New member question on 610 4" vs 6.5"

[wildbilloh]

Hey everyone,

New member here.  Been browsing the forum and wanted to get opinions.

I think the next wheelgun for me is a 610 since I reload 10mm already.  Trying to decide between the 4" and 6.5" barrels.

I'm leaning towards the 6.5" because I already have a couple 4" 357's...and this will be primarily a target gun for the range. Looking at replacing the rear with an adjustable target style blade and the front with a fiber optic.  Not sure if the extra barrel length is REALLY that noticeable for sight picture and fps vs the increased weight and balance?

My current 10mm's that I reload for are a Magnum Research (BUL) 1911, XDM Elite, and a G20.  I've worked up a couple of loads that are my go to's...a nice mild one with HP-38 and a spicier one with Blue Dot both pushing 180gr (HAP or RNFP).  I'm thinking the HAP profile will work well in the 610.

Any thoughts / opinions greatly appreciated!

-Bill

[md41]

Bill,
I shoot a 4" 610 for USPSA action pistol matches. I find that the 4" barrel allows me to recover my sight picture more quickly than my 6" K,L and N frames. I don't have a 6.5" 610 but comparing my 4" 610 to my 6" 586 with similar recoiling loads is pretty close. With that said, for slower paced target work the 6" barrel offers a clearer sight picture for 50+ year old eye sight. With either the pinned or DX interchangeable front sight (depending on which generation of 610 your looking at) you can play around with sight combinations to get what you want for your particular application. I run a gold bead front with an LPA plain black rear sight on my 610. The LPA rear sight also has the provision for mounting a red dot sight and I'm currently experimenting with a Holosun MRD. The MRD looks to be a game changer as you can just concentrate on the dot and it's position on the target rather than the front sight, rear sight, target alignment issues. Overall I love my 610.
Morgan

[pacecars]

The perfect 610 barrel length is 5”. For a hunting gun a 6.5” would be the better choice in my opinion after owning about 6 or 7 of the pre lock versions

[wildbilloh]

Feb 12, 2024 10:14:46 GMT -5 md41 said:

Bill,
I shoot a 4" 610 for USPSA action pistol matches. I find that the 4" barrel allows me to recover my sight picture more quickly than my 6" K,L and N frames. I don't have a 6.5" 610 but comparing my 4" 610 to my 6" 586 with similar recoiling loads is pretty close. With that said, for slower paced target work the 6" barrel offers a clearer sight picture for 50+ year old eye sight. With either the pinned or DX interchangeable front sight (depending on which generation of 610 your looking at) you can play around with sight combinations to get what you want for your particular application. I run a gold bead front with an LPA plain black rear sight on my 610. The LPA rear sight also has the provision for mounting a red dot sight and I'm currently experimenting with a Holosun MRD. The MRD looks to be a game changer as you can just concentrate on the dot and it's position on the target rather than the front sight, rear sight, target alignment issues. Overall I love my 610.
Morgan

I just turned 50 so I hear you on the eyes...I've been refusing to go to bifocals on principle but it's coming to a head real quick lol!  I wouldn't probably use this for any of the action pistol matches, I do shoot SCSA, GSSF, and Rimfire Challenge. I suppose I could use it for SCSA ISR/OSR and download with .40 S&W that I have used in matches in the past. And clearing a 6" revolver vs a 4" from a holster would add time for sure. I'd probably use my GP100 4" for that though if I get around to trying to get into Club 13 with the remaining divisions.

I'm looking at current production to take advantage of the $75 rebate...so it would be a DX front fiber, and I also will probably go with the LPA black serrated rear (my favorite sight picture).

[paleroadster]

See if anyone you know can help you shoot two same caliber N frames in 4" and 6.5" and you will have a better idea how they handle for you.

I agree with another poster that 5" is a real sweet spot for N frames in any caliber, the 6.5" can be shortened to the correct 5" length later if you're looking at current production guns.

[gnappi]

I agree on the 5" barrel suggestion, mine was one of my bowling pin competition guns. It's one of the only revolvers I own or have owned where rubber finger groove grips feel right, S&W got those grips right.

[aware]

Just something to note: The 4" barreled model 610 is about 3/16" shorter than 4" which is noticeable next to a 4" 629 or 4" 686. However, the 6" barreled model 610 is closer to a true 6" barrel--as far as I know.