4 5/8 (4 3/4) or 5 1/2 barrel, what's your preference and why?

[Currahee]

tell me.

[Rip Snorter]

For what usage?  Kinda like golf clubs.

[Tyrel Cody]

4-5/8

Aesthetics

 

[Flanigan Flats]

5 1/2. Balance and sight radiance. Not that I use them. But I do kinda look down the barrel and kinda point it at the target right before I squeeze the trigger while trying not to pull it. 

[Cayuse Jack, SASS #19407]

I’m not on the cavalry (7-1/2”)

I’m not in the artillery (5-1/2”)

 

I’m a gunfighter so it’s 4-5/8” for me!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

3" to 3.5" for my Cowboy shooting revolvers.

 

5.5" to 7.5" for my Super Blackhawk Hunters.

5" and 6" for my 1911 carry pistols.

 

4.25" for my Anaconda

4" for my 460 S&W mag.

 

 

..........Widder

 

 

[Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life]

Mostly 5 1/2 OMV for me. My old eyes like the longer sight radius. My arthritic wrists like the heavier OMV sucking up the recoil.

My wife's guns are 4 5/8 NMV. She likes the lighter weight overall and the slightly smaller grips.

All are polished stainless with one backup set being bead blasted.

YMMV

Regards

    

Gateway Kid

[Erasmus]

5-1/2 is the most balanced looking IMO, so that's what I like. My only experience between 5-1/2 and 4-3/4 is between .38 5-1/2 and .45 4-3/4; and the shorter guns seem to feel 'faster'. 

 

That said I mostly shoot cap and ball, and I shoot those with 7.5 inch barrels. 

 

I have yet to chrono full house black powder loads from all three barrels, but whatever the difference is doesn't make a lick of difference at cowboy ranges. 

Edited May 8 by Erasmus

[watab kid]

5 1/2 these days but i started with 4 3/4s , i simply found that the longer sight radius worked better with my aging eyes , id go to 5s if i had the leather but im not willing to buy botrh that and the guns anymore so ill have to buy the leathger and switch to C^B that i already have with conversions ,,,,,,,,,but dont think i will do that soon , 

[Dantankerous]

3" revolver for carry

4 5/8 or 5 1/2 for cowboy (my difference is stainless for BP, blued for smokeless)

6+ inch for range, target and hunting

 

Semi-autos? 4-5 inch Nothing quite like a 1911 Government. 😀

[Sixgun Seamus]

On the eighth day, God and Sam Colt proclaimed, "Let all barrels be 7 1/2 inches or longer."

[Rye Miles #13621]

I use both 4 3/4 and 5 1/2, sometimes I mix em and shoot both sometimes I match em up. Not much difference. We’re talking 3/4” I usually use a 43/4 in my cross draw and 5/12 in my strong side. 

[Tyrel Cody]

1 hour ago, Sixgun Seamus said:

On the eighth day, God and Sam Colt proclaimed, "Let all barrels be 7 1/2 inches or longer."

Then somehow Eve switched out the tape measure…

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

All 8 of my revolvers are 4.75". I just don't need a longer barrel to hit 14" square targets at 5 yards out.

[The Surgeon]

I like the look and feel of 5.5" barrels but its really personal preference. 

["Big Boston"]

The 7 1/2" is nice for it's longer sight radius, and on a long match, a bit less fatigue in the wrist. A bit better for long range. One of the clubs out west shoots pistols at 20 yards and the rifle at 50, or so they say. I used my range finder and it's more like 25 and 60. That keeps you on your toes, especially they count a miss at 10 seconds. BTW, shotgun is at 20 as well. I use my 7 1/2s for that.

 

The 4 3/4" or 4 5/8" as nice and handy, just feel right, and most of mine are that. 

 

The 5 1/2" ones are for the undecided, neither fair nor foul, just a good gun to have around. I have some of these as well. 

 

But let's not forget the 5", as in 1911, perfect in every way.

 

BB

 

[Diamond Jake]

I love the looks of the 8" 1860 Army, and the replica 7th Cavalry SAA I had was a dandy, with its 7 1/2".  I've used the 5 1/2" Colt replicas for a few years, but now I mostly use the 4 3/4" clones.  They seem to balance a bit better for me.

Edited May 8 by Diamond Jake

[Griff]

 

It's 7-½" 1851 Navies in the proper .36 caliber for me.  But, when I deign to shoot those silly gay caballero suppository handguns, 4-¾" is quite long enough, thank you!

[Captain Bill Burt]

My main match guns have 5 inch octagonal barrels on Single Six frames with OMV grip frames. I like a longer sight radius and a little more weight out on the barrel.  The Single Six frame results in the hammer spur being lower relative to my grip.  The OMV grip frames are fatter, which feels better in my hands. 

[Hashknife Cowboy]

CAS....depends, sight radius and minimal change in velocity doesn't matter to me at CAS distances.  4 5/8th's seems to be what I use the most, primarily for ease of carry.

 

 

[Ciderbarrel]

7.5" for frontiersman -- Ruger Old Army

 

5" otherwise -- Ruger New Vaquero Bisley - 38/357

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

my shoulders don't allow me to hoot anything heavier than 4.5 inch single-six one handed. of the longer barrel 5.5 are easier to draw having said that I like the longer sight radius of 7.5 in. I started with 7.5 inch original Vaqueros in 44 mag.

