29 shopping. Looking back I should have taken a loan out for it.
 
Master Blaster said:
Just curious DM how long have you had your M-29 and about how many full power rounds?
Have you had to have the timing adjusted or other repairs like correcting endshake from shooting those heavy loads?
Click to expand...

Both of the 29's mentioned above were bought new by me in the 70's, and i have no idea how many thousands of rounds i've put through them. Pretty much all the ammo that went through them has been the load i already mentioned.

Neither has had one bit of "smithing" done to them to this date, and both shoot perfectly. I use to put at least 50 rounds a week through the 8-3/8's and most weeks 100 rounds for practice plus matches. That was all i needed to keep in shape for matches, as i was shooting other handguns quite a bit too.

These days, they don't get shot all that much, so i expect they will last me until i take my eternal dirt nap! lol

DM
 
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