4 or 6

Have a 4 & 6
the 4 would be more managable for a back pack
I use the 6 with a holster for in the woods.

The 6 to me is more fun to shoot ,

both are very easy to shoot (I replaced the front sights ) and verry accurate.
FYI

 

I LOVE MY 6"

 

I have a 6" full lug gp100 (with hogue grips) and I love it. I highly recomend the 6" for better accuracy (sight picture), better muzzel velocity and next to no recoil. The only time I would recomend a shorter barrel would be for specific tasks like concealed carry and requirements for IDPA and such. And before people bring up the difference in weight, it's a 5oz. difference between a 4.2" and a 6". If that's going o make or break your ability to carry the weapon, then I'd suggest an entirely different and lighter weapon all together (like an sp101 or LCR).

Also, some states require 6" minimum barrel length for hunting.

 

+1 I own the 6". Excellent gun. Sounds like a 4" would be best for you. I bought the 6" for hunting. I have a 2" SP101 for the backpack and home defense (also accompanies the Mossberg). I would suggest the 4" for your needs

 

Find a 5" and get all 3 - my $0.02s worth.

I have a stainless 4" and a blued 6" and could not pick one over the other.

 

Find a 5"

I concur...I've had 2 x 4" and 1 x 6" GP100's...and currently have just a 4" version (see avatar). I would love to have a 5" for hunting...or a 1/2 shroud 6"...less nose weight!

I love my 4" for balance...and it's accurate as heck!

 

My pick would be to go with the 4", the perfect balance of handling, sight radius and enough barrel to get good velocity with .357's. A dangerous predator won't know the difference between a Cor-Bon or a Buffalo Bore 180 gr. .357 fired from a 4" or a 6". You might lose 1-200 fps. with the 4" but again, it won't make much of a "real world" difference.

I also have several each of the 6" and 4" GP100's, so I couldn't decide either

I also have a 3" which is one of my favorites.

Just pick the one that feels the best to you and go with it, either way you can't go wrong.

 

2" of barrel length is not going to make or break you, so pick whichever feels good in your hands. True, a 6" is going to have a longer sight radius, which is beneficial for shooting iron sights, but our 4" is so darn accurate there's not much room for improvement and if an old gal like me can take the muzzle blast from a 4" and shoot up a full box of full power 158 grain loads in a range session, anyone can. You can tout the performance advantages of a 6" barrel all you want, but the difference is mostly on paper. Again, go with whichever feels good in your hands.

 

I have the 4" in 327 and it's the most accurate hand gun that I own.

I would like to someday have a GP100 in 357. I really like the looks of the half lug 6".

All in all, I think it's tough to beat the versitility of the 4" barrel.

Good luck with your decision.

 

I'll cast a second vote for the 5 inch GP100, it's a Davidson's exclusive:

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?item=1740

They are currently out of stock, but you can put it on a stock watch. It's my most accurate handgun, the 5 inch barrel balances well for me, and it has more options for carrying than the 6 inch version.

 

With the exception of my snub 101 I have always carried a 4" revolver for a duty weapon in the Air Force and can see no reason why you shouldn't do well with one. The 4" can be moved around easily and brought onto target quickly if need be. I have test fired a 4" GP100 at the range and found it to be an excellent weapon The extra length of the 6" will keep recoil a bit lower which would be a plus in some circumstances but I'll still choose the 4".

 

4 inch, looks cooler, better balance, easier to carry in a holster, lighter, just as accurate as the 6 inch.

 

+1 for me. YMMV.

 

Go with the 4 if you don't have a 4" revolver. If you do, go with the 6.

 

Have the four point two inch model. The six inch would just be too large to carry in most situations. Remember, the GP100 is a hefty revolver in ANY barrel length. I would suggest the stout little SP101 in 357 for backpack carry. The three inch barrel provides everything you need for close encounters. Get the Six Inch if you feel the need to hunt with your revolver or need accuracy out to 50 yards +

 

When I bought my GP100 I tried both the 4" and the 6". The 4" actually felt better, and sometimes I wish I had bought it instead of the 6". My thinking was that I likely would be more accurate with the 6". And maybe I was right because it shoots great! The 4" certainly would be easier to conceal, but I do that mostly with my 2.25" SP 101 or my Springfield XDm 9 3.8".

