Why the Shorter Barrels?

[skeeziks]

Why does there seem to be a preference here on the Ruger forum for the short bbls. on the Blackhawks?

Post your views and/or preferences in regard to barrel length for a Blackhawk - especially the Flattops.

 

[norfolknova]

Mine is a 5 1/2 inch barrel. It was what was available for the best price at the time I boutght it. Don't really care for the look of the 4 5/8 barrel myself. If I were hunting with it I would go with the 7 1/2 inch barrel for the better accuracy adn higher velocity of comparable rounds.

matt

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

For me it's always been the 4 5/8" barrels. I even had Magnaport do two conversions for me, way before Ruger finally got on board and started making what their customers wanted, a 4 5/8" SBH.
Even Magnum Research has answered the call somewhat by offering "The Hammer" BFR, with a 5 1/2" barrel that sits flush with the ERH. It's in scale with the appearance of a 4 5/8" Blackhawk and looks exactly like what my 7 1/2" 45/70 BFR is going to look like when I'm finished with it.
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?item=BFR45LC%2f4105

 

[rug357]

To me, a revolver is a compact weapon sized to be easily carried.
To me, a 4 5/8" Flattop revolver is easily carried in a belt holster.
To me, carrying a 7 1/2" revolver is no easier than carrying a small rifle like Win 94... and Winchester is a lot more effective.
The difference in velocity between a 4 5/8" and 7 1/2" barrel should be about 75 fps or less in most cases so it doesn't make a big difference to me.

 

[ShortBBL]

If you have to ask, you won't understand!

 

[Axehandle]

I have yet to hold a barrel length that I didn't like! My preferences change depending on looking at, carrying, or shooting.. For carry I like 4 5/8, for looks I like the 5.5s, for shooting the longer the better. :D

 

[skeeziks]

To me, carrying a 7 1/2" revolver is no easier than carrying a small rifle like Win 94...

Really ???

 

[Lee Martin]

I prefer 5.5" - 6". Maybe it's just me, but 7.5" or more seems harder to carry. That said, I really like how the longer tubes point.

Oddly, the best balancing Blackhawk I own isn't a factory barrel length. This 6.0" Bisley is spot on for my taste:

 

[Trebor Snave]

I just sold a 7.5" NM 45 to a friend and turned the proceeds into a 4 5/8" OM 357. I prefer the shorter barrels for looks as well as ease of carry.

 

[Rclark]

I prefer 5.5 (Flattops/BHs/any SA). The happy medium.... The 4 5/8 really doesn't buy you anything, but a bit less velocity and a shorter sighting radius and of course doesn't look quite right either ;) . Both pack just as easy. Therefore 5.5 is my choice. The 7 1/2" to 9" is useful as a primary hunting gun (shorter barrels for backup or course) . A 10" as a Silhouette gun. A 3 3/4" is nice for concealment. So, all but the 4 5/8" have there uses Hah! :P . That said, it really is personal preference between the 4 5/8" and 5 1/2" revolvers :) . I tend to shoot the longer barrels better too.

Nice looking revolver there Lee!

 

[gunman42782]

I prefer the shorter barrels simply because they are more portable, and I can shoot them just as well as the longer ones for what I am going to use them for.

 

[NorEaster]

As far as barrel length goes for me, it depends on what I'm doing.
Packing a gun while hiking, I prefer a short pipe; but for hunting or more refined target work, I prefer a longer barreled revolver

 

[Flash]

I like em all

 

[xtratoy]

I like them all! :D Lately I have been leaning towards the 5.5" guns. I really wanted a stainless 5.5" 44 Spl. Flat Top and wasn't willing to drop the cash on the counter for the 4 5/8" offered so I bought the 5.5" blued model instead. I was a happy camper when they came out with the 5.5" Stainless 45 Flat Top and got one ASAP. I am still planning on getting a 4 5/8" Stainless Single Six just because I don't have a Single Six with that length barrel. If someone were to come up to me today and want to trade a 6.5" stainless 357 for my 4 5/8" Stainless one I don't think I would would hesitate at all.

 

[EDK]

I like the look of the 4 5/8 barrel, but have had poor results with every one I have tried over the last 40+ years. The 6.5 and 7.5 length were good shooters, but a bit awkward to carry. The introduction of factory 5.5 inch barrels on SUPER BLACKHAWKS was a welcome event.

I have been interested in Cowboy Action Shooting of late. The Original Size VAQUERO/BISLEY VAQUERO in 357 and 44 with 5.5 inch barrrels are my preference now, but I have several 7.5 inch 44s. My last two purchases were a used custom 44 Magnum VAQUERO made into a 3.5 inch Sheriffs model, like the 44 Specials, at less than the cost of the gunsmithing; the other is a 7.5 inch 44 VAQUERO with cosmetics by Doug Turnbull and a DRAGOON trigger guard. One I will keep...the other may become trade goods.

They are all good guns, but the 5.5 inch works best for ME.

