barrel length

[The deerslayer]

I like 8 3/8 inch barrel but I seen a gun I liked that has a 6.5 inch barrel. What would be the difference, and is it big enough for hunting? They don't make a bigger barrel.

[Mohawk]

Some difference. Not much. Depending on caliber, load, and powder.

[The deerslayer]

The gun is a 41 mag. Would I be able to use it at 100 yards?

[pastorp]

Fred722, If you can hit at 100yds the gun will do fine. The limiting factor is usually the shooter not the gun. IMO a 6&1/2" 41 mag. will do the job at whatever range you can place your shots all in the kill zone. While I was a 100yd plus shooter a few years ago, my eyes will not allow me to make shots at those distances now. Hope this helps, Byron

[44 Man]

Well, we're going to go back a few years here. (quite a few)  This question was posed back in the 70s.  The major shooting magazines of the time attempted to answer the question of how much power you lost as you shortened the barrel.  They started with a 12" bbl Super Blackhawk and kept cutting it an inch at a time clear down to 2".  They found that only about 25 to 30 fps was lost for most of the cuts until they got down to about 5".  From 5" on they seemed to lost about 50 to 60 fps per inch.  Their conclusion was that a 5" bbl was the most efficient length.  Barrels beyond that length did not gain a lot more power, and shorter than that began to affect velocity more.  Many of the custom gun makers started offering 5" bbls.  Mag-na-port offered their Predator (before it was called a Predator) with a 5" bbl and I have one.  Then it became a matter of looks and convenience (every try to buy a holster for a 5" SBH?) to go to the 4 5/8" bbl.  Pick a gun that looks good to you and balances well and go hunting.  What you shoot with it will never know the difference.  44 Man

[oso45-70]

Mr 44 Man,
Yep I go back that far and i remember the article very well, And you hit it on the head. Going from a 5" to a 10" amounted to about 50ft difference. I don't think i would be able to tell if it was alower or faster. It all depends on ones personal likes or dislikes. I like one to be 5 to 6" They are a lot easyer to handle in my opinion. Stay safe............Joe...............

[S.B.]

Barrel length is a matter of personal tasted. Most hunters prefer a longer barrel, I like  them in the middle(6"-7"). Elmer Keith, one of the original .44 mag fathers preferred a 4". What ever works for the indivigual using the firearm, is best.

[Brett]

Seems that the issue of power has been well covered.  The only other thing I could ad is that if you don't intend to put a scope on the gun the longer barrel would provide you a longer sight radius wich may be of help.  Other than that check the game regulations in the area you intend to hunt for the minimum barrel length requirement (it's 6.5" here in NC) and go with a gun that balances well and feel right in your hands.

[44 Man]

Brett, I always liked a 7 1/2" bbl for the balance.  But you will notice when you get another 10 or 15 years older, that it's harder to pull in the focus on them longer sight radius barrels!  I find I much prefer a 4 or 5 inch barrel nowdays, not for the balance, but because I can focus on the sights better!  I wonder if Elmer prefered his 4" for much the same reason.  44 Man

[bowfishn]

I did alot of testing with the 44 mag about 25years ago and the 10.5" barrel got between 100 and 150 feet per second increase over the 7.5" barrel using slower burning powders like W296 and H110.
The testing that was done in the 70's was most likely done with Factory ammo that was designed to give optimum performance in a 4"-6" barrel and thus you would not see a big increase in velocity over a 5" barrel.
I have always reloaded my ammo so as to get the best performance and accuracy from my handguns.
So i have always opted for the longer barrel for my hunting handguns, as a 9.5" or 10.5" barrel is alot easier to pack than a 22"-24" rifle.

[myronman3]

aside from velocity, there is the issue of recoil.  the longer the barrel the less recoil you are going to feel.   i have shot 4 5/8 , 10.5 and 7.5 inch sbh side by side with the exact same loads.   you cant believe the difference barrel length makes here.  my favorite to shoot was the 10.5.  my favorite to carry is the 4 5/8.   so i go with the 4 5/8.  i would rather have a gun on me when i need it than have a gun i enjoy shooting more that i left at home cause it is a bear to carry.   but the 10.5 is still sweet to shoot.

[Brett]

While we are on the subject of barrel length, I have a question for you.  Does the Division of Fish & Game include the chamber area of an autoloader when figuring legal barrel length?  If so should they not include the cylinder when figuring legal barrel length of a revolver?  

Example: From NC Inland Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Reg's - "Deer, bear and wild bore may be taken with a handgun during the established gun hunting season provided that the handgun has a barrel length of at least 5.5 inches in length, metallic center-fire cartridges etc., etc,.... "  Using this example a 4 inch barreled .357 Mag. Revolver would not be legal, but a 5.5 inch barreled .357 Sig. Pistol might be considered legal even though the actual barrel length excluding  the chamber area is less than 5.5 inches.  

Does this sound right or am I missing something?

[bowfishn]

It seems to be a wording problem, as with a Thompson Center handgun the barrel length includes the chamber. This is because the chamber and the barrel are one, as with a revolver the chamber and barrel are two differant parts.
I know where you're coming from, but until they decide to clarify the laws we are stuck with what we have.

[44 Man]

Here in Michigan, a TC or a semi-auto includes the chamber in barrel length.  On a revolver they measure barrel only.  44 Man