YOUR 4" vs. 6" Accuracy?

L

L_Killkenny

New member
This question will really only to apply to those of you that have owned or regularly shot twin guns but in different barrel lengths.

I'm thinkin of trading my blued bull barreled 5.5" Ruger 22/45 for a stainless, fluted 4" model. Now right now I regularly practice at 18 yards (the distance from my deck to the dead tree in my yard) and will hit 2" spinners most of the time (90%?) off hand. I also small game hunt with this gun but most of the time it's carried much, shot little when in the field. Thus my reasoning for wanting the lighter 4" barrel (the other being fluted stainless).

Now for the question...... what do you notice in accuracy difference when you drop from a 5.5 or 6" barrel down to 4" in the same or comparable model guns? Centerfire or rimfire doesn't make a difference to me. Just worried I'll be trading a reliable small game getter for a gun "I" can't shoot worth a spit.

LK
 
Accuracy will really be the same, all else being equal about the gun. The ability to utilize that accuracy will be slightly different due to a shorter sighting plane.

A longer barrel all by itself does not translate to greater inherent accuracy.
 
I would get the new pistol before I sell the old one. You could run into other problems with a new pistol. I would be more concerned with feeding and extractions. I dought there will be much of accuracy difference that you would notice between a 5.5" and a 4" barrel.

Is there that much weight difference between the two? You might just need a better belt and holster. It sounds like you have a pistol that you are happy with, except for the weight. I really can't tell the difference, unless it's more than 6 oz.
 
I have a Dan Wesson in .44 magnum with 6", 8" and 10" bbls. I can see no real difference in the accuracy with any of the bbls and I have scoped and shot all three off a rest at 50 and 100 yards.

As the above poster noted you may see a difference with the sight radius causing the shorter bbl gun to be different to shoot.
 
As the above poster noted you may see a difference with the sight radius causing the shorter bbl gun to be different to shoot.
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The ability to utilize that accuracy will be slightly different due to a shorter sighting plane.
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Exactly what I'm talking about. I won't scope either of the guns in question, should have stated open sights in the OP. Comparable sights on a 4" gun will always be harder to shoot accurately than those on a 6" gun. Just wondering how much harder and what do others experience in loss of accuracy between the different length barrels (i.e. different sight radius).

Is there that much weight difference between the two? You might just need a better belt and holster. It sounds like you have a pistol that you are happy with, except for the weight. I really can't tell the difference, unless it's more than 6 oz.
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Weight? Doubt it's that much maybe a few ounces. Overall handling and carry ability? Big difference. Even an inch or 2 makes a big difference on a rifle let alone a handgun. Heck, the difference with Ruger SA's can be mucho with 1". That's why they make em different.

LK
 
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I haven't had twins in different lengths but I've seen lots of 4 inchers outshoot 6 inchers. It depends on the guns but in my experience it matters less with 22s.
 
I have two Ruger GP100s - 6" blued and 4" stainless. At 25 yards or less I see no difference. Only when I try my hand at long range (50-100 yards so far) do I think there is an edge to the 6". The longer sight radius does help there (both guns have identical sights) as well as, I think, the extra mass and muzzle weight of the 6". Still the difference is hardly stunning to be honest.
 
i have both 4" and 6" model 28s and 29's.
and a 2", 4" and 6" in the same 38 spl colt...however i don't play with them often enough.

i like the look and handling of the 4"ers, but find it much easier to shoot good with the longer barrels.
i can do the same with the 4"ers, but i need to put more effort into it.
as has been said before, the guns are capable of the same, but it's easier for the human behind it on the longer sight plain.
 
Exactly what I'm talking about. I won't scope either of the guns in question, should have stated open sights in the OP. Comparable sights on a 4" gun will always be harder to shoot accurately than those on a 6" gun. Just wondering how much harder and what do others experience in loss of accuracy between the different length barrels (i.e. different sight radius).
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If both guns are mechanically equal in accuracy the deciding factor will be your ability. With good practice you should be able to shoot the shorter gun just as well as the longer. Also remember there will be velocity loss in the shorter bbl and this will have an effect on longer ranges.
 
I regularly switch between 4 and 6" guns while shooting a informal big bore league we shoot 15 rounds at 7 yards ,15 rounds at 15 yardg and 20 rounds at 25 yards all offhand my average with a 4" gun is only a point or two less.
if everthings right there's no difference but the darn its are just a smidge worse with the 4"
I'd also note that I fall off about the same point or two from a 4" to a 3" and by the time I shoot my 2 1/8" SP101 my average is down some 8-10 points from a 6" gun. thow once the stars aligned and I shot a 493 out of 500 with the little SP.
 
