4.75" vs 5.5" barrel?

[Coffinmaker]

BILTMORE 

That be a right nice Snubbie.  I also have always preferred short(er) barrels.  I have cut the barrel sets I have for my Open Tops at the Ejector Rod Housing (4 7/8) and all of my Cap Guns are SNUBBIES. 

I recently finished a pair 1860 Conversions (8 inch barrels) I haven't cut yet.  Rest assured they will get cut, very difficult and SLOW for me to shoot.  Fun for a day or two but that'll be it.  (Hacksaw MacGurk is drooling).

[RattlesnakeJack]

I personally prefer 5.5" over 4.75" ... and in fact, more of my revolvers are 7.5" than either of the shorter lengths ... I'm not very fast, anyway, so I go with the look I like!

Somebody mentioned that many Fast Draw competitors prefer the short barrel, and I gather that similar considerations also drive the preference of many Cowboy Mounted Shooting competitors, based on what I was told recently by a chap considering getting into that sport, who passed on a pair of 5.5" Ruger New Vaqueros I am thinking of selling.  Calibre (.45 Colt) was right for him, but apparently the advice he is getting is to stick with the shorter barrel (4 ⅝" in the Rugers) for ease of clearing the holster and reholstering while mounted ...  Of course, in that sport they aren't trying to shoot a bullet accurately ... just need to project all that burning powder and fouling in the direction of each balloon ...

[Modoc]

The length didn't matter to me, but when I went on large bore to small ( .44 to 38) I noticed a difference in handling.  My 4-5/8" 38's balance the same as my 5-1/2" 44's. 

Sadly, I sold the 44's because my hands didn't like the recoil at the time (regret it ). Stayed with the 38's for ease and economy with 5 of us shooting, even though it is now 3.

[Abilene]

  NECROMANCY is FUN!!)

Somebody please stand by with a Defibrillator for Abilene please.  ...

Hey Coffinmaker, ChuteTheMall is the one who brought back this oldie, don't point that defribrillator at me! 

As for the original question, 4 3/4" vs 5 1/2", well it's kinda a Ginger or MaryAnn thing.

[RRio]

Hey Coffinmaker, ChuteTheMall is the one who brought back this oldie, don't point that defribrillator at me! 

As for the original question, 4 3/4" vs 5 1/2", well it's kinda a Ginger or MaryAnn thing.

Don't tell me. The 5 1/2 is Ginger and the 4 3/4 is Mary Ann.  Right??

[Coffinmaker]

  Wheeeeeeeee 

Let us "Play it Again Sam."  Hey Rattlesnake!!  Actually the most popular barrel length for a lot of the Mounted folks is 3 1/2 inches.  Same same reasoning, easier to draw/holster and just need to direct the BP residue and gasses at the balloons.

Now where'd I leave that De-Fibber-U-Later > > > > >

[cpt dan blodgett]

Objectively at SASS ranges probably not enough difference to make a difference.  Subjectively one may well shoot better with one length or the other depending on how the gun feels in the hand.  Given the age of most of us our eyes may see the front sight better with shorter or longer barreled pistols.  Thank God for cataract surgery I can now see the front sights with or without glasses just cannot read without.  Short answer shoot both then decide what works best for you.

[Abilene]

... Short answer shoot both then decide what works best for you.

Shorter answer is buy both. 

Just did a quick inventory of barrel lengths on my CAS guns:
3.5"   - 1
4.75" - 8
5.5"   - 5
7.5"   - 5

[Coffinmaker]

Ah Ha 

I forgot to mention, My Three and Half inch barrel SNUBBIES have a slightly longer "Sight Radius" than a Four and Three Quarter SA.  Nanny Nanny Poo Poo

[Bunk]

I have a 1851 Navy in .44 caliber with Amy grips. A completely fantasy gun.
Hacksaw McGerk  attacked it and changed it to about a  3" barrel snubby and installed a real front sight.
At middle CAS ranges it will print playing card size groups if the loose screw holding the grips does his part.
It us NOT a 25 or 50 yard target pistol. but is great fun to shoot.
Unfortunately Hacksaw has retired (again) so no more are available.
Hold center
Hit it!
Make smoke
Bunk

[Froogal]

Watched several "Hickok 45" youtube videos. He can hit the gong at 80 yards with just about any handgun he is playing with. Personally, I need a rifle if I am to hit a target at 25 yards.

[Dave T]

I have always preferred either 4-3/4" or 7-1/2" barrels on single action revolvers. The 5-1/2" always seems like a lost step-sister. And I say that having owned several 1st Gen Colts with that barrel length and having two USFA single actions sporting 5.5" barrels in the safe now.

Dave

[Professor Marvel]

Oddly, I have always preferred the "odd number" barrel lengths....
3", 5", 7"

Interestingly in addition to beeing odd numbers, they are also prime numbers 😆

Yhs
Prf mumbles

[Griz375]

When i started doing CAS i borrowed a few pistols in different setups to see what I liked & settled on a pair of Pietta SAA Clones in 44WCF in 5.5".

Shot those for years mainly because I needed the sight radius. That means, as I'm older now, that's the minimum I'm going for; haven't ruled 7.5" yet.

[onegunred]

" I have always preferred either 4-3/4" or 7-1/2" barrels on single action revolvers. The 5-1/2" always seems like a lost step-sister. And I say that having owned several 1st Gen Colts with that barrel length and having two USFA single actions sporting 5.5" barrels in the safe now."


      Well it has always been my experience that the STEP SISTER has always been the best looking in the family, always has he best shape and and is the most fun to play with.

[Mossy Horn Gent]

My preference for what seems to balance best for me: a 4.75 inch barrel for 357/38 caliber or a 5.5 inch barrel on a 45 caliber. A 357 barrel is usually thicker and heavier than the same length in 45.

[Griff]

Day one when I started playing this game, I owned a 3rd Gen Colt SAA, 4-¾" 45 Colt.  And while I mostly shoot Frontiersman with Colt 1851s, the SAA gets drug out on occasion along with its matching brother.  And what I find is that with these is I only need to put the front sight on the target, just as with the rifle, the rear sight is rarely in view, now, if I'm playing around, hitting the corner of a target, hand, foot or hat brim... I'll lineup the sights.  And for those times, I'm having a LOT more fun than simply seeing how fast I can go.  Otherwise, given the size and distance of targets, it's not needed. 

[Coffinmaker]

THIS BE A FUN THREAD 

No matter how many times we resurrect it, still be fun.  I can't really get fully into the original subject matter though.  All but two of my guns are shorter still.  Lots shorter.

I'm of the "Lighter is Better" club.  Ergo, I am of the opine, "Size Matters."  The size of the hole(s) in the cylinder and barrel make a big difference.  Mine are as big as I can get.  .45 Size holes make for a lighter gun than .357 size holes, or even .32 (yuck) size holes.  My most recent acquisition(s) be a pair of Pietta built, 3.5 inch Octagon barrel .45s   Should be most fun when I finish Cardiac Rehab.  Stay Tuna

[Hair Trigger Jim]

If lighter is better, why the octagon barrels?