Vaquero Barrel Length

[homebrew]

Hey all y'all,

First post here but I've been learning a lot from the forum.  Thanks!

My question is where do you measure the barrel length on a revolver?

From the end of the frame or from the cylinder?

I purchased a new model RV and it measures 4 5/8" from the front of
the frame and 5 1/2" from the cylinder.

Just want to be sure I have the 5 1/2 that I thought I purchased.

Thanks

[Pettifogger]

The part that's screwed into the frame is part of the barrel.  So you measure the whole thing.

[Adirondack Jack]

Revolvers are always measured from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle. All other firearms are measured from the breech face (where the back end of the cartridge sits) to the muzzle.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Yep!

[Dick Dastardly]

Actually, the law measures barrel length uniformly from the breach face.  On revolvers, that includes the chamber length.  For our purposes we measure from the barrel/cylinder junction to the muzzle.  Now that that is clear as mud, simple measure the tube and don't include the cylinder.

DD-DLoS

P.S.  I modified this post to say Welcome.  New posters are always welcome.  This is a friendly place to hang out and palaver.  Merry Christmas too.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Dick, I don't think so. If that were true, why would the Federal and State forms I fill out every time I buy a revolver always list the barrel length as measured from the front face of the cylinder?

[Pettifogger]

Rifles, shotguns, and semi-auto pistols are measured from the breech face.  Revolvers are always measured from the front of the cylinder forward.

[homebrew]

Great!  I have what I wanted.

Thanks for the info!

What started all of this was a trip over to Plainfield, IL to watch a CAS shoot.

Much to my wife's dismay this trip led to buckets of lead, black powder,
mutton tallow, a couple of C&B revolvers out of storage (she didn't know
about) and the purchase of the 45 LC.

I'm under strict orders not to get involved in any more new hobbies but I
reckon this is just an extension of an existing hobby and can't be counted
against me.

Thanks again.

[Dick Dastardly]

Pards, posters, Gentlemen all,

I stand duly corrected.  I went on the State of WI DNR web site and they only specify minimum barrel length and don't say how the heck they measure it.  So, I'm going to measure from the back end to the front end of the barrel from now on.  FWIW, my RVs all measure 7.5" that way.

DD-DLoS

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Sounds right to me, Dick