Finally found my hand cannon contender barrel.

Was at the GS browsing and looked at the T/C stuff, a 14 inch contender barrel had been there a while so I took a look. 44 mag Super 14 the tag said. Looked down the bore and the lands where fouled bad looked real rough. Then I noticed the chamber was LONG. HMMM! Stuck a pen in marked with finger pulled it out and it looked abit over 2". Did again checked with ruler just under 2 1/4 inch.

Talked them down on price and walked out with a 444 Marlin contender barrel. Nice clean bore after it was brushed out. Gots to be the best frame stretcher ever done. Gonna be fun!

Careful don't stretch your frame. Should be lots of fun though. I bet you could make some fun shot loads or multiple round ball loads to experiment with.

I've shot contenders for almost 40 years. Started with a 22 and 7TCU and 357 Herrett. The one that worried me most was a 356 win rechambered 35 rem. Max loads for it were just on the edge for the contender. Now I have a G2 frame for the hotter stuff and am happy staying 10% back from max load data. Kick way less without much lost velocity from the 308 size cases. I've had most everything thats been put in one that is reasonable but a 444. I think it is the most you can get out of them if you want heavy bullets for BIG game.

Haven't stretched one yet.

Yeah shot loads should be easy I think 410 wads will fit.

Two 444's top one is a bear with factory loads.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...i/P1310069.jpg

Yeah that carbine is light. Want a 16-18 inch 444 barrel ultradot, case it up with some rynite stocks for packing

You might want to load up some plain jane .44 mag loads in .444 marlin brass.

I have both a 4.5-5 grain Red Dot load and a 4.6 gr titewad load that are very nice and light in my .444 handi rifle.

Would make great low cost plinking loads for a Contender.

I have a Competitor pistol in 444 and it is a handful with factory ammo and heavy handloads, I would shoot 5 or 6 rounds and my wrist and elbows hurt from the recoil and torque. I changed up to trailboss and can shoot all day long.. granted at a lot lower velocities.

You may want to do a bit of looking at threads on this chambering. There have been some pretty bad happenings.

I am am sure you are thinking of keeping them mild. However you don't know what the prior owner subjected it too.
Jeff

My 10 inch .44 Magnum is plenty in my G2. I can't imagine a .444!!

OK girls, been doin this for 40 years with contenders. I DO Know how to download a cartridge. AND you can keep your trailboss, it is a way to sell you half the powder you would get if you bought real powder and knew how to load it.