barrel length

[tcrocker]

What would be the shortest barrel you would use for hunting longest shot less than 100yds most likly less than 50 yds. The calaber would be 44mag. I was looking at the Rossi and I realy like the looks of the octagon barrels but would the extra weight be worth the trade off? I'm hunting in Alabama so the deer are not that big but we do have a hog problem. I would love to get a Marlin but they are had to find. The looks alone I perfer the Winchester style action over the Marlin but I know the Marlin is simpler action. What do you think.

[Wayne Smith]

As far as availability goes don't overlook the Henry or the Mossberg. Personally I'm a Marlin man, with two 336 actions. Minimum legal length is 16", and in the 44Mag I would say anything over that would do. At those ranges I would be comfortable with my 7.5" SBH!

[ReloaderFred]

By Federal law, the barrel has to be at least 16" long, without getting into NFA firearms. For your use, I would think something in the 18" range would work well.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[williamwaco]

I am crazy. I don't like anything under 18 to 20 inches for a carbine.

Try 20 first. YOU CAN make it shorter.
If you cut it to 16 and don't like it, you CAN NOT make it longer.

Do not worry about velocity.
In the .44 mag one inch more less at that length is not going to make a noticeable difference.

[helice]

I have the M-94 in a trapper configuration and it is a dream to carry. I use a "saddle ring" sling and it is comfortable, convenient and fast. I have the Rossi 92 with the 20" barrel. It's not that much different. Get the first one that comes along and get the second one that comes too. You won't be sorry.

[Lead Fred]

We hit the 200 yard gong all day long with a 20 inch 1970 Winnie in 44 mag.
We also hit it with the same boolits fire from a 8 inch barreled handgun.
Darn sure the 16 inch will do the same job. Tho Id not use one. I like that extra 160fps the 4 inches of barrel gives me.
Id carry a marlin or Winnie for the rest of my days, Id not carry a Rossi across the street

[pdawg_shooter]

We hit the 200 yard gong all day long with a 20 inch 1970 Winnie in 44 mag.

Isn't winnie the sound a horse makes? Just asking.

[Shuz]

Look for a Winnie trapper in .44 mag. It has a 16" bbl. I have one, and I love it.

[Larry Gibson]

I am crazy. I don't like anything under 18 to 20 inches for a carbine.

Try 20 first. YOU CAN make it shorter.
If you cut it to 16 and don't like it, you CAN NOT make it longer.

Do not worry about velocity.
In the .44 mag one inch more less at that length is not going to make a noticeable difference.

+1. Had a trapper .44 with 16" barrel and it shot fine. Just too short for me. Traded it off. Prefer 20" barrel minimum but 24-26" is 1st choice, especially these days with eyes going south.

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

I am crazy. I don't like anything under 18 to 20 inches for a carbine.

Try 20 first. YOU CAN make it shorter.
If you cut it to 16 and don't like it, you CAN NOT make it longer.

Do not worry about velocity.
In the .44 mag one inch more less at that length is not going to make a noticeable difference.

+1. Had a trapper .44 with 16" barrel and it shot fine. Just too short for me. Traded it off. Prefer 20" barrel minimum but 24-26" is 1st choice, especially these days with eyes going south.

Larry Gibson

[trapdoor1873]

I have a 16" trapper and have killed many deer with it. The only problem is the carriers are weak and break and there are no replacements available.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?192564-Winchester-Model-94AE-Broken-Carrier

[M-Tecs]

I prefer 20 or 24 inch barrels for the increased sight radius for my aging eyes. The other issue for me is noise. When hunting I don't always wear hearing protection. Short barrels are louder.

I don't know if the difference is noticeable on a 44 but on a 223 it's very noticeable.

[searcher4851]

I'd have to say a 20" barrel for me. I've owned and shot so many over the years that a 20" just feels "normal" to me. Tried a 16" once and it just didn't feel right. I currently own a 24" octagon, which I really enjoy, along with several 20"ers in different calibers and manufacture, but there's nothing like the balance and feel of a 20" round barrel levergun for me. It just feels natural to me.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Been hauling about 20 inch Winchesters SRC's in 44 WCF for many years and many miles. A 20 inch seems to dissapear in the hand after a few hours. After a few outings you think of it as an arm extention.
Now you could lop off 3.5 inches and save a whole whopping 4 ounces. That caliber .43 hole through the barrel does not leave a whole lot of metal hanging out there. So what do you really gain. Now if the end of the barrel were damaged from bad cleaning or an M60A1 track pad fell on it smashing the crown then I could see lopping off a bit. I did shorten one to 18 inches due to bad rifling and a whollered out muzzle. Cannot say I like it any better or worse. Does not shoot better than a 20 incher or worse with the same loads.
If you cut the barrel you need to remount the front sight, barrel band and mag tube.
But to buy a 16 incher.. that would be a nice route to wander down once.
I have compared my 14 inch Contender caliber 41 mag to my 20 inch Marlin 41 mag. Slow powders like 1680 perform much better in 20 inches. 2400 has some gain in 20 inches. Unique is slower in 20 inches. Sight radias .. I like 20 inches.
Mike in Peru

[BAGTIC]

The sound a horse makes is a "whinny".

[Ramjet-SS]

Henry Big Boy great for holding my 45 LC is just fantastic with 310 GC Lee RF 20" barrel great to,carry great to shoot with skinner peep accurate to 150 yards. My bench groups of 3-4" the front sight covers a standard target so these are great groups considering. I scoped that gun and had 2" groups at 100 yards then pulled it off and put the peep back on. I will say right out I am huge Henry fan and the more I shoot them the more I like them.