Eight inch? Why?? What??

oldman1946 · December 18, 2009, 06:46 AM

OK, I admit to owning some guns that others would not want. It is also a fact that I shoot most of my guns at sometime within a few years although I have some that has never been fired after purchase. One I have was bought in 1967 and still unfired.

But I carry some of the guns on occasion, Hunt with some of them and do various things with them.

Many of my friends have revolvers with the eight inch barrels. Not a one of them shoot those guns at the range. They are not feasible for a ccw. I seldom see one at the ranges I visit. They are bulky for home defense use. So they keep them in storage.

Other than having a look that says a business use weapon, I do not see the popularity of them.

If you have one, what was the intended use for it at the time of purchase?

Uncle Buck · December 18, 2009, 08:14 AM

I have been looking for an 8" barrel revolver. Why? Because I want one. Yes, they are long and the barrel takes some getting used to when you draw it from the holster. But I think a lot of it comes with training and practice.

I am glad that I am not the only one who has guns which were bought, but never fired, or fired only once or twice, and then put away. Some of these will be worth some money to my heirs, some of them will never be worth what I paid for them.

I like the looks of them, the feel of them, but I have my favorites to shoot. I have some guns (Mostly .45 LC) that I have put thousands of rounds through and prefer to shoot, others only get shot when friends or family come over and want to shoot.

OkieCruffler · December 18, 2009, 08:30 AM

1. They make a dandy hunting tool
2. Those sillywett shooters seem to like them.
3. Sometimes it's just about being cool.

fyimo · December 18, 2009, 08:42 AM

The 8 3/8 barrel on a S&W revolver are used by hunters and are often scoped and by some competition shooters. I own several and my S&W 17-4 in 22LR is a virtual tack driver and by far the most accurate revolver I own. I have a 14-4 also in 8 3/8 but I don't shoot because it's unfired since leaving the factory and I have all th paperwork, tool kit and correct box for it so it's a collector gun. The Model 14 was S&W's Target Masterpiece and was designed for competition shooters and no doubt this one would be as accurate as the 17-4 but I'll never find out.

They aren't carry guns but they are good range guns especially the 38 Special and 22LR versions. The Model 14 and Model 17 were made to balance exactly the same and were designed to weigh the same when they were the K22 and K38 S&W models.

The 357 and 44 magnum with 8 3/8 barrels are mostly used as I said by hunters.

2DaMtns · December 18, 2009, 08:49 AM

Why have a rifle with a 26" or 28" barrel? It's too long to carry easily in the woods. Why the long barrel? More velocity, less recoil, etc. Sure, it's unwieldy, but to target shooters, long range hunters, etc., it's a sacrifice they make for their situation.

**Mike Irwin** · December 18, 2009, 09:08 AM

In a way I think the longer barrels are an ancestral holdover from blackpowder days when the longer barrels seemed to be de riggor (sp, I know!)...

The original SAAs came with what, 7.5" barrels?

I'm not a fan of barrels over 6", and most of my revolvers have 4" barrels. I think 4" is the absolutely perfect compromise for a general utility revolver.

Winchester_73 · December 18, 2009, 09:09 AM

Its kind of like saying "whats the purpose of a corvette, I never see them on the road" but they are designed with specific intent in mind. The thing you must consider is that after the purchase, a person can do whatever they want with the item. You need to be questioning why your friends have 8 in revolvers, not why they exist. I can't explain why you haven't seen them but I know they are popular with handgun hunters. The long barrel handguns exist for all the above reasons mentioned and are a must, IMO, for certain applications or calibers.

Legionnaire · December 18, 2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

I think 4" is the absolutely perfect compromise for a general utility revolver.

Ditto. I like shorter barrels for CCW--like a 2-1/4" 5-shot snubby, or a 3" 6-shooter; and my current hunting rig is a scoped 5-1/2" Redhawk. Anything longer than 6" just doesn't appeal to me. And if I could only have one, general purpose revolver, it would be a 4" .357.

MTHanded · December 18, 2009, 09:17 AM

I have several guns that are just for looks and taking out of the cabinet once in awhile and letting the kids or friends shoot them. I like a variety of calibers and guns just to keep me interested as well. There are a couple that have never been fired and these are more or less going to be passed down to the kids and so on like my great grandfather passed down his guns that eventually ended up with me. My guns are a reflection of sorts of my own personality and what I was like when I bought them. In my youth, I liked the old west so I have several old model Rugers in 357 and 45. As I got older, I liked the 9 mm auto but have now transitioned to the newer snubbies like the LCR.

oldman1946 · December 18, 2009, 09:28 AM

I like the 4 inch as well and most of my revolvers are that size. It is a matter of personal opinion as to the desired barrel length but I was wondering about the practical aspects.

