I have found balance to be slightly more important than sight radius. This from having used a 9½" .22 for hunting... 5", 6", 6½", 7", and 10½" .44s... for hunting... plus 5½" and 4" target .22s.
And then there's front/rear sight sizes.
All that, in turn, has meant length by itself hasn't been the sole determinant.
-Chris
