Minimum barrel length, .44 Magnum?

[CountryGent]

So, a few years back I got into the .44 Magnum and am glad I did as it is likely my favorite cartridge at the present. We have a couple carbines and a revolver in said. (Sold off an automatic pistol in said last year.)

I've been kicking around a stainless, single-action wheelgun in said. Ruger (Blackhawk, mainly) and Magnum Research (BFR short frame, only) are at the top of the list. I was originally looking for something with close to a 6" barrel or thereabouts, though I've stumbled across a Ruger offering that I am really digging. The barrel length, however, is listed as 4⅝".

Thoughts on a .44 Magnum revolver with the shorter barrel length? Thoughts on options in this niche in general? Thanks.

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[2Wheels4Ever]

As with most dilemmas such as these, it really depends on what you're after. Ruger makes the Alaskan with a 2.5in barrel. I'm sure it's no slouch, though you're going to have a massive flash, aka, unburnt powder and loss of velocity.

https://ruger.com/products/superRedhawkAlaskan/models.html

I'd probably stick with 6in for a general purpose gun. Small enough to carry, large enough to squeeze out some power from the Magnum case. Though, in the grand scheme of things, if you like the gun with a bit less barrel, I'm sure it will kill em dead just as easily.

 

[CountryGent]

Thanks much @2Wheels4Ever. Purpose would be largely target shooting and maybe carry during hikes, if it works out.

I was thinking minimum 5" barrel, which this one is pretty close to. But no interested in a .44 Magnum snubbie. (Never really saw the point, but to each their own.)

 

[uberguy]

My opinion are 5-6" is preferred, in high powered calibers 44 mag, 454 Casull or 10mm. Shorter defeats the purpose of the + power of the cartridge. These are stout rounds in longer barrels, accuracy/controllability suffer in short barrels.

44 Special's are versatile in 4" guns, IMO. Especially if you handload for scenarios.
Same with 10mm, I'd rather shoot a 40 S&W 4" with hot loads than a 10mm short.

 

[Longwalkhome]

Hunted and carried a 44 mag when I was younger. 4 inch Smith carries really well on the hip when you fish. Muzzle blast is bad with short barrel so I worked up a handload that worked out.

Getting old your vision changes so I prefer a long barrel now.

 

[deadeye]

I would stick with 6" just to fully use the round and still be a somewhat carryable pistol. Having the longer barrel to aim better and reach out further in case of critters while hiking/ hunting. I had a 4" ported and it was OK for target shooting but kinda defeated the purpose of a magnum round, may as well have used a 357 or 38+p. I have the 7.5" blackhawks but not very good if you need to draw in a hurry, can you say smokepole........

 

[trevi]

I have a 4 inch ported barrel but i think the barrel really is 3 inches rifled and 1 inch ported; never measured. I would like to have a 6 inch 44 mag, instead.

 

[solv3nt]

I don't know that I would go shorter on the Magnum. The magnum really shines with slow burning powders that take advantage of barrel length. Shorter barrels will leave a massive flash of unburnt powder.


Gun porn....

 

[Longwalkhome]

Only hits count no matter how much magnum power you have. For me I found i had to hit a balance in the load that there was enough power to warrant carrying a heavy gun yet I could hit well with it.

Every person will find a different balance or trade off in carrying a magnum gun, in my opinion.

 

[mrorca]

I do love the 44mag although it is most effective in the mid length barrels.. You loose a lot in the shorter barrels and the gains aren't as great as a 357 in the longer barrels. I own wheel guns in 454SRH 7.5", 44mag 5.5", 3", 7.5" And a ton of 357 in 2"-16" I have found the 357 seems to be my go to. You can load it to almost match a 44 out the the carbine length barrels and the stubbies. The mid length barrels the 44 owns it readily. That's just ftlbs energy. One more thing to consider is my ruger 44's seem to be way more forgiving in accepting ammo... I generally reload all my straight case ammo and if its swollen even a little its tight in my smith revolvers where as my Rugers don't really care.

 

[Knute]

I've had five S&W 44mag from a 6.5" to the 4" 329PD and a 2.5" 629. I found the shorties were quicker to shoot but took more practice to shoot well, and the 6.5" 29-2 & 29-10 both let me be much more accurate at distance.

Go with the longer barrel unless you will also CCW with it.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Pepperbox or go home!

 

[CountryGent]

Pepperbox or go home!

Kicking it old school.

 

[solv3nt]

Kicking it old school.

I had no idea what that was. Can you imagine if that sucker torched off all six rounds of 44mag simultaneously?

 

[CountryGent]

One of my wacky imaginings is a modern Pepperbox in, say, .22 WMR, .32 H&R or .38 Special. Better sights and construction. Normal mode is one shot per pull; after depressing a selector, discharges all at once. Volley fire is legal, à la the failed S333.

But, I digress.

 

[The Heretic]

Absolute minimum barrel length of any firearm is that required to impart spin upon the projectile such that it is sufficiently accurate. Anything more than that is a matter of desired velocity, which is up to the owner of the firearm.

I personally prefer 4-5" barrels for my revolvers, as a matter of balance, velocity and appearance. YMMV

 

[OldBroad44]

I like 6 inches or longer in .44. Six inches for carrying on belt as a woods gun. If I need smaller or shorter or a snubby I drop back to .357 mag.

I don't like Ported .44s, not even in a 6-inch gun. The porting directs the sound back at you. Firing it even once without hearing protection while hunting made my ears ring for nearly an hour. Never again. I use hearing protection in practicing, but not in hunting. I have very sensitive hearing, apparently as good as that of the (other) wild critters. I can hear them as well as they can hear me. Or better.

 

[mrorca]

I like 6 inches or longer in .44. Six inches for carrying on belt as a woods gun. If I need smaller or shorter or a snubby I drop back to .357 mag.

I agree I have a S&W mountain backpacker 44mag and I am way more accurate with my Wiley Clapp SP101... Most accurate snubbie by far that I have owned/shot

 

[Lennie]

My favorite 44 mag is a 3.75" barrel, Bisley super Blackhawk. I have learned, with age, that John Taffin is 100% on the money with his statements about perfect pack'in revolvers. For packing, my advice is stay under 5".

The First Perfect Packin’ Pistol - American Handgunner

Too many decades ago, I coined the phrase “Perfect Packin’ Pistol”. Over the years many dedicated sixgunners have taken up this phrase, often shortened to PPP, to indicate what may be the most useful handgun in one’s working collection.

americanhandgunner.com

Out of a 4" barrel, a 300 grain hard cast at 1200 fps will take care of any situation you might encounter in the lower 48. And if needed it can pushed faster.

I've chronographed enough loads to know that I do not gain enough velocity with longer barrels to justify the longer length.

 

[TTSX]

I'm sure Paul Harrell has a video somewhere addressing this very question