Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 44 mag barrel length

I'm looking at a 44mag and considering 4.5" bbl. Is this a mistake In terms of recoil, and loss of velocity and downrange energy?

The biggest I'd consider is 6.5 and usage is simply predator protection.

Nothing at all wrong with a 4.5" barreled 44.

No there is not. Heck, I've shot the 4, 6.5, and 8 3/8ths S&W 29's, owned the 6.5, and have shot the 7.5 Supers, and, now that I think about it, even the 5 inch 629. The only one I've kept is the 4 inch, no dash 29, I bought in 1967.
Why ? Because it shoots. Try all six into 1.5 inches, that's outside spread, of Remington 240 gr. SP ammo at 35 yds. That, and it's the easiest to carry model of them all.
They do kick harder. But they recover faster. But there is a big difference in the felt recoil of an 8 3/8ths inch 29 over a 4 inch. E

Downside is harsher recoil and less sight radius. There will be a slight loss of velocity over the longer barrel. Upside is quicker into action, less to snag up. Lighter. I think I'd rather have the shorter barrel for the use you describe.

And you can load it down a little bit and have an easy to carry, easy to shoot thumper. Nothing says you have to shoot full house loads to kill stuff. My favorite load is a 250 gr. cast bullet at 950 to 1000 fps. It will do anything I need.

I have only owned four inch .44s. The first was bought new in 1966 and I shot it so much it was rebuilt three times. About 1990 a collector offered me so much for it I sold it and replaced it with an original 629 Mountain Revolver.

While the first gun shot mostly 250 grain Keith bullets and maximum loads of 2400 powder, the 629 uses the same bullet and mostly Unique at about 1,000 fps.

I have never noticed that a 4" has harsher recoil many times the longer barrels has more velocity and that can make the difference in recoil.

I've also never found longer barrels to exhibit less recoil and for me, the difference in sight radius is moot. I find the difference in weight to alter the balance but that's about it. That is, comparing 4" 629 to a 6" 29 and a 4 5/8" Bisley Super Blackhawk to a 7�" Bisley Super Blackhawk. I just seem to shoot the short barrels better but own plenty of both and don't find a 7�" on the hip to be objectionable at all.

This is not what I had expected, but good input

Okay, I'll be the odd one out d:^). I like the 5.5" barrels on Blackhawks, they seem to balance better for me and my hands. I've had two Super Blackhawks, both were made with 7.5" barrels and had been cut down to "holster" better. Even with the long grip frame, they carried much lighter than they were. (No, I didn't own them at the same time, nor carry them in a two-gun rig).
I liked the balance better, a LOT better, than the 4 5/8" .45 Blackhawks I had, OR, the 6.5" .41.

If you plan on carrying it in a holster on your belt. Go with the shorter barrel. Even at that it weighs right at 4 lbs and that gets tedious all day ,pulling down one side.
I have the 4&5/8 SBH and had two 6" barrels that went down the road.
I also had the Smith mountain gun, but those N frames are just too big for my hands.

The longest barrel length I've carried in a LOT of years was a 5-1/2" That started life as a 7-1/2" and had the barrel cut down. It was a super Blackhawk. Most of the guns were 4" either 629 or the Ruger Redhawk. As long as it's comfortable and easy to carry you are more likely to have it with you. I haven't noticed barrel length being an issue when it comes to accuracy. Course I don't shoot more than 100 yards. Even then not that often. Usually when I've needed to get it out with either bears or moose it's not like we were talking long shots anyway.

Four pounds???

My 4" 629 weighs 2 lbs. 12 oz.

I have a 6 inch colt and love it. But I sure would like one of those 4 inch 629

Is there any downside to cutting a 7.5 as opposed to starting out with a shorter barrel?

Just the added cost of having the barrel cut down and recrowned.

There are those that believe that on the 7th day, the Lord made the 5" barrel N-frame revolver, and when he looked at what he'd made, he said "it is good" and then he rested......

One last question guys...what about profiting the barrel, any reason not to?

IME the ports don't reduce felt recoil with heavy bullets enough to justify the cost. A good set of grips that properly fit your hand reduces felt recoil more IME.