Pistol barrel length

[Chili Pepper Pete 11917]

Ok so I'm reading all the replays on a post regarding someone wanting to shoot gunfighter and I'm seeing the discussion about length of barrel.  Just curious why longer barrels are better than shorter?  If the front sight is on the target isn't it going to hit regardless of barrel length?  Does the longer barrel help with speed to get the front sight in target? Are longer barrels more steady while aiming?  As a double duelist frontiersman I'm interested in the thoughts and opinions as to why one might be better than the other.  

 

Best regards

 

chili

[Nuttin' Graceful]

The longer barrel provides a slightly longer length on the sight picture. Same concept as the accuracy difference between a pistol and a rifle. I changed from 4.75 to 5.5 a number years ago. The difference in the draw is insignificant once you get used to it. (I never really noticed it). If you stretched it out to 7.5 then the impact to the draw would be greater and likely noticeable. I do believe it makes a worthwhile difference in accuracy and sight acquition. 

 

After a a few draws I don't think you'll notice it. Maybe more if you have shorter arms as the percentage of movement would be increased over someone with longer arms. 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Since this is an opinion/preception sort of question ........ Yes.  If the front and rear sights align and are on the target and you control the trigger, barrel length will make no difference.  You'll hit the target.  The longer barrel doesn't get the sights on the target faster.  The only thing that gets the sights on the target faster is practice with whatever you shoot.  Longer barrels are slower out of the holster.  Slower out of the holster is mitigated by lots of practice (Just ask Lassiter).

I've shot Gunfighter forever.  I never met a barrel too short.  When I was young enough to reach for the brass ring, I shot Open Tops cut to 4 7/16 and thought them a mite "long."  Now that I'm older and wiser (slower) I shoot Colt Pattern 1860s, Cut to 3 1/4 inch Snubbies (Cap Guns-R-Us).

 

There are a bunch of variables that apply for a Gunfighter.  Trigger control >> if you pull the front sight onto the gravel or grass, your gonna go mining or mow the lawn.  More barrel "front weight" can help mitigate poor trigger control.  Recoil Control >> A heavy recoiling load doesn't do anything to improve your shooting.  Recoil is not your friend.  Reduce it.  Weight >> Some just can't hold heavier guns up long enough to shoot well with two guns up.

Regardless, SMOOTH running guns are essential.  If your fighting your equipment, you might as well throw rocks.

 

Coffinmaker

[Cat Brules]

I believe that what you will notice is a difference in balance.

 

Ideally, you would have all three barrel lengths. To play around with.  I believe that if I shoot one-handed, the 5 1/2" barrel is a good compromise in obtaining first, the best balance, and then, coming on target.

[Sedalia Dave]

Ask Deuce Stevens. IIRC he won overall at Winter Range shooting pistols with 7.5 in barrels.

 

Previous winners have done it with pistol barrels of several different lengths.

 

Practice, practice practice.

[Griff]

As an ex-bullseye shooter, I'm slow and deliberate... but I shoot my long barreled pistols better than my short barreled pistols.   Except... when I don't!  My 7-½ Colt navies shoot better groups than my 4-¾ SAAs... Neither has what can be considered "excellent" sights, so it has to be the sight radius.  But, that difference is only noticeable in distances exceeding 15 yards.

 

In qualifying for my department, I shoot a 4" S&W better than my 4-¼" Colt Commander.  But, the Smith has much better sights than the Commander, even tho' both are fixed sighted guns... But, the difference is just an average of 4 points (out of a possible 300), over a 60 round course over distances of 3 to 25 yards.  All four points came at the 18 to 25 yard lines.  The nice thing, I was able to shoot every day.

 

Which means... in my case, barrel length at SASS distances is immaterial.  Balance, ability to get the gun out of the holster and sights aligned on target is the total deal.  ONLY you, will be able to make that decision.  Buy, or borrow guns with different barrel lengths in order to make that decision with all the facts at your disposal.  What I, or anyone else, be they National or World champion finds "best", will not determine what is "best" for you,  PERIOD.

[evil dogooder]

Longer barrels take more time to draw and holster. Like a fraction of a second.  However you Will get less missed targets. They are more forgiving on the trigger. The longer barrel doesnt rise as much and gets you back on target faster. One less miss in a two day match Will more than cover the extra time you lost on the draw and holster. The longer barrels actually help in holstering. They anchor better in the hoster which means less of a chance of a gun bouncing out on fast movement. The time gained by short barrels is generally lost when you take that fraction longer to line up the sites and control the trigger 

  To shoot  Longer barrels fast you do need a better holster with more of a drop and angle.  Doc Noper makes a great one for 7 1/2 barrels. 

 

  All that being said. You'll be faster and more accurate with whatever gun you practice with. Compaired to the one that you don't 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

On my Colts, I have 3.5", 4.74", 5.5", 7.5" and 12" barrels.  The 3" ones draw a bit faster than the 12".  I also have some original and reproduction S&W, Merwin & Hulbert, Russian Nagant, Remington and Spencer revolvers with barrel lengths in that 4-7" range.

 

I understand what people are saying when they assert that the longer barrel makes for a quicker sight picture, but in all honesty, I really don't see all that much difference.   Other than the Buntline which is even slower, I tend to shoot equally slow with all of them.   As far as accuracy goes, I have only shot 1 clean match ever, last year at EoT with a 4.75" and 5.5" pair of Colt .45's.   I seem to normally run between 1 and 5 misses per match pretty consistently.

