Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
CAS TOPICS => Shooter's Meeting => Topic started by: texaswoodworker on April 06, 2015, 11:30:38 PM
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On a Colt SAA, does the .75" difference between a 4.75" and a 5.5" barrel really make much of a difference at typical CAS distances? It seems like at those distances, it wouldn't be that hard to shoot a 4.75" barreled gun as well as a 5.5" barreled gun. What length do most of the top competitors typically choose?
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I shoot both and don't think so. I'm sure an engineer type can sort out the differences mathematically but meh. It just boils down to personal preference and what feels good in your hand and works for you. I prefer the 4.75 as I feel it points quicker but I've witnessed some top shooters using 7.50's. But the most common that I see is 4.75. Just my opinion...
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Howdy Tex, the most common IMHO is the 5.5............I can shoot mine more accurate and faster than my 4.75. If you plan on shooting Cowboy Fast Draw as well as SASS start out with the 4.75 in .45 Colt. Good Luck :)
Jefro :D Relax-Enjoy
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That 3/4" might make a difference in balance depending on the caliber. As a practical matter there is no difference between a 4 3/4" and a 5 1/2". The difference is in the person shooting it.
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One top shooter I know goes with 7.5 inch and a lever action shotgun. The answer to what top shooters shoot appears to be all the above. Will admit it has been a long time since anyone using a 92 could be called a really top shooter but...
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Well, I think I'm going to go with the 4.75" then. I LOVE that look. :p
I figure I'll be able to shoot it just fine. I'm a pretty decent shot with my 4" Colt Army Special, so 4.75" should be fine.
What are they typical ranges for a SASS/NCOWS pistol range? 25 yards max?
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For SASS the recommended ranges for revolver are 7 to 10 yards. The past few years it is more like 5 to 7 yards at a lot of clubs and matches.
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I switched to 5 1/2" a few years ago. I have fewer pistol misses now. It's really whatever works for YOU😉
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I find the 5.55'' more accurate the slightly longer radius makes a big improvement in my experience. The main reason i recommend the 5.5'' however is the fact that every 4 3/4'' i've owned hits 3-4'' low left. Yet all my 5.5 and 7.5''s have been right on for windage. Good luck
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I prefer the 5.5". To me it seems to point better
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I would humbly suggest that you go try out both...
then buy whichever you like best!
It is after all a hobby and a game.
The key to happiness is to
Pick what you like and
Dance Shoot like no one is watching..
yhs
prof marvel
PS personally I prefer short barrels.
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I am extremely, overly, highly biased on many subjects but especially firearms.
Pistols should never have a barrel less than 5".
Only pistols you need are a SAA or M1911.
Bolt-action rifles should never have barrels less than 24".
Sharps barrels should be 30" or more.
Lever action rifles barrel should not be less than 20".
Mares Leg barrel should be 9" otherwise they are not a Josh Randall mares leg.
Hunting shotgun barrels (side by side only) must be 28".
Coach gun barrels must to 20".
The only calibers you need are 22LR, 12ga, 30 and 45.
Firearms must be metal only.
Stocks must only be wood, ivory, bone or horn.
So it be written...so it be done
Yup
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Long arms and high waist and my dislike of low slung holsters. The shorter 3/4" barrel helps me clear leather.
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I agree you should try both! It is purely subjective, and each individual will have his/her own likes. The differences in balance and sight radius will be the factors you will have to decide. Personally, I shoot one each 5.5" Ruger Old Model Vaquero and one 7.5" Ruger OM Vaquero. :)
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Looks like I'm about 5 years late to this party, but...
I read recently that for those of us with failing eyesight, in a certain respect we can get better accuracy with SHORTER barrels. Reason being that as you focus on the front sight, the further the rear sight is from it the blurrier it becomes. Therefore, the shorter the distance between the sights the sharper you're going to see them, ergo potentially better accuracy.
Once this idea got into my head, yeah I notice that I can line up my 4 3/4" revolvers a little better than my 7 1/2". I feel like I can see the sights better on the 4 3/4" than the 5 1/2", but I don't really notice any practical difference.
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:) Bart ;)
Perception can be everything. If you "see" the sights better with the shorter sight radius, your going to have more instilled confidence with that particular barrel length.
I once had special made shooting glasses made that gave me a depth of field from my elbow to about 4 feet out so I could see my handgun and rifle sights really clear. Then one day I discovered this real old guy looking back out of the mirror and found I could see my sights better with NO correction at all. Started to shoot better too.
As they say in Dinosaur hunting . . . . What Ever Works!!!
Be Safe Out There
PS: This is from the guy who thinks anything over 3 1/2 inches is a waste of steel. My rifles average 16 1/2 inch barrels. Shotguns at 18 1/2. Never met a barrel too short dontcha know.
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Next time you miss a target, see if it isn't by less than an inch. If so, you might appreciate that a 5.5 puts the muzzle closer to the target than a 4.75.
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Next time you miss a target, see if it isn't by less than an inch. If so, you might appreciate that a 5.5 puts the muzzle closer to the target than a 4.75.
If that is going to make a difference, then just leaning forward can get the muzzle up 12" or so closer to the target.
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:) NECROMANCY is FUN!!)
Somebody please stand by with a Defibrillator for Abilene please. Not in keeping with the OP question and the subsequent discussion(s), Butt: I just recently finished building a pair of 1860 Cartridge Conversions (Kirst) on 1860 EIGHT inch barrels. I can't bring myself to cut 'em. They have been a GOB of FUN (so far). Look funny sticking out the bottom of holsters made for my 4 7/16 barrel Open Tops. Super grins and giggles. 8)
Oh, just reach out and tap those small targets too ;D
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I can shoot my 4.75 inch vaqueros duelist faster than I could shoot a 5.5 or a 7.5 inch barrel vaquero. I’ve never shot modern. I shoot my 1911 or DAs duelist too. The one 5.5 barreled gun got shortened [see below] and the 7.5 got sold.