 

[gak]

For me it's mostly about a decent mix of portability/handiness and shooting utility, so the jack-of-all-trades 5.5" is my historical favorite. That said, I like the 4-3/4 and 4-5/8--specifically a NOS USFA .44 Sp Rodeo and .44 New Vaquero I was forced into* :) and my .44 Sheriff 3.75" too, for the advantages they offer. (*With the 4's, it didn't hurt I couldn't get them any other way). Don't own a 7.5" among 'em, though I can see at least one SAA "Cavalry" in that - just because everyone should have one of those at some point!

 

[Hugh]

Until I bought my first single action about three years ago, I didn't have anything with a barrel longer than my 6" Security Six. My 4-5/8" .45 is the shortest single action, and boy is it a great shooter. I'll be having another 4-5/8" by-n-by.

Maybe they listened to Marty Robbins singing "Mr. Shorty" with his short barrelled Bat .44.

 

[dennie]

Short BBL, your pic looks exactly like my recently purchased BH. I really like the short barrels myself. I am only 5'6" tall and can just see me wearing a 7 1/2" barrel and it dragging thru the snow this winter! :wink: In Ohio you must use a gun with a minimum of 5" barrel to hunt with. I do have an Original SS Vaquero and a Colt SAA, both 5 1/2", and in .45Colt. I do like them a lot, but still prefer the 4 5/8" BH.
I put the Ruger fake ivories from my Vaquero on the blue BH. They look real nice. These grips also fit my hand better than any other grips I have tried. Just right for me. They also fit real nice on my SS Single Six. Maybe I will look for a couple more sets.
dennie

 

[SAJohn]

Try twirling a single action (unloaded of course). I consider this a good test of their balance in your hand. The 5 1/2" ones work best for me. Also, they just look right:

John

 

[louiethelump]

I prefer the short barrel, primarily as I have gotten to the age that the front sight any farther away than a 4 to 4 5/8" barrel and it fuzzes out. As it is I have to drop my head back to be able to get the bifocal part of my glasses to line up with the sights. I had my glasses made with the close up portion higher in the lens than normal to minimize this, but I just cannot see the front sight on the long barrels anymore. I also just like the short barrels the most. When I discovered that in 45 Colt, you lose very little velocity going from longest to shortest barrels, I could no longer justify the long barrels.

That is just me, but us short barrel lovers are in good company. The 4" was Elmer Keith's favorite length too.

 

[americal]

The RSS 4 was kinda scarce and one of the first really short barrel SA's that Ruger produced,some of the old books say they were very popular in the south :? don't know about that but easy to carry, balance good, and just look neat to me like the longer RSS9 and the RSS4 hard to make a choice for me---a RSS4 with micro sights found in Georgia.

 

[Knuckles]

I like them all but the crazy 10+ inchers... 4 5/8's are really balanced well for me.

I shoot short guns a bit better I don't know why. :P

 

[Ladobe]

Personal choice is the 4 5/8" first, 5 1/2" second and none longer. I found that I didn't need the longer sight plane, nor the minor velocity difference to kill cleanly, they are a bunch more comfortable to carry climbing tall mountians and handier in thick cover. While I've had a lot of 6 1/2", 7 1/2", one 10 1/2" SA, and several 8 3/8" DA's, I just didn't need them or the extra carry weight for any of my hunting.

 

[powder smoke]

My favorite is 5.5. I'ts what I'm use to, byt have many 7.5 that I shoot often. The 5.5 comes out of the holster with a shorter draw! Summing it up, it's all good. ps

 

[CraigC]

I greatly prefer ejector length guns (4 5/8" or 4¾") on most my single actions. I find that they look, feel, balance and shoot best for me. I also like 7½" - 8" barrels and don't find them unwieldy at all.

Don't care for the 5½" length at all and think it looks particularly goofy on a fixed sight single action. Even though one of my favorite guns is a 5½" Old Model Single Six.

 

[Lee Martin]

For distance shooting though, I do like 10.5"+

The extra length doesn't materially add to accuracy, but the sight picture is way better in my opinion.

 

[Knuckles]

For distance shooting though, I do like 10.5"+

The extra length doesn't materially add to accuracy, but the sight picture is way better in my opinion.

:lol: OH NO!............ there it is! ................. cracks me up, but I'd like to try one!

 

[Lee Martin]

You're looking for a stretch-frame Seville I assume?

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I prefer a 4 5/8" gun but own several 7.5" ones also. The 4 5/8" ones I carry strongside the 7.5" ones I have crossdraw holsters made for. Have you ever tried to draw a 7.5" barreled gun from strongside? it's under your armpit before it clears leather almost. I don't weather it's eyesight or what but I have always shot better with short barrels personally. To me there is no need for the barrel to extend past the ejector rod housing. I also have a 500S&W 4" and a alaskan 454.

 

[americal]

For distance shooting though, I do like 10.5"+

The extra length doesn't materially add to accuracy, but the sight picture is way better in my opinion.

I love it---talk about reaching out there and touching something one AWESOME SA 8)