Those I know owning longer barrels mostly bought them because they could. A couple hunt with them for sport and have scoped the guns.

But as with the Corvette mentioned, a lot of my friends have them as well. While they will do 160 MPH, the ability to make use of such speeds are extremely limited so they bought a car too small for a family, too costly to be practical, too much power that is unused and too rough of a ride for comfort. Be it now a status symbol or a ego trip, it is not a practical vehicle.

The longer barrel handguns fit in the same range for ME. Not well suited for home defense, too long for concealed carry, too bulky for extended hand carry and for general use is basically limited to hunting purposes.

For some they are fine but for me, I would not get any use from them like I do my shorter barrel guns.

Hog Hunter · December 18, 2009, 09:36 AM

got a smith and wesson 29 with the 8 3/8 on it in 44 mag, i personally like them for the fact that ican shot it accuratly out to 100 yrds.(havent tried past thet yet) i do use the pistol for alot of hunting mainly hogs and sometimes deer. i also carry the gun in my truck sometimes, and hope i dont have to crack one off with it in there. other than that its a great show peice, i get alot of WOWS!!!!! out of it.

madcratebuilder · December 18, 2009, 09:37 AM

There is a specific reason S&W made those 8 3/8 inch barrels, I'm surprised no one knows.

Can't ccw, BS, I've known more than one man that carried a 8 3/8 Smith N frame.

Hog Hunter · December 18, 2009, 09:44 AM

what is the reason they made the 8 3/8???

22-rimfire · December 18, 2009, 09:52 AM

As I recall, 8 3/8" is just under the 8.5" limit for silhouette competition. Not a competition shooter, and I can't tell you which event by initial. But that is the reason. It is the reason you see 8" barrels on Colts and Contenders.

My Model 57 Smith with 8 3/8" barrel is the most accurate M57 I own. For that it is worth the added inches. It is easy to carry hunting in the right rig. Would like to scope it, but don't want it drilled.

Suwannee Tim · December 18, 2009, 10:09 AM

Smith and Wesson has been making 8-3/8 inch revolvers since long before silhouette competitions. I think it may have been the other way around, the silhouette organizations made the limit 8-1/2 to accommodate 8-3/8 S&Ws. I have an 8-3/8 Model 27 which I love to shoot. I used to carry a 7-1/2 inch Super Blackhawk in the woods, I have a 10 inch Super Redhawk in 454, scoped, I really wish it had a 7-1/2 barrel though. They ain't very handy nor concealable but neither is a rifle.

**Mike Irwin** · December 18, 2009, 10:14 AM

S&W has been offering 8 3/8" barrels since at least the 1930s with the original .357 Magnum.

CraigC · December 18, 2009, 10:47 AM

I've got over half a dozen revolvers in 7½" - 8" lengths. My dedicated hunting sixgun is a custom Bisley 7½" .44Mag. I don't really find them cumbersome in the least in the field, though I'd hate to have to conceal one.

Colt's original percussion guns were 7½" (1851) to 8" (1860) because blackpowder needs some barrel length. The 1860 Richards Type I and II conversions utilized the original 8" barrel. The Richards-Mason conversion utilized a new S-lug barrel at 7½". The 1871-1872 Open Top model .44 rimfire was offered to the Army for testing with a 7½" barrel. The Single Action Army was first produced for the Army (hence the name) with a 7½" barrel because they ordered it that way. These were cavalry guns. Many of these were later returned to Colt for reburbishing and were cut back to 5½" and issued to artillery and support units.

In the 1930's S&W would build the Registered Magnum with whatever barrel length you wanted. If you ordered an 8¼" barrel, it would be delivered in that length.

stevieboy · December 18, 2009, 11:25 AM

I can't speak for anyone else, I just know that I tend to shoot longer barrelled guns more accurately. The best scores I ever obtained at 25 yards were with my 17-5 8 3/8. My second best scores have been with my 686-6 6" gun.

salvadore · December 18, 2009, 11:59 AM

I don't know if this is against the rules, but for the size matters folks I have a bianchi x-2100 for a 8"+ revolver that i got off of ebay accidentally..listed for a 6" barrel. it doesnt have the snap strap, and i would sell it for $50.00 shipping on me.

