.44 Magnum Barrel Length

S

SpaceBinks

Inactive
Hello I am new to the forum. I was wondering what would be a preferable barrel length for a Taurus M44 or Raging Bull in .44 magnum. I may be getting either one, not sure yet, and suggestions on which may help my deciding. Back to the point though, Which is a better barrel length? 6 1/2 inch or 8 inch? would the 8 inch be very unwieldy? If so would the improved accuracy justify that? Thank you in advance.
 
The best thing to do is go handle them. The 8" will give a little better velocity and longer sight radius but that doesn't necessarily mean that you will shoot it better. IMHO, you will probably be better served with the 6.5" but only you can answer that for sure. How you plan to use it also makes a difference.
 
What are you going to use the gun for? As a general rule, longer barrels will give you higher velocity, less recoil (due to the extra weight), and be easier to shoot accurately (due to the longer sight radius) than a comparable gun with a shorter barrel. Longer barrels are, however, less convenient to carry and more difficult to conceal. As such, the intended use for the gun dictates what the best barrel length is.

For example, my own .44 Magnum (S&W 629) was bought with the intention of being a double-duty woods/winter CCW revolver, so I got a 4" barrel. If, however, I were going to use the gun strictly for a hunting revolver and concealment were not an issue, I'd have chosen a longer barrel.
 
It will be used mostly as a range/fun gun. The other purposes will be hunting, possible open carry mainly for trail use. So i feel the 6 1/2 inch may serve better but my father has been urging me to get the 8 inch.
 
Anything under a 6" for hunting..is probably not optimal .../ and if it were mainly for hunting and some range fun ...I'd agree with your dad on the 8 3/8" ( for me, it would be a model 29 or 629 ). I think a 6" is ok for hunting / but not great.

For just carrying on a trail ...a 6" or 8 3/8" is more weight / and more cumbersome / and pretty long to carry .../ I don't want something that big on my belt / or in a shoulder holster, if I have a pack on (it gets in the way )...so I'd go with a 3" or 4" probably as a "trail gun" ...like the 629...

I'm not a big fan of handguns for hunting...vs just having it as a backup gun on your belt - when you hunt with a rifle - and if that were the case, I
'd go back to my 3" or 4" option as a Trail gun / backup gun.

So most of us have more than one gun in a .44 mag....( or .357 mag, etc ) ...
 
I think that I will go with a 6 1/2 inch barrel. It was what I wanted in the first place but my dad was trying to get me to go bigger because he wanted one that size for a while. :P ..... But i do really like the look of that 8 incher. :P
 
I was tempted to say, "Get both!" But really, I agree with spacecoast. The 6 to 6½ inch models are the best of both worlds, and if you do want "both", then I'd get the 8" and a 4 or 5" one for trail packing.
 
Which one points best for you. The few extra fps per second gained by the extra barrel length is not worth the loss of accuracy and speed of acquiring the front sight in a stress situation.
 
For carry anything in an N frame S&W longer than 4 inches is difficult to use. I have a 3 inch 29 stainless that I carry from time to time and its heavy.
But for a range gun and hunting I would steer you away from a Taurus and unless you’re set on a double action you should look hard at a Ruger Super Blackhawk. If double is a have to have then look at the Redhawk. The Ruger can shoot rounds for years that will wear out a Taurus in a short time.
For target or range 6 inch is max for me. I don’t like the balance of most guns with barrels longer than 6.

http://www.ruger.com/products/superRedhawkStandard/models.html
http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkHunter/models.html
 
Last edited:
SpaceBinks:

Even though an eight inch barrel has a longer sight radius that gives more precise sight alignment, I find it to wiedly and harder to acheive proper sight alignment unless I'm shooting from a rest. I would choose the six or six an one half length. If your eyes are aging than the four inch will most likely be best for you.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
6" is enough barrel to get any reasonable target velocity without being too long. I have two 7.5" 44s and I have no desire for a longer barrel. In fact, I've shot some 8 and 10" models and they are a little unwieldy as already noted. The only exception to this that I have seen is in a 10" MK II pistol which handles well for me despite the long barrel..
 
A six inch barrel is the longest I own and consider IT to be a little troublesome. I much prefer the handiness of a four inch. Yes you'll lose a little velocity but not really that much. For me the portability and handiness far outweigh any percieved advantage in velocity.
 
Well I have decided to get a 7 1/2 inch Ruger Super Redhawk instead of either of the Taurii.. I think it will serve me better. :) It should be here sometime this or next week. :)
 
Great choice! I have the Redhawk and Super Blackhawk and they are very strong. I don't know about the SRH, but from what I've heard they are even stronger.

Remember to give us some pics when it comes in. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top