357 Mag barrel

Question
HI, IS A PLEASURE ASK TO YOU. I CAN BUY A REVOLVER, 357 MAGNUM WITH 3 INCHES BARREL (TAURUS MODEL 66 STAINLESS). this was my first choice, but the last week in the armoury a guy said to me that for the same price he can get the same revolver but with 4 inches barrel. my dudes are: is there difference between 3 and 4 inches barrel in 357 magnum? is there more accuracy in 4 inches? what about the muzzle velocity difference? (using always the same ammunition). I prefer the 3 inches barrel because is shorter and faster to align the sights, but I am afraid thinking it can be slower (talking about velocity) than the 4 inches barrel. I would to like to know the performance of the 357 Mag from 3 and 4 inches barrel in terms of: velocity, accuracy, penetration and noise.

Well, I hope you will fine. If you can answer to me it would be a very big help. Thank you Mr Bob.

Pablo Pinto.

Answer
Hi Pablo.

Sorry for the delay - the system sent me a bunch of questions all in a row so I wasn't able to catch up until now.

The loss in velocity depends on where you measure it at: at the muzzle or at the target.  If you measure at the target then obviously the distance to the target is much more of a factor.  At close distances under 25 yards the velocity from a 3 to 4 inch barrel shouldn't change that much, probably no more than 100-300 feet per second (fps).

Physical accuracy isn't really impacted that much when you change the barrel by just 1" but the practical accuracy increases by a noticeable difference.  This is because it is easier to align the sights and keep them aligned accurately when there is more distance between the front and rear sight.  If you put both guns in a ransom rest that was aimed mechanically and fired them from a perfectly still position then chances are they would both be just about as accurate, especially at shorter distances under 15 yards.  The extra barrel length is only helpful if you plan to shoot at longer distances under target conditions.  For personal defense and close range I would opt for the shorter barrel.

Penetration depends on the ammunition and shouldn't be effected that much by the barrel length - distance is once again the more important factor.

Hope this helps.

Bob