Pros and cons of an 8" barrel

[barnfrog]

I'm in the market for another revolver, most likely a S&W 586 or Model 57 and am wondering whether to go for an 8" barrel. The longer sight radius seems like it could improve accuracy, but it might just be more difficult to maintain proper sight alignment. Then there's the possible effect on muzzle velocity and muzzle flip. There are probably other things that would be affected as well that I don't realize.

This would be a hunting gun, but would get plenty of target use, too. I would be shooting reloads almost exclusively. I've only ever shot 6" revolvers, and am wondering how others describe their experience shooting both 6" and 8", and how they compare, all else being equal.

 

[N555]

It all depends on what you want to do with it. I say for the most part 6 vs 8 comes down to gun availability and personal preference.
Are the 8 inch guns commonly available or do you have to pay a premium for them?
When I got my 8 in super redhawk I was planning on getting a new 6 inch gun, but the gun store had a slightly used super redhawk cheaper than any of the 6 inch guns I was considering and since I was going for a hunting gun that would fire heavy hunting loads then bigger and heavier was indeed better. I was planning on buying the gun with probably no ammo and being broke, with the used super redhawk I bought the gun, 100 rounds of 44mag, 44mag lee dies with shell holder, 300 bullets and still had money left over.

 

[Pat Riot]

Just because of my less than stellar eyesight I would definitely prefer an 8” if the revolver was for hunting.

 

[243winxb]

Getting the muzzle blast futher away is a good thing, with a 8 3/8" bbl , in a 44 mag. 29-2 No extra weight on the barrel, like newer models.

A new 586 in 6" has the (full lug)* added weight under the barrel. I would not want a longer barrel.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1024450682?pid=369391

The 57 with 8 3/8" would be ok. No extra weight hanging under the barrel.

Having lately shot 44 mags in a Ruger Red Hawk 5.5" & my M29 in 8 3/8" , i like the balance & less weight of the Ruger. Comes with old age.

Remember the S&W MODEL 29-3 “SILHOUETTE” 10 3/8″ BARREL REVOLVER in 44 mag? Now thats to long.

 

[J-Bar]

I currently own a S&W Model 17-5, .22 LR, with an 8 3/8" barrel. It is as accurate as a .22 rifle with its iron sights. It would be unwieldy shooting one handed (as in bullseye competition).

I also have a Colt Officer's Model .38 Special with a 7.5" barrel. Very accurate, but definitely a two-handed revolver for me.

I no longer compete, but I used long barreled percussion revolvers for decades in cowboy action shooting. The 1851 Colt Navy .36 with its 7.5" barrel is one of the most natural pointing handguns I have ever held. The 1860 Army .44 with its 8" barrel is a close second. Cowboy Action loads were light so the effect of barrel length on recoil and muzzle flip would not apply to a big magnum revolver for hunting.

If possible, handle and dry fire (if you can't live fire) any long barreled handgun before buying. You may find (as I did with my 1851 Navies) an instant attraction. "Yes! This is what I want!" If your prospective gun is not comfortable in your hand(s), take a pass.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I am more accurate with the longer sight radius with longer barrels. The recoil from a longer barrel is more straight back allowing faster recovery instead of the muzzle flip with short barrels. Longer barrels provide more velocity for flatter ballistics at longer ranges.

I conceal carry a 4" revolver for self-defense. I open carry and hunt with longer barrels.

 

[Charlie98]

I currently own a S&W Model 17-5, .22 LR, with an 8 3/8" barrel. It is as accurate as a .22 rifle with its iron sights. It would be unwieldy shooting one handed (as in bullseye competition).

One of the stupidest firearms I've ever owned was a S&W 617 with a full lug 8 3/8" barrel. The sheer weight of it destroyed any accuracy potential shooting it offhand... at least for me. I traded it for a Winchester 9422... a much better deal!

I would find it hard to believe a 6" revolver can't do what an 8 3/8" revolver does, minus a few extra FPS... but that's something you would have to decide for yourself.

It's reasonable to assume you can wear a 6" revolver on the belt... a friend of mine carried his 6" S&W 57 for armored car duty over one summer... but an 8 3/8" revolver is likely a shoulder- or chest holster proposition.

 

[41 Mag]

Well about all I can add is all 3 of my Redhawks have 7.5", my G40 has a 6" (wished it were a touch longer), my Javelina has a 7", my Raging Bull 454 is 8.375" and my FA is 7.5".

