For a good many years, I invariably chose shorter barreled handguns over the same gun equipped with a longer tube. Not always, but probably 75% of the time a barrel shorter than 5" got the nod.

Now, I'm not sure if it has to do with getting older, or just having picked up most of the shorter guns on my bucket list, but I realized that three out of the last four handguns I've purchased have barrels at least 6" long, with the latest sporting a 7.5" barrel. Matter of fact, the shortest pistol of the four mentioned above had a 4.25" barrel, and it is already gone.

Anyone else have a distinct preference one way or the other, or is it simply a matter of what strikes your fancy?

Otony

although most of what I have tends toward the shorter barrels. I have long ones and short ones, but most are four-inchers.

In rifles, definitely the shorter tubes.

But decided I like it just fine!

I have 10" Blackhawks in 357 & 45 Colt which I really like. Most of my revolvers are 6.5" or longer. I never could shoot short barrels as well as long ones - maybe because my first centerfire pistola was a 10" Blackhawk that I carried in the woods for many years. Now in semi's, I have two 7" 1911's, and others of 5 or 6". Works for me.

kid me about all the snub guns I got...

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Sincerely,

Hobie

........thirty three total, eleven of which have barrels 6" or longer. Of the twenty two left, ten have barrels between 4.5" and 5.5" long.The remaining twelve are 4" or shorter. Fairly even split I guess.

Otony

I've noticed as I have gotten older that my arms are not long enough to read the printed word. Maybe it's a case of getting the front sight farther away so an older person can see it without their glasses. My latest acquisition is an 8 3/8" S&W 29-5.

Have too many short barreled SA's, but have always liked longer barrels on both SA's and DA's. Being a 41 fan, I'd like a 10" BH as Ruger's longest barrel is the 7.5" on the Bisley. Gonna have to make a custom I guess.

Unless it's for concealed carry, if given a choice I'll take the longer barrel. This probably stems from being right handed and left eye dominant, the longer sight radius helps me hit better.

Probably because I am a short person and a handgun with a 7 1/2" barrel in a belt holster is uncomfortable for me. Have only purchased one handgun with that length, did not like carrying it, so gave it away. Even the 5 1/2" revolvers I used for CAS seemed rather unwieldy to me. I am most comfortable with 4" revolvers, but do just fine with barrel lengths from 2 1/2" to 5". The minor exception to that is Contenders, where I carry a Super 14 in 35 Rem, with a scope, for deer hunting, but it rarely ever rides in it's shoulder holster, instead it is carried in my hands more like a rifle.

or missing from the existing line up.

.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

I also own a lovely 8 3/8 inch barrel S&W K-frame, so I guess that lets you know where I stand on the subject of barrel lengths.

Mostly short. Longest one I have now is a six inch F/A.

There's 1-7/8, 2, 2-1/2, 2-3/4, 3, 3-1/4, 3-1/2, 3-5/8, 4, 4-1/4, 4-1/2, 4-5/8, 4-3/4, 5, 5-1/2, 6, 6-1/2, 6-7/8, 7-1/2, 9-1/2 & 10....uhhh, what was the question again?

Some things look "righter" to me; a 4 inch N-frame, for example. The above list notwithstanding, my tendancy would be towards shorter barrels, say 4" or less.