Does handgun length make a difference?
By MARJ LAW
“Oh, you’re just saying that,” scoffs Cindy. “A handgun with a small barrel is going to be much easier to shoot than one with a longer barrel. It will have less recoil, and I sure don’t want a gun with much recoil. In fact, I’m even considering an airweight revolver. Why lug around a revolver all made of steel? A revolver with a polymer frame will be light in my hands, short for concealment and light in recoil.”
Well…
Not so, as Madison Heim in Athlon Outdoors found out.
While he agrees that recoil is a concern for new shooters, this is what he learned: “When I first started shooting, I assumed that the lighter a handgun was, the less recoil that would be felt. However, I quickly learned it was the exact opposite. Essentially, pistols that are on the heavier side typically have less felt recoil, due to their larger mass, which in turn creates less energy transference into a shooter’s hands and body.”
Since Cindy is so adamant about recoil, length of barrel and size and weight of a gun, Joe and I offer to let her shoot three different revolvers so she can notice the difference for herself.
The three handguns are the S&W Chief’s Special, the Colt Diamondback, and the S&W Model 14-2. The Chief has a 1.88-inch barrel, the Diamondback has a 4-inch barrel, and the S&W Model 14-2 has a 6-inch barrel.
2, 4, and 6 inch barrels. When she finds out for herself, she’ll know that the heavier gun with the longer barrel will have less recoil. There’s quite a difference in weight too. The Chief weighs 19.64 ounces, the Diamondback is 28.5 ounces and the Model 14-2 weighs 36 ounces. Yes, there is a big difference in weight.
“Oh, I don’t want to shoot your guns,” protests Cindy. “But I’ll watch you shoot them. I’ll be able to notice your hands flying upward if there’s recoil, and I’ll check out the target to see how accurately you’re shooting.”
We are at the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office range, as usual on a Wednesday morning around 10 a.m.
Joe and I agree to shoot each gun while Cindy watches. It’s important for a beginner especially to avoid a lot of recoil. As Madison went on to say, “For many new shooters, the sensation of a handgun’s recoil (kick) can be startling and overwhelming. This can lead to obstacles such as flinching, improper trigger control and shooting fatigue.”
“Shoot the smallest gun first, because that’s about the size I want,” Cindy instructs.
We are aiming at 8-inch targets, 20 feet away. We will shoot three rounds from each handgun.
Joe picks up the Chief, aims and shoots. Oops! Where did it go?
Now, let me say, Joe takes his guns very seriously. He would never shoot badly on purpose. That one shot with the Chief simply didn’t hit the target. He shoots twice more. These hit the target, but not near the center.
My turn. I pick up that little gun and aim. Bam! OK, it has some recoil. Quite a bit of recoil. I grip harder and shoot twice more. Well, at least they all hit the target, but they are on those outer rims. Usually, I shoot better than that. I sure wouldn’t want to shoot this gun all day.
Cindy is not impressed. “I thought you guys came out here almost every week! I thought you’d shoot better than that!”
We do. And yes, poor shooting is embarrassing.
Joe picks up the Diamondback. He aims and fires. Bam! Ah! Much closer to the center! He shoots twice more and each bullet hits close to the center of the target.
My turn. I hold on tightly, remembering the strong kick of the Chief. Bam!
Wow! The Diamondback is so smooth! Trigger pull is easier and trigger pull travel is easier, too. And there’s much less recoil. The gun is very well balanced. I like it. And I just touched the X-ring with my first shot. Yay!
My next two shots aren’t so good, but they are close to the center.
“I didn’t see the front of the gun rise nearly so much when you shot this gun,” commented Cindy. She’s surprised.
Last, we shoot the Model 14-2. All our shots are close to the center of the target. Not bad. Joe thinks it has a lighter trigger and trigger travel than the Chief; about the same as the Diamondback. I find trigger pull and travel more difficult, but the grip is way too big for me. Getting a good hold makes a difference in how we shoot, but this one is not the original grip. Joe changed it out because he needs a larger one for his big hands.
“I can tell that both of you experienced more recoil with the Chief’s Special than either the Diamondback or the Model 14-2.” she comments. “That’s not what I expected. But I do want a gun with a short barrel so I can fit it in my purse.”
What should Cindy do?
Boyd Smith on Reloader Addict brings up this question.
“What’s the right choice for self-defense then?” he asks, and then continues: “Really, the decision between long and short barrels for self-defense comes down to personal preference, intended use, and individual lifestyles or needs. For those who want concealment and maneuverability, short barrels are mostly the better choice. They are easier to carry, quicker to deploy, and more suited for close-quarters encounters.”
Cindy deliberates for a moment.
“I certainly don’t want a gun with a 6-inch barrel. It’s too big and won’t fit in my purse. It’s also too big to put on an inside-the-waistband holster or even in an outside-the-waistband one. There isn’t any way I could conceal it on my body. So that leaves me with the small and compact handgun, or one with a 3-4 inch barrel.”
“Since I’d also like to come out to the range and practice, I don’t think I’d practice much with the smaller handgun. It has too much recoil, so it wouldn’t be enjoyable.”
Note: Joe and I will not be at the range for the next two Wednesdays. We will be back on Wednesdays after these should anyone want some assistance.
Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.