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August 3, 2013
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I am happy to see that Eric at EWK is offering the VH barrel assemblies!
I am stuck between choosing the 3 or 4 inch for my 357 15-2
Currently have the 6 inch, don't love the weight (feels front heavy to me)
Primarily range\hd gun which suggests 4 inch, but I like the look of the 3-anybody have any experience to share?
with thanks
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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My experience is that 4VH is perfect for me, and I've owned 2-1/2"-8".
My opinion is that the two perfect "fighting" handguns are .357 4" and 1911, and my position on the 1911 is rapidly moving to the Commander size
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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February 18, 2010
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I don't have that much experience, but generally prefer 4". It seems that unless you're Dirty Harry or you're hunting, anything longer is unwieldy. So, it depends on the use to which you plan to put it.
I've never read anything about accuracy or muzzle velocity or sight plane between 6" and 4". I did, for what it's worth read on a precision rifle forum that they had concluded after much testing that the difference between a 20" and 24" barrel was nonexistent in terms of accuracy or velocity in .308. It just goes to show that the adage that longer is better isn't entirely accurate in all cases. Whether the extra 2" makes any difference where is counts can be questioned.
I'm rather partial to 3" in revolvers as well. It's also an aesthetic thing. Another over 6" starts to look out of balance TO ME. I do have a 15-2 that has a 6" VH barrel and recently I purchased a 6" EH EWK barrel combo. However, the gun came with 4" and my other three have 2.5" barrels.
For range and HD if you're not really trying to do high precision, long distance from a rest, I'd stick with 3" to 4", especially for HD. For the latter, I think 3" is perfect.
"Life does not have to be perfect, just lived".
"Deserves got nothin' to do with it".
August 28, 2009
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Steve CT said
my position on the 1911 is rapidly moving to the Commander size
+1 on the Commander size 1911. I picked up a Patriot Commander w/o the bobbed grip and it's one of my favorites.
March 18, 2012
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I too am pleased to see that Eric at EWK is now offing the VH barrels and just ordered a 2.5" to complete my set. I will be ordering a 3" as well for general use.
My favorite barrel length would have to be the 3" for overall use. I have 3" revolvers in 38 SPL, 357 Mag and 41 Mag. To me they are the best combination of convience and usability. They are easier to conceal than a 4" and more balanced (at least for me) than the 2.5".
Be aware that with any full house loads in 357 Mag the 3" barrel will have quite a muzzle blast and muzzle flash. This will still be bad with the 4" but is mitigated somewhat. One drawback of the 3" barrel is finding a holster for CCW carry if you are so inclined. There are a lot of holsters for the 2.5" and 4" barrels but not many true 3" holsters. When I do carry concealed I load up with 38 SPl +P loads. The high end brands like Speer, Winchester, etc use a flash supressent in there loads which drops muzzle flash considerably. This makes low light shooting much easier.
If the gun is going to be used at the range and for HD either the 3" or 4" would be good choices. I would go with the one that appeals more to you.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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My old nearsighted and farsighted eyes make accuracy a moote point. I do have rather strong hands so longer barrels don't much bother me. The sight radius of a 6 or 8 " bar. seems to help me but I don't think it is intrinically more accurate. The more I shoot the more I am liking 4" and commander 1911's for the balance. I try to become proficient in all firearms in case I have to take my weapons from my dead enemie. Lol . I think the DW combat grip helps deal with a longer barrel IMHO. Haven't tried a 3".
Supporter
June 25, 2013
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The 4'' S feels so right with the 14-2 Satin. Handles factory loads just fine and reduced loads for target it's dead on with a Pachmyer presentation grip. It's balanced in looks and handling.
The 2.5" on the 15-2 glossy looks so cool with the Michigan grip. But it is to heavy and not really suited for concealed carry, that's what the S&W mod #36 is for.
The longer barrels are for scopes and red/green halo dots.
Steve there is a Patriot Commander 45 going for $950 here in Mich. what do ya think?
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I have a Springfield Armory LW Commander that is my 1911 project gun. I got it for a ridiculously low price at Cabela's (of all places) and it already had an adjustable rear sight, which is one of my "must have's"
I have since had the front sight milled for a white dot front sight, I have installed the EGW double wound recoil spring/guide rod, and a Nowlin Commander Action kit. To make the Nowlin kit work properly, I got a Wilson Commander grip safety, and my very good friend and DWF Brother Lawrence sent me a set of (rarely seen in captivity) LB 1911 grips.
I'd love to have a DW Commander, but for a fair bit less than $950 I will have a nicely customized Lightweight Commander that will be fitted and finished by my son when he is home on leave.
A big part of this decision is that Connecticut no longer allows me to carry a pistol with more than 10+1, and my previous carry gun was an S&W Model 59, 14+1 in 9 mm, no longer legal with more than 10 in the mag for CCW.
I would rather carry 8+1 of the more capable .45 ACP.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
August 3, 2013
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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SteveCT, is there a limit to how many 8 round mags you can have on you in Conn.. I already have flashlight, Swiss army knife, bonsai pruner, lighter, money and more. I could fit 3 or 4 1911 mags.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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No limit on the number of magazines.
I can carry my M-59 with the magazine downloaded to 10 rounds, but any additional carried magazines may not be over 10 round capacity (ie.-no LCM may be carried as a backup) and the magazine must be fully enclosed in the grip
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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