4 inch or 5 inch?

[tundraman]

What are the pros/cons of the two barrels beside carry size? I am looking for my first handgun and I am not sure why but most people don't like the 5 inch. At least it seems that way to me. Any help appreciated.

[zefflyn]

Some people like 4" and some people like 5". Without knowing what type of gun you're talking about, it's tough to explain more than that.

What are you basing the "most people don't like the 5 inch" on?

[VeryCoolCat]

I don't have difinitive proof or am an expert on the subject but to my knowledge/personal experience.

Fact: The longer barrel has the projectile flying at a higher velocity, considering some bullets fail to penetrate the skull, a higher velocity would have been safer in that case.

I've fired a USP Compact and a standard USP. I felt that the compact had a little more recoil than the standard length version and I was actually seeing a much larger muzzle flash coming out of the barrel... I read somewhere that it was because the powder didn't have time to completely burn before the bullet left the barrel.

Plus I can figure using general knowledge of physics... longer barrel = higher velocity = strong flight path making the shooter a bit more accurate. Heh I think that guy firing the subnose and shooting the balloon at 50 (meters? yards?) is exempt.

[blkA4alb]

The reason there is more flash with a shorter barrel is because the powder does not have as much time to burn within the barrel.

A shorter barreled gun will also seem to have more recoil simply for the fact that a longer barrel adds more weight to the gun.

While a longer barrel will boost the velocity, the real reason that a longer barrel is going to be more accurate is because it has a longer sight radius than a shorter barrel.

[tundraman]

Some people like 4" and some people like 5". Without knowing what type of gun you're talking about, it's tough to explain more than that.

What are you basing the "most people don't like the 5 inch" on?

It seems like VerCoolCat did not have any problem helping. Anyways to answer your questions I am still in the market but seriously looking at the Springfield XD 45. I am basing this question on my local gun shop employees. They seem to push more toward 4 inch than 5. I am not sure if this is because of what's in stock or what? I am not looking to carry my handgun concealed so the 5 inch looks more attractive for my shooting needs. Just looking for more info.

BTW, thanks VeryCoolGuy! that was exactly the type of response I was looking for.

[Stuka]

The 5" barrel is more accurate because the round is in the barrel longer. This allows for the bullet to travel a truer path. This is the same reason a rifle with a 28" barrel is generally more accurate than a rifle with a 16" barrel. The round will also get more spin as it is spun by the riflings in the barrel for longer.

The amount of kick isnt really effect by the weight of the extra 1" of barrel (just not enough weight to make much of a difference), but rather the physics behind whats going on as the gases push the bullet out of the barrel.

A longer barrel will give the round higher velocity, as the gases are pushing on the round for longer (for instance, a 9mm round in a pistol may only have 1200fps muzzle velocity, while a rifle firing the exact same round can get 2000+ fps). IMHO, the only advantage of a short barrel is being easier to carry/conceal.

[elkhorn98]

I ran into the same thing you have. Local shops push the 4" because they have it in stock. I rented both and prefered the 5". I got a 5" XD .40 and get it on Friday.

[socalsteve]

Next time you handle both think about the balance I think the commander size has a better balance but its what? 3/4 of an inch so its not a big deal.

[C.G.]

The 5" barrel is more accurate because the round is in the barrel longer. This allows for the bullet to travel a truer path. This is the same reason a rifle with a 28" barrel is generally more accurate than a rifle with a 16" barrel. The round will also get more spin as it is spun by the riflings in the barrel for longer.

Not necessarily true, shorter barrels can actually be more accurate because they may be stiffer, but they won't shoot as far as a longer barrel due to less velocity.

However, with a longer barrel one has a longer distance between sights, which aids in aiming more accurately.

BTW, my P229 is just as accurate as my P226 with a longer barrel.

[moulton]

personally with the little blue pill I can ......

I say go for the 5" if it is a xd

[five.five-six]

if you are planning on a conceald carry then shorter has the advantage of being smaller, quicker to draw, less to get caught. if this is for target and home defence and hunting side then the larger sitght radius and more managable recoil would be big advantages

[metalhead357]

Not necessarily true, shorter barrels can actually be more accurate because they may be stiffer, but they won't shoot as far as a longer barrel due to less velocity.

However, with a longer barrel one has a longer distance between sights, which aids in aiming more accurately..

THANK YOU CG...... I was wondering if anyone was finally going to chime in while I was reading down all these posts. A longer barrel does NOT mean better accuracy, not by a "long shot" pardon the pun Barrel harmonics are very real and short stiff barrels can/do the same at nearly any (short range) distance if we're still talking handguns only; and pretty much the same hold true for rifles to medium range. The ONLY significantly measurable difference between a long and short barrel is at long range....and then it IS the velocity (and several other things); or have we all forgotton about BC? (Ballistic coefficient.....)

But for simplicity sake.... most choose the shorter barrel if they're going CCW, the longer if they arent going CCW or dont like the added "whip" that shorter barrels sometimes produce......

Just to throw it in for arguments sake; and I know they'll be one say a 5" has a slight deformation in the barrel not noticible to the naked eye. Still think its going to be as accurate as a 4"? Not likely. So before we start talkin' about the nuances of barrels and arguing as such; gotta compare apples to apples.....so are we talking a "match" 4" and standard 5"? I think you can see there's a LOT more than just length......

As Always YMMV...........

[Fjold]

The 5" barrel is more accurate because the round is in the barrel longer. This allows for the bullet to travel a truer path. This is the same reason a rifle with a 28" barrel is generally more accurate than a rifle with a 16" barrel. The round will also get more spin as it is spun by the riflings in the barrel for longer.

Shorter and stiffer rifle barrels are generally more accurate than longer barrels. That's why benchrest competitor's barrels are all short and thick.