TC Contender in .44 Mag

[shoot-n-lead]

Another option is to buy a 357 mag barrel and have Bellm ream it out to Max. I shoot mine in IHSMA out to 200 yds with 225grn cast boolits, and it's lighter recoiling and shoots much flatter than a 44. (I use a Pride-Fowler scope with a 44 mag calibrated reticle, and I always find myself holding way under the appropriate yardage hash marks).

I agree about the flat shooting and light recoil of the Max. I just sold my Max barrel...mine did very well with j-words...I just couldn't get it do as well with cast.

[ShooterAZ]

I have a T/C Factory barrel, and it shoots very well, no problems with throat etc. It will put these wadcutters http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=43-190W-D.png into the same hole at 50 yards from a rest. A 4X Leupold scope sits on it. 6 grains of Bullseye is the ticket. It pretty much shoots everything very well, including the Lee C430-310 pushed hard. I tend to stay with the target loads lately though...much more enjoyable to shoot.

[jimb16]

I hate to correct someone, but I can shoot groups like that at 100 yards with my Contender with the 7TCU barrel and J-word boolits. Of course I'm using sand bags, but so what.... I have a 10 inch .44 mag barrel that will shoot goups like that off sand bags at 50 yards. I use a 250 gr. semi-wad cutter and 9.0 gr. of unique. No scopes on either barrel! And I can shoot groups of under 1/2 inch with my .222 Rem. bull barreled 700 BDL at the same 100 yards. I'm sure my firearms are capable of better, but I'm not.

[shoot-n-lead]

I hate to correct someone, but I can shoot groups like that at 100 yards with my Contender with the 7TCU barrel and J-word boolits. Of course I'm using sand bags, but so what.... I have a 10 inch .44 mag barrel that will shoot goups like that off sand bags at 50 yards. I use a 250 gr. semi-wad cutter and 9.0 gr. of unique. No scopes on either barrel! And I can shoot groups of under 1/2 inch with my .222 Rem. bull barreled 700 BDL at the same 100 yards. I'm sure my firearms are capable of better, but I'm not.

I hope that you don't think that you are correcting me...cause you are not. My statement about "shooter" was in reference to MY shooting with THAT barrel.

For the record...I can come close to that group with the 30/30 barrel at 100yds...just not with the .44. I have not tried, but I might be able to do it with my 10" 7TCU...at a minimum, it would be better than I can do with the .44.

[iplaywithnoshoes]

I know we are talking Contender but I have been able to squeeze 1" at 100yds out of my .243 and .45-70 pistol barrels in my Encore off a front bag. These were 15" barrels but I certainly don't doubt those kinds of groups from lighter contenders with some practice. Then again though, after extensive shooting in a .45-70 pistol, the .44 is quite a pussycat comparably.

shoe

[shoot-n-lead]

I know we are talking Contender but I have been able to squeeze 1" at 100yds out of my .243 and .45-70 pistol barrels in my Encore off a front bag. These were 15" barrels but I certainly don't doubt those kinds of groups from lighter contenders with some practice. Then again though, after extensive shooting in a .45-70 pistol, the .44 is quite a pussycat comparably.

shoe

I agree...but, I am by no means a good handgun shot...

You put a Contender or Encore in the hand of someone that can shoot...it will turn in some impressive groups...especially, when chambered in a rifle cartridge.

I find that I shoot the rifle cartridges much better than the handgun cartridges, even with recoil being about the same...say with the .44 compared to the 30/30, although the 30/30 has more recoil. That bullet getting out of the barrel quicker, I suppose, greatly reduces the effects of improper grip technique.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I know we are talking Contender but I have been able to squeeze 1" at 100yds out of my .243 and .45-70 pistol barrels in my Encore off a front bag. These were 15" barrels but I certainly don't doubt those kinds of groups from lighter contenders with some practice. Then again though, after extensive shooting in a .45-70 pistol, the .44 is quite a pussycat comparably.

shoe

yep I have shot some great groups with my 454 encore at a 100 yardsAttachment 190935 some times the stars just line up I wish i could do this all the time

[historicfirearms]

yep I have shot some great groups with my 454 encore at a 100 yardsAttachment 190935 some times the stars just line up I wish i could do this all the time

Great shooting there! I have the same barrel for my encore but haven't messed around with it yet. Do you care to share the load data that you used to shoot that group?

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Great shooting there! I have the same barrel for my encore but haven't messed around with it yet. Do you care to share the load data that you used to shoot that group?

My barrel was made by the T/C custom shop 13" and I had them put the 4 port mag-na ports on it The load was a 300gr boolit
MP 454-294 HP Mold with a mild load of 27.5 gr of H110

[modified5]

So, this Walmart special .44 barrel.
Is the locking block compatible with early frames?
For that price I may need to figure out a way to get one in the stables.
I have been wanting to add a.44 mag barrel for a while, and for under $200 delivered I may just have to.

[shoot-n-lead]

So, this Walmart special .44 barrel.
Is the locking block compatible with early frames?
For that price I may need to figure out a way to get one in the stables.
I have been wanting to add a.44 mag barrel for a while, and for under $200 delivered I may just have to.

I have mixed and matched early and G2 barrels and frames...never had a single issue. I could use later barrels on early frames and early barrels on later frames, with no problem.

[modified5]

Thanks shoot-n-lead. I had read some posts about locking block differences and concerns so I know they are out there.
Most of my barrels are older ones. The newest is my .375JDJ, and that is a factory barrel that is about 5 years old.
I may just have to jump on this one and ask for forgiveness later.

[Leadmelter]

picked mine up today. Barrel is in factory wrappings.
Leadmelter
MI

[cheese1566]

I have a plain Jane super 14 barrel in 44mag I bought second hand last year. I finally loaded up some Noe plain base and lubed them with Lar's red carnauba with about 10 grains of Unique. I was plinking with the other barrels at 100yds and decided to swap to the 44. It had a cheap BSA red dot on it that was extra on my bench. Heck, the red dot covered the target at 100 yds.

i was astounded when I looked at the 8x10 sheet and found most the hits were on the upper half of the paper. Nothing special about the loads....

it it now sports a Leupold handgun scope and awaits further testing and decent rest.

[68 couper]

Cheese- Sounds promising. Work with it a bit and see how it goes.
Good luck
Couper

[modified5]

My "Walmart" special hit Reno at 5 pm tonight. I will have it tomorrow.
I wonder if I can shoot my contender off a rest after my shoulder surgery??
Not sure how the upward motion of the recoil would affect it. May have to wait another month or so before I wring this one out.

[Leadmelter]

modified5
I would talk to your orthopedics surgeon first. I don't think he will want any jarring of the repaired should for six weeks. Besides, the PT will wipe you out anyway. Is it your dominant arm? Be Careful!!!
Leadmelter
Retired MRI Tech

[modified5]

Leadmelter, it is my HEAVILY dominate arm.
I am 8 weeks out right now and it is so weak that I can't raise it above my head without assistance.
I am an auto tech who for years thought nothing about lifting a transfer case above my head to stab it, or bench pressing a transmission into one of my race cars at the track.
Probably the reason for the damage I have now!!

[nhmikel]

I have TC 14" blued 44 never fired if your interested?

[Leadmelter]

modified5
Your shoulder is the most complicated joint in your body. If you cannot lift arm without assistance is not a good sign.
Talk to your surgeon or PT person before you undue what was fixed.
Just a FYI
Leadmelter
MI
Retired MRI Tech after almost 30 yrs.