How do you measure the barrel length of a pistol?

[thehairlessone]

Where do you start measuring the barrel length of the pistol?

I was looking at a ruger and The guy measured it and thought it was a 6 1/2" barrel but then the gun wouldnt fit in the holster they had that should have fit it.

Anyone know?

rick

[Mustang Gregg]

The official way the BATF does it:

Pistols you said.

Make sure weapn is empty.
Cock it.
Put range rod into muzzle---all the way to breech face.
Mark rod.
Measure the rod up to the mark.

If'n you're talkin' revolvers, ya only measure to the FACE of the cylinder.

MG

[thehairlessone]

Thanks!

It would be to the cylinder I would think then. It is a revolver.

rick

[Book Miser]

It could be that whoever made or labeled the holster measured differently.

For any firearm, it's breech fact to muzzle, but some folks tend to forget that with revolvers, and end up measuring the length of the barrel that projects from the frame. Which would account for that holster appearing to be about an inch too short.