I have 4" barreled 357s. If I opt to target practice or carry, it does the job.
I saw a gun that I want. It has a 6" barrel. What advantages or differences will I get with a longer barrel? Improved accuracy? To what distance? Improved handling of recoil? For a wife?
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sight radius and velocity increase with barrel length. Not sure where this tops out, but i would suspect that a 6" barrel will give quite a bit (100fps?) higher velocity than 4" with 357. 357 seems to like a longer barrel.
keep in mind that a longer barrel will be a little slower out of a holster all else being equal.
I think the 4" barreled .357 would be better handling for your wife.
You’ll need a different excuse to justify it to her. LOL
I prefer snubs myself, far less for an attacker to hang on to if things are close and ugly.
Handguns are for me, among other things, an answer the door and see who’s there kind of gun.
Is it going to be a bedside gun, something you carry concealed, or be in a pistol belt? If its being concealed such as pocket carry around the house then I would lean to a snubby for the ease of it but accuracy (not likely an issue for the most part) and power will lack. Pistol belt, night stand, safe, or what ever then I lean towards the longer barrels such as 6" but probably wouldn’t go to much over that although even up in the 8" range is doable.
I use Glocks to conceal.
The home defense gun is a Smith & Wesson 8 shot performance center 627 and 12 gauge semi auto shotgun.
This was intended for just targets at long distances. 75-100-150 yards.
Lifetime NRA Member
In terms of velocity and energy it is to my understanding that certain loads like a lot of the 125 grain ones are pretty optimized for 4" so not to much difference going to the 6" where it is about 100fps depending on the exact load and gun but heavier rounds such as 158-180+ get a larger boost in velocity and consequent energy, either way you get more velocity and what it brings with it.
Outside of that as others have mentioned the sight radius will be greater making accurate aim easier, should be easier to control/lower recoil, less muzzle blast, etc. Should be the better option for hunting and target shooting, only real disadvantages in that regard is being a little more front heavy so might be harder for some to aim or carry for long.
In my experience, you’ll see an average change of 15-30 fps per inch of barrel with the same load.
Okie John
4" barrel would work great.
For the original question 4 inches is pretty standard for a fighting revolver.
Nothing wrong with a revolver however your better off using the Glock for both roles. You probably shoot it better, it holds more ammo and in a home defense situation your not likely to have a reload available so whats in the gun is all your going to have and 8 is not enough for me.
Pat
The 6" barrel has a potential improved accuracy at distance due to the longer sight radius, but can you hold it off-hand close enough to notice a significant difference? Also, for home defense I’m betting you’ll be pretty intimate with the offender so that’s probably irrelevant. The longer barrel may not balance as well as a 4" barrel, depending on the specific model. Recoil characteristics is again model specific: a 4" S&W 586 is heavier than a 6" S&W 19, but the 6" has less noticeable muzzle-blast (and for some that is more offending than the recoil itself).
My wife strongly preferred a 6" S&W 19 over a 4" 586 due to its balance and weight, but a between a 6" and 4" S&W 19…the 4" is what she uses for a night-stand gun. It balances well for her, the shorter barrel is easier for her to wield, and the recoil characteristics aren’t different enough for her to drive one significantly better than the other.
My hammerless 3" Ruger SP101 .357 is my ideal HD/Carry gun.
With the excellent Comp II speedloaders and speedstrips, reloads are fast, too.
.357, and ideal, for house defense?
No such thing.
Thank you for your OPINION JakesDad!!:haha:
I have to agree here. Keep things consistent. a Glock 17 or 22 would be a better pistol for this role. In addition to holding more ammunition you can also easily mount a weaponlight, which is a must on a home defense weapon IMO.
I’d agree. To answer the original question , though, the 357 will continue to accelerate in a barrel up to 16" or more (ballistics by the inch – 357 Mag.)l One of my shooting buddies shoots a beautiful old 6" L-frame revolver in 357. I love the gun but It is by far the loudest handgun on the firing line when we shoot. It is loud enough that I try not to shoot in the lane right next to him even if I double plug my hearing protection. It is also loud enough that I decided that there are better options to shoot in a HD situation than a 357 revolver. And this is from a guy that is looking to buy a 357 mag revolver sometime soon.
Cheers,
Actually, he is right. Pistol calibers are NOT the best HD strictly speaking. Now it may be the best given a situation, but that is not what he was saying.
18" for a 12 gauge, or 14.5 for a M4 is ideal for home defense.
What is with trying to put words in people’s mouths? The question posed is what barrel length is best for a 357 mag in X circumstances, not even getting into whether or not 357 it is the best choice for home defense.
And to throw my $.02 in, strengthening the target to the point that it is never attacked is the best HD choice. :happy:
I have a S&W 686 6 inch classic hunter that I want buried with me when I die. It is an amazing shooter. I have won two local competitions with it, and am confident to hit 5 inch clay targets propped up on a sand bank at 100 yds, offhand, 2 out of 6 shots, using low powered 38’s.
I keep it oiled and in the safe. I have a Ruger SP101 .357 and a Colt .45 Officers on hand for any home or self defense possible needs.
The argument of better accuracy or control does not begin to take into account the adrenalin of a situation where it may actually be used. You will not hear the bang or feel the recoil, or even know when you have emptied the chamber/clip if it comes to that. It will be close quarters, and the extra barrel length will mean squat.
Just my opinion.
If you want to enjoy precision revolver shooting, a 6 or 8 inch barrel is the key. For home defense, 2, 3 or 4 inch is more than enough, and a lot easier to keep in a drawer or somewhere else readily available.