Colt-Ruger Single Action Revolvers: Preferred Barrel Length?

N320AW

I purchased my first single action revolver (Ruger BH 41 magnum) when I was 18 years old. Ever since then I have preferred the 4 3/4" inch barrels on these guns. I like it because these barrels reduce weight and just seem more handy from a holster than the 5 1/2" or 7 1/2 inchers.

I'm a bit curious about you guys on the barrel length on the SAA's. In most of the Western movies I have watched for more than 50 years, the 5 1/2" seems to be illustrated the most.

What say you fellows as a preferred barrel length and why?

Zee

General Field Carry: 4.62"


Hunting: 6.5"

NN

5.5

Elk creek

I've got some of each:

7.5 inch for hunting/ target work kinda clumbsy out of a holster. Chambered in 45 colt.

5.5 for field work and legal hunting length in current state chambered in 44 special

My field companion and trusted ally in 4.63 chambered in 45 colt.

My all time favorite is the 4 3/4, out of a holster quick and points like a dream.

DanChamberlain

For carry.



For hunting, a little of both.



For targets.

Jayhawker

All are .45 Colt...

What Elk Creek says...

My Birdshead is my all around totin' and Sunday Go To Meetin gun...

early

I like 4 3/4.
My first handgun was a three screw 6" 357.
When I got my first DA it took me a while before I discovered that the base pin was also an extractor.

gator

As with most here I have several with different bbl lengths...

The birds head is my favorite to pack.

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

ilove22s

i prefer the 4.75 or 4.4 depending on whats what. More or less the barrel cut at the end of the ejector shroud.

BAMAAK

1 single six at 5.5"
2 .357 vaqureos at 4 5/8"

Longer is more accurate, shorter is quicker. I'm thinking CPJs wife will attest to the second one.

Antonio

I like more the looks of the 4.5; fortunately it was the length I got when one of the locally ultra-scarce Blackhawks (No market for them; everybody's looking for defensive, not recreational guns. Also calibers over .38 Special are VERY restricted and "grandfathered") popped up:



I carry that one as sidearm when hunting/hiking; pretty much the same story with my Single Six, since after 10 years of looking for one, this 6.5 "Old Model" fell in my hands:



Great for plinking & hunting, but after testing a friend's 4.5 and see it can do the same thing as mine (Was shooting assorted poppers with bulk ammo at ranges from 15 to 40 yards and got the same results with both), would swap it for another "Old Model" one if those would be available here (Or a stainless steel "New Model").

Had a 5.5 Arminius 1873 clone for a while and although reliable and accurate, never quite liked the barrel length; gone when I got the Blackhawk.