Maybe it's just me, but I find the typical carry statements here just a little bit odd, as if most folks must use the 7-1/2" revolver as a range toy or perhaps a truck gun. What good is it if you won't leave your truck behind and take your revolver on the trail in a holster? Now, I know, most of y'all can't relate to my next question, but I will ask it anyway: If you could only have one centerfire revolver for all outdoor purposes, including trail carry, hunting and related use, actually out in the field, forest and mountains; which would it be, and more specifically, how long would the barrel be? Try to assume, if you can, that you can only afford one; or that you had to sell every every redundant thing in your life due to some unexpected emergency and you had to be ruthless about it. I only have one and it has to make do. Currently, and for the last 20 years it has been a stainless original original Vaquero in 45 Colt, with 4-5/8" barrel, the one that can take hot loads. I backpack into wilderness lakes with it in a holster and bring a fishing rod while I'm at it. My buddy thinks I'm rather good with this gun and maybe I am 'cuz I shoot it a lot. But it has limitations. I do OK with it at 25 yards or so; but it's no 50 yard gun. It has been more than 30 years since I had a 7-1/2" Blackhawk, so, how well I shot it back then is not as clear in my mind as last week with the Vaquero. But it was my trail-gun then and worked just fine in a cross-draw holster. Maybe I should go back to a 7-1/2" barrel because I would like it to be 50 yard reliable? What say ye, brethren: does the longer 7-1/2" barrel shoot well at 50 yards compared to your shorter guns? Just to be clear, I'm referring to a single-action Ruger, holstered revolver, 44 or 45, and no darn scope. Thanks for your shared experiences.