Why is there a 4" limit on barrel length for revolvers?

[HighVelocity]

5" 1911 barrel is OK but 5" revolver barrel is not OK. Help me see the logic in this ruling please.

Thanks,
Gary

[Steve Vandermolen]

Gary, Repeat after me...

It is only a game
It is only a game
It is only a game

Steve

[HighVelocity]

Yes, it's only a game. I would just like to understand the reasoning behind some of the equipment rules that don't make sense to me.

Changing the plastic guide rod to metal moving a Glock from SSP to ESP is another one that bugs me.


Gary

[Steve Vandermolen]

Regarding point one, the 5" barrel is easier to control and more difficult to conceal than the 4". That means that everyone would need 5" barrels to compete. Of course the 4" is easier to control and more difficult to conceal than a 2" so everyone needs a 4" barrel to compete. No logic, just a decision to draw a line somewhere. Prior to 2002, 5" barrels were allowed in IDPA.

Regarding point two, the steel guidrod is not a stock part and is heavier than the stock part so, in theory, it could offer an advantage over the plastic guide rod. Therefore, only allowed in ESP.

Point three - Please see my previous post...

[Revchuck]

Gary - If you lay a 4" revolver on top of a 5" 1911, you'll notice that they're almost the exact same length. Ditto with a G34/35. I think the powers-that-be decided that that was the outside limit of what most people could reasonably conceal.

That doesn't take into account, of course, the fact that the round gun is far classier than any bottomfeeder...