cnemeth:
As I understand it, the 5" and 6" bbls were popular when folks (mostly cowboys, cavalry and cops) rode horses or walked a beat. Once law enforcement mounted up in autos, the long bbls made for a very uncomfortable shift with the muzzle digging into the seat, pushing the entire rig up from around your waist towards the unfortunate soul's armpit.
In short, long bbls fell out of favor. 4" became the standard for military and police work, with some holding out for 6". The 5" bbl was just OBE (overcome by events). The 6" bbl is still popular among handgun hunters, etc.
Mike