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By the way it goes, 2inch=undercover, 4inch=service length, 6inch=target length. Why do people want to mix things up?
 
The difference happens after fifteen yards.

I have owned a six inch barrel Dan Wesson 357 that was a lazer gun practically.

I now own a four inch police service Model 10 that I shoot just fine out to about fifteen yards but that's me.

Frankly,I don't think between a four and six inch barrel gun-inside twenty five yards-if you are not shooting competition or dangerous game-it makes any difference.
 
Yes there is a difference. I shoot 6" barreled guns better, no doubt. They may not be any more accurate in a ransom rest but I hold them on target better for precise shooting.
 
This may not really be a question on how less or more accurate a pistol would be when cutting the barrel from 5.5" to 4". I think, it is more a question of how well you can shoot the pistol with a shorter barrel.

I have Ruger MKIIs with 5.5" bull and 7" slabside. When rested both shoot about the same but I am more consistent with the 7"
Also, I had a 4" slabside Browning Buckmark and 7" Fluted bull buckmark. It was way less difficult to get good groups with the 7".
Comparing the 5.5 Ruger MKII to the 4 inch Buckmark, tighter groups with the 5.5. It is livelier to shoot the 4 inch buckmark because it is lighter but for accuracy, the 5.5 Bull was easier to use.
I have traded the 4 inch Browning Buckmark and mainly use the 5.5 Ruger as a backup.

I have a 6" 586 s&W and a 5" 686 S&W - I consistently shoot better with the 6" 586. However, i believe that this case is more ammo/revolver combo and trigger setup than sight radius issue.

Not quite what you ask but similar enough.
I think that a jump from 5.5 to 7 has less effect than a jump from 5.5 to 4. I also think that the effects are easier to see with rimfire pistols than with centerfires.

For accuracy, I suggest keeping the 5.5. If you must try the 4, buy it. Sell that one you don't like after you have tried both length.
 
This may not really be a question on how less or more accurate a pistol would be when cutting the barrel from 5.5" to 4". I think, it is more a question of how well you can shoot the pistol with a shorter barrel.

I have Ruger MKIIs with 5.5" bull and 7" slabside. When rested both shoot about the same but I am more consistent with the 7"
Also, I had a 4" slabside Browning Buckmark and 7" Fluted bull buckmark. It was way less difficult to get good groups with the 7".
Comparing the 5.5 Ruger MKII to the 4 inch Buckmark, tighter groups with the 5.5. It is livelier to shoot the 4 inch buckmark because it is lighter but for accuracy, the 5.5 Bull was easier to use.
I have traded the 4 inch Browning Buckmark and mainly use the 5.5 Ruger as a backup.

I have a 6" 586 s&W and a 5" 686 S&W - I consistently shoot better with the 6" 586. However, i believe that this case is more ammo/revolver combo and trigger setup than sight radius issue.

Not quite what you ask but similar enough.
I think that a jump from 5.5 to 7 has less effect than a jump from 5.5 to 4. I also think that the effects are easier to see with rimfire pistols than with centerfires.

For accuracy, I suggest keeping the 5.5. If you must try the 4, buy it. Sell that one you don't like after you have tried both length.
 
I had 4" and 6" S&W 686 revolvers. I really did not notice any difference in accuracyfor ranges I shot (10-25 yards).
 
I have 4" & 6" revolvers, rimfire and centerfire. No difference in accuracy for me (up to 25 yards). Within these barrel lengths, a good sight picture is or ain't.

Here are targets shot using 6" and 4" revolvers. Both shot at 15 yards, 2-handed unsupported, double action. Same ammo, same target (10m air). Despite the "flier", the 4" broke the tie with a "3x".

6" revolver:
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4" revolver:
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A 4" MkIII may have a sight radius closer to a 3" revolver, and I suspect my groups would start to open a bit with these.
 
The 4" is a bit more comfortable to carry in the field. I carry my 5.5" Mark II in a holster. Never really bothered me, but it is heavier. I doubt you will notice any appreciable difference in accuracy. I'd keep both handguns since you shoot this one well. Decide later about getting rid of one if you have to.
 
My accuracy went up with a short barrel,,,

I bought a NEOS with a 6" barrel,,,
I was okay accurate with it.

Then I bought a 4.5" replacement barrel,,,
My groups tightened up a little bit,,,
The pistol balances better.

That's the only reason I can think of,,,

Aarond
 
Just for fun you may want to switch those barrels back and forth a few times since they seat by screw action. Maybe something will break in and change. I have a 6 inch NEOS and it drives tacks inside tacks.
DSC00378.jpg

I'm always weary of guns that take down with screws (mostly 22s) like High Standards and such but I have a couple.
 
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