Best length for shooting 44 mag

Are you making a statement or asking a question?

If you are asking a question, I would suppose we need to know what barrel lengths you have to choose from. How many .44 Magnum Anacondas do you have to choose from?
 
question, in terms of recoil control

I believe Colt made 4", 6", and 8".
This gun has a full length underlug (like a Python on steroids).

I personally have a 4" and it is well balanced and pleasant with specials but kind of beastly with magnums.
 
The longer tubes will give better recoil control due to increased weight. You will also have a longer sight radius, and some increased velocity. They are not more accurate in and of themselves. The downside is length and weight when carried all day. It is all trade off.
 
If you drive and carry a 4" will be your best bet, but I only carry 44 mag while hunting and I find 6" is nice for belt or shoulder holster carry but the 8" if I had one I would prefer a bandoleer and holster. If you are a one handed shooter the 6" balances nice or it does for me. The 8" is pretty much of a shoot from a rest gun for me. Old age and 'Arthur the rat Itis' took up residence in my shoulders and can't do the longer barrels off hand for very many shots anymore. I used to shoot with a buddy who had the 8" Anaconda and he loved it but didn't shoot it much. What a waste. I think he bought because he liked the name. :D
 
The longer tubes will give better recoil control due to increased weight.
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Longer barrels also have more leverage against your wrist. While what you say is traditional wisdom, I have found the opposite to be true.

Personally, I see no advantage to the 8" for any purpose. The 6" will make for a better dedicated hunting sixgun. The 4" would be the better packer and general purpose sixgun.
 
Kcub:

Your eyes will determing barrel length. When I was young I shot a 6 1/2 inch model 29 Smith and a six inch model 27 Smith: both were extreamly accurat out to 100 yards. Now that I'm seventy-five my eyes are tired and I shoot two four inch revolvers: a model 625 and a model 25. So if you are young get the longer barrel. If your eyes are tired get the shorter barrel. How to choose. Stand in front of of a blank white wall and aligne the sights You can choose the barrel length from the sharpness of the sights.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
best length? are you looking for carrying convience or power? if it's power i suggest a chronograph for the ammo you plan to carry or use for your particular purpose. if is for convience the shorter barrel usually fits the bill better.

i have a 7 1/2" ruger redhawk. great gun, shoots well. i also have a taurus model 44 with a 4" barrel. the smaller taurus shoots as well as the redhawk out to100 yards. i find myself using the shorter taurus for hiking or a camp gun more than the ruger. if i was hunting i would probably choose the longer barreled redhawk. i would choose your barrel length based on your intended use.
 
If you have the 4". Get a good set of grips, and teach yourself to ride the recoil. I have a 4" Redhawk and I load some pretty spicy rounds for it. I have a big hogue grip on it so I can really hold on to it. And I cant even tell I am shooting a .44mag anymore
 
I have found 5" to be just about perfect in any revolver for a balance of portability and power. Not having that option, with the full underlug Anaconda, I would go with the 4" over the other choices.
 
Well, Kcub;

If you don't have as a minimum a 4", 6" or 6.5" and an 8" or 8 3/8" you don't have all the 44mags you NEED. Then you can decide.

One is NOT enough!
 
I have a sbh and consider recoil to be abusive with magnums.

The anaconda has that massive underlug, I'm wondering how I'm going to feel about the recoil of the six and eight inch anaconda. The best thing would be to try both out, butthese things never did grow on trees.
 
Let me tell you what I think...

What you need to invest in is a reloading setup. The 44 mag is my favorite of all rounds. But, between cost and availability reloading is the only cost effective way to get the most out of the round.
  • The 44 special level loads are fantastic for target and plinking.
  • The mid range loads really work fine for almost any application. Also, they don't beat you to death.
  • Then you can create flame throwing, death dealing, gun busting ammunition that will give you a permanent tick.
​

You will like the gun you have much more, learn a BUNCH about how guns and ammo work and have EXACTLY what you want to shoot.
 
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Well, heck, kcub! Be scientific and get one of each!

Seriously: there's no such thing as a best length for all kinds of shooting for everyone. I personally prefer the handiness of a four-inch barrel, but the sight radius of a longer barrel. My long-tubed guns are now too muzzle-heavy for my arthritic wrist.

I have no idea why so few revolver makers have offered five-inch barrels.
 
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