That said, I have a sincere hankering to pick up a SW 657 with the smooth cylinder and full lug barrel. Don't know why, just something about it appeals to me.

I use Bianchi RT hand holsters carried on the left side to cross draw. I use a 2" wide nylon strap belt for the revolvers and have carried all but FA for hours on end through the woods and working around the farm. The autos go in Kenai chest rigs because they are easier to work with up there while running the tractor.

My 45C and holster...


I use them all for hunting and have since I got them. I prefer the added sight radius and amidge of velocity. Sometimes hogs will pop out of the darndest places and shots on them out to 100 or more yards have been made and connected. But we practice out to 150'ish on 8" plates and paper at 100. However, most shots are usually around 20-50yds.

I kinda looked at it as I'd rather have the benefit and adjust to the weight, rather than not have it and put up with the added recoil. You also have to consider how much and how long you will actually be carrying it. And also try several holsters, they do make a difference too.

 

[driz]

I have visions of The Joker

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/0/04/Gunpull.gif/revision/latest?cb=20210208223715

 

[dobedo]

Better for hunting.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I've hunted, and taken 3 deer, with a lugged barrel M629; for convenient field use, I'm not sure about going any longer.
For target use, how many hands will hold the gun?
For the OP, what are you planning hunting, and what sort of target shooting do you plan?
For serious deer hunting, you might want to think about a .44.
Suggestions for a shoulder rig are a good idea.
Moon

 

[crestoncowboy]

S&W 617 with a full lug 8 3/8" barrel. The sheer weight of it destroyed any accuracy potential shooting it offhand... at least for me. I traded it for a Winchester 9422... a much better deal!

And about the same weight. Lol. I have a 4 inch and 6 inch 617 and wouldn't recommend the 6 inch over the 4 to anyone, and nobody ive let shoot mine would choose the 6 either . And I don't recall anyone shooting the 6 better.


I used to use 8 inch hunting guns.( I think my first redhawk is 7.5 but pretty long) . My first Smith 44 and 460 are 8 and whatever fraction they tacked on etc etc . My first Blackhawk is 10.

Nowdays 4-5 is what I hunt with. They feel better to me. Real world accuracy is no better with the bigger guns for me and I found that 99.999% of the time I had nothing to rest on and wished I had a 4 inch rather than 8 anyway. Anything other than a quick shot I think your better off with a bit less weight. Anything bigger than 44 I wouldn't want shorter than 6 or so. Ive fired an Alaskan in 2 inch and it was stupid loud and I couldn't do well with it.

Unless your scoped, its unlikely you shoot far enough to need the extra 100 FPs and unless you are a poor shooter you can hit with a 4 inch at the 75-100 that most ( even good) shooters limit to anyway. Then if your scoped the barrel length isn't terribly important since sight radius is not an issue.

I won't part with mine but at this point I doubt I ever swing back to using >6 inch barrels again other than the xframes.

 

[Show Me]

A five inch GP100 is my most used and I'm very comfortable with it

 

[cfullgraf]

For a long time I had no use for 8”+ barrels on revolvers.

I have a 4” and 6-1/2” S&W Model 25-5 (45 Colt) and one gun show I found an 8-3/8” Model 25-5. I decided I needed round out the collection so I bought the long barreled version.

I found the gun easy to shoot well. Sure, they are not easy to carry.

Since then, I’ve purchased a few more 8-3/8” S&W revolvers in different chamberings.

 

[TTv2]

With modern guns and the prevalence of larger barrel/cylinder gaps by manufacturers now for ease of passing QC, IDK if there's any velocity benefit going with an 8 over a 6, with a magnum at least. Stuff like .45 Colt that's lower pressure I can see getting a minor benefit, but that little extra may help with performance.

The magnums I don't think gain enough to make them worthwhile, at least not enough difference to make a difference, but what a longer barrel in the right revolver does mean is longer scope capability and thus gives you more options to find the right scope for your needs.

I'm sure there are some benefits with recoil and reduced blast and follow up shots, but my only experience with that is with .22's and standard pressure .45 Colt, IDK how high pressure magnums do with that.

 

[jmr40]

If I need more than 4" or 5" I'd just as soon carry a small compact rifle. But that's just me, I'm not a serious handgun hunter. But if I just had to hunt with a handgun, I'd want 6" minimum and can see advantages to longer barrels.

