Will a barrel extension affect shooting and accuracy?

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xenforo

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I'm buying my first handgun - and I'm partial to revolvers. I found an older S&W Model 19 with a low round count. I'm going to look at it this week (haven't seen it yet).

One thing that concerns me is the barrel extension. As I understand, it is a 4" barrel originally but had an extension installed to re-classify it as restricted.

I plan on taking it to the range a lot. How would this extension affect the shooting of the revolver? accuracy?

Any other advice from more experienced forum members is most welcome.

Thanks.
 
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A short add on nose? To make it 4.25 or so? Then no need to worry. I've managed to buy two such guns and they are both shooting just fine. They both have adjustable sights though so if there was any change the sight adjustment has hidden it and neither the gun or I know any better.

If they are done like mine with a full length liner then stick with Special power loads and don't shoot Magnums. There's a LOT of force at the forcing cone with Magnum power rounds and not a whole lot of metal left in the original barrel at the threads where it screws into the frame. Yes, I know the sleeve is bonded in but you can no longer count the metal in the sleeve towards structural considerations. Or at most the contribution is limited by the glue line used to bond the sleeve to the outer barrel. As a result I see these as Special calibers only now just to be safe.

You're going to love the 19 once you come to grips with holding a revolver.

Since this is your first revolver I'll just try to reinforce that you want a really high grip on the backstrap. The web of your hand should be right at or even hooked slightly over the upper corner on the back strap. This means it will feel like your trigger finger is reaching down to the trigger strongly. But when you hold it this way it all works and it's easy and natural for the gun to stay flat and on target during double action operation. So don't be drawn in to a lower hold by what your trigger finger tries to tell you.
 
A nice used 6" 19 will cost you approx. $500. Unless the offering is substantially lower I wouldn't bother with it.

19 and 17 are my favorite S&W. K frame all the way:dancingbanana:

M
 
Montey, some folks like me want the shorter barrels to use for competitions like IDPA. And until just recently there was no other option for those of us that like the K frame guns other than to cut down a longer barrel or extend and sleeve a short one.

You do raise a good point that since the intended market for a gun modified in this manner is rather focused it might be better for xenforo to look at other more regular options. I guess it depends on what his future intentions might be.
 
Thanks very much for the counsel @gnmontey and @BCRider.

I think I'll pass on this one and keep watching. For one, it is priced well over $500 and two, I'd like to feel comfortable shooting magnums through it on occasion.

But I'm definitely going to keep searching for a model 19 (or a model 17).
 
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