2002gti · December 18, 2009, 12:05 PM

my buddy hasa an 8" python and that thing is an absolute tack driver. the moment i shot it i wanted an 8" revolver but never got one yet. theres just too much stuff i want.

Jim Watson · December 18, 2009, 12:05 PM

The ORIGINAL .357 Magnum was available with barrel length up to 8 3/4".
They reduced the maximum to 8 3/8" because that gave the maximum NRA sight radius of 10".

OkieCruffler · December 18, 2009, 01:24 PM

Of course, there are those of us who consider 8 inches a snubbie....

pogo2 · December 18, 2009, 01:40 PM

I have two guns in the 8 inch barrel range - a S&W model 27 with 8-3/8 inch barrel and a Ruger Vaquero with 7.5 inch barrel. I bought the Smith over 40 years ago in the late 60s, and will admit that I have not shot it very much. However, it has one of the best triggers I have ever felt on a revolver, and the gun is an absolute tack driver on the range. I am sentimentally attached to it because I have owned it for so long. For awhile I had a 2X scope on the gun and it did well at longer range shooting.

The Ruger is .44 magnum and I bought it on a whim 10 years ago because it was low priced and good looking. I don't shoot it much either, but it also is very accurate when I have shot it, given the rudimentary sights.

liviussteven · December 18, 2009, 01:46 PM

i carry my 8 inchers to the range all the time... they are a real hoot to shoot.

Snobal · December 18, 2009, 07:45 PM

I had a 6" Model 57 S&W and truly loved it.

Got an 8 3/8" Model 57 and shot the tightest groups off sandbags that I've ever shot.

The 8 3/8" did not work for me under "field conditions....

sold it and kept the 6".

Not because of any difference in the guns....

...but strictly because I could not shoot the long gun well when rabbit hunting, deer hunting, etc.

JMHO

December 18, 2009, 06:46 AM	#1
oldman1946 Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 111	Eight inch? Why?? What?? OK, I admit to owning some guns that others would not want. It is also a fact that I shoot most of my guns at sometime within a few years although I have some that has never been fired after purchase. One I have was bought in 1967 and still unfired. But I carry some of the guns on occasion, Hunt with some of them and do various things with them. Many of my friends have revolvers with the eight inch barrels. Not a one of them shoot those guns at the range. They are not feasible for a ccw. I seldom see one at the ranges I visit. They are bulky for home defense use. So they keep them in storage. Other than having a look that says a business use weapon, I do not see the popularity of them. If you have one, what was the intended use for it at the time of purchase?

December 18, 2009, 08:14 AM	#2
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	I have been looking for an 8" barrel revolver. Why? Because I want one. Yes, they are long and the barrel takes some getting used to when you draw it from the holster. But I think a lot of it comes with training and practice. I am glad that I am not the only one who has guns which were bought, but never fired, or fired only once or twice, and then put away. Some of these will be worth some money to my heirs, some of them will never be worth what I paid for them. I like the looks of them, the feel of them, but I have my favorites to shoot. I have some guns (Mostly .45 LC) that I have put thousands of rounds through and prefer to shoot, others only get shot when friends or family come over and want to shoot. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

December 18, 2009, 08:30 AM	#3
OkieCruffler Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma Posts: 1,556	1. They make a dandy hunting tool 2. Those sillywett shooters seem to like them. 3. Sometimes it's just about being cool. __________________ John A. Monroe, Never Forgive, Never Forget, Blood Pays Blood

December 18, 2009, 09:08 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	In a way I think the longer barrels are an ancestral holdover from blackpowder days when the longer barrels seemed to be de riggor (sp, I know!)... The original SAAs came with what, 7.5" barrels? I'm not a fan of barrels over 6", and most of my revolvers have 4" barrels. I think 4" is the absolutely perfect compromise for a general utility revolver. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 18, 2009, 09:09 AM	#7
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	Its kind of like saying "whats the purpose of a corvette, I never see them on the road" but they are designed with specific intent in mind. The thing you must consider is that after the purchase, a person can do whatever they want with the item. You need to be questioning why your friends have 8 in revolvers, not why they exist. I can't explain why you haven't seen them but I know they are popular with handgun hunters. The long barrel handguns exist for all the above reasons mentioned and are a must, IMO, for certain applications or calibers. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

