.44 Special Blackhawk, Barrel Length?

[redoktober]

I'm looking at the new Lipsey's Flattop Blackhawks in .44 Special and am trying to decide which I'd like better, the 4 and 5/8" or the 5.5" barrel?

I like the shorter barrel for packin' purposes. Any real gains in accuracy with the 5.5" barrel?

 

[captainkirk]

"Practical accuracy" might increase slightly with the 5.5 as a result of the increased sight radius, but I would just go with what you like. Both will shoot equally well.

Personally I would go with the 4 5/8, but that is what I like the best.

captainkirk

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

My most accurate open sighted Ruger is a 4 5/8". Either would be okay, but my pick is the shortie.

 

[Axehandle]

The only possible answer is Both...
The real question is which will be first...

 

[ndcowboy]

The best answer is pick them both up and see which one seems to balance and "point" most natural to you.

 

[Stoots]

I like 4 5/8.


:wink:

 

[maxpress]

if you dont carry it then it wont make any difference. thats why i go for the shorties even opting for the moantados.
as far as accuracy, its not noticable at that length for me. a 7.5 sure makes a fly killer though.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Ax Handle got it right! My 5.5 shoots real well and I just picked up the shorty today and I shall see tomorrow morning how it does. Now we have to pester for a 7.5 to round thing's out.

 

[redoktober]

It may be an academic question since I can't seem to find any with the short barrel! I've found a few 5.5" models for sale, but am coming up empty with the shorties.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I guess it depends on what you define as accuracy and how well you shoot a handgun with either barrel length.

I have 2 of the 4 5/8" ones.
With my handload of a 240gr Speer LSWC, WSF powder and a WLP, delivering about 1050fps, on a good day I'm pretty consistent keeping them within the black of a standard 25 yard pistol target placed at 50 yards when shooting standing off-hand. That seems pretty accurate to me. From a rest they do much better.

 

[batmann]

IMHO, the 4 5/8's is a near perfect packing revolver. I doubt that you would notice any practical difference in the accuracy department.

 

[sourdough44]

I'll take the 4 5/8" for ease of carry.

 

[Cholo]

I guess it depends on what you define as accuracy and how well you shoot a handgun with either barrel length.

I have 2 of the 4 5/8" ones.
With my handload of a 240gr Speer LSWC, WSF powder and a WLP, delivering about 1050fps, on a good day I'm pretty consistent keeping them within the black of a standard 25 yard pistol target placed at 50 yards when shooting standing off-hand. That seems pretty accurate to me. From a rest they do much better.

I'd say that's pretty damn good shooting! Back around '79-80 I had a buddy and we both had 6" Pythons. We'd use the 25 yd standard pistol target and start shooting off-hand, at 25 yds. 1st one out of the black bought the 12 pack. Neither of us ever lost, but at 50 yds off-hand? I know I couldn't do it with regularity.

Don't ever sell that gun! :wink:

 

[TULLYMARS]

I have one of each length and I always pick the shorty to go with me to the range.

 

[maxpress]

It may be an academic question since I can't seem to find any with the short barrel! I've found a few 5.5" models for sale, but am coming up empty with the shorties.

the demand on the 4 5/8 is quite a bit more so people wait for them on order. dont know why ruger puts out what seems like an equal amount of both lengths when you can never find a shorty. i know that may not be the case but it seems like it.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I guess it depends on what you define as accuracy and how well you shoot a handgun with either barrel length.

I have 2 of the 4 5/8" ones.
With my handload of a 240gr Speer LSWC, WSF powder and a WLP, delivering about 1050fps, on a good day I'm pretty consistent keeping them within the black of a standard 25 yard pistol target placed at 50 yards when shooting standing off-hand. That seems pretty accurate to me. From a rest they do much better.

I'd say that's pretty damn good shooting! Back around '79-80 I had a buddy and we both had 6" Pythons. We'd use the 25 yd standard pistol target and start shooting off-hand, at 25 yds. 1st one out of the black bought the 12 pack. Neither of us ever lost, but at 50 yds off-hand? I know I couldn't do it with regularity.

Don't ever sell that gun! :wink:

Yep, they are pretty amazing. I don't know why they shoot so well; maybe the balance is just right, the throats are sized right, or the barrels are done really well (no leading at all even with the swaged bullets driven to that speed), maybe even the smaller grip which seems counterintuitive since I like the standard grip better, but they have been real shooters for me. I can't say I can keep them *all* in the black all the time at 50 yds, but most of them find their way there if I take my time and the errant ones aren't far from the cluster. I'd never sell either one. I'm already looking for a stainless one for hunting this fall.

