KNOWING THE BARREL LENGTH OF YOUR HANDGUN IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN SELECTING THE PROPER SIZE HOLSTER FOR YOUR GUN.   A HOLSTER THAT IS TOO SMALL WILL NOT PROPERLY AND SAFELY CONTAIN THE HANDGUN AND ONE THAT IS TOO LARGE MAY ALLOW THE GUN TO SLIDE DOWN TOO FAR INTO THE HOLSTER FOR A PROPER DRAW.

ALL HANDGUN BARRELS ARE MEASURED FROM THE BREECH FACE TO THE MUZZLE END OF THE BARREL, BUT THE BARREL ON REVOLVERS AND PISTOLS IS MEASURED DIFFERENTLY. 

       Autoloading Pistol Barrel Length (semiautomatic pistol)  The method of measurement recommended by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is: 

1.  Unload the Gun.

2.  Pull back the slide and cock the pistol, letting the slide close in the forward position.

3.  Insert a dowel rod of appropriate diameter down the barrel of the gun until it stops at the breech face.

4.  Mark the dowel rod at the muzzle end.

5. Remove the dowel rod and measure from the end of the rod to your mark.  This is the barrel length.

This length may be closely estimated without a dowel rod by following this method: 

1.  Unload the gun.

2.  Pull back the slide and lock it open.

3.  Measure from the end of the barrel where the cartridge is inserted forward to the end of the muzzle, along the side of the barrel. 

 Revolver Barrel Length Measurement

  1.  Unload the gun. 

  2.  Insert a dowel rod of appropriate diameter into the muzzle end of the gun. 

  3.  Slide the dowel rod into the barrel until it touches the face (front) of the revolver's cartridge cylinder. 

  4.  Mark the dowel rod at the muzzle end.

  5.  Measure the dowel rod from the end of the rod to your mark.  This is your barrel length. 

WE CARRY A WIDE SELECTION OF HOLSTERS FOR BOTH REVOLVERS, AUTOS AND SINGLE SHOT PISTOLS (T/C, etc) HAVING BARREL LENGTHS FROM 2" ALL THE WAY UP TO 16".  HERE ARE SOME HOLSTER EXAMPLES SO YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES:

  2" Barrel Revolver            4" Barrel Revolver    6" Barrel Revolver    8" Barrel Scoped Revolver

                             

    2 1/2" Barrel Auto                  3 1/2" Barrel Auto             4" Barrel Auto              5" Barrel Auto

                

Good Luck and Good Shooting from the Holsterman at Planet Holster.