Open sights, better accuracy?

[Naphtali]

Using single action 44 Magnum with open sights, does 7.5-inch barrel's longer sight radius improve aiming over 5.5-inch barrel?

I find the shorter barrel more convenient to carry, but carrying doesn't mean much when trying to hit the whitetail 75 yards away. Scopes and electronic sights are not of interest for me.

 

[ReloadforFun]

The longer sight radius is somewhat more forgiving. It still comes down to what works best for you in meeting your needs. If the shorter barrel is better in general for your use, the sight radius is secondary.

To examine the difference, assuming a ten inch sight readius (note - radius, not barrel length), at 25 yards, misaligning the sights bu 0.088: will see the point of impact change 8".

For the same 25 yards, the shorter (5.5") sight radius would move the POI 8" with only 0.049" misalignment.

 

[GypsmJim]

As a shotgunner I always had my best success with a 3-9 power scope. When I first added the scope I was just beginning with bifocals. The open sights did not work well any more. When I switched to handguns I started with a 2x long eye relief scope.

Two of my deer handguns have 7 1/2" barrels and the 3rd is a 15 incher. My hunting land is heavily wooded. Shots are between 25-50 yards. The big scope worked well for me on the long .308 Encore, but it always made the Shorter revolvers feel muzzle heavy.

Two years ago I switched to using a reflex sight. That, IMHO, is the best of both worlds.

To answer your question directly, accuracy improves as the barrel gets longer. Nevertheless, I would personally not take a whitetail at 75 yards, even with my 15" Encore. In my 60 years of deer hunting I have never wounded one and had it get away. I just don't have that much confidence in a one-shot kill.

 

[pantannojack]

A centered front sight laterally is a centered front sight no matter what length the radius is. Your perception may vary. My best shooting revolver at 25 yd paper was a 2 1/2 inch 686. The round butt combat grips helped stabilize. The shooter is the platform which holds the gun.

 

[rockquarry]

I've not seen the alleged longer sight radius advantage at 25 and 50 yards, based on shooting a variety of 4" and 6" revolvers. However, it may be there at longer ranges.

 

[alwslate]

Back when I was able to hunt Deer when handguns became legal here in Indiana the gun I used the most was my three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 7.5" barrel in .44 Magnum. I also used a 5.5" Redhawk in .44 Magnum. Both had the standard open sights and I found that I could definitely shoot smaller groups on paper with the 7.5" Super.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have been shooting with a red dot for the last few months. A local range has guns for rent with red dots.

I prefer green dots however. The human eye sees green better.

It has dramatically improved my shooting. I can’t see open sights well enough.

At 5 to 25 yards, I'm shooting more accurately than I have in years.

I plan on sending in my Glock 48 slide to have it milled. Then I’m buying a Holosun green dot.

 

[SlamFire]

Longer sight radius is always better for consistency with irons. With a hand gun, I can tell a difference in hit probability between a five inch barrel and 7.5 barrel on my gong targets, but it is hard to quantify.

Now trying to hit my gongs at 50 yards with a two inch barrel, the hit probability is a lot lower than the miss probability.

 

[stansdds]

The longer sight radius makes minor misalignment of the sights easier for the eye to detect.

 

[AJ]

If I have a choice I will use iron sights over scopes and never a red dot or a laser.

 

[rockquarry]

The longer sight radius makes minor misalignment of the sights easier for the eye to detect.

Perhaps textbook true, but negligible "real" difference at best, if any at all when shooting up to fifty yards; my experience with common barrel lengths of 4" or 6".

 

[dave1918a2]

At My club in Colorado We shot a Magnum Handgun Match monthly. Shot at 100 meters and 25 rounds at three different plates representing Elk, Deer, and Antelope. I shot it with an 8 3/8 barreled 41 mag, a 6 inch 44 mag, and a three inch 44 mag. I hit 22 - 25 with the long barrel and the 6 inch. I hit 22-23 with the three inch. Sight radius doesn't matter as much as practice, practice, practice.

 

[rockquarry]

At My club in Colorado We shot a Magnum Handgun Match monthly. Shot at 100 meters and 25 rounds at three different plates representing Elk, Deer, and Antelope. I shot it with an 8 3/8 barreled 41 mag, a 6 inch 44 mag, and a three inch 44 mag. I hit 22 - 25 with the long barrel and the 6 inch. I hit 22-23 with the three inch. Sight radius doesn't matter as much as practice, practice, practice.

Few of us practice as much as we should, but we know it works.

 

[Naphtali]

My reference distance of 75 yards was only an illustration. At 25 yards longer barrel will show a nominal improvement than 5.5 incher.

 

[AJ]

A long time ago I practiced at 100 yards and used a 9 inch paper plate as a target. I was using a S&W Model 29-2 with a 4 inch barrel. I thought I wanted to hunt grizzly bears with a handgun. I talked to a guide that had been recommended to me. He told me when I could keep all my rounds in the late that I would be good enough to take hunting. I got that accurate with the revolver. However, life (read family) and the Corps got in the way. Never did........

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Usually a longer sight radius means greater accuracy. It's actually simple math, explained a few times above. When shooting standing, especially with only one hand, SOME folks actually shoot better with a slightly shorter sight radius. This is probably not the case when the gun is well supported.