6 or 7.5?

[mray]

I know, I know, I know this is a subjective question, but heck, what are forums for anyway?  :+)

I already have a ruger hunter (44 mag) in 7.5 with a scope on it. I guess I may be leaning toward a 6" (44 mag) because it's a little "handier".  I'm thinking MY accuracy with an open-sighted gun wouldn't vary all that much between the two barrel lengths, but I'd be interested in hearing what you guys have to say on the subject.

And another thing...  I'm also leaning toward the Express sights.  I have similar sights on my ruger hunter 22 and I simply love them.  I can shoot so much better with them, I find it to be amazing.  Any input regarding the sights would also be appreciated.

Thanks

[SM]

I've only handled and shot FAs with a 6" barrel. I've got a 6" Premier .454 with micarta grips plus a 3lb trigger job and my friend has got otherwise similar .44, but with wood grips.

We've mostly shot the guns at 25 meters, but I think that the 6" barrel offers a good compromise concerning handiness/sight radius. The 7,5" barrel will add some fps, but my friend's .44 FA chronoed decent velocities too.

I've handled (also a 6" model 83") one with the Express sights and I don't think that I'd be getting those. For me they seem to make it more difficult to see when the front sight is on the level with the rear sight. But then of course I'm so accustomed to regular notch and post type...

While I'm still happy with my choice to go with the 6" barrel, now I want to buy a 4,75" round butt, a 7,5" octacon and so on. Others may have warned you already, but be prepared that you'll want more!

[mray]

From what I can tell, 7 1/2 seems to be the most popular barrel length for FAs.  Do you think that's true?

Thanks

MR

[MarkH]

I think the 7.5" popularity may also be caliber specific.  Just a wild guess, but my observations are that the .475 and 500WE have been more popular with iron sights and short barrels, while the other calibers get scoped more often.  7.5" and 10" are more popular for scoping.

That said, I would opt for the 6" iron sighted gun as a belt gun, and the 7.5" iron sighted gun if I was going to carry it in a shoulder holster or similar.  But it would be a tough choice.  If I was thinking that I might try scoping it later ... I would definitely go with the 7.5".

[Ken ONeill]

I agree that 7 1/2" has probably been the most popular barrel length, particularly on .454's. Most of mine are 7 1/2", as are most of my Rugers. For 40 years or so, that's just the length I usually preferred.
In the last couple of years, though, I've come to prefer 6" in 83's and 5 1/2" in 97's. With most of us, the difference between those 3 lengths is just a matter of subjective personal preference.

[Graybeard]

All mine are 7.5" I do tend to go with longer barrels for the sight radius more than any other reason. The fps difference is totally negligible and in fact one with a 6" might actually be faster than another with a 7.5" barrel as the difference in barrels is more than the difference in that mere 1.5".

I do agree a 6" carries a bit better especially so in a hip holster but really even that is pushing it a bit with a big gun like the FA83. For me that 1.5" difference wouldn't swing a decision one way or another for hip carry or sight radius tho. Get what looks and feels right to you.

My next is likely to be an FA97 in .44 special and I'm thinking it's gonna have a shorter barrel likely 5.5" but at most 6" as it will be for hip carry only and not really a primary hunting gun. Besides my eyes have improved so much those shorter barrel sights aren't hiding from me as much as they once did.

[WL44]

I have a 6" 357 and a 7.5" 475.

I suggest you handle the guns in the chambering you intend to buy and see how you like them.

My 6" 357 is heavy ('cause the holes are so little!), I think a 7.5" may be too long to balance well in a 357. My 7.5" 475 feels a lot like my 7.5" SBH in 44 Mag.

To my mind, if it's about belt carry, 6" or shorter, if it's about balance, 7.5" (in 44), but ideally check them out.