Pistol Question

[lvt01]

Hope you guys can help me here. I have a question regarding barrel performance. Would the felt recoil of a 44 mag in 10 inch barrel be greater than the felt recoil in a 15 inch barrel? Also, is the accuracy lessened by shooting a shorter barrel? I was going to try taking a whitetail this year with my 44 mag barrel, but was toying with the idea of shortening it. Someone told me that he has a 44 in a 10 inch and is a better length to use for tree stand hunting. He can bring it to aim quicker and he didn't see that it made any difference in the accuracy of the shot placement. Only thing with his barrel is that it is a bull barrel and mine is a 15 inch tappered. What do you guys think? Thanks! Larry

[Grumulkin]

Since a 10 inch barrel weighs less than a 15 inch barrel there will probably be more felt recoil but I doubt it will be much more.

The accuracy in a 10 inch barrel should be just as good as in a 15 inch barrel but velocity will probably be a little less.

I can't imagine that a 10 inch barrel will be much handier or faster in a tree stand than a 15 inch barrel.  With either barrel, if you don't want to miss you will need to take a careful well aimed shot and barrel length won't make much of a difference.  If any difference is to be had, the advantage would be with the longer sighting plane with the 15 inch barrel with open sites.  If the barrel is scoped, there will be no differnece.

[rickyp]

I have  10 and 14" contender barrels and 12,14.5, and 15 inch encore barrels

as far as recoil the shorter barrel will have more recoil as it has less weight but will it be enough to really notice, not really. you can get the same results by using reduced loads.

I  find that the 10" barrels are better for still hunting of small game. for stand hunting  for big game like the 14 and 15 inches barrels because  it gives a few hundred FPS and puts the muzzle blast a little further out. 

If i where you I would keep it a 15 inch barrel and use it, but if you really want a shorter barrel you can sent it out and have it shortened and re crowned for about $100 + shipping or you can trade it off for a 12" or 10 inch barrel.

[jhalcott]

HEY LARRY! get HIS barrel and have it shortened to about 8 inches. Then you have every thing covered. For stand hunting I think the longer barrel is better. For still hunting (stalking) the shorter barrel is much easier to hold on target. Recoil SHOULDN'T be a problem when hunting but might be noticed when practicing on the range.

[rickyp]

If you have your heart on cutting it back you should cut it to 12" and have the best of both worlds

[HL]

I started with a 10" 44 mag barrel and then went to a 15" bull barrel.

I can say, with the 300gr cast bullets I was using, and loading them both to near maximum for my barrels, the 15" barrel seemed to have maybe 15-20% less felt recoil. I can shoot much more without the hand getting tired or sore. the added weight and length of the barrel seemed to help the recoil considerably.

Just from my own experience. However, I don't own any 10" barrels anymore, but they were fun to have.

[bustedknee]

I like 10 inch barrels on my Contender.  It fits much better in my daypack.

The little ole ladies think I'm hiking for my health, not hunting.

[rickyp]

I like 10 inch barrels on my Contender.  It fits much better in my daypack

You may want to be careful doing this, check your state county and town laws they  could consider that a concealed weapon.

When I am hunting  my handguns They must be in sight at all times, If I put it under my rain coat to keep it out of the weather it is then considered a concealed weapon. it would be on the officer/ game warder to decide on my intent.

[jpsmith1]

10" vs 15"  I don't see any real difference exept for personal preference.  Try to shoot a 10" barrel then your 15 incher.  As far as ballistic performance, I can't really see a difference.

As far as being in your pack being concealed.  There's no question.  You need a CCW permit, then you're covered.  Here in PA, a CCW is basically required for handgun hunting.  There's a different permit that you can get, but the cost is the same, so why would you not get a CCW?

[bustedknee]

I like 10 inch barrels on my Contender.  It fits much better in my daypack

You may want to be careful doing this, check your state county and town laws they  could consider that a concealed weapon...

Not a problem in Alaska.  Np permit required.