After decades of experience shooting and customizing guns so they can withstand the rigors of Fast Draw and other competitive shooting sports like CAS, Bob Munden has a lot to say.

Enjoy this edition of In His Own Words and read previous articles in the archive section below. Check back every month for more of Bob's straight talk!

TOPIC:
Choosing a Barrel Length


Q: When buying a gun, how do I choose the barrel length?

Bob Munden: That really depends on what you are planning to do with the gun. Are you going to be hunting with it? Do you just want an all around type gun? Do you want to shoot at long distances? Are you competing or planning to compete in Cowboy Action Shooting? Are you competing or planning to compete in Mounted Cowboy Action Shooting? Do you want to buy a large caliber gun and shoot rapid-fire with it?

If you plan on hunting with your revolver, you would want a 7 ½” or longer barrel for accuracy at further distances. If you want a gun to carry as a back up while hunting, you might consider a 5 ½” barreled gun which is faster out of a holster and less cumbersome to carry. I should point out that I do not recommend a single action revolver as a back up while hunting. If a grizzly bear were to come at you on the run for example, it would be much easier to fire a double action revolver or semi auto pistol than to remember to cock the hammer back on a single action. Of course I wouldn’t recommend a SA revolver for personal protection either, for the same reason.

For all-around gun for carrying, for personal protection, target shooting or Cowboy competition, I would recommend a 5 ½” barrel.

If you wanted to Fast Draw your gun or want it to clear your holster the fastest, I would purchase a gun with a 4 ¾” or 4 5/8” barrel. This length is also fine for Cowboy Action competition or Mounted Shooting. It may be preferred for Mounted shooting because it is the best balanced and is easier to maneuver.

If you are shooting heavy calibers, the 7 ½” barrel is more efficient because the longer barrel reduces some of the barrel flip from recoil. The 7 ½” gun is slower to sight in, but has less barrel flip on recoil. The fastest to sight in would be the 4 ¾” but you have to deal with barrel flip before addressing the next target.

That’s about it. It really is up to you.

Q: What do you use?

Bob Munden: Personally, I shoot the 4 ¾” for fast draw and the 5 ½” for Cowboy Action Shooting and like the 7 ½” for long distance. But as many of you who have seen me on TV know, I love the challenge of shooting long-distance targets, off hand, using a very short barrel.

WARNING: DO NOT EVER FAST DRAW WITH LIVE AMMUNITION. NOT EVEN ONCE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

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Do you have questions about Bob Munden's Six-Gun Magic gunsmith work on single actions, Marlin Lever-Action Rifles, Stoeger (or IGA) Double-Barrel Shotguns, Smith & Wesson Double-Action Revolvers, the Bond Derringer and other guns? Call Munden Enterprises at (406) 494-2833 (8am- 8pm MST), or visit our contact page.

ARCHIVE:
Click on any topic below to access previous In His Own Words articles.

• Stock Guns - 05/05

• Grips  - 07/05

• Efficiently Cocking the Single Action & Primer Recommendations for Light Actions - 09/05

• Bob Munden -- The Collector's Edition DVD - 11/05

• Choosing a Barrel Length - 01/06

• Choosing a Caliber - 06/06

• Fast Draw and the World Fast Draw Association (WFDA) - 11/06

• Misfires - 02/07

• Remembering Jeff Cooper - 05/07

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