Boogershooter
New member
Not gona be any chopping on this gun. I'm a firm believer in buying the gun the way you want it. I bought the gun today because it was cheap and in like new condition.
Is a 24 inch barrel too long for a 44?
- Thread starter Boogershooter
- Start date
Pathfinder45
New member
I'm back to answer your question about the powder in factory loads. I believe in an older free loading manual from Winchester that they described their 296 powder as the powder of choice in their 44 Magnum ammo. In order to get the performance expected of 44 Magnum, all the manufacturers can be expected to use a comparable powder. I think they generally won't say. I agree, keeping the original barrel length is what I would do.
"18" is enough for full velocity." -Jim Watson
Want to bet a nickel on that? I will lay odds a 24" 44 Magnum rifle will deliver higher velocity than will an 18" rifle.
Years ago I did some testing of numerous brands of 22 Long rifle ammo and a variety of guns. I had several pistols from 4" to 7.4" and several rifles from 16" to 29" and velocities went higher with each step up in barrel length. Top velocity was with the 29" rifle. The difference in increase grew smaller as the barrel grew longer, but it kept going up.
If the lowly 22 Long Rifle cartridge keeps increasing in velocity beyond 18" I have no doubt the 44 Magnum will do the same.
Want to bet a nickel on that? I will lay odds a 24" 44 Magnum rifle will deliver higher velocity than will an 18" rifle.
Years ago I did some testing of numerous brands of 22 Long rifle ammo and a variety of guns. I had several pistols from 4" to 7.4" and several rifles from 16" to 29" and velocities went higher with each step up in barrel length. Top velocity was with the 29" rifle. The difference in increase grew smaller as the barrel grew longer, but it kept going up.
If the lowly 22 Long Rifle cartridge keeps increasing in velocity beyond 18" I have no doubt the 44 Magnum will do the same.
FrankenMauser
New member
I'd take that bet, as long as they're both rifled barrels.
No barrel chopping required (but highly encouraged!
).Same brand and basic model of rifle. Similar production period. If one of the barrels has been hand-lapped or fire-lapped, the other must have the same process done before testing.
At least 5 different, commonly available, run-of-the-mill factory loads. If any "niche" load or "heavy" load (such as Buffalo Bore) is used, it can only be one of the five loads.
Average muzzle velocity for all loads, compared to average muzzle velocity for all loads.
Highest average wins.
I know, for a fact, that .22 LR is a particularly bad examplar. I have seen, first-hand, how many loads actually LOSE velocity in barrels over 16-18" - particularly 24"+ barrels.
My gut instinct, and much of the (limited) data posted online, put .44 Mag in the same territory.
Pathfinder45
New member
And now we have become an online gambling site?
I kind of doubt that the 22LR and 44 magnum have very much in common when you compare the same barrel lengths. a 24" barreled 44 magnum has a much shorter barrel than a 24" barreled 22LR when you look at it as a ratio of bore size to barrel length.
I kind of doubt that the 22LR and 44 magnum have very much in common when you compare the same barrel lengths. a 24" barreled 44 magnum has a much shorter barrel than a 24" barreled 22LR when you look at it as a ratio of bore size to barrel length.
While I don't dispute the BBTI's information, there's a distinction that must be made between commercial handgun ammo and handloaded ammo using data specifically for rifles. Commercial handgun ammo is developed to produce the highest velocities in short, pistol length barrel. Therefore, they don't do as well in long barreled leverguns.
I handload 347mag and 45 Colt for leverguns and SA pistols (as well as 14 other calibers) and my chrono data shows that my full power 158grn 357mag loads not only benefit from barrels longer than 16", they produce slightly higher velocities in my 24" barreled Rossi '92 rifle (1,822fps) over that of my 20" barreled Rossi '92 carbine (1,789fps).
That said, my 45 Colt standard pressure (14,000psi max) loads (necessary because of the weaker action and suitable for Uberti SA pistols as well) produce slightly lower velocities in my 24" barreled Uberti '73 rifle over that of my 19" barreled Uberti '66 carbine. The same is true for my 38spl loads in my Rossis.
