S&W 41, 5 1/2" versus 7 3/8" barrel for irons.

I had a late 70's 5.5" S&W 41 as my first 22 match pistol. Really liked the pistol but sold it due to some extraction issues, it's one that I wish I still had. So thinking of buying another one. I'll likely buy a 70's vintage model and leave the stock barrel for irons (and collector value) then buy a 5.5" Clark barrel with integrated picatinny rail for optics. 

So for irons which do you prefer the 5.5 or 7.375 barrel? My 5.5" felt heavy at the time but my arm and hold is way better now than it was year one so curious about a 7 3/8" but never held one.

The 7-3/8" feels a bit whippy to me.

I always liked the longer sight radius of the 7" and the feel of the 5.5. There is a option to have both since your looking at older models. NFI

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/848947159

I like the longer sight radius on the 7"

Longer sight radius is better for iron sight shooting.  Back in the 70s I had the original Joe Chambers mount a Bomar rear on mine.

The Clark barrel for the Model 41 is/was available in three different models, and two lengths.  I got the longer one, but wondered if I'd be better of with the shorter (lighter) one.

I have both, I bought mine with the longer barrel and in the past I have shot it really well. I just bought a 5.5 inch barrel from midway.  With iron sights from a rest the longer barrel seems to be a bit more accurate.  Off hand I shoot the longer barrel slightly better but these days my scores have been crap.  I think the big issue is the loose nut holding the grips.

For me, back in the day, I shot the long barrel better in slow fire, but the 5 1/2" better at the short line. Since the match is 2/3 short line, it was an easy decision for me.