24" Barrel in 44 Mag Lever Action?
- Thread starter Barmcd
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AJC1
Member
No, if you hand load. Powders in the slower mag pistol area will eat up that length and give you wonderful velosity. H110, 4227, and accurate #9 will deliver
Bazoo
Member
My Winchester 92 in 44 Magnum has a 24" barrel. It is a bit heavier than a carbine, but it balances well, carries in the hand well, and shoots offhand well. A bit of extra weight dampens recoil too. While I do shoot Specials and lighter Magnums, I also shoot some full-bore Magnums using my favorite Ranch Dog 432-265-RF bullet.
While I haven't stretched it out yet, the extra sight radius will be good if/when I do a bit of longer range shooting. I have a Marbles tang sight for it (as well as the standard semi-buckhorn rear).
While I haven't stretched it out yet, the extra sight radius will be good if/when I do a bit of longer range shooting. I have a Marbles tang sight for it (as well as the standard semi-buckhorn rear).
No it's not too long and complements the 16 inch you will own . You can't have just one. Hex barrels are cool. Must be careful in a box blind if it's a tight fit. I only use 200gr cast RNFPGC with full load of 296 and xtp240 with full load of 296.
I like my lever action rifles in 16" carbine much better than my friends long barrel lever action. The carbines carry and shoot more comfortable IMHO.
Not trying to be argumentative but what attracts you to a 24" lever action 44? Do you think you will pick up that many FPS? Is it the longer sight radius? Or do you just like the looks of the longer rifle?
Not trying to be argumentative but what attracts you to a 24" lever action 44? Do you think you will pick up that many FPS? Is it the longer sight radius? Or do you just like the looks of the longer rifle?
Varminterror
Member
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Two words: sight radius…
Bazoo
Member
I like both long ones and short ones. I'm a very large person, so a 24" barreled gun is not unwieldy for me.
I wouldn't want one that long. The whole point of a pistol caliber carbine/rifle is to have a lightweight, compact rifle. IMO 20" is really too long. Even with 308 class cartridges around 20" is all I want. I doubt if you'd see 100 fps gained between 16" and 24". In fact, the BBTI website shows the 20" Henry 44 mag they tested was SLOWER than the 16" barrel they tested. You do reach a point where all of the powder has long ago been burned and the longer barrel actually starts to slow down bullets.
Sight radius? A 44 mag rifle doesn't shoot flat enough, nor accurately enough for that to be a factor.
Aesthetics? If you like the look then you like the look and that is what you should buy. But I can't think of a practical reason for a barrel that long.
Sight radius? A 44 mag rifle doesn't shoot flat enough, nor accurately enough for that to be a factor.
Aesthetics? If you like the look then you like the look and that is what you should buy. But I can't think of a practical reason for a barrel that long.
Charlie98
Member
As far as the OP, I think the .44MAG can make use of that barrel... if absolute velocity is your goal. I have a Marlin 1894 in .41MAG, with the 20" barrel... and with slower powders it makes very good use of the longer barrel. I'm with JMR, however... the 20" barrel is really the tipping point... I would not want anything longer, and have had to seriously resist grabbing the hacksaw and whacking the barrel to 16". I bought my brother a 16" Winchester Trapper in .45 Colt many years ago, and it is about the handiest rifle evarrr... I love it. That's the practical side...
Aesthetically, I like longer barreled levers... they are very handsome. I owned a Marlin 1895 LTD V in .45-70... with a 24" half and half barrel... not only was it a looker, it would shoot. But even as a range rifle, it was awkward to handle. With a magazine full of 405grn .45's, it was decidedly nose-heavy.
As far as performance, your biggest gain would be in the 16"-20" barrel, with diminishing returns after 18" or so, depending on the bullet weight used and the powder, and that is full-power .44MAG stuff.
Of course everything depends on the load, but this site may be of interest: http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/44mag.html
If you look at their data, the loads they tested mostly reached their peak velocity before getting to the end of their longest test barrel, which was only 18". I would expect a 24" barrel would actually cost you some velocity.
If you look at their data, the loads they tested mostly reached their peak velocity before getting to the end of their longest test barrel, which was only 18". I would expect a 24" barrel would actually cost you some velocity.
A little, but who cares.
A slight loss of velocity goes hand in hand with a nice reduction in noise.
Handling, recoil control, sight radius are improved.
Unless you’re competing for time, or have a very long hike, I love a long barrel lever gun.
A slight loss of velocity goes hand in hand with a nice reduction in noise.
Handling, recoil control, sight radius are improved.
Unless you’re competing for time, or have a very long hike, I love a long barrel lever gun.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It may or may not gain a little velocity but there are greater factors in play that influence my decisions on such things. Sight radius, noise reduction, handling and balance between chief among them. I have leverguns in every length from 16" to 28". For me, a 16" is too short and there's nothing wrong with a 24" but 20" is probably the sweet spot.
I do handload H110 for my model 29 S&W.
All my lever action riles have 20" barrels and I like the look of the longer 24" barrel. I won't be carrying it in the field so the shorter rifle isn't necessary.
Yes I do.
AJC1
Member
My 45c cowboy is a 24 and I have a 357 24 cowboy. If I can locate a 41 mag I'll take it in any length....
Riomouse911
Member
I had a Winchester 1894 Legacy in .45 Colt with the 24” barrel. For me, the 24” barrel was juuuust a bit too long for the cartridge. (I felt it made fast multi-target SASS stages a bit clumsy, which was what I bought it for.) I prefer the idea of a PCC being shootable in a handy package, especially in the svelte 1892 action. But that is just me, YMMV. 
I really like the 16” for pistol calibers, with 18”-20” about the max. My current trio of pistol lever guns (.357, .44, .45C) are all 16”. Rifle calibers can really utilize the longer barrel, so going from 20” out to 26” (Like my Marlin 1895CB) is a good thing.
Whatever you choose to do, let us know how it shoots when you get a chance.
Stay safe.
I really like the 16” for pistol calibers, with 18”-20” about the max. My current trio of pistol lever guns (.357, .44, .45C) are all 16”. Rifle calibers can really utilize the longer barrel, so going from 20” out to 26” (Like my Marlin 1895CB) is a good thing.
Whatever you choose to do, let us know how it shoots when you get a chance.
Stay safe.
I have found that it is cheaper to buy what I really want rather than settle only to upgrade or buy a second gun later. There is nothing about the 44 mag round that would keep me from getting a 24" barrel... especially since you reload. For me H110 works great for full power 44 mag loads. It is too slow for low power loads though. A faster powder is needed for lite loads.
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Phaedrus/69
Member
The longest barrel lengths generally have a longer magazine tube, that is a plus.
More lead makes for a heavier rifle. The extra mag weight makes the tube move out some from recoil
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You forgot to mention the TAPERED 26 inch barrel. The sexy tapered 26 inch barrel. Oh my
Phaedrus/69
Member
For a .44 Mag I think that 20" is optimal for a mix of handiness and capacity. But a 16" carbine is nice, too.