December 18, 2009, 08:42 AM	#4
fyimo Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2009 Posts: 360	The 8 3/8 barrel on a S&W revolver are used by hunters and are often scoped and by some competition shooters. I own several and my S&W 17-4 in 22LR is a virtual tack driver and by far the most accurate revolver I own. I have a 14-4 also in 8 3/8 but I don't shoot because it's unfired since leaving the factory and I have all th paperwork, tool kit and correct box for it so it's a collector gun. The Model 14 was S&W's Target Masterpiece and was designed for competition shooters and no doubt this one would be as accurate as the 17-4 but I'll never find out. They aren't carry guns but they are good range guns especially the 38 Special and 22LR versions. The Model 14 and Model 17 were made to balance exactly the same and were designed to weigh the same when they were the K22 and K38 S&W models. The 357 and 44 magnum with 8 3/8 barrels are mostly used as I said by hunters.

December 18, 2009, 08:49 AM	#5
2DaMtns Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2008 Posts: 457	Why have a rifle with a 26" or 28" barrel? It's too long to carry easily in the woods. Why the long barrel? More velocity, less recoil, etc. Sure, it's unwieldy, but to target shooters, long range hunters, etc., it's a sacrifice they make for their situation.

December 18, 2009, 09:17 AM	#9
MTHanded Member Join Date: November 24, 2009 Posts: 31	I have several guns that are just for looks and taking out of the cabinet once in awhile and letting the kids or friends shoot them. I like a variety of calibers and guns just to keep me interested as well. There are a couple that have never been fired and these are more or less going to be passed down to the kids and so on like my great grandfather passed down his guns that eventually ended up with me. My guns are a reflection of sorts of my own personality and what I was like when I bought them. In my youth, I liked the old west so I have several old model Rugers in 357 and 45. As I got older, I liked the 9 mm auto but have now transitioned to the newer snubbies like the LCR.

December 18, 2009, 09:28 AM	#10
oldman1946 Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 111	I like the 4 inch as well and most of my revolvers are that size. It is a matter of personal opinion as to the desired barrel length but I was wondering about the practical aspects. Those I know owning longer barrels mostly bought them because they could. A couple hunt with them for sport and have scoped the guns. But as with the Corvette mentioned, a lot of my friends have them as well. While they will do 160 MPH, the ability to make use of such speeds are extremely limited so they bought a car too small for a family, too costly to be practical, too much power that is unused and too rough of a ride for comfort. Be it now a status symbol or a ego trip, it is not a practical vehicle. The longer barrel handguns fit in the same range for ME. Not well suited for home defense, too long for concealed carry, too bulky for extended hand carry and for general use is basically limited to hunting purposes. For some they are fine but for me, I would not get any use from them like I do my shorter barrel guns.

December 18, 2009, 09:36 AM	#11
Hog Hunter Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 386	got a smith and wesson 29 with the 8 3/8 on it in 44 mag, i personally like them for the fact that ican shot it accuratly out to 100 yrds.(havent tried past thet yet) i do use the pistol for alot of hunting mainly hogs and sometimes deer. i also carry the gun in my truck sometimes, and hope i dont have to crack one off with it in there. other than that its a great show peice, i get alot of WOWS!!!!! out of it.

December 18, 2009, 09:37 AM	#12
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	There is a specific reason S&W made those 8 3/8 inch barrels, I'm surprised no one knows. Can't ccw, BS, I've known more than one man that carried a 8 3/8 Smith N frame.

December 18, 2009, 09:44 AM	#13
Hog Hunter Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 386	what is the reason they made the 8 3/8???

December 18, 2009, 09:52 AM	#14
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	As I recall, 8 3/8" is just under the 8.5" limit for silhouette competition. Not a competition shooter, and I can't tell you which event by initial. But that is the reason. It is the reason you see 8" barrels on Colts and Contenders. My Model 57 Smith with 8 3/8" barrel is the most accurate M57 I own. For that it is worth the added inches. It is easy to carry hunting in the right rig. Would like to scope it, but don't want it drilled.

