Barrel Length

THIS IS LIKE ASKING WHAT IS THE BEST HAIR COLOR ON A WOMAN? IT IS ALL PERSONAL PREFERENCE. WITH SAAs THE 4-3/4" PACKS THE EASIEST, THE 7-1/2" SHOOTS THE EASIEST AND THE 5-1/2" IS THE BEST COMPROMISE. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR N-FRAME SMITHS WITH 4", 6-1/2" AND 5". USE WHAT YOU LIKE THE BEST. FEEL ALSO HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT/ FOR BIG BORE BISLEY RUGERS I PREFER 5-1/2", FOR .357 I GO WITH 7-1/2"

Sure to generate some opinions.
My favorites:
Hair color: Blond
Carry sixgun: 4-5/8"
Concealed Carry: 3"
Plinking/ Hunting Sixgun: 7-1/2"
D/A Sixgun: 6-1/2" +- 1"
(These opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management!)
AL

I'm married to a blond!! The implied question was "should I shorten the barrel on my SBH to 6 inches"? This is just a rhetorical question in case my front sight ramp blows off again and I have to resolder it back on. My Python has a 6" barrel and it is a real joy, the SBH is a bit large for me with that long tube. I don't shoot long range anyway. And no 38" barrels either! CHRIS

There is no such thing. If you must limit yourself, identify your specific handgun needs then compromise. That won't be the best but it will work.

I find I like the short barrels for bumming around but I still like the Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt with the 7.5 in. barrel when I expect to have to kill something.

I highly recommend getting several of each barrel length, up-keep is minimal and they don't eat much.

mt

Thanks mt, I agree I should have several of each now to talk the controller of the funds into it. Chris

I did miss that small detail in the above post.

Something else regarding the original post, if you cut that barrel back much, you may need a taller front sight. I recently had to send a new 4 5/8 in. Ruger Blackhawk, 45 Colt back to install the taller sight blade. You would think Ruger would have figured out the proper height for the different barrel lengths by now.

mt

mt: I heard that shorter barrels need a taller front sight but not sure why. Is it because the shorter barrel rises more quickly under recoil? I would be interested to find out. In regards to my SBH, I have a Weigand insert type ramp installed so I can change blades at will. Right now using my handloads for 44mag and some 44 special loads, my Ruger shoots low ( with the factory height sight, so I am using a .200 height blade for the time being. I probably will leave the barrel as is but I seriously considered sending my Colt New Frontier to a competent barrel smith who could do a new 5 1/2 or six inch barrel since I don't like the 7 1/2 inch barrel or the crummy red insert someone installed before I got it, it's a long story for another time. Chris

I wouldn't lie to you, I'm not an expert. My 45 Colt was shooting high with the rear sight bottomed out. I had the taller front sight blade installed and I now have plenty of vertical adjustment with the rear sight.

Surely someone will weigh in with the definitive answer. Why?

mt

Thanks mt, I imagine there's a technical explanation. I guess there's so many variables it is specific to each gun. Chris

Taller front sight would lower the muzzle from the line of sight between the rear sight and the target, thus the lower point of impact, all other things being equal. Draw a sketch.

admin, you have waaay too much time on your hands. You might as well set us up with smilie faces and other such garbage too, also, tambien. :^)

mt

Gotcha on sight picture for front sight height. But, why do short barrels shoot high? I understand why a front sight would need to be higher if the gun is shooting high but can't get my head around the reason a short barrel would shoot higher than a long barrel. Does the shorter barrel jump up faster? Or, is it a mathematical deal with distance between sights or something? I seem to be in "Zheimers Zone" again over this. Chris

I usually buy 6 inch barrels

my Colt Anaconda has one, so does my Smith 629 and 648

Hi Trigger happy: I have a 6 inch barrel on my Python and really like it too. My Super Blackhawk has the 7 1/2 inch tube and I often wish it was about an inch shorter or even down to 6 inch. That is probably not a big deal just personal preference. I still haven't figured out sight height to my satisfaction but I did read somewhere that the rear sight height set at middle of adjustment should be equal to the height of the front sight. That's above line of bore. I don't know who figured that out but it may be a good rule of thumb. I welcome any technical explaination of sights on handgun barrels and proper height. I do know that Elmer Keith said longer barrels often shot to different places more often than short barrels and he speculated it had something to do with time of bullet travel down the longer barrel and the amount of rise from recoil. Chris

For concealed carry and general use I prefer a 4 inch barrel on my N-frames. For hunting I prefer my 6 inch or longer barreled Smiths. On my single actions I prefer the 7 1/2 tubes as they just feel right to me.

1150

Albroswift;

I agree except for hair color. Redheads are mystical and magic.

Mike