I know there are probably 100x the number of opinions as there are barrel length options, but I'd be curious to know what everyone thinks. I'm looking to get back into the handgun hunting game. I previously had a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in .44 Magnum. These have a 7.5" barrel. It was just too unwieldy for me. It always seemed that it was too long to be comfortable to carry, or use comfortably (for me). I've recently started my search for the next gun to hunt with. I've been looking at Blackhawks with 5.5" and 6.5" barrels. I recently fired one that had a 4 5/8" barrel, and really liked the balance of it. I know that the longer barrel length has a longer sight radius and helps with accuracy, but based on real world experience of everyone, is 4 5/8" too short to regularly hope to hunt with? Most of my shots are less than 30 yards. I'm looking at either .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, or .454 Casull (to shoot .45 Colt). Opinions? Thanks in advance.

30 yards or less....No problem with 4 5/8" barrel.
Any of those cartridges easily kill deer at that distance with a 5.5" barrel length-Go kill stuff!

that is a fine barrel length for under 50 yards. if you are going to push out further. a longer barrel will help you out IMHO. any of those calibers will kill anything you are looking to hunt at those distances.

As long as you can shoot it accurately - pick your barrel length. Beware some states have stupid barrel length requirements.

👆🏻

What KRal said.

Ohio has a five inch minimum barrel length for deer. Not sure how they came up with that one.

John

With your likely shots @ around 30 yards, and your apparent comfort with the 4 5/8” barrel, get the 45 LC.....”go forth and slay game”! memtb

What he said!
And WELCOME to the forum!!!

It is the Indian not the arrow. If it's what lifts your skirt have at it.

My most often carried revolver for deer is my 4 5/8th .45 Colt Ruger. It wears a red dot sight and is my 70 yd and in choice. I also carry a scoped something else, Contender or Striker for longer shots.

I know that everyone including the O.P. has mentioned single actions to this point, but I'm really fond of S&W "N" frames with the 6 or 6 1/2 inch "Classic" barrels. I bought my first M629-4 Classic with a 6 1/2 inch barrel several years ago and set it up with a Weigand mount and an Ultradot Matchdot. It turned out to be so easy to shoot, I ended up acquiring another M629 and a M657, all with the same barrel length and profile. Just my two cents.

It's really more about your ability to shoot than barrel length or the velocity it affects. For me, I hunted with 7.5" guns for years but later found that a 4 5/8" Bisley in my hands is like launching guided missiles. For whatever reason, they just work better for me. A lot of folks prefer a 5.5". IMHO, a 6" is perfect for a DA and I've threatened to have my SRH's cut to that length.