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:) BILTMORE ;)
That be a right nice Snubbie. I also have always preferred short(er) barrels. I have cut the barrel sets I have for my Open Tops at the Ejector Rod Housing (4 7/8) and all of my Cap Guns are SNUBBIES.
I recently finished a pair 1860 Conversions (8 inch barrels) I haven't cut yet. Rest assured they will get cut, very difficult and SLOW for me to shoot. Fun for a day or two but that'll be it. (Hacksaw MacGurk is drooling).
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I personally prefer 5.5" over 4.75" … and in fact, more of my revolvers are 7.5" than either of the shorter lengths … I'm not very fast, anyway, so I go with the look I like!
Somebody mentioned that many Fast Draw competitors prefer the short barrel, and I gather that similar considerations also drive the preference of many Cowboy Mounted Shooting competitors, based on what I was told recently by a chap considering getting into that sport, who passed on a pair of 5.5" Ruger New Vaqueros I am thinking of selling. Calibre (.45 Colt) was right for him, but apparently the advice he is getting is to stick with the shorter barrel (4 ⅝" in the Rugers) for ease of clearing the holster and reholstering while mounted … Of course, in that sport they aren't trying to shoot a bullet accurately … just need to project all that burning powder and fouling in the direction of each balloon ...
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The length didn’t matter to me, but when I went on large bore to small ( .44 to 38) I noticed a difference in handling. My 4-5/8” 38’s balance the same as my 5-1/2” 44’s.
Sadly, I sold the 44’s because my hands didn’t like the recoil at the time (regret it :-\). Stayed with the 38’s for ease and economy with 5 of us shooting, even though it is now 3.
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:) NECROMANCY is FUN!!)
Somebody please stand by with a Defibrillator for Abilene please. ...
Hey Coffinmaker, ChuteTheMall is the one who brought back this oldie, don't point that defribrillator at me! :)
As for the original question, 4 3/4" vs 5 1/2", well it's kinda a Ginger or MaryAnn thing.
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Hey Coffinmaker, ChuteTheMall is the one who brought back this oldie, don't point that defribrillator at me! :)
As for the original question, 4 3/4" vs 5 1/2", well it's kinda a Ginger or MaryAnn thing.
Don't tell me. The 5 1/2 is Ginger and the 4 3/4 is Mary Ann. Right?? ;D ;)
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:) Wheeeeeeeee ;)
Let us "Play it Again Sam." Hey Rattlesnake!! Actually the most popular barrel length for a lot of the Mounted folks is 3 1/2 inches. Same same reasoning, easier to draw/holster and just need to direct the BP residue and gasses at the balloons.
Now where'd I leave that De-Fibber-U-Later > > > > >
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Objectively at SASS ranges probably not enough difference to make a difference. Subjectively one may well shoot better with one length or the other depending on how the gun feels in the hand. Given the age of most of us our eyes may see the front sight better with shorter or longer barreled pistols. Thank God for cataract surgery I can now see the front sights with or without glasses just cannot read without. Short answer shoot both then decide what works best for you.
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... Short answer shoot both then decide what works best for you.
Shorter answer is buy both. :)
Just did a quick inventory of barrel lengths on my CAS guns:
3.5" - 1
4.75" - 8
5.5" - 5
7.5" - 5
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:) Ah Ha ;)
I forgot to mention, My Three and Half inch barrel SNUBBIES have a slightly longer "Sight Radius" than a Four and Three Quarter SA. Nanny Nanny Poo Poo
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I have a 1851 Navy in .44 caliber with Amy grips. A completely fantasy gun.
Hacksaw McGerk attacked it and changed it to about a 3" barrel snubby and installed a real front sight.
At middle CAS ranges it will print playing card size groups if the loose screw holding the grips does his part.
It us NOT a 25 or 50 yard target pistol. but is great fun to shoot.
Unfortunately Hacksaw has retired (again) so no more are available.
Hold center
Hit it!
Make smoke
Bunk
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Watched several "Hickok 45" youtube videos. He can hit the gong at 80 yards with just about any handgun he is playing with. Personally, I need a rifle if I am to hit a target at 25 yards.
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I have always preferred either 4-3/4" or 7-1/2" barrels on single action revolvers. The 5-1/2" always seems like a lost step-sister. And I say that having owned several 1st Gen Colts with that barrel length and having two USFA single actions sporting 5.5" barrels in the safe now.
Dave
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Oddly, I have always preferred the “odd number” barrel lengths….
3”, 5”, 7”
Interestingly in addition to beeing odd numbers, they are also prime numbers 😆
Yhs
Prf mumbles
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When i started doing CAS i borrowed a few pistols in different setups to see what I liked & settled on a pair of Pietta SAA Clones in 44WCF in 5.5".
Shot those for years mainly because I needed the sight radius. That means, as I'm older now, that's the minimum I'm going for; haven't ruled 7.5" yet.
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" I have always preferred either 4-3/4" or 7-1/2" barrels on single action revolvers. The 5-1/2" always seems like a lost step-sister. And I say that having owned several 1st Gen Colts with that barrel length and having two USFA single actions sporting 5.5" barrels in the safe now."
Well it has always been my experience that the STEP SISTER has always been the best looking in the family, always has he best shape and and is the most fun to play with.
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My preference for what seems to balance best for me: a 4.75 inch barrel for 357/38 caliber or a 5.5 inch barrel on a 45 caliber. A 357 barrel is usually thicker and heavier than the same length in 45.