Looking at buying a used 44 revolver for deer hunting - do you think there is much accuracy difference between like a 6" & 8" barrel? What length barrel do you guys like using (for hunting)?

Thanks for your opinions/experiences!

The 8" barrel will provide slightly better velocities and a longer site plane. In my opinion it would be better suited for a hunting handgun.

I have a pair of Ruger single action revolvers and I've done a little bit of experimenting with them.
I have a 5 5/8" barreled .41 mag and a 7 5/8" barreled 44 mag and my honest opinion, without scopes andusing factory hunting loads, resting on a treestand rest, a bipod or a fork in a tree, I can't tell a difference in the accuracy.

I've always heard that from a bench rest, with a good scope andwith super accurate hand loads you'll be able to tell the difference, but I probably won't do that. I use revolvers for hunting.

The longer barrel is a little heavier and will help with recoil and muzzle lift. AND the shorter barrel is absolutely handier to tote around a mountain or a up and down in a treestand.

There's my $.02!!

buck - actually, with all else being equal, there is no difference in accuracy between a 6" or 8" barrel. The 8" barrel may appear to be more accurate simply because of the longer sight plane allowing less human error to come into play.
If you are going to scope it, it really doesn't matter. I've hunted with both 6" and 8" revolvers and 14" single shot pistols (Contender).
One consideration is how far do you plan on shooting. Like a bow, you should limit your shots to your effective range. For me that was no more than 50 yds with 6", out to about 75 with open sighted 8", scoped 8" 100 yds, and the Contender easily 200 yds (with a good rest).

To me, a handgun has to be a "handy" weapon, not some long bbled, scoped short rifle... I carry my handgun in a shoulder holster, and that means i like a 6" bbl... I can hit well enough with it, further away than anyone should be shooting at a biggame animial, so i just don't need a longer bbl. I've taken moose, deer and ect. with my S&W M-29 6", so i'm not just BS'ing here...

Just practise, practise, and then practise some more!!

DM

So what about a S&W 629 with a 4" barrel? I bought one this year as a backup gun, but I plan on bringing it into the dark timber for elk season. I feel comfortable out to 40 yards for anything that is breathing. I don't know how well it would do with a scope for longer distances.

Their are two main reasons the longer barrels tend to be a bit more accurate. A longer sight plain. And less barrel jump. However the 6" and the 8" are very close. I like them both. But for carrying and hunting with open sights I prefer the 4" model. It is just easier to carry, and hamdle. Tom.

Tom, how far out do you feel comfortable for elk and black bear size game? I have been practicing, but not past 40 yards, and I feel comfortable to there.

IMO the 44 magnum is a better hunting cartridge than most people give it credit for. I have shot a couple of deer out to 200 yards with a 44 magnum rifle.

I cast my own bullets, and I like to hunt with cast bullets. I think cast bullets perform very well on game. If you only get 50% expansion you still have a hole that is 2/3 of an inch. And that is a very big hole.

I have never shot an elk with a 44 magnum. But I would not be afraid to. I believe in the big bore-slow bullet theory. And a 44 magnum is a pretty big hole. I hunt a lot with a 45-70 which is not much bigger or faster than a 44 magnum(hole size). You do not see a lot of damage like you do with a high velocity round, but IMO the 44 and 45-70 are killers. I can not even imagine how many elk and bear were killed with a 45-70 at 1200 fps from a TrapDoor Springfield.

With open sights I feel comfortable to 75 yards. I use a brick as my guide. If I can hit a brick(any side), then I can kill a deer or anything else. With a scoped revolver I feel comfortable to 150 yards with no problems. It takes a lot of time and practice to do this, but I cast and shoot a lot of 44 magnum rounds. You can shoot a bunch of rounds from one pound of 2400.

I bought one of the S&W 329PD's. It shoots very well out to about 50 yards(I can hit a brick). I shoot a reduced load in the revolver. Roughly a 44 special load. I am pushing a 240 grain Lyman cast bullet at 900 fps. I shot a doe at 35 yards last year. I held on the shoulder, and she dropped in her tracks. Plenty of power and speed with a big hole, and great cast bullet penetration. The bullet broke the shoulder going in, and was found in the off shoulder. And this revolver is a real dream to carry. However I do not shoot full power loads out of the revolver. That might get a little rough. Tom.

Buckmaster, I'd listen to tom on the barrel length, I'd bet money on his advice. What brand are you going to buy? I would highly recommend a S&W. Let us know what you get!

Thanks for the info Tom!! You gave me a little added confidence, if I do get lucky enough to get a shot off with my 44 this year.