 

[LV Gun]

Big calibers Big guns what more can you say, I like long barrels but in the big bores, IMHO I feel you shoot better with long barrels at least that has been my experience. I have a S&W 629 44 magnum Classic Power Port 7” barrel, Raging Bull 44 magnum 8.5 inch barrel , Ruger Super Red Hawk 454 casull 7.5 inch barrel and a Magnum Research BFR 45/70 7.5 inch barrel I can’t imagine shooting these with a short barrel.

 

[Ru4real]

I'm in the market for another revolver, most likely a S&W 586 or Model 57 and am wondering whether to go for an 8" barrel….

…wondering how others describe their experience shooting both 6" and 8", and how they compare, all else being equal.

I wondered the same. So, I bought a no dash 586 8-3/8” with a 4 position front sight which I dialed in for 25, 100, 150, 200 yards. It’s both a challenge and super fun at the range. Shooting standing, unsupported while ringing steel or breaking clays way out there gets a lot of people ooohing and aweing.

 

[Anchorite]

I have a M29-3 8 3/8” that is my field stand revolver. It’s a joy to carry and shoot. Compared to my other revolvers, it’s like taking a ballerina on a date … strong, confident and svelte. She will not let you down. Ever.

 

[barnfrog]

Thanks for the replies so far. I knew there would be a wide range of opinions, and they're all good.

For target use, how many hands will hold the gun?
For the OP, what are you planning hunting, and what sort of target shooting do you plan?

I shoot almost exclusively two-handed. I will be hunting deer, and for me target shooting is all about practicing for hunting. So shooting from all manner of field positions and pushing my distances to get better at longer ranges and know my responsible limits. When I hunt with a rifle I carry shooting sticks so I always have a rest, and am working on a way to do the same with revolver shooting/hunting.

 

[westernrover]

I considered a 7" and 8" and I have also suspected that there is a limit to how long a full-underlug barrel should be. I use a 5" full underlug now and it seems perfect. I've supposed that a longer barrel is better half-lugged, but haven't afforded proving this to myself.

I use a red dot, so the sight radius is irrelevant, but I have proven to myself that the additional barrel length allows me to shoot it more accurately than an otherwise identical 3" revolver. Perhaps it's the angular error or something. I don't believe it's anything in the gun itself but how well I work with it.

As a handloader, the longer barrels are a welcome relief. It's so much easier to obtain goal velocities without excessively high pressures or a narrowed choice of powders.

 

[halfmoonclip]

As a handloader, the longer barrels are a welcome relief. It's so much easier to obtain goal velocities without excessively high pressures or a narrowed choice of powders.

H110 works really well for serious velocities in .44, and extra barrel is a help.
Efforts to get big numbers in snubs are really frustrating.
Moon

 

[CraigC]

While I have lusted for a 'set' of 8 3/8" K-frames in .22LR, .22Mag and .38Spl (and a .32 if I'm dreaming!), it's mostly just because I think they're cool and they still don't weight much. Otherwise, I really think a DA is optimal at 6". That goes double for full underlug guns. I'd prefer all my SRH's to be 6" and may have the .44 cut back, tuned and refinished. The 10" barrel for the Dan Wesson is just for bench testing, or was supposed to be. I think velocity in handguns, even those I hunt with is overrated and not something I fret over. 50-100fps in either direction doesn't really amount to much at the other end.

 

[JTHunter]

About 10 years ago, I was trying various .357 revolvers. The longer barrels, while preferred for hunting, became too "nose heavy" to hold comfortably and keep it on target. For my moderately sized hands (glove size "L"), it was easier to hold a 4" barrel without it starting to "droop" after a few seconds. That is part of the reason I bought a 4" GP-100. The other is the wide variability of the factory ammo from fast lightweights (110 gr. HPs) to crushing heavyweights (180 gr.). I reload 158 gr. loads (FMJ, JHP, & JSP) with the powder charge 0.1 gr. below a MAX charge.
I save the lightweight stuff for the SP-101 .38 Special.

 

[.38 Special]

An 8+ inch barrel makes me feel worse and shoot better. That is, the long sight radius magnifies every little misalignment so that I feel like I don't know what I'm doing - but when I remember to just hold and squeeze, it's enormously rewarding. (Of course, when I chase the sights and grab at the trigger, it's enormously educational...)

I don't actually enjoy long barrels, except from a solid rest. I do appreciate what they teach me, though. I'd recommend them to a masochist, but not to anyone with whom I would like to remain friends.