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Post by singleaction on Sept 23, 2023 19:28:09 GMT -5
I picked up a used 3.75” SBH Bisley 44mag a few months ago from my local Cabela’s. I normally don’t much care for a such short barrel on a single action, but the price was good. As part of an effort to rationalize whether or not to keep it, I’m considering how the sight radius on this gun compares to that of a 4” adjustable sight N-frame S&W, which is the shortest Smith I would care to carry. Since I am currently without a 4” N-frame gun, can someone who owns one measure the sight radius and report it (back of rear sight blade to the rear most peak of the front ramp.)
BTW: Using a 6” dial caliper, I measured a 5.775” sight radius on my 3.75” SBH Bisley, using the above described method.
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Post by bobwright on Sept 23, 2023 19:40:23 GMT -5
Ummm................Sight radius doesn't really count for much on such short barreled revolvers. These guns are for close up use to a maximum of about twenty five yards, and hair splitting accuracy won't be needed. Its when the distance to target gets out a ways that sight radius plays an important part. Most shooting with these shorter revolvers is just finding your front sight.
Bob Wright
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,118
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Post by edk on Sept 23, 2023 20:13:59 GMT -5
629-3 Mountain Gun 5.950”
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Post by singleaction on Sept 23, 2023 20:19:48 GMT -5
629-3 Mountain Gun 5.950” Thanks! |
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Post by strawhat on Sept 23, 2023 20:33:34 GMT -5
I have more than a few 4”, N frames. Contrary to what some folks think, the 4” barrel is just as accurate, AT LONG RANGE, as longer barreled revolvers. It just takes a good shooter to get good results.
Do you want the sight distance of fixed sighted revolvers or adjustable sights? I have both.
Kevin
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Post by singleaction on Sept 23, 2023 20:50:23 GMT -5
Ummm................Sight radius doesn't really count for much on such short barreled revolvers. These guns are for close up use to a maximum of about twenty five yards, and hair splitting accuracy won't be needed. Its when the distance to target gets out a ways that sight radius plays an important part. Most shooting with these shorter revolvers is just finding your front sight. Bob Wright Bob, you are throwing a logical monkey wrench into my irrational attempt at making a rational decision  ! While it may not matter a hill of beans, an RW 2 dogs rear sight will bring sight radius about even with a 4” N-frame Smith (not that it is significantly shorter to start with). Then it could use an RW aluminum grip, and a thinner front sight from Fermin. Sounds like a formula for an easy carrying trail gun. I think I’ll keep it. |
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Post by singleaction on Sept 23, 2023 20:53:13 GMT -5
I have more than a few 4”, N frames. Contrary to what some folks think, the 4” barrel is just as accurate, AT LONG RANGE, as longer barreled revolvers. It just takes a good shooter to get good results. Do you want the sight distance of fixed sighted revolvers or adjustable sights? I have both. Kevin I just needed a measurement from an adjustable sight gun, but edk beat you to it. Thanks anyway! |
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Post by drycreek on Sept 23, 2023 21:51:24 GMT -5
I have more than a few 4”, N frames. Contrary to what some folks think, the 4” barrel is just as accurate, AT LONG RANGE, as longer barreled revolvers. It just takes a good shooter to get good results. Do you want the sight distance of fixed sighted revolvers or adjustable sights? I have both. Kevin You are completely correct Sir ! I once had a Charter Arms Undercover .38 that I could shoot just as well as any handgun I ever owned. I did have a set of Herret’s Shooting Stars grip panels on it which was a great aid IMO, but the inherent accuracy does not suffer from barrel length, it’s all on the shooter. BTW, my eyesight was a helluva lot better then and I shot all the time, that might have had an effect on my shooting.  |
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gnappi
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,408
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Post by gnappi on Sept 24, 2023 8:57:01 GMT -5
I have more than a few 4”, N frames. Contrary to what some folks think, the 4” barrel is just as accurate, AT LONG RANGE, as longer barreled revolvers. It just takes a good shooter to get good results. Do you want the sight distance of fixed sighted revolvers or adjustable sights? I have both. Kevin I've found that 4" and 5" S&W's and Rugers to be just about THE perfect length. As a matter of fact, for me anything over 5" just isn't interesting anymore. |
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Post by bradshaw on Sept 24, 2023 13:02:49 GMT -5
.... While it may not matter a hill of beans, an RW 2 dogs rear sight will bring sight radius about even with a 4” N-frame Smith (not that it is significantly shorter to start with). Then it could use an RW aluminum grip, and a thinner front sight from Fermin. Sounds like a formula for an easy carrying trail gun. ----singleaction ***** single action.... a quarter-inch or half-inch difference is sight radius won’t warm your coffee on the side of a mountain. The difference between the Ruger and the Ronnie Wells 2Dogs sight is SIGHT PICTURE. Acuity of RW 2Dogs spells sharpness on target. If you incorporate a thinner Fermin blade, that’s all the more reason to incorporate a narrower notch RW 2Dogs. As for a short barrel equalling a longer barrel at long range, I don’t recall a single IHMSA silhouette match----let alone championship----won from a 3-1/2" or 4” barrel. During a lull in an IHMSA match with a couple of investigators from the Attorney General’s office on hand, this shooter drew his 4-inch M-29 and downed a bank of chickens, 50 meters double action, the load being Federal 44B 180 JHP. However, the shooter did not use his 4-inch 29 for the Revolver category. It’s one thing to put three or five shots into a small group at distance with a short magnum, quite another to hold consistency throughout a 40 or 60 or 80 round match. Has anyone won a PPC championship with 2-1/2” or 4” S&W M-19 or Colt Python? David Bradshaw |
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Post by bula on Sept 24, 2023 13:35:07 GMT -5
REALITY... ^^^^
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Post by bigbrowndog on Sept 24, 2023 13:58:23 GMT -5
I get very acceptable accuracy from my 3.75” and 4” single actions. given the opportunity at a coyote out to 50 yards I’d take the shot with equal confidence whether 3.75” or 6”. Provided a solid hold and sight picture was possible.
Trapr
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Post by singleaction on Sept 24, 2023 14:39:36 GMT -5
I set out to determine if I wanted to keep a 3.75” single action, as it seemed a bit too short, by my way of thinking. How it went from that to comparing 4”-ish trail guns to IHMSA competition guns is a head scratcher (I’m not real smart), but random conversations do sometimes go in odd directions. Makes things interesting, I reckon. Thanks to all for your help, comments, and advice. I’m always learning new and interesting things from this forum!
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,566
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Post by Fowler on Sept 25, 2023 13:08:52 GMT -5
I don't think there is anything inherently more or less accurate with a long or short barreled gun (look at ransom rest results). BUT the short barreled gun is so so unforgiving for small errors in grip, follow through, sight alignment, all of these things make longer barrels easier to shoot for most people and competitors.
I know I shoot 4"-5 1/2" barrels best but that my hands and eyes.
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Post by strawhat on Sept 26, 2023 5:55:44 GMT -5
Has anyone won a PPC championship with 2-1/2” or 4” S&W M-19 or Colt Python? David Bradshaw David, As I am sure you are aware, many PPC matches have been won with those three revolvers. And even the S&W Model 36 has won its share of PPC matches. Not in the unlimited category but in the Duty Matches and the Off Duty matches. I competed with a S&W Model 36-1, 3” barrel with fixed sights. Was it the equal of my Davis PPC revolver? Hardly, but, it was good enough to keep me on the podium. My point being folks get too wrapped up in the long barrel equals better accuracy myth. A better sight picture is what allows better accuracy. But, somehow I think you knew that! Kevin |
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