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April 30, 2011
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Figure it's time for some controversy so...... Let's hear some opinions on revolver barrel length. I know that's like asking what color hair is prettier for a girl but should be interesting!
To me 2" might be useful as backup in bear country but not much quicker to deploy than 4" with more blast. 4" is my ideal - easy to carry in any position and managable recoil in a 357 or 44. 6" is OK but a bit long for a belt carry if you need to sit. 8" I might use every now and then for hunting but requires a shoulder holster and I would want a shorter BBL to keep on it most of the time. 10" and longer looks good hung over the mantle but not much practical use.
Now it's your turn! 
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June 25, 2013
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Agreed. I would also add the 8" for target and for carry a Lil Dan or in my case a S&W #36.
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
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February 17, 2013
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I carry a 4" 44 as my bear gun when flying in a shoulder holster. Walking i still carry it but always have my hunting rifle or 12 gauge as well. (There's no such thing as "backup" in bear country. You really need it to work every time. Some folks carry 357's, the thought being they are easy to put 6 fast shots where you want them.
Folks here typically carry a 44 or 454 in everything from 2" to 8" but the objective is always the same. How quickly can you get off 6 shots accurately., thinking of a pie plate size target starting 25 feet out and most likely on top of you in 5 seconds.
Obviously this is where recoil control is important.
With the 357 and Buffalo Bore loads it's easy to unload 6 rounds in 3 or 4 seconds with a 4" inch barrel or larger and stay on target. A 6vh is especially smooth.
I've found my 44 is good with hot loads and a 4VH BA with Eric's (EWK) comp screwed on the end. It's seems a bit smoother than the 44 with 6VH BA.
They're both smoother shooting than any 44 snubby (Taurus, Ruger,etc.) that I tried.
The 8 VH shoots like a dream and with the right holster is easy to draw. Some guys swear by it because of te increase muzzle velocity of the longer barrel.
Now for fun target shooting my EWK EH BA's get the most use. I'd like to get a 44 EWK EH 4" blued if anyone has one.
It's all fun!!
February 18, 2014
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This is a good topic to bring up and should get some prime responses. I have a 744 VH8 that I have shot from 10-100 yards with great results but I have never tried rapid shots. I also have 38's in 4" and 357's in 6" but have only tried somewhat rapid shots with the 38's.
I picked up a 15-2 with 3 barrels, 2" installed, 4" and 6" as spares. When I took it to try it out I finished the day with a cylinder full of 38's in it at a fairly rapid pace with good results, at least I was happy with it.
Thanks to a member here I have finally found a 6" barrel for my 744 but funds aren't available right now to give it a try but I think I like the 4" barrels in 38/357 calibers.
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June 25, 2013
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The 6" on the 22lr is perfect with iron sights. Now I will have a 8" EWK RH BA to try with scope/greendot. Going to switch that shroud between the 22 and 357.
Oh what fun it is to have a Dan.
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Two, four, six, or eight, who do we appreciate. All of them. Yeah Dan! 21/2 fits nice, 4" feels nice, 6" looks nice and the 8" aims nice.
April 30, 2011
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Used a .22 Dan w/ a 6" V on squirrels since the '80s - shoots great but a tad long for belt carry. Buddy has used a 8" Smiff over the same years for whitetails and swears by it but never starts from the leather.
What inspired this thread is that seems like most of the big bores on auction sites are 8-10". Maybe that goes back to IHMSA days but I would be more interested in bidding on a 4 or 6 if it only has one BA?
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November 17, 2008
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Well I guess I will play along. I prefer the 4" for carry and general plinking. Don't care much for the 2 1/2 but since I am 6'4" carry is not an issue with a 4" like it may be for someone shorter. For hunting I like an 8". I don't own any longer barrels yet (due to the economy probably no time soon either 
) so I can't comment on them. The 6" barrels are just stuck in the middle. At the end of the day I want them ALL!
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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December 4, 2011
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There were not too many supermags shipped with 4" BA's from what I can tell. Most likely due to the fact that those guns were intended for longer range shooting. Also, a supermag with a 4" non compensated barrel would be very uncomfortable to shoot with the muzzel flash and strong recoil.
I'd love to have a 4 or 6 VHC BA for some of my supermags, but I've only seen a very few and all were very expensive.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
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January 20, 2013
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I have 2", 6" and 6"EH, 8" factory and 8" RH shipping as I type this. I've just been shooting this for about a year. I like 'em all. They each have their purpose. I shoot in a bullseye league in the winter and have had the chance to run some lead downrange almost every week since New Years. Shot this target with factory 6" shroud and EWK barrel. 20 seconds worth of work. Looking forward to getting the RH in my hands and scoping it to reach out. I need to clean my gun before I take pictures.
September 1, 2010
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To me it depends on what you are doing, for CC the 2.5" or 3" is easier to hide, target shooting would be the 4" & 6", longer my thought is hunting or long range metal targets.
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February 9, 2009
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I am an 8" barrel fan, the longer sight plane is great for accuracy with my eyes. Not as quick to aim and point obviously.
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February 28, 2009
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Supermagfan said
I am an 8" barrel fan, the longer sight plane is great for accuracy with my eyes. Not as quick to aim and point obviously.
I agree. All of my shooting is target; mostly indoors. So all (almost) my Dan's are shod with their VH8's if they have one.
-Mike
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March 2, 2008
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After many years with barrel lengths from 2 thru 8, in both .357 and .22, I own only 4". I recognize that this pretty surprising in a DW owner, but I only like shooting 4 VH, and I rarely shoot pistols at more than 25 yards
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.
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December 4, 2011
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OK I'll weigh in. For me it comes down to caliber, in 357 mag I prefer 6 inch. It has a longer sight radius than the 4 inch which I like but isn't as heavy as the 8. Now for large calibers like any of the supermags, I prefer 8". Again, the longer sight radius is good for my eyes and the added length balances the gun and helps quell recoil and muzzel climb.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
September 1, 2010
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My thoughts are the 2.5 is good for undercover carry but I prefer the 4" barrel, not as easy to hide but I think it shoots better with better accuracy. My two cents.
January 20, 2013
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This should be fun. Need to move scope back a bit though. New EWK barrel and RH shroud.
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February 28, 2009
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kgs113 said
This should be fun. Need to move scope back a bit though. New EWK barrel and RH shroud.
I don't think that's the best option for concealed carry.
-Mike
January 20, 2013
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If Fat Bastard can do it so can I!
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December 4, 2011
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and its even a Dan 8VHC!
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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