If you are carrying appendix, it can make a huge difference. While it doesn’t seem like much it can mean the difference between comfortable and unbearable.

 

Yeah, so that makes the short barrel more versatile.

So what are you giving up to get that? How much do you trade in accuracy and expansion to be able to carry that way?

 

In a self defense situation you aren't going to use the sights, the difference in ballistics will be meaningless too.

 

SIG —- Agree, the “difference” = 0.Nothingmeaningful.....how anyone can get hung up on this amazes me, result of too much reading and too little shooting.

 

Doing to math, a 147gr bullet traveling at 970fps has 4.23% more kinetic energy than one at 950fps, so yeah, it seems like very little additional energy. Unless that somehow crosses the expansion threshold it SEEMS negligible.

So then it's really all about whether the longer barrel helps the human aim more accurately.

And I have no idea how much additional accuracy .3" of barrel makes. Anyone know of any study or data on this?

Apologies for being overly analytical but I'm an engineer and noodling on these kinds of questions is basically in my nature. I would love to see some statistics on how the length of a short barrel impacts the accuracy of an experienced shooter.

 

....I would love to see some statistics on how the length of a short barrel impacts the accuracy of an experienced shooter.

I've never come across those stats in my travels around the interwebs, but I have no doubt that any difference than might exist is attributable to the human factor more than anything. Any impact on the accuracy of an experienced shooter with a 3.6" barrel vs. a 3.9" barrel, in equally experienced hands, is going to come down to practice. The experienced shooter who regularly shoots their 5" barrel 1911 is probably going to struggle more with accuracy in a 3.6" than the shooter who shoots a 3.6" barrel regularly. I've seen experienced shooters be very accurate with a P365, at distance. I know you want a "numbers" answer, but I truly think it's more about the human variable than numbers. The reality is that a shooter can be extremely accurate with a 3" barrel (or less) with practice.

 

For me the longer barrel is what actually makes appendix carry more comfortable. I was using an XL holster for my standard P365 and it helped to keep it from feeling like it was “tipping out” of my waistband. Plus it provides a higher ride for easier master grip when drawing.

As far as shooting goes, I don’t feel .4-.6 will make much difference IMO.

 

I have posed the same questions many times.
I own both guns, and put the question to the test.
These tests apply to ME, hand held, 7 yards.

Test 1: Stock Compact vs Stock Subcompact.
The difference is rather significant. About 1" to even 2".

Test 2: Stock Compact vs Subcompact with Compact magazine and spacer.
I can tell NO significant difference in accuracy.

Notes:
A three finger grip has 50% more grip than a two finger grip.
Controlling your gun, and where it points, does affect accuracy.
The Subcompact is a "snappy" little Devil with a two finger grip.
I got the same results between a Glock 19 (Compact) and a Glock 26 (Subcompact).

These are MY tests, in MY hands. Not scientific, but meaningful to ME.

 

I have similar results. The guns that I grip the best, I shoot the best regardless of manufacturer, bore axis height, sights or caliber.

 

There are three things that I refuse to do in public, arithmetic is one of them.
You don't want to hear about numbers 1 and 2.

Seriously, it's my unscientific belief that .3 is a RCH longer than a quarter inch.