barrel lenght

Question
I want to buy smith and wesson 22A chambered with .22LR bullet and 7 inches barrel lenght. But the store has only 5.5 inches barrel lenght available for this gun and I couldn't find any store or someone who sell this kind of pistol here in the Philippines. I want to know if there is a difference in there accuracy in this 1.5 inches difference between this two barrel lenght? Please inlighten me.I couldn't decide if I will buy this 5.5 inches gun or just wait till I find the 7 inches gun I want.

Answer
Mr. Cornico,

I do not believe that there will be any intrinsic difference in accuracy between the 5.5" and 7" barrels.

It anything about the barrel length makes a difference it will be sight radius.  Generally speaking, all things being equal, a longer sight radius will give you better accuracy.

How great a difference in accuracy will depend on a number of things, including the distance and size of the target, how quickly you will need to shoot, what you consider acceptable accuracy (e.g. do you need to hit soda cans at 25 yards, or 3/8' bullseyes?) and your own shooting abilities.

If you were to clamp both barrels in a vice, there would be no intrinsic different.  There's no question that you would notice *some* difference between the two - whether that difference is significant really depends on a number of variables and your own assessment, vis-a-vis how long you have to wait to get hold of the 7" gun.

My own opinion?  For my purposes, the 5.5" barrel would suite me fine.

I hope this helps.

But if