 

As to the question of balance, again, I do not dispute that some folks can tell a real difference, but I can't.  To me, caliber is much more of a factor in the balance area.   .44's and .45's balance quite differently than .32's or .38s but it is so subtle that I don't really pay it much mind.

 

When it comes to barrel length, shoot what you personally like, and have fun.   I have one friend who shoots pretty much exclusively 4.5 and 7.5 inch Colts, (although he does occasionally bring out some vintage S&W's) one of each barrel length.  I don't think I have ever seen him shoot a 5.5" barrel, which he says are visually boring.   As far as that goes, I get it.  The shorter and longer barrels are absolutely more fun to look it!

 

And finally, there are those who will say that you must have the same barrel length on both pistols or it will mess you up.  I reject this assertion 100%.   See above comment on my clean match at EoT.   

 

Heck, once a year I take out my Buntline and 1 of my Sheriff's models just for a humerus contrast.  The very obvious difference does not trip me up.

 

Now, I shoot double duelist style.  Maybe, just maybe if you are shooting both pistols with the same hand and eye these factors and varations DO make a difference.   But I honestly do not know.

 

 

Happy shooting!  

[COAL CAR KID, SASS #15921]

Howdy Chili,

 

I shoot gunfighter, Classic Cowboy double duelist style, I just started shooting Frontiersman double duelist; I like the balance, feel & longer site radius of a 7 1/2".

I have always liked the feel of an 1851 Navy Colt or conversion of a 1851.

With a shorter barrel; I think a Birdshead grip helps with balance.

 

Now I really love the feel of my Pietta 1851 Navies; I recently shot them gunfighter and had a blast.

[Oklahoma Dee]

I prefer 4 5/8" barrels.  They are faster then my 5.5" and just as accurate, if not more accurate, as my 5.5" barrels.  Now how did that happen?

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

All has to do with perceived balance and recoil control.

I shoot OMV .44s w/5-1/2" bbl.

OLG

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

I shoot 5.5" guns main match, but have 7.5" back up guns. when I shoot Josie Wales I use my main match guns for rifles and get less misses than with the 7.5" guns. I don't think there is any difference in accuracy I'm just more used too the shorter guns. I used to shoot duelist and found the 7.5" are a lot easier to cock one handed, and have less perceived recoil. I think the 7.5"  guns are better, but my 5.5" are cooler so I shoot them more often. That just my opinion.

[Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129]

I like my Open-Tops with Navy Grips and 7 1/2 inch barrels best ....  Or 1851 Navys'... I shoot FCD at most matches ...

 

Jabez Cowboy

[watab kid]

like others i started with 4 3/4 and 5 1/2 , ive stayed that way - one of each but over the years ive found my longer to be my better in most stages , ive never shot a 7 1/2 or longer [i do own a couple] but i would think my draw would suffer , i believe the length is a factor in accuracy but at the ranges we shoot not overy crucial to most , i have shot a 3 1/2 once - ill not do that again , 

 

starting today as a novice id go with 5 1/2 and stick with it , today i have way too many 4 3/4" revolvers to follow my own advice but if life allows and cash is flowing i might 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Ok, a little physics, fellers.

 

Sight radius is important to accuracy.   A longer sight radius gives you less movement on target of the bullet strike than a shorter radius (barrel) with the same sight error.  All shooters have sighting errors, unless you put all your match's shots into one hole.  Iron sighted target rifles are made with long barrels, to reduce sighting error and increase accuracy on target.

 

A longer barrel will be slightly slower to gets sights on target, primarily because you are moving more weight out at distance with a longer barrel. Longer barrelled pistol will be slightly slower to get on target because whole gun is heavier. 

 

But, the most important factor - as shown by practical experience at many matches large and small - practice, practice, practice.  The gun you practice with is going to be what you shoot best.  And the pards who practice well and a lot, will do well.

 

Bottom line - IMHO, I don't think the difference in the barrel lengths of 3 to 6 inches is going to make any measurable difference, amongst good shooters.

 

good luck, GJ

[Widder, SASS #59054]

8 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

 

But, the most important factor - as shown by practical experience at many matches large and small - practice, practice, practice.  The gun you practice with is going to be what you shoot best.  And the pards who practice well and a lot, will do well.

 

Bottom line - IMHO, I don't think the difference in the barrel lengths of 3 to 6 inches is going to make any measurable difference, amongst good shooters.

 

good luck, GJ

 

I think this sums it up just perfect.

I shoot Octagon barreled OMV's that are only 3" from front of frame to tip of muzzle..... basically 3.5" barrels.

 

Some days (not often enough) I can run with anybody in speed and accuracy.  Sub 90 second, 5 stage match and clean. 10-10-4 on every stage with some movements.

 

With the same pistols, there are days that I look like a Newbie (no insult intended for new shooters).

 

Those shorties feel good in my hands, whether it be my .32 H&R models or my .45 models.

 

I think GJ told you PerZackly  like it is.

 

Best regards.

 

..........Widder

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Today, with many clubs now going to 'spitting' distance for pistol targets. Sight radius, isn't that big a deal as most are 'point-shooting' and not using the sights.

OLG

[Cowboy Rick, SASS #49739L]

Just switched from 4-3/4 to 5-1/2. Seem to miss less with the longer barrels. The geometry seems to say that there is less angle of barrel movement for an observed front sight movement with a longer barrel. In the old Bullseye days there were guys with front sights extended beyond the muzzle to increase the sight radius. For me, I just like all my guns with longer barrels.

 

CR