super blackhawk 44mag. barrel length

[emmie]

looking to buy a 44mag SBH to play with. always wanted one and now at this time in life,I hope to get one befor I go.
I will be hand loading 98% in the 44spl/240 cast loads for easy shooting. to old to beat my self with hot loads,NO fun in to much recoil.
what do you think will be best barrel length for my shooting---------
5.5 or 7.5-------?
why do you like your barrel length? all suggestions welcomed.

thank you for your time----------

emmie

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Emmie....

I've used SBH's for years - always the 7.5" barrel models because I use them for hunting and the extra sight radius helps a bit.

But since you aren't going to be using many Richter Scale loads I would definitely recommend the model with the 5.5" barrel because it is a really, really sweet-handling gun and plenty easy to be accurate with at typical paper-target ranges.

HTH.

 

[mavracer]

Just to throw a wrench in your fire, How bout a 50th anniversary with a 6.5".
otherwise I like the 5.5.

 

[alde]

I have a 7 1/2" SBH and of the dozen or so handguns I have it is the most accurate. It will clover leaf 3 rounds from a rest at 25 yards and give 6 shot groups of just over an inch.

 

[Leanwolf]

EMMIE, what will be its primary use? Having fun with lighter loads? A packin' pistol for "just-in case," while woods walkin'? Or hunting?

If hunting, 7 1/2" barrel might better suit the purpose. Otherwise, I suggest the 5 1/2" barrel.

L.W.

 

[280shooter]

44 mag

I have the 5 1/2;" mines in SS.I added a scope on mine I had it drilled and tap,It shoot great,I like mine,and i do hunt with it,and have killed deer with it,

 

[Shawnee]

"Mycars..." has a good point, Emmie...

If you add a scope or Red Dot or Laser type sight for hunting and thus are no longer depending on the sight radius of the barrel (a la iron sights), the 5.5" barrel will be fine - even nicer to handle.

You'll give up a marginal amount of velocity but not enough to really matter.

I use the iron sights on my SBH but mostly because that's how I've always done it.

 

[bakert]

If you got a long'un and don't like it, you can always have it chopped off to 5.5". This one originally a 10.5"

 

[Virginian]

Since you mentioned an aversion to recoil, remember the 7-1/2" is heavier. My personal choice would be the 6-1/2" model mentioned above. Better sight radius than the 5-1/2, handier than the 7-1/2. But unless you are hiking miles with it, it really doesn't matter too much. I am not real keen on the dragoon trigger guard myself, either.

 

[BigBlock]

I love my 5.5" SBH, but I would rather have the 4 5/8". 7.5" is just too long and hard to carry around...you might as well buy a rifle instead. The 5.5" is a beautiful gun with great accuracy and power.