re: 5” vs 6” barrel on .357 Mag?

Take this fwiw, I'm older, I've had a lot of pistols over the years .... a number of revolvers.

I still have most of them.

I get it, I had a Python back in the 70s. The newer ones are actually way better. All the snake pistols are fine but .... you're not going to beat a S&W 686-6 for value or quality or accuracy or ergonomics or anything else I can think of. Get it in nickle, pachmeyr grips, hiviz front post, tritium green notched rear .... you'll own and cherish that pistol the reat of your life and you'll pass it down to your grandkids.

I've never heard a bad thing about any of them. S&W has them down to a science. Either the 4" or 6" barrels .... you can't go wrong.

I personally prefer the 6".