Therefore, the barrel length question can only be honestly answered when the type of ammo is included. A longer barreled rifle can produce higher velocities when the ammo is true magnum level, especially if handloaded with magnum powders like H110, 296, Lil'Gun, etc. It produces lower velocities if used with ammo that is standard pressure or specially formulated for use in short barreled pistols.
I handload 347mag and 45 Colt for leverguns and SA pistols (as well as 14 other calibers) and my chrono data shows that my full power 158grn 357mag loads not only benefit from barrels longer than 16", they produce slightly higher velocities in my 24" barreled Rossi '92 rifle (1,822fps) over that of my 20" barreled Rossi '92 carbine (1,789fps).
That said, my 45 Colt standard pressure (14,000psi max) loads (necessary because of the weaker action and suitable for Uberti SA pistols as well) produce slightly lower velocities in my 24" barreled Uberti '73 rifle over that of my 19" barreled Uberti '66 carbine. The same is true for my 38spl loads in my Rossis.
Therefore, the barrel length question can only be honestly answered when the type of ammo is included. A longer barreled rifle can produce higher velocities when the ammo is true magnum level, especially if handloaded with magnum powders like H110, 296, Lil'Gun, etc. It produces lower velocities if used with ammo that is standard pressure or specially formulated for use in short barreled pistols.
For every bullet and powder combination there is a point in length of barrel where the powder is completely consumed. At that point, the powder can't "push any harder".
There is considerable discussion about the impact of bullet friction in the bore AFTER that point. Some claim friction slows down the bullet, and this may be true in certain cases. What I have seen overall is a reduction in the rate of velocity increase per inch, beyond the "total powder combustion point".
Here's your test, if there are unburned, or under burned, powder granules coming out of the muzzle, they your barrel is not long enough for complete combustion of that particular load.
Generally speaking , the only thing you lose with a longer barrel is the faster handling of a more compact (shorter) rifle. 24" is too awkward for best use in certain situations. In other situations, its no drawback at all, and it does have benefits of its own that a shorter barrel does not.
There's no free lunch, to get something , you have to give up something and its up to you, and your personal situation to decide if what you trade for what you get is worth it.
There is considerable discussion about the impact of bullet friction in the bore AFTER that point. Some claim friction slows down the bullet, and this may be true in certain cases. What I have seen overall is a reduction in the rate of velocity increase per inch, beyond the "total powder combustion point".
Here's your test, if there are unburned, or under burned, powder granules coming out of the muzzle, they your barrel is not long enough for complete combustion of that particular load.
Generally speaking , the only thing you lose with a longer barrel is the faster handling of a more compact (shorter) rifle. 24" is too awkward for best use in certain situations. In other situations, its no drawback at all, and it does have benefits of its own that a shorter barrel does not.
There's no free lunch, to get something , you have to give up something and its up to you, and your personal situation to decide if what you trade for what you get is worth it.
At 100% burn you have 100% gas generated. 100% burn doesn't mean that the bullet stops gaining velocity. That gas still has to go somewhere.
This is why a 308 Win has complete powder burn by 18" of barrel, but still gains velocity out through a 30" Palma barrel. The gas will expand until it equalizes with atmospheric pressure. The extra 12" of barrel are 12 more inches where the expanding gas can transfer energy to the projectile.
But this is also why a 22 LR can lose velocity going from 16" barrel to 26" barrel. The much smaller charge can't generate enough gas to keep the acceleration going all the way to the muzzle.
But until you pull the trigger and measure the results, it's all academic.
Jimro
FrankenMauser- Not my experience in actual testing. I recall or nearly all the various ammo brands kept going faster with longer barrels. None peaked at 18 or 20, but increased at 24 and again at 29. I can only report what I observed.
I only have one 44 Mag rifle so I can't test the question.
I only have one 44 Mag rifle so I can't test the question.