4.75" OR 5.5" ? ...Evil Roy...

4 & 3/4 inch ...OR... 5 & 1/2 inch?

  • 4.75"

    Votes: 21 42.0%

  • 5.5"

    Votes: 29 58.0%
  • Total voters
    50
  • Poll closed .
M

mellow_c

New member
This is a serious question for all you single action 45 colt folks!

I'm having a hard time deciding what barrel length to settle on for a brace of .45 colt revolvers. Specifically the Cimarron Evil Roy model.

4 & 3/4" or 5 & 1/2" ?

I've always liked the looks of the 5.5... but the 4.75 just seams to make more sense. On the other hand my "inner self" is telling me to go with the 5.5...

So...

What do you say?


And while were at it, I'd be happy to read any of your opinions on this particular model, and reasons for your choice in barrel length.
 
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What do you see yourself doing with it? When it comes to barrel length of a revolver, length usually follows function. If you just want a fun gun to bang away, plink with, then buy the shorter barreled one, just because you like the looks. However, if you think that you may want to deer hunt or use it for some kind of Cowboy action competition, etc., then you will want the longer sighting radius.
 
I like the 5 1/2 inch barrel better for no more serious reason than Marshal Dan Troop in "Lawman" used one.
 
The shorter tube is actually more popular in cowboy action shooting although you will see a variety of barrel lengths.

Either one will serve; handle them both and see which you prefer.

I definitely like the shorter tube in a .38/.357 revolver; the smaller bore size makes for a heavier gun. In a larger caliber like the .45, the 5.5 may balance better.
 
I chose the 4 5/8 length when I bought my USFA SAA. For me it balances better, and is a bit handier.
 
I generally prefer longer barrels. Less muzzle blast, less recoil, more velocity, longer sight radius.

I just don't think giving up those things for a marginally, lighter and shorter gun would be worth it, IMO.

I also tend to think short barreled revolvers tend to look uglier than longer barreled ones, but that is just my personal preference.
 
Simply personal preference. I like 5 1/2" . To me it looks 'right' and is a balance between to long and to short. Again though that is just me.
 
inner self

I would get the one you that looks right to you - to me, my old cowboy cap guns were 5.5" and the 4.75" looks cut-off. If you are serious about winning at SASS, then the 4.75" might save you 1/4 second per-draw, but I would worry about this only after having paid for an action job, widened rear sight-notch and a low-profile hammer (although you might get some of this with the Evil Roy already). Also to win (and cut cost), select 38Spec, not 45LC -- but is this as much fun?
 
I doubt very much after 4'' if a mere 3/4'' of barrel length is gonna make much of a difference performance or handling wise. Get the one that looks right to you and enjoy.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far!
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to handle one of each at a local sporting goods store. They had an Evil Roy model with a 4.75" barrel, and a similarly equipped Uberti in 5.5".
I held them both at the same time... switching hands... doing what I could to get a feel for them without pretending to draw them or point them all over the store.

I get the feeling that the 5.5" would be a little slower, although in a balanced way that feels more deliberate with it's handling. I also prefer the look of the longer barrel. But the 4.75" still looks pretty good even if it looks a little "cut off", and drawing, holstering, and pointing the gun would seem to involve less effort.

I'm really having a tough time making a decision.

I'd like them just to have fun dressing up and playing cowboy, and at some point to get involved in cowboy action shooting. I would not expect to be winning anything, but rather just to enjoy the competition with myself and others. I also prefer the 45 colt over a 38 because if I'm gonna play cowboy I'd feel a bit odd loading up with specials... which is also my reason for choosing an Evil Roy over a New Ruger with it's non traditional operation.

I Need more opinions from you all. I don't think I can make this decision on my own ;) I'm 50/50 at this point.... and no, I don't want one of each. I'd like a matching pair. :)
 
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Definitely a hard personal choice. In something as mild as cowboy 45 Colts, any size is fine. 4 5/8" will definately speed sight acquisition, draw speed, carry heft and size. 7.5" is good if you want to shoot regularly out to 100 yards or so..

To me, 5.5" is a nice balanced walking gun. Good to ~50 yards or so, very accurate at ~ 25 yards. It only shows it's size when I get back in the truck....
 
I like the look of the 5 1/2" but I went with the 4 5/8" because all the stuff I read suggested to me that it would be slightly faster. I only have one so I'm not equipped to compete - really I bought it because I'd just finished reading Kuhnhausen's shop manual on the Colt SAA. I really like how simple the mechanics of the gun are.

The original was 7 1/2" and I wasn't going to go that long so it was a toss up for a bit which of the shorter lengths I'd go with. In reality I think I'd be just as happy with the 5 1/2" as I am with the 4 5/8".

If I get a second I may go longer just to see if I can tell the difference (which, of course, means I'll end up with a third at some point :) ).
 
My "brace" of SAA's have 7 1/2 inch barrels. (I put "brace" in parentheses because they are from different makers so not exactly paired guns). I like the longer barrels for the better sight radius and because a lot of the famous gun men of the 19th century west carried the longer barrel.

I also have a Cimarron Arms Thunderer in 4 3/4 inch but my preference would have been the 5 1/2 inch barrel. It just seems proper to me - but was not available when I ordered the gun and I didn't have time to wait. Since I did settle for the shorter gun I have to admit that between the two shorter barrels I don't see a lot of difference.

I learned to draw and spin a revolver with a couple old 44 caliber "Navy" replicas with 7 1/2 inch barrels so the longer barrel is not too ungainly for me. But the shorter barrels do spin and move faster.
 
I generally prefer longer barrels. Less muzzle blast, less recoil, more velocity, longer sight radius.
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A shooter will notice a difference in handling but no, none, nada shooter will ever notice a difference in those 4 things with 3/4".
 
I voted 5.5", but you really can't go wrong with either.

The shorter barrel guns tend to be more collectable over time, but maybe that's because they are rarer (more people opting for the more practical 5.5" guns)?
 
Buck460XVR said:
I doubt very much after 4'' if a mere 3/4'' of barrel length is gonna make much of a difference performance or handling wise. Get the one that looks right to you and enjoy.
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I imagine everyone's perception is somewhat different, but to me there is a significant difference between a 4-5/8" SAA (clone) and a 5-1/2" SAA (clone). I also have one in 7-1/2" and I hate it -- far too muzzle heavy, and just plain awkward to handle.

For all-around plinking and perhaps woods carry, I'd go with the 5-1/2". If cowboy action shooting was even a remote possibility, I would definitely choose the 4-5/8" because it's so much handier.
 
I prefer the looks and feel of a 4 5/8" barrel. I don't have a .45 but I have 2 SA Rugers, a blue .357 Blackhawk and a stainless .44 SBH.
I have been thinking about getting a blue .45Colt/ACP Blackhawk convertible; 4 5/8", of course.
 
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