 

Basically handle all lengths you will know what you like nearly all of us have enough guns to allow you to shoot a match or two with our guns to help u decide 

[Black Angus McPherson]

16 hours ago, Erasmus said:

5-1/2 is the most balanced looking IMO, so that's what I like. My only experience between 5-1/2 and 4-3/4 is between .38 5-1/2 and .45 4-3/4; and the shorter guns seem to feel 'faster'. 

 

That said I mostly shoot cap and ball, and I shoot those with 7.5 inch barrels. 

 

I have yet to chrono full house black powder loads from all three barrels, but whatever the difference is doesn't make a lick of difference at cowboy ranges. 

 

Ditto.  I just prefer the look of the 5.5"  SAA types.  But I do have a hankering for a 7.5" .45 Colt. 

Lately I mostly shoot cap guns and like the 7.5"-8" barrels on them.

 

Angus

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

I've had 7.5" , 3.75" and 3.5".  I don't prefer 5.5" but I can't tell you why.

Horace

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

I have one of each (both OMV) as my main match sixshooters.  Cant say why, just how I got them many years ago.  When I used a cross draw, the longer barrel sat there.  When i switched to double strong side, the shorter usually sits on my left side.  I'm primarily right handed so I figure my right hand will deal with the slightly longer barrel coming out of the holster better.  Really not sure if it matters much, other than it is real easy for me to tell my two guns apart from one another with only a quick glance.

 

On my cap guns, I like the barrels full length.

[El Chapo]

4 3/4" because it's all I have.

[Three Foot Johnson]

36.25% of my CAS revolvers are 4 5/8" and 20% are 5 1/2" - if 22% of them are stainless, how far will a $98 bus ticket take me at 105 kph on Trailways vs Greyhound?  

 

The shorter the barrel, the less people notice how bad I shake anymore.  

 

A foot and a half of barrel on each hip is kind of fun...

 

[Nickle]

When I was young I liked big heavy guns. Think horse pistols and Buffalo guns. Now I'm steadier with lighter guns. 

Does the lighter weight of a shorter barrel make any difference to any of you older shooters?

Another question.  Shooting gun fighter. I borrowed a second gun and shot gunfighter for first time a month ago. From  a target shooting  background I'm pretty sure I took a deep breath for the first shot and probably held it until the tenth haha.  I have to remember to breathe the next time.  It sounds stupid but if you are used to taking a deep breath as you bring the gun up and letting it half out and then taking your shot. Well there is no time to do this in gunfighter.  I guess you just breathe normal shooting gunfighter? Haha 

[watab kid]

i do have the 7 1/2" and the 12" but they are not what i want to shoot this game with , like them for the novelty 

[Idaho Gunslinger]

On 5/8/2025 at 8:04 AM, "Big Boston" said:

The 7 1/2" is nice for it's longer sight radius, and on a long match, a bit less fatigue in the wrist. A bit better for long range. One of the clubs out west shoots pistols at 20 yards and the rifle at 50, or so they say. I used my range finder and it's more like 25 and 60. That keeps you on your toes, especially they count a miss at 10 seconds. BTW, shotgun is at 20 as well. I use my 7 1/2s for that.

 

 

BB

 

Does that club still exist? That's even further than local clubs put targets out and most people on here seem appalled at putting targets at those distances.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

PLUS ONE for WIDDER!!!  Absolutely

 

I be a Gunfighter.  Most of my Cap Guns are 3 3/4 SNUBBIES.  My Open Tops are 4 7/8 and my 1860/51 conversions are 4 1/4.  I prefer the balance and handling of short barrels.  Capitol FUN you betcha!!

[Kirk James]

I tried switching from 4 3/4 to 5 1/2, but my left shoulder kept me from a smooth upward draw, so I stuck with 4 3/4.

[Whitey James]

I'm in the 5 1/2 group. Like the look and feel.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I've got everything from 3" to 12" barrels on my guns.  All are fine, depending on my mood at any given shoot.

But, if I have a favorite, I like 4-3/4", not 4-5/8" because the former is a Colt, and the latter is a Ruger, and I prefer Colts to Rugers.

As to WHY that length, I just think it's the coolest looking length.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

On 5/8/2025 at 5:51 AM, Dantankerous said:

3" revolver for carry

4 5/8 or 5 1/2 for cowboy (my difference is stainless for BP, blued for smokeless)

6+ inch for range, target and hunting

 

Semi-autos? 4-5 inch Nothing quite like a 1911 Government. 😀

 

Heh, I had not thought of it in this context.   Lessee....

Yeah, for carry, a 3" Sheriff would do well.
For when I am trying to do my best at a CAS shoot, I use 4-3/4" guns.
For when I am just trying to have as much fun as possible at a Cowboy Shoot, my Big Iron with the 10" barrel comes out paired with a random revolver depending on my mood.  Unless they allow me to use the Lightning Bolt.  Then I'll use that.
For Long range pistol, the 12" Buntline comes out.

For a semi auto?  For concealed carry, a Colt Mustang .380
For open carry, a 1911 in .45 ACP.

Edited May 9 by H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619