So as a dedicated hunting handgun, I assume longer barrel is better BUT; is 5 1/2" too short?

Hunting deer and bear in the eastern woods. Do you lose that much velocity between 7 1/2 and 5 1/2 for example? I handload, so is there a bullet or load tht works to the advantage of shorter barrels?

No! Just find accuracy first.
Shooting open sights is easier with a longer barrel because it means POI is less per click. Put a scope or RD on and length means nothing.
But get too short and it is hard to gain velocity to match twist. A 2" barrel is a belly gun but 5-1/2" is easy a 100 yard gun.
It is your gun and you did not say which. A S&W does not like recoil with heavy boolits but a Ruger is at home. So you can use 240, 265 to 300, 310 and 320 gr from the Ruger.
I am against super short but 5-1/2" is just fine for a .44.
Can you imagine a .500 S&W from 2"?

Sure.. I got something close to it; Ruger Alaskan in .454C with a 2.5" barrel..

http://www.ruger.com/products/superRedhawkAlaskan/models.html


I think I could light my Weber at 12 paces with the muzzle flash..

Ive used a handgun a great deal for hunting white tail deer and hogs and Id strongly suggest a 7.5" or longer barrel for best 100 yard accuracy, Im not saying a 5.5" can,t be accurate, but the longer site radias DOES help, and longer barrels tend to give higher velocity.
I found a 6.5" was the minimum I could use and hit consistently, at longer ranges, maybe my old eyes but, its a good deal easier to hit with the 8.375"-10" revolvers in my experience

Fine for a poke in the bears belly when his breath is in your face.
I like the Weber lighting thing!

Six inches is a good place to start. Two and four inch barrels are great for carrying.

A 2 inch .500 seems like a really stupid design.

Apologies to anyone who owns or carries a Ruger Alaskan, but I just think that is about the most worthless handgun Ruger has ever built. A .454 isn�t fun from a 7.5� barrel, I really can�t imagine it from a 2.5� barrel. Plus, if I were looking for a protection gun for bears, I�d rather have a larger diameter bullet than more velocity. A moderate velocity .475 or .50 caliber bullet would be preferable to a very high velocity .45�to my way of thinking that is�But I�m far from an expert on large game.

I had a Ruger Alaskan .454C depending on the loads it was ok at best to down right not fun to shoot. Loaded with .45 it was fine. They should have made it with a slighly longer barrel in my opinion.