[bandleader]

I have a .380.It's a Colt Gov.and I LOVE it!It's a little bitty 1911.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I would guess this new Smith needs the long bbl and extra weight.
I like to shoot a .357 Python with 6 inch bbl which seems well ballanced to me. A friend's 4 inch Python seemed like a totally different gun.