Barrel length

[DC]

I want to try my hand at hand gun hunting and have decided that 44mag. is the way to go for me as I have fired the round many times and don't feel that the recoil is unmanageable.  Also, it makes a good trail companion round and can fire 44 specials as a plinker.  I am a good shot as well.
Here is the quandary.  I have a chance to pick up a Redhawk with a 5.5" barrel at a good price used or I can opt for a longer barrel like a Super Blackhawk with a 7.5" tube.  The stainless version is affordable and the Hunter model is a bit more.
How much barrel is the minimum.  I have read on this forum guys taking deer with 4 5/8 barrels all the way up to 10".  I may use a scope at some time but more likely will not.
Your help and advice will be much appreciated.
Dana

[jhalcott]

  What do the  hunting regs in the area YOU will hunt say? In Maryland they require a 6" minimum barrel length.Other states are more agreeable.!  A longer barrel has a longer sight plane ,making long shots easier. A short barrel is easier to handle and pack. I find a 10 contender a good compromise, but would carry a 4.5" .44Mag if allowed. Of course, this limits shooting to 75 or 100 yards at most. Some guys can do better ,but they must practice more than me!

[Luckyducker]

Although there is some benefit of greater velocity with a longer tube the gain would not be that advantageous.  So in reality if you can shoot the shorter barreled revolver well it won't make a heck of a lot difference in performance, but the shorter barreled gun will pack a lot easier.  Personally, I'd go with the Redhawk and not look back.

[Ken ONeill]

As jhalcott says, check your prospective hunting area's regulations for minimum barrel length requirements. With that question answered, pick the gun that feels best to you. The extra sight radius will likely be helpful to you, as it is to most people, on a target range at longer distances. In the hunting fields, at practical hunting distances out to 80 yards or a bit more, there will be no practical difference for most  people. There will be no practical difference in velocity for hunting: 50-75 fps is insignificant.

[Camel 23]

I have chronographed several hunting and plinking loads out of my 7.5" and 5.5" barreled guns and like the others have said there is no significant difference.  None of the loads varied by more than 50 fps.  When you drop down to a 2.5" barrel or up to a 20" barrel the velocities can really swing.

I do have a 7.5" SBH Hunter and it is the most accurate handgun that I own but it is definately not a packing gun.  Having the ability to add or remove a scope without altering the gun (drilling and tapping) is a great feature if you think you may use a scope at times.

[Sverre A.]

"Having the ability to add or remove a scope without altering the gun (drilling and tapping) is a great feature if you think you may use a scope at times"


I had a SRH 454, and have a SRH 44 Mag. - and 5 different original mounts.  None of the them shoot (shot) where I want to - when I demount and mount them.  The first shot after demount is about 4" too high at 54 yds.
I sight it in 2" high at 54 yds.  The first shot will then be 6" inches too high - and that`s too much

[Camel 23]

"Having the ability to add or remove a scope without altering the gun (drilling and tapping) is a great feature if you think you may use a scope at times"


I had a SRH 454, and have a SRH 44 Mag. - and 5 different original mounts.  None of the them shoot (shot) where I want to - when I demount and mount them.  The first shot after demount is about 4" too high at 54 yds.
I sight it in 2" high at 54 yds.  The first shot will then be 6" inches too high - and that`s too much

I've never had to readjust my scope.  Maybe I just got lucky, maybe its because the SBH Hunter uses a different mounting point than the SHR does, I'm not sure.  I'm using a Leupold 2X with the factory supplied scope mounts.