Which Barrel Length?

[Scrounger]

I have four .357s:
1. Ruger SP101 3"
2. Ruger GP100 4"
3. S&W 686 6"
4. Contender Barrel 10"
I am thinking about selling the S&W and I am wondering just how much more velocity it gets than the 4 inch barrel. Has anyone ever chronographed the same bullet/powder combination in the two barrels to get an idea of velocity loss?

[bobk]

Yeah, I did, and it was in .357, too. The problem is, velocities may vary between two barrels that are supposedly identical. So, YMMV. I had a 165 gr. cast boolit load over 13.5 AA#9. Shot VERY well, 1450 out of 8", 1325 out of 4", 1297 out of 3" (and, boy, was that a handful out of a Smith 13!). Didn't have a 6" gun, as I had pulled the 6" off the Colt to install the 8". My SWAG would be that the 6" might give you 75 FPS with slow powders, a bit less with fast powders. Personally, I'd dump the GP100. It's too big for a pocket, and the 686 would be an excellent holster gun. But, that's me.
Bob K

[Doc Highwall]

I would keep the 686 with the 6" barrel. As you get older your eyes will not be able to focus as well and your accuracy will be better with a longer sight radius making your shooting that more pleasurable. I have found that a 6" barrel is a good trade between a 4" and 8" as you have a longer sight radius than a 4" with out the size of a 8"barrel. I have found that their is a bigger difference between a 4" and 6" barrel for sighting and hitting what you are aiming at, then between a 6" and 8" barrel. As to velocity, more velocity with out a hit is still a miss.

[Scrounger]

Yeah, I did, and it was in .357, too. The problem is, velocities may vary between two barrels that are supposedly identical. So, YMMV. I had a 165 gr. cast boolit load over 13.5 AA#9. Shot VERY well, 1450 out of 8", 1325 out of 4", 1297 out of 3" (and, boy, was that a handful out of a Smith 13!). Didn't have a 6" gun, as I had pulled the 6" off the Colt to install the 8". My SWAG would be that the 6" might give you 75 FPS with slow powders, a bit less with fast powders. Personally, I'd dump the GP100. It's too big for a pocket, and the 686 would be an excellent holster gun. But, that's me.
Bob K

True enough but that GP100 is such a sexy looking gun... So is the SP101 and the S&W 686. Guess I'll have to keep them all.

[NickSS]

I have a pair of Ruger security Sixs a 4 inch and a six inch. I used the 4 inch for many years for a carry gun when out hunting until I found that my eyes were going and I could not see the sights well enough to pop the head off a grouse. So I bought the Six inch used (they do not make the security six anymore) and found that the longer sight radius worked for me. Now the 4 inch sits at home and the six inch goes with me. As I mostly shoot 38s from them I really do not care about velocity as a 150 gr SWC will do the job even at 700 fps.