 

When I bought my GP100 I tried both the 4" and the 6". The 4" actually felt better, and sometimes I wish I had bought it instead of the 6". My thinking was that I likely would be more accurate with the 6". And maybe I was right because it shoots great! .....

I have occasionally wondered if I would have been happier with a 4" than my 6". But then I shoot a box or two of .357 and I am always happy that I have that extra barrel weight. For a backpack, I wonder if the difference in size really matters much. On the other hand, if it is mainly as a BUG and you are not going to actually shoot it a whole lot, maybe the smaller size of the 4" matters.

For a BUG it is hard to argue that an SP101 might not be a better choice? Personally I would go with the GP100 6" and in fact I did, but I use mine a lot at the range where its extra size and weight really do not matter.

 

The 4" is cool, but I really like the 6". It just seems to have so much authority. And it handles .357 recoil very well:

 

Who makes the grips on the gun in this picture? They look really nice.

Max

 

They appear to be hogue rosewood grips.

 

4" - Pro's: Lighter weight, better balance and handling, faster draw, easier concealability.

Con's: Loss of velocity, shorter sight radius

6" - Pro's: Longer sight radius, Less muzzle flip (faster follow up shots)

Con's: Front heavy


If you still can't make up your mind check out the Galleryofgun.com Exclusive GP100 its built with a 5" barrel which would be the best compromise between the two in my opinion.

 

Don't forget the 6" half lug!

 

For me, the 4" has better balance. It just seems to fit my hand the best, almost a neutral balance, no fore or aft tilt. Plus if you want to carry it or use it for idpa, it's easier to draw.

 

I'm one that likes a longer barrel mainly for the longer sight radius. My eyes aren't what they used to be. I don't own a GP but have a 4" and 6" S&W 686's. I carry mine in a holster and I like the 6' better. I have two 6" Security Sixes. I just picked the one up a few weeks ago. Those are by far my favorite wheel guns. For backpacking the 4” might be better for you. For range and hunting use carried in a holster you can’t beat a 6”bbl. Like suggested hold both of them and see which you like the best. It’s all in personal preference. You really don't lose or gain much with the 2" difference in them.

 

Up until police officers started riding in cars, the 6" revolver was very common. Sight radius and velocity being the main reasons, as well as the fact that 6" barrels are "holdovers" from the era when rounds like .38 Special were loaded with Blackpowder and more barrel was optimal for slow burning BP.

The very first S&W M&P's had 6.5" barrels, and in the 1890's BP was still very commonly used along with "semi smokeless" powders.

4" barrels for duty guns became more popular because being seated in a car with a 6" barreled revolver was not ideal. But, a lot of LEO's packed 6" duty guns in swivel holsters as well as standard holsters well into the 1990's and later.

The 4" barrel was born more as a "go between" between a snub and the "full size" 6" revolver. It was made to be handier to carry in the holster, and to balance better.

I'm not sure what my point is LOL I'm just bored and I guess I'm trying to say that 6" will give you a little better performance, and more recoil control, but you may find the 4" more fun to shoot, easier to pack and overall a better choice.

Don't forget the fixed sight 4" GP100's, too, the half lug 4" guns are out there on GunBroker and provide excellent balance, are lighter and still have the legendary strength of the GP100.

A guy killed a HUGE aggressive Brown Bear with a .454 Alaskan, so it shows that even a short barrel doesn't make much of a difference if the round is powerful enough. There's pics on the internet, I would have had to change my shorts after that one, if I were that guy

 

Thank You All For The Helpful Input!!

 

Tell us what you end up with.

 

"i have never wished i had less than 6-inches..."

EVER.

 

As a matter of personal preference, the 6” full lug barreled gun is more muzzle heavy than I prefer. I do like the 6” half lug barrel and 4” full lugged barrel.

 

get the 4". if you can't hit it with a 4, you won't hit it with a 6, and it's 2" less weight to carry around.