Do you like the 7.5" barrel?

[Charlie98]

Anything longer than 6" is not my favorite, in fact, I would prefer a 5" or 5.5"... although I understand I'm splitting hairs.

I've owned a few Ruger SA's with 7.5" barrels... 2 Blackhawks, and a Vaquero. I traded the Vaquero for an identical one... with a 5.5" barrel... and I was much happier. I sold the 7.5" Blackhawk.

As someone mentioned, once you get into the longer barrels, holstering it can become a challenge. If it's a range piece, then who cares?

These days I am solidly in the 4" camp... I prefer my revolvers at 4" as well as my 1911's.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Don't have a 7.5" revolver yet. Been eyeing EMF's "Great Western Palladin" tho. If they get them back in stock, it could work. Beautiful gun.

 

[CraigC]

43! you said 43! we got some catching up to do

I swear, they multiply in the dark!

 

[LV Gun]

I like the 7.5 inch ones and the 8.75 inch barrels also especially in the big bore ones from top down 45/70, 44 magnum , 454 casull.

 

[Tallball]

The 6.5" and 7.5" models are good for hunting, long range target shooting, anything where you don't really need to carry them around much.

Everyone is different, but the longer barrel helps my accuracy a lot.

Super Blackhawk

• Tallball
• Nov 23, 2017

 

[Charlie98]

I swear, they multiply in the dark!

I wish some of my lever-actions would get busy!

 

[Kleanbore]

A 7.5" 1851 Navy percussion revolver is still the most comfortable, natural pointing handgun...

Indeed!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

In the percussion revolver's heyday, circa-7" seemed to be a sweet spot. I have to say that my shorter & lighter Pietta 1858 "Sheriff" handles better, but the longer barrel produces the best groups.

 

[Ethan Verity]

I think the 7.5" barrel looks great on an 1873! It was either this, or the 5.5"... I'm glad I went with 7.5" though, because I do most shooting with this at 100 yards. But, this is also just a range plinking gun that never actually gets carried. The longest revolver I carry is my 6.5" S&W Model 29.

 

[doubleh]

I like them but never carried one on my hip but several have accompanied me many a mile in a pistol rug laying on the seat of my truck. Out tromping around with something on my hip it was normally a 5 1/2" barrel, a much handier length to carry.

Matt Dillon was a huge person so the 7 1/2" shouldn't have been a problem and didn't appear to be. Even John Wayne had to look up at him. Wayne carried a shot barreled Colt stuck back on his right hip and it looked tiny. Back in "Gun Smoke" days Marshal Dillion was called the slowest fast draw in the west.

 

[Armored farmer]

Sidebar *
I do a bit of reading or youtube James Arness (Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke).
He has a very interesting life story.
He got his distinct limp courtesy of the Nazis on the beach at Normandy.

 

[bannockburn]

I have had a couple of Ruger Super Blackhawks with 7.5" barrels but nowadays the only guns I have with a long barrel are an ASM Hartford Model Single Action Army, a Pieta Colt Model 1860, a Pieta Remington New Model Navy, a Pieta New Model Army, and a Colt Model 1860 Gen. 3. My other revolvers either have 5.5", 4.62", and 4" barrels or are snubnose models with 1.8" barrels. I have a flap holster which will accomodate all of the black powder guns and the Single Action Army.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I have had a couple of Ruger Super Blackhawks with 7.5" barrels but nowadays the only guns I have with a long barrel are an ASM Hartford Model Single Action Army, a Pieta Colt Model 1860, a Pieta Remington New Model Navy, a Pieta New Model Army, and a Colt Model 1860 Gen. 3. My other revolvers either have 5.5", 4.62", and 4" barrels or are snubnose models with 1.8" barrels. I have a flap holster which will accomodate all of the black powder guns and the Single Action Army.

this thread just when to the Dark Side!

Were the BP people at! need your inputs

 

[Mark_Mark]

@NorthBorder go ahead and get a Ruger Old Army! well respected in the Tradition Black Powder community!!!

 

[.45Coltguy]

Sidebar *
I do a bit of reading or youtube James Arness (Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke).
He has a very interesting life story.
He got his distinct limp courtesy of the Nazis on the beach at Normandy.

6'7"! Taller than I thought.

 

[bangswitch]

have not shoot a 1851 but my 58 shoots really good.

View attachment 1200565

Its grandson (1875) looks pretty good with a 7-1/2" too:

 

[commygun]

$360! what condition? who cares $360!

do they have a-lot of classic guns?

It looked better than fair but I didn’t ask to handle it.
No, just that Smith and two nice heavy-barrel Model 10’s for $650 each.

 

[adcoch1]

$360! what condition? who cares $360!

do they have a-lot of classic guns?

No not really, but I have found a few jewels in there. BTW, that revolver is MINE! STAY AWAY! Just kidding, but I do want it...

To the op: I like 7.5" guns, single or double action, but you want to find a good holster that fits you to carry it in. I usually cross draw carry longer guns, especially single actions... and shooting a 7.5" is soooo nice...

 

[.38 Special]

I personally find the sight radius is just about perfect with a 7.5" barrel. Any longer and it gets awfully hard to hold things still enough offhand, and any shorter results in increased sighting error.

I've really gotten to hate carrying the things, though, and now figure 5.5" to 6" is the best compromise for field carry.

 

[Mark_Mark]

No not really, but I have found a few jewels in there. BTW, that revolver is MINE! STAY AWAY! Just kidding, but I do want it...

To the op: I like 7.5" guns, single or double action, but you want to find a good holster that fits you to carry it in. I usually cross draw carry longer guns, especially single actions... and shooting a 7.5" is soooo nice...

it’s 2 hours from Seattle, I would
have to buy 5 classic Colts & S&W to make it worth the 2 round trips + $18 fee!

 

[Anchorite]

I swear, they multiply in the dark!

I tell the wife, “oh, you’ve seen this one before.”

 

[Anchorite]

I like ‘em just fine at 4” up to 9”. The only length I don’t get is 3” (but I admit to have some 1 7/8” J frames and Colts)!

 

[cfullgraf]

For a long time, I had no use for a long barreled revolver.

I stumbled across an 8-3/8” S&W 25-5. Just what I needed for my 25-5 collection which includes a 4” and a 6” version.



The 8-3/8” barrel is a hoot to shoot. Not convenient to carry though. I’ve added S&W 8-3/8" Models 29, 27, 460XVR, 14, 17, 686, and 48 to the collection.

I do have a 7-1/2” barrel revolver, a 45 Colt Blackhawk.

 

[Mark_Mark]

For a long time, I had no use for a long barreled revolver.

I stumbled across an 8-3/8” S&W 25-5. Just what I needed for my 25-5 collection which includes a 4” and a 6” version.

The 8-3/8” barrel is a hoot to shoot. Not convenient to carry though. I’ve added S&W Models 29, 27, 460XVR, 14, 17, 686, and 48 to the collection.

I do have a 7-1/2” barrel revolver, a 45 Colt Blackhawk.

460XVR 10”? that gun looks like a tank canon!

I have the 5” and it’s a crowd pleaser at the range

 

[LoonWulf]

I like my 7 5" sbh. Its easier to shoot than my 5" gp100. Id like a 5.5" also, but i wouldn't give up the 7.5 to get it because its soooooo easy to shoot well.
I don't really feel its difficult to holster and unholster, but im never trying to do it as fast as possible.