Just curious .. designers might make changes based solely on aesthetics but engineers I think wouldnt .. What are the advantages or disadvantages of Half Lug Vs full lug from a performance/longevity angle?
Alex
A full lug adds a bit of weight to the muzzle helping tame muzzle lift. Possibly a coincidence but all of my favorite magnums are heavy barrel full lug.
A full lug on ANY S&W is wasted steel, ugly and extra weight to tote.......They are not attractive at all compared to a S&W tapered or straight barrel..........Side grinder anyone?
The full lug must add a significant amount of weight. I don't know if the steels or different or what other differences there might be but I weighed my 3"686 and my Half lug Ruger Match 10mm champion with 4.2 bbl and the GP was only 2 ozs heavier.
Edited to add
I may have messed up how I worded it so here is what I got
3" 686 unloaded 2lb 4 oz
4.2" Ruger GP100 Half jug unloaded 2lb 6oz
The full lug must add a significant amount of weight. I don't know if the steels or different or what other differences there might be but I weighed my 3"686 and my Half lug Ruger Match 10mm champion with 4.2 bbl and the GP was only 2 ozs lighter.
I like both styles. I am glad S&W makes revolvers both ways. Otherwise they would all look alike.
The initial Pythons had a hollow underlug. Someone along the way decided the extra weight at the barrel would be nice for recoil control, and they started making it solid, so I would think that was an engineering change, since the looks didn't change
According to the factory websites, the 3 inch 686 plus weighs 36.8 oz., and the 3 inch GP100 weighs 36 oz.
The new 2.75 inch, model 66 weighs in at 33.5 ounces, so over 3 ounces for the extra quarter inch of barrel with full underlug
In the same way that I can appreciate the styling of a 1956 Chevy as well as a 2020 Audi A8 I like classic guns with their pencil barrels as well as more modern guns with their full underlug barrels. Some folks on here seem cocked, locked, and ready to rock at all times. To many questions there is no single answer.
I wish they would make a K Frame or L Frame in 10mm along the lines of the 329pd
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