Heavy Barrel Revolvers

[Blue Heeler]

I prefer a heavy barrel. At the very least fully underlugged.
Some years ago I bought four Model 10's (cheaply, US$70 each from a mate who ran a security business and was changing to Glocks.) I kept the one with the heavy barrel. It was the nicest to shoot.
My two custom guns have heavy barrels too. Now I've found a weight I can screw onto a 686 and it's an improvement.
Where it comes into it's own is rapid targetted fire, the muzzle flips less and recoil is reduced making reaquisition faster.
BUT - Some other shooters don't agree, some good ones too. I wonder if I'm being lazy and not applying myself properly to recoil management?

 

[Sir William]

I like skinny pencil barrels. Classic lines. I really like older 5" barrel, round butt, fixed sight S&WS and Colts.

 

[Malamute]

I like medium weight or light barrels. They carry much nicer.

Yes, I agree heavy barrels have less muzzle jump when shooting. For a range gun or competition gun, where allowed, they are nice. But I carry more then shoot most of the time. The only time I choose the heavier gun is when it is a heavier caliber vs a light caliber. (Model 29 over a 19)

 

[onions]

I too like HB or full underlug barrels.When available that's what I get.I haven't gone so far as to getting an added weight though.

It doesn't look bad & if it helps you shoot better than fine.Whatever works right?

I'm wondering though,what brand stocks are on that gun?I don't recall seeing the like.

 

[Person of Interest]

Generally, target shooters do better with a muzzle heavy gun. Adding weights to the barrel is an old and well known trick. Many target pistols came equiped with adjustable weights.

For any use off the range the weights are impractical at best.

 

[Russ5924]

I guess what it comes down to is what you like.Me I like a lighter barreled gun had a GP100 with 6" full lug barrel and didn't like it but I do like the 4".Shoot with a friend and the heavy the better

 

[Archie]

Heavy barrels can be a handicap.

For shooting PPC, with very light loads, I have a full house PPC gun. Heavy barrel and all.

However, for shooting 'jungle rules' type matches, I find a heavy barrel hard to get back on target. The lighter barrels do recoil more, but they also recover faster as well. I think the ideal barrel configuration is the shrouded ejector rod type, as on the old style M19 or M27 S&W revolvers. I don't like the full underlug, finding it neither asthetically pleasing or functional.

 

[JoeHatley]

Heavy barrels sure help keep that front sight on target.

Tom Volquartsen installed this Douglas bull barrel on my original Colt Trooper several years ago. My shooting interests have changed a bit since then, so it doesn't get shot much anymore, but it's always been a very accurate gun.

Joe

 

[knzn]

"I'm wondering though,what brand stocks are on that gun?I don't recall seeing the like."~~~

Not sure, but I'll take a guess. Are they a set of the old Bill Davis PPC grips? I had a pair years ago and let them go on a wore out 686 I had. At least they looked kind of like that.

 

[Blue Heeler]

The grips on the 686 are indeed Bill Davis grips - BD 3 as I recall. I bought five of them some years ago. I find the single finger groove makes acquiring the proper hand position faster. Also, they are slightly longer than normal and with the flat butt they are great for prone shooting. I've tried almost every grip (and it's only my natural caution that makes me say 'almost' ) on the market and personally I think there are none better. I first became acquainted with them when they were fitted to a custom .38 - the gunsmith said he thought they were the best. I think he's right.

 

[Gewehr98]

Heavy barrels serve their purpose.

As do thin barrels. Depends on the application. My PPC/Steel Challenge gun is a heavy barrel:

 

[Blue Heeler]

You learn something new all the time - I have never before seen the cylinder release adaptation like that on G98's gun. Seems to make sense though, might be less disturbing to the grip on reload. I note that the same gun has an 'Aristocrat' rib and is set on 7 yards. Mine is too, and I never vary it. Never quite understood why people would fiddle with their sights during a match shot at 50 yds or less.