December 18, 2009, 10:09 AM	#15
Suwannee Tim Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 320	Smith and Wesson has been making 8-3/8 inch revolvers since long before silhouette competitions. I think it may have been the other way around, the silhouette organizations made the limit 8-1/2 to accommodate 8-3/8 S&Ws. I have an 8-3/8 Model 27 which I love to shoot. I used to carry a 7-1/2 inch Super Blackhawk in the woods, I have a 10 inch Super Redhawk in 454, scoped, I really wish it had a 7-1/2 barrel though. They ain't very handy nor concealable but neither is a rifle.

December 18, 2009, 10:14 AM	#16
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	S&W has been offering 8 3/8" barrels since at least the 1930s with the original .357 Magnum. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 18, 2009, 10:47 AM	#17
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	I've got over half a dozen revolvers in 7½" - 8" lengths. My dedicated hunting sixgun is a custom Bisley 7½" .44Mag. I don't really find them cumbersome in the least in the field, though I'd hate to have to conceal one. Colt's original percussion guns were 7½" (1851) to 8" (1860) because blackpowder needs some barrel length. The 1860 Richards Type I and II conversions utilized the original 8" barrel. The Richards-Mason conversion utilized a new S-lug barrel at 7½". The 1871-1872 Open Top model .44 rimfire was offered to the Army for testing with a 7½" barrel. The Single Action Army was first produced for the Army (hence the name) with a 7½" barrel because they ordered it that way. These were cavalry guns. Many of these were later returned to Colt for reburbishing and were cut back to 5½" and issued to artillery and support units. In the 1930's S&W would build the Registered Magnum with whatever barrel length you wanted. If you ordered an 8¼" barrel, it would be delivered in that length.

December 18, 2009, 11:25 AM	#18
stevieboy Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2008 Posts: 1,695	I can't speak for anyone else, I just know that I tend to shoot longer barrelled guns more accurately. The best scores I ever obtained at 25 yards were with my 17-5 8 3/8. My second best scores have been with my 686-6 6" gun.

December 18, 2009, 11:59 AM	#19
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I don't know if this is against the rules, but for the size matters folks I have a bianchi x-2100 for a 8"+ revolver that i got off of ebay accidentally..listed for a 6" barrel. it doesnt have the snap strap, and i would sell it for $50.00 shipping on me.

December 18, 2009, 12:05 PM	#20
2002gti Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2004 Location: FIND ME Posts: 1,125	my buddy hasa an 8" python and that thing is an absolute tack driver. the moment i shot it i wanted an 8" revolver but never got one yet. theres just too much stuff i want. __________________ HEE with the most toys dies happiest

December 18, 2009, 12:05 PM	#21
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	The ORIGINAL .357 Magnum was available with barrel length up to 8 3/4". They reduced the maximum to 8 3/8" because that gave the maximum NRA sight radius of 10".

December 18, 2009, 01:24 PM	#22
OkieCruffler Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma Posts: 1,556	Of course, there are those of us who consider 8 inches a snubbie.... __________________ John A. Monroe, Never Forgive, Never Forget, Blood Pays Blood

December 18, 2009, 01:40 PM	#23
pogo2 Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Southwest Posts: 879	Useful for long range accuracy... I have two guns in the 8 inch barrel range - a S&W model 27 with 8-3/8 inch barrel and a Ruger Vaquero with 7.5 inch barrel. I bought the Smith over 40 years ago in the late 60s, and will admit that I have not shot it very much. However, it has one of the best triggers I have ever felt on a revolver, and the gun is an absolute tack driver on the range. I am sentimentally attached to it because I have owned it for so long. For awhile I had a 2X scope on the gun and it did well at longer range shooting. The Ruger is .44 magnum and I bought it on a whim 10 years ago because it was low priced and good looking. I don't shoot it much either, but it also is very accurate when I have shot it, given the rudimentary sights.

December 18, 2009, 01:46 PM	#24
liviussteven Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Location: goldsboro n.c. Posts: 184	i carry my 8 inchers to the range all the time... they are a real hoot to shoot.

December 18, 2009, 07:45 PM	#25
Snobal Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2009 Location: Arizona Wilderness Posts: 121	I had a 6" Model 57 S&W and truly loved it. Got an 8 3/8" Model 57 and shot the tightest groups off sandbags that I've ever shot. The 8 3/8" did not work for me under "field conditions.... sold it and kept the 6". Not because of any difference in the guns.... ...but strictly because I could not shoot the long gun well when rabbit hunting, deer hunting, etc. JMHO