ONLY one barrel length? Which is it?

[webrx]

if there was only 1, then a 4". Glad I am not limited though.

d

 

[black mamba]

5" for me. Best compromise between velocity and carry ease, best balance and looks.

5" 25-9


5" BFR

 

[Charlie98]

4"ish. 3" is too short, although there is something to be said about 5". I have had a few 6" and 7.5" revolvers... I really don't like them. If you are talking about a universal barrel length to cover .22lr through the big .45's... 4" gets it. Although this is the revolver section, I will add that my 1911's are 4", too; handling a standard 5" 1911 feels like I'm swinging around a boat oar...

 

[Old Dog]

Another four-inch guy... er, four-inch revolver guy. I've got six-inchers that are awesome, a couple of three-inchers (still seeking the perfect M-13 in 3") and some two, two-and-a-half, but... four is the sweet spot in terms of sheer versatility.








... and there's about four inches left on this one:

 

[Riomouse911]

I think I understand the hypothesis. I own and shoot 2, 4, 4.25, 5.5, 6 & 6.5 but if I have to pick 1 it’s 4”.

Add in 1 7/8, 2.5, 3, 4 5/8, 7.5 and 8 inch lengths to your list …and I’m there with you. Somewhere between a 4 and 5 inch barrel length is my sweet spot, it kind of does it all.

Stay safe.

 

[Speedo66]

Thankfully in the real world we don't have to make a one length choice, but to answer your question I'd choose 4" as a good compromise.

 

[Charlie98]

I'd buy a Dan Wesson.... and have it ALL!!!

 

[Palladan44]

6" or 8-3/8"- Hunting
2-3" - Carry

I just don't see the practical purpose for a 4" any more, although I own several of them. They balance the difference between both, but really not ideal (nor legal in some places) to hunt with, and a bit too big to carry concealed.
For LEOs they were just right. An era bye gone.......

I pick 6" if I could only have one..... I hunt with wheelguns, I carry a semi anyways.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Revolver? Anywhere between 4 and 5".

SSP? 10"

Semi-auto? 3.5"

 

[Rio Laxas]

I think a 5" barrel would represent the best compromise between carrying and hunting / target shooting.

 

[nofendertom]

I would say 4in---because I could get a S&W Mod 28 and a 1911 Commander with a 4in barrel. Good enough for me !

 

[Dunross]

If I were forced to have only one barrel length in a revolver I would have to go with four inches.

 

[Paul7]

6", longer sight radius and less muzzle blast.

The OP did not specifically mention CCW.

 

[westernrover]

5" or longer. I hate shorter barrels. Certainly, I don't think other people shouldn't have them if they're what they want, but I detest the few I have. I like the guns otherwise and think about swapping a longer barrel on them. Otherwise, I might sell them.

Between 5, 6, 7, 8 inch, I haven't decided. For many reasons, the longer the better. But I have not carried all these lengths concealed regularly so couldn't say whether I would prefer a 7" or a 6". There is also the fact that particular gun models don't always come in every length so there are differences other than barrel length that come into determining preference. I think for the point of discussion, it suffices that I'm not in the snub-nosed camp nor in the 4" camp. My next revolver will be 7" and maybe that will be the one.

 

[Old_Grouch]

3"

 

[Armored farmer]

Seconded. This is the correct answer.

Thirded...^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Dave T]

I can't play this game because it's rigged. By that I mean it doesn't take into consideration frame size, caliber, intended use, or action type. I give the OP credit as it was an interesting mental exercise, but I can't pick one barrel length for everything. Just doesn't work for me. (smiley face goes here)

Dave

 

[Show Me]

Not fair. I asked my head of house hold if she could have only one pair of shoes to cover every use what would it be. Just shook her head. I'm fond of my 5 inch GP 100 I got after I got my 6 inch. Before our 4. Something sp101 .22 after our 3 inch SP 101. I sound like I'm talking footware. Only one, a four inch for the night stand.

 

[shoebox1.1]

5 in

 

[Rockrivr1]

I love snubbies, which is perfect for me when carrying a revolver. So for me the answer would be 3" revolvers. It is also the length of most of my revolvers that I own today.

 

[John_R]

I'll be one of the odd ones and say 3".

 

[Show Me]

Same but different. Please note the wore out Lee Bible it sits on

View attachment 1056719 5 in

Same but different

 

[howlnmad]

Only one length? 4".

 

[dredd]

4 5/8 for me.

I have shorter and longer, but if I have to pick only one....

 

[AzShooter1]

4 inch Model 10.