Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Velocity Of Different Barrel Lengths

4 3/4" barrel




7 1/2" barrel





6" barrel

This would lead me to assume pretty close bore, chamber and cylinder gap dimensions from one revolver to the next.

I Was curious, so I bought some 305gr Buffalo Bore and Underwood ammo – here are chrono results.
.
Buffalo Bore, 305 LBT LFN HC rated 1,325 fps
Underwood, 305 LFNGC Plated (HiTech?) rated 1,325 fps
LabRadar muzzle velocity at 33 deg F
.
S&W M69 2.75" ===> BB 1,195 fps ===> Under 1,147fps
S&W M69 4.25" ===> BB 1,276 fps ===> Under 1,248 fps
Ruger SRH 7.5" ===> BB 1,395 fps ===> Under 1,315 fps
.

Here's some 357 Mag I did some time back

Five long paces from muzzle ( competition electronics chrono)
Air Temp 47 -- Ammo On Dash With Thermometer 75 Deg

Not a typo - these are 185gr (not 158gr) from the now defunct Beartooth Bullets

Marlin 18" ,185 gr LFNGC, 14.7gr Lil'Gun, ………………. 1713 fps
Ruger BH 6.5" ,185 gr LFNGC, 14.7gr Lil'Gun, ………….. 1388 fps
S&W M60 3" ,185 gr LFNGC, 14.7gr Lil'Gun, ……………. 1174 fps
Ruger SP101 3" ,185 gr LFNGC, 14.7gr Lil'Gun, ………... 1160 fps
S&W M360 Ti 1.9" ,185 gr LFNGC, 14.7gr Lil'Gun, ……... 1022 fps

Very little to no difference from one FA83 to the next one. The precision used in building these revolvers require lots of attention to detail which is why they cost so much.

Great to know. I just ask about the gaps on Single Actions. Please disregard.

And thanks for the report.

Nice. I've got a short Super Redhawk Alaskan 454. It's about perfect with heavy 45colt loads and even the standard 45 loads are fun. 454 level is exhilarating.

Interesting. I last chronoed my 7-1/2" FA M83 with that same BB 360gr load 13 years ago and got these results:

1503 fps
1491 fps
1488 fps

IIRC, my 5-1/2 Ruger Toklat came in about 100 fps slower.

My hand hurts just looking at the numbers some of you are throwing out.

Am content to shoot a bit heavier bullets a couple of hundred fps lower with .480s and moderate heavy weight .44s.

In this case the 4" is faster than the 6"

I'm sure these loads have lost some power, from lube contamination, they are some of the first loaded by Buffalo Bore. My ammo was purchased in 1997 or 98

Like you I have 4.25” and 2.75” model 69s. I chronoed two different loads through them and in my case the difference in velocities in the two barrels depended on the load.

240 grn CheyCast coated bullets with 14.0 grns Blue Dot
4.25” = 1154 fps
2.75” = 1081 fps

260 grn CastPerformance WNFP with 17.5 grns 2400
4.25” = 1273 fps
2.75” = 1123 fps

Maybe it makes sense that the faster burning powder would result in a smaller difference.

??