What is the correct barrel for 44 mag revolver used for at range?

I have had quite a few smith & Wesson revolvers with 2 1/2" to 8 3/8". My favorite is a 629 5" full under-lug ported barrel, it has hogue rubber grips with a action job from S&W performance center. I shoot Hornady XTP over H110 and its quite a bit of fun. I carry it every hunt and its by far my favorite revolver.

S&W 629 6" w/ red dot and Altamont wood grips, or any comfortable wood grips beat rubber grips any day for my hands. It's my Grandpa's gun. Insanely accurate with his 44 special and magnum reloads. He's pushing 90 years old and still shoots it with no problems. Great target and hunting revolver.

Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley 7 1/2" hunter model so it is kind of like a full underlug but the lug is along the top for a scope mount. Nothing but standard full power loads. No buffalo bore or anything like that. I can shoot 50 round comfortably but generally won't shoot that many. Stainless. Factory wood(like) grips.

Ruger Super Blackhawk with 7.5" barrel.

Whatever kind of ammo you like best.

While my 7.5" SBH is a great shooter, the 4" 629 is my preference. It still wears the OEM rubber grips. My typical range visit includes a variety of handloads from cream puffs to magnum levels. The bulk being midrange 9.6gr Unique pushing 240 gr bullets.

No vote. For range use, any and all listed.

44mag is my second favorite revolver cartridge of all time, behind 475 Linebaugh, but I can’t even pretend to say it’s a good option for 20-50yrd range time.

For 20-50yrd shooting, you’ll be shooting single action. But loading and unloading a straight up single action for high volume shooting kinda gets old.

I prefer stainless at every turn.

A 6-7.5” revolver with a red dot or scope on top makes the best balance I prefer for a range revolver.

No ports/compensator, especially in something as mild as 44mag.

Ruger, more often than not for me, when it comes to revolvers.

Hi...
I shoot a Dan Wesson, a Super BlackHawk Hunter, a Virginian Dragoon and a S&W 29.
My favorite for casual shooting at the range is the 29. All four get a steady diet of 240gr LSWC over 10.0gr of Unique.
I have worked up heavier jacketed loads in all four with 240gr Hornady HP/XTPs.
All four revolvers are big, heavy handguns that help soak up the recoil. No compensators on any of my revolvers.
I probably haven't fired more than a dozen rounds in double action mode in the 29 out of the thousands that I have shot through it.
Don't think I ever shot my Dan Wesson in double action mode. I prefer shooting revolvers in single action mode.
The 29 is the only blued .44 that I own...the other three are all stainless. Didn't plan it that way...it just kinda happened.

Forgot...29 has an 8-3/8" barrel, the Virginian Dragoon and SBH are 7-1/2" and the Dan Wesson wears a 4" barrel. I have a 2" barrel for it but have never used it.

I don't shoot reduced loads in anything. If it's a .44 Mag, I run it like a .44 Mag. But that's just me. Optimal barrel length is what best works for you individually. I prefer single-actions to double-actions. I feel they point a lot better than any DA design out there and are generally a better platform for more powerful calibers as the cylinder is riding on a swing-out crane (much better and true lock-up). Stainless is nice, blued is nicer IMHO. I have a number of .44 Mags, these two are among my favorites.

Custom Ruger Bisley by JRH Advanced Gunsmithing (5 1/2-inch barrel).



BFR with 4 3/4-inch barrel:

Barrel length is a very personal choice. I gravitate towards the shorter barrels, but enjoy them all. Here's a pic I took after a recent shooting session. Left to right ( 2 3/4" M69, 4" M329, and 6" 629)



I shoot mostly low end to full 240/265gr magnum loads. For the most part, I shoot both single and double action from 25 to 70yds (base of first berm). The dirt circle just below the ridge/under the three trees is a 4'x4' circular plate at 440 yds.

20 below zero and covered with snow this morning (longing for more temperate shooting conditions)



Paul

I put 6", though most of my experience has been with 5.5 and 7.5" Rugers. My 7.5" Ruger was plenty accurate at 100 yards, with the V-notch and gold bead front sight set.

Im a big fan of the 5" 629's.

Arhends grips and a Burris Fastfire.

I don't think there is a wrong answer to the survey.

I only have two 44 Magnums, this is my favorite for target shooting.

I voted 6" because that will give you longer sight radius. I shoot a four inch Model 29 and that is my personal preference. I usually shoot reduced loads, if fact I could just as easily gone with a Model 24, but they were pretty scarce when I bought my gun. I do love to shoot the occasional cylinder of full house loads, though.

7” RSBH. 6” 629.

Definitely a personal preference thing, but I find 5"-6" barrels on large frame revolvers to be the best balance of ballistics, sight radius, and handling characteristics for most purposes.

Shane in MT said:

I don't think there is a wrong answer to the survey.

I only have two 44 Magnums, this is my favorite for target shooting.

View attachment 827288

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I agree. There is no correct or wrong answer. Everyone has their own favorites. I prefer 8 3/8" for anything 25 yards and longer. On occasion, I'll take out one of my 3" guns and fire at steel plates at the 100 yard distance. That's a hoot when you get it dialed in. Not so hard with fairly hot .38 or .357 ammo. Try lobbing 148gr HBWC traveling at around 700 fps! You can shoot, light up a smoke and take a sip of your drink and then listing for the ring.

My 629 .44s wear a 4” and a 6.5” ported barrel. (I also had a 5” 629 Classic but sold it.)

Both of the .44 magnum guns I currently have are equally fun to shoot, with the longer barrel being a bit easier to hit with... and in all honesty it’s also a bit easier on my hands when it recoils.

I also love the 10.0 Unique/240 gr bullet .44 mag loads mentioned earlier... it’s the perfect combination of adequate power, manageable recoil and very good accuracy.

Stay safe!

entropy said:

I put 6", though most of my experience has been with 5.5 and 7.5" Rugers. My 7.5" Ruger was plenty accurate at 100 yards, with the V-notch and gold bead front sight set.

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My .41 RH 7.5” has the same sight set up yours does, I also like it a lot!

Stay safe.

7.5" Interarms Virginia Dragoon
1981 Yorktown model
Single action
Easy to shoot for extended times

It's the top one. Bottom is an x-frame with 5" bbl

BigBlue 94 said:

7.5" Interarms Virginia Dragoon
1981 Yorktown model
Single action
Easy to shoot for extended times

It's the top one. Bottom is an x-frame with 5" bblView attachment 827431

Click to expand...

Thanks for posting those nice revolvers. I've not seen an Interarms Dragoon in ages. One of the most under rated guns of all times.

Eddietruett said:

Thanks for posting those nice revolvers. I've not seen an Interarms Dragoon in ages. One of the most under rated guns of all times.

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I agree. It's such a smooth action, and shoots great. I dont know why they are so underrated. Probably interarms name