I sense that the 10 inch 44 mag contender is discounted in favor of the 14 inch, but on the other hand a 7.5 inch revolver seems to be acceptable. Not wanted to start a war, but trying to understand why a shorter barreled revolver is preferred and a longer barreled contender is preferred.

These are mostly personal preferences, but for me the 10" barrel Contender is fine for straight wall pistol cartridges like the .22, 357, 41 and 44. In fact, I much prefer that length for those cartridges, because I find it to be handier, and the velocity difference is pretty much insignificant.

With most bottlenecks, however, the 14" barrel gets the undeniable and potentially troublesome muzzle blast further from the face, and adds velocity that we use bottlenecks for in the first place. I do have three 12" barrels, but I usually wish they were 14".

With iron sight revolvers, I generally prefer 7-1/2" barrels as the best compromise for me in portability and sight radius. I have used 4-3/4" to 10".

FA 6" barrels started growing on me a few years ago, and I like them as much as the 7-1/2", whether scoped or with irons.

10" seems to be the point where the ballistics of the 44mag start to flatten out and you don't gain all that much velocity for the extra barrel length.

Take a look at the linked graph:
Ballistics by the inch

Depending on what you hunt and how the 10 inch barrels carry better and hold better off hand and on improvised rests .If you like spot and stalk 10 in is great,if on the other hand you always stand hunt where you have good rests available the 14 in. has more velocity,but most need a good rest with the 14 in. The .44 with warm loads,heavy bullets, is a different animal in a Contender,than it is in a revolver no matter the barrel length.

I have a 9.5" Ruger SRH and it carried well. When I was looking for a .44 barrel for my T/C frame, I went with the 14" over the 10" barrel. According to Hornady....and lots of other stuff I have read, you get about 300 fps more with the longer barrel. Is that worth the extra length and possible difficulties in carrying a handgun in that length? I don't have a problem. Heck, my other hunting barrel is a 14" 7-30 Waters.

I have a 14 inch 44 mag contender and a 5.5 inch redhawk also in 44 mag. The two handguns serve different purposes. I like the contender in 14 inch for better velocity for stands where I will get shots out to 100 yards but I do prop it to shoot it.

The Redhawk is for woods hunting and shots inside of fifty yards. It handles quick and I have a red dot on it now. It has accounted for six whitetails from eight to seventy five yards.

I had a 10.5 inch super Blackhawk but did not like it. The long barrel made it hard to get on anything quick so I sold it.

Thank you for the replies. I have had a 9.5 Redhawk and a 10.5 SBH. I now have a 10" and 14" contender, with different uses for each. I am envious of the fine revolvers I see here, but for my purposes Contenders make more sense.

I have had 10 12 & 14" 44 Mag Contenders / G2s

My favorite was always the 12"

Many don't realize that the early 10" guns the chambers were cut right. The later guns had excessive free bore and concentricty issues.

The early 10" & 14" guns were tack drivers but would not chamber a 300 gr bullet

My 12" had over 1/2" of freebore but still shot good. I seated 300 gr Hornadys long in that barrel. It was a hammer.

If I had to choose I would find an old 10 or 14 with a properly cut chamber and work me up a load.

I have a 12" barrel on my Encore, and it's a good length for me to carry in the woods. I use the irons that came on it. However, I would think that a 12" barrel on a Blackhawk would be way too long. Maybe we've just been so conditioned to see the T/C's and revolvers in different ways. They definitely lend themselves to different types of hunting in my mind.

The Contender and Encore platforms blend well with optics, whether scope or red dot whether 10 in or 14-15 in and are my longer range guns say 60 -70 yds and out. My single actions usually handle everything 60 - 70 yds and in. I carry a shooting/walking stick + backpack with me whether going to a fixed stand or walking about. For carrying the longer guns I attach and old Uncle Mikes holster for a 14 in. scoped Contender, Encore, to the side of the pack freeing my hands when I walk.The single action is carried cross draw so I always have one available to me.

Most hunters will have a Contender or Encore for longer range shots, while their revolvers will be more handy and balanced for free-handed shooting for close range or quick shots. A 14" barreled Contender or 15" Encore maximizes the velocity you'll get out of the cartridge (not as much of an issue with the 44, but definitely an isssue with bottleneck cartridges), and at longer ranges you'll likely have it supported on a solid rest when you shoot, so the bulk wouldn't be too much of an issue. On the other hand, 7 1/2" or shorter barreled revolver is easier to hold free-handed, and easier/less cumbersome to carry on the hip or across the chest.

Obviously, there can be some overlap. Given the choice between a 44 Magnum Contender or my 14" S&W Model 460 revolver, I'd much rather have the Contender for the archery distance shots and the revolver for shooting at 100+ yards.

Having had contender barrels in .44 magnum in 10, 12 and 14 inch lengths, my decision on barrel length was based on portability and recoil. I prefer the ten inch barrel but don't shoot it as well as the 12 or 14. It's a handful. The 14 is much easier to shoot but I've never been a fan of the longer barrel as it seems I should be carrying a rifle. Only four inches difference. The 12 is a good compromise and has a built in brake or compensator. Reasonably portable and easy to shoot.

Maybe I should look at a ported ten inch barrel?