Handgun Barrel Length: What's Best For You?

How do you determine the proper handgun barrel length for you?

Whether it's a pistol or a revolver, the length of the barrel impacts in a number of things and should be taken into consideration when choosing the right gun for you.

Longer barrels do tend to offer more accuracy but longer barrels are harder to hide in a concealed application. Another advantage of a longer barrel is target visibility and sight alignment.

All things being equal, a revolver will generally be shorter than a semiauto pistol because of the way the guns function.

Determining what the proper handgun barrel length for your needs starts with determining what you intend to use the handgun for. For top-end accuracy at the range, a longer barrel (and thus heavier) handgun will do the job better. But if you intend to carry concealed, a smaller-framed, shorter-barrel model will weigh less, be easier to hide and more comfortable to wear.

Check out the video for advice and tips from the Guns & Ammo team.