 

[Dale53]

I, for one, prefer the 5½" barrel on a Ruger single action. I shoot noticeably better with the longer barrel. I don't find 5½" a hindrance when carrying.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[UnderDawgAl]

Yesterday, I just picked up a 4 5/8" one from my dealer that I ordered from www.budsgunshop.com Sunday night. Their price is $414 delivered if you pay with money order, and $431 if you pay with credit card. I chose the latter route. I'll be shooting it today with my cast bullets that I loaded myself.

 

[wetidlerjr]

When they first came out, I waited six months for a 4 5/8" but the distributer told my dealer he had a 5 1/2" I could have right then. I took it. I have since changed the grip frame to an aluminum one and put on custom grips. I would probably get a 4 5/8" if readily available but it is far from being a priority.

 

[WARD]

When they first came out I bought one of each. For all of last year I played with the 5 1/2 and left the shorty alone. I have really come to like that 5 1/2 and have added a used 32 Mag in 5 1/2. I seem to do real well with accuracy with each of these 5 1/2's.

Last week I dug out the shorty and am just getting started shooting that one for this season. Last weekend I ran 100 rounds of jacketed ammo thru it as a kind of break in.

I don't see how you can go wrong with either!

Buy both and enjoy!

Ward

 

[redoktober]

The winds are blowing my way...I found a shorty on gunbroker for a fair price and bought it!

I don't see as many folks complaining about the .44 special throats and every review of the special issue Blackhawk I've read has seemed to be positive. Great cartridge - the stout loads are plenty for what I need them for. Since the .44 isn't a magnum cartridge, I don't feel like I'm doing it a disservice w/ the shorter barrel. Who knows, if I ever get 41 magnum fever then I'll go for the longer 6.5" barrel.

For now, I've found my packin' pistol!

Thanks for the advice everyone...great input.

 

[UnderDawgAl]

The throats on mine measure .432 with a plug gage. I haven't slugged the bore yet, since I got it just yesterday.

I shot about 40 rounds of the Lee 429-214-SWC through it today, using 7.3 grains of AA#5 and 6.3 grains of HP38. Accuracy was good. Will work up a load later when time allows.

The fit and finish of this gun far exceeds that of my 20-year-old Single Six .32 Magnum and my 4-year-old Single Six .22LR.

 

[ProfessorWes]

Love my 5 1/2" model. It balances about as well for me as the 4 5/8" Anniversary .357 I also own, and I think the extra bit of barrel helps me shoot the .44 more accurately.

Otherwise, since neither gun is used for concealed carry, barrel length isn't really an issue for me.

I am strongly tempted to buy another .44 SPL in the shorter barrel length, though...preferably one of the limited-edition TALO stainless models.

 

[Lee Martin]

I struggled with the same decision. In the end I went with 5.5" and am glad I did:

 

[Barry in IN]

I wanted a 4-5/8", but a 5-1/2" was what I saw first. I went home and kept thinking about other guns I've passed up in order to get one just like I wanted, then missed out completely because I never found them.
I went back the next morning and "settled" for the 5-1/2".

I am glad I did now. I don't think the extra 7/8" of barrel makes any difference in carrying. I think it might even "hang" a tiny bit better when shooting.

 

[mindustrial]

I have other long barreled 44 magnums I could shoot specials out of. So I figure to take advantage of the smaller frame, I should get a shorter bbl to make a handier package. Now if perhaps this was my only .44, then I might have gotten the 5.5" for target shooting or hunting too.

 

[maxpress]

your best bet is to find a range that rents both and give them a try.

 

[Rodfac]

I have both and really like the shorter one better...and here's the reason. Living on a small farm here in KY, I find that the shorter one slips nicely into a rear jeans pocket for carry while I'm doing chores around the place...and with complete security too. The 5-1/2" will not do that...the barrel is just too long for security without a holster.

That shorter barreled model is so convenient, that I'm rarely outside without it. The shorter barrel allows me to dispense with a gunbelt and/or holster. The result is I'm with the gun a lot more...and that translates to familiarity and more shooting. (Even in the wilds of KY, you just never know when you'll get p-----d off at some errant knot hole or thistle top.)

The 5-1/2", as Dale 53 said, is a little more accurate, more muzzle heavy; so it does 'hang' better out there in offhand work. Accuracy wise, shooting from my favored back rest position with the piece extended between my up-raised knees, I find them identical.

Throats are both at .432", and exhibit no leading at my customary loading velocities...~1000 fps. 240 gr Cast Keith type SWC's with Skelton's favored load of 7.5 gr of Unique will do that speed in my guns...and is my go to load..but it can also be duplicated by 7.2 gr of either HP-38 or Win 231. Both guns like 6.0 gr with both of those two last powders, giving me close to 1" gps at 25 yds with 750 fps chrono'd velocity however. The Skelton load is a sub 2" prescription.

Were it me, I'd opt for the shorter bbl, but it's a personal preference based on portability without a holster.

Regards, Rodfac