I'm looking at a 357/38 for a combination target/small game/occasional whitetail revolver (only occasionally for whitetail as I own a 6" Anaconda 44 mag for a deer gun). Personally, I can't seem to own just one revolver. I've not read much on the points for or against barrel length - 4" vs 6" vs 8" vs " -as it relates to using revolvers for hunting. Issues seem to be accuracy, velocity, and sight radius but I'm still kind of puzzled and would appreciate any insights folks here could offer.
Which barrel length for small game hunting?
- Thread starter Rawah
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The longer the barrel, the longer the sight radius. That should improve accuracy as well as performance.
If your eyes allow you to see the sights clearly, the long barrel will win hands down in accuracy and power every time.
When I was young, I shot much better scores with a 6 1/2" or 7 1/2" gun.
Now, with old age creeping up on me, & bifocals, I do slightly better with 4" barrels.
If you can, you should try similar guns & loads out of different barrel lengths, and see what you can see!
But, if I was considering using a .357 for deer hunting, I would for sure go with a 6", if not longer, to get all the velocity I could get out of it.
rcmodel
If your eyes allow you to see the sights clearly, the long barrel will win hands down in accuracy and power every time.
When I was young, I shot much better scores with a 6 1/2" or 7 1/2" gun.
Now, with old age creeping up on me, & bifocals, I do slightly better with 4" barrels.
If you can, you should try similar guns & loads out of different barrel lengths, and see what you can see!
But, if I was considering using a .357 for deer hunting, I would for sure go with a 6", if not longer, to get all the velocity I could get out of it.
rcmodel
rcmodel
So, does that mean that barrel length has no effect on accuracy out to, say, 50 yards or so? I see what you mean about 'seeing the sights' as my 55 year old eyes aren't what they used to be. I've got a friend who could help me out with a range session using guns of different barrel lengths. Great suggestion...thanks!
So, does that mean that barrel length has no effect on accuracy out to, say, 50 yards or so? I see what you mean about 'seeing the sights' as my 55 year old eyes aren't what they used to be. I've got a friend who could help me out with a range session using guns of different barrel lengths. Great suggestion...thanks!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
When I was shooting competition with 5th. Army AMU, the S&W 41 was the pistol to beat.
At that time they had a 7 1/2" light contour barrel, and a 5 1/2" bull barrel. I shot my best with the 7 1/2".
Others on the team did as well or better with the 5 1/2".
I'd say probably 2/3 or more of the team shot the longer barrel better.
I still have a Model 41, with two barrels.
I have the 7 1/2", as well as a light 5" sport barrel.
Now, almost 40 years later, I can shoot better groups with the short barrel then the long one.
Unfortunately, I can't shoot either one like I did in 1968!
rcmodel
At that time they had a 7 1/2" light contour barrel, and a 5 1/2" bull barrel. I shot my best with the 7 1/2".
Others on the team did as well or better with the 5 1/2".
I'd say probably 2/3 or more of the team shot the longer barrel better.
I still have a Model 41, with two barrels.
I have the 7 1/2", as well as a light 5" sport barrel.
Now, almost 40 years later, I can shoot better groups with the short barrel then the long one.
Unfortunately, I can't shoot either one like I did in 1968!
rcmodel
DaleCooper51
Member
Mechanical accuracy between the 4" and 6" revolvers should not be any different. If you strap both to a rest and test accuracy, I wouldn't think there would be a difference.
Practical accuracy should be better with the 6" gun as it has a longer sight radius. FWIW, I use a 6" model 19 with DEWC for small game because I shoot it better than my 4" revolver.
Practical accuracy should be better with the 6" gun as it has a longer sight radius. FWIW, I use a 6" model 19 with DEWC for small game because I shoot it better than my 4" revolver.
I like the 5" barrel as an all around barrel for the larger caliber revolvers.
I conduct all of my pistol shooting offhand at a 12" Gong Target. Out to 25 yards there is very little difference in hit probability or the size of the groups from a 4", 5", 6.5" or even 7.5" revolver barrel. (Last one a Ruger Superblack Hawk in 44 Mag) They are all good.
However, once I move that target out to 50 yards, the hit probability is better with the 5", 6.5", and 7.5" barrels. There are days I am hitting 6/6 on the gong, I am doing very good with 5/6 and my average is usually 4/6. If I am flinching, I am just hoping to break .500.
When I move to 75 yards, things get hard. Sight alignment and trigger pull have to be perfect. Call has to be perfect. My hit probability drops to the "no fun" level with the 4" revolvers, OK with the 5", a little better with the 6.5" and 7.5". I am doing well to hit the thing 4/6 offhand at 75 yards. I can tell that the 7.5" is doing much better at that distance, but things still are not a given.
To me, I don't think I should be shooting at any deer much past 25 yards with a handgun. It is too easy to mess up the shot on something like a deer and have it run off.
With a rabbit, squirrel, you either hit, or you miss totally. Shoot at them as far as you can see. If you get close, you will scare the living daylights out of them.
Few animals cooperate to this level.
I conduct all of my pistol shooting offhand at a 12" Gong Target. Out to 25 yards there is very little difference in hit probability or the size of the groups from a 4", 5", 6.5" or even 7.5" revolver barrel. (Last one a Ruger Superblack Hawk in 44 Mag) They are all good.
However, once I move that target out to 50 yards, the hit probability is better with the 5", 6.5", and 7.5" barrels. There are days I am hitting 6/6 on the gong, I am doing very good with 5/6 and my average is usually 4/6. If I am flinching, I am just hoping to break .500.
When I move to 75 yards, things get hard. Sight alignment and trigger pull have to be perfect. Call has to be perfect. My hit probability drops to the "no fun" level with the 4" revolvers, OK with the 5", a little better with the 6.5" and 7.5". I am doing well to hit the thing 4/6 offhand at 75 yards. I can tell that the 7.5" is doing much better at that distance, but things still are not a given.
To me, I don't think I should be shooting at any deer much past 25 yards with a handgun. It is too easy to mess up the shot on something like a deer and have it run off.
With a rabbit, squirrel, you either hit, or you miss totally. Shoot at them as far as you can see. If you get close, you will scare the living daylights out of them.
Few animals cooperate to this level.
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