Author Topic: Barrel lenght for a .44 Mag hunter (Read 728 times)

south308 · « **on:** February 23, 2005, 10:58:24 AM »

Hi, I´m trying to determine the minimum useful barrel length for a 44MAG revolver in hunting purposes. Mi concern is that the gun I'm planning to use is a Taurus Raging Bull in 6" barrel, but I suppose the "useable" part (rifled) must be just 5" by the porting at the end.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2005, 11:36:51 AM »

From 4" to as long as you like. Longer barrels mean longer sight radius and thus more accuracy generally speaking if iron sights are to be used. I prefer my barrels from 5.5" to 8-3/8" long. For a serious hunting handgun to be used with iron sights I generally chose a 6.5", 7.5" or 8-3/8" depending on what's available in the particular model.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2005, 12:39:10 PM »

I will second what Graybeard said. I like a 6 inch myself.

crawfish · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2005, 02:45:28 PM »

What the GB said with this added you get to a point with handgun barrel length where the gun becomes cumbersome to carry. The 5.5 6 inch barreled guns carry real easy any way we want to carry them. Once you get over 7 inches your start to limit yourself to the bandolier across the chest or cross draw underarm carry. That is the way I carry my Contenders and it works quite well. Some people just like to carry on their strong side hip and LOOOOONG barrels make that difficult sometimes. As what was posted above about all you gain with the extra long barrels is sight radius with iron sights if you plan on scooping the gun that long barrel is just in the way of carry and wont add to the killing power of your .44 at all.

sawfish · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2005, 11:01:58 AM »

I suggest you consider a longer barrel. If you are using the Taurus style barrel mount, you do not have much room for a scope with the short barrel guns because of the porting. The longer the better for a hunting revolver in my opinion.

south308 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2005, 11:19:28 AM »

Gentlemen, thanks for your answers, they gave me good information for my "peace of mind". I had go with this gun due their local availability and price. I plan to use just the open sights (the woods down here are pretty tight and I think don´t allow "long" shots, so optical sights are not needed). I also plan to stick to the 6" barrel for easy carry.
Thanks again.
Marcelo.

Mikey · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2005, 12:52:05 PM »

I agree with GB and I guess I'm the 'shorty' in the group. I had my long barrelled revolvers rebarrelled to 3.5" (357) and 4" (44 mag) for ease of carry in the field. I went to a heavier bullet to compensate for velocity loss and haven't had a failure yet. My short barrels shoot pretty easily, too. I generally have to limit my hunting pistol shots to 50 yds with the open sights because of the brush, etc., unless I have a perfect shot to a longer distance.

I used to shoot silhouette with 4" 357s and had a ball doing it. That taught me a bit about what you can and cannot see with open sights, and at what distances, and I let that guide my shots. So I guess I'm pretty conservative on my handgun shots. Just to let you know that you need not pack a lot of extra barrel to get what you need from that 44. HTH. Mikey.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2005, 12:57:51 PM »

Quote from: south308

Gentlemen, thanks for your answers, they gave me good information for my "peace of mind". I had go with this gun due their local availability and price. I plan to use just the open sights (the woods down here are pretty tight and I think don´t allow "long" shots, so optical sights are not needed). I also plan to stick to the 6" barrel for easy carry.
Thanks again.
Marcelo.

The 6 inch is a good over all length barrel.