suggestions for a new Contender barrel

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'm kicking around getting a new barrel made for my contender use will be for deer and lots of steel
hunting range will be from 0 out to 150 yards the three calibers I'm kicking around for are
357 max 41 and 44 magnums barrel length 13" or under thoughts

[Leadmelter]

The 357 Max is more comfortable to shoot than a 44mag. Starline just started making the brass and you can use heavy .358 boolits. If you have a 357 Mag you can cast for both. You can reload 357 Max with 357 mag dies.
Leadmelter
MI

[high standard 40]

Of the three chamberings you are considering, I will have to agree with Leadmelter. The 357 Max would be my choice.

[mike69]

I don't have one but been thinking of getting the 357 max for my encore . I've read a lot of good things about it. On Mike bellm's tc site there's a big write up on it it got some good info on there

[TCLouis]

357 Max, 357 Max, 357 Max . . .

[LUCKYDAWG13]

The only thing that concerns me about the max is the avillibilty of Brass

[Half Dog]

I have a Super 14 in a 44 mag barrel and I am very pleased.

[shoot-n-lead]

I just sold my Max...it didn't offer me anything that the 44 didn't already do as the 44 is accurate as far as I intend to shoot an animal with a Contender.

Honestly, I just wasn't impressed with it.

[VA Jim]

I wouldn't be too concerned about brass now that Starline is making it. I shoot the Max and the 44. Both are good shooters, but the Max is my favorite.

[historicfirearms]

I had a max and got bored with it. I like the 44 better for hunting deer. Under 13", I assume that you are looking at MGM? I've been pleased with the barrels from them.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Yep I'm looking at MGM I have a super 14 in 44 magnum with a brake so it has a 15" barrel
It's just to long for me so going to have a new barrel made

[uncle dino]

+1 for the max..d

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Ok starting to think about the max how accurate is it with 357 magnums

[nrc]

Starline just did a run of 357 max brass. I would recommend buying 250 even if you think you 'might' own a barrel in the future. https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/357-357-MAXIMUM/

I had a 14" TC in that caliber and liked it. I'm currently shooting it in a 16" Handi rifle. The versatility is incredible. I can shoot 110 grain bullets from 900 to 2000 fps or I can shoot subsonic 230 grain NOEs, or anything in between. I'll never get rid of it.

[Leadmelter]

I have a 10' 44 mag is my collection and with Pachmayar grips it was a handful. After twenty rounds, I had a nice blister on my hand.
Leadmelter
MI

[pkie44]

Starline has 38-55 brass, you can load it mild or wild.

[tigweldit]

I vote for the .41 Magnum. You can take it from mild to wild and be hard to find an inaccurate load. After almost 50 years of shooting,loading,and casting for for this caliber, it's still my favorite.

[Loudenboomer]

I have a 41 magnum reamed to 414 supermag I may let go. Fine shooter with both cals.

[Tatume]

PM sent.

[Jackpine]

I have all three and they all have advantages. I pick 44 hands down for deer. Brass and bullets are readily available.

Max is obviously most versatile in terms of loading for lower recoil, up thru heavy bullets. I have gotten very good accuracy with 357 cases. Bullets every where and 357 brass is almost free. Also, performance of 357 is very impressive in the TC, compared to revolver with cylinder gap. Sometimes seat the bullets out longer than normal in 357 cases makes a difference in accuracy.

I am a big 41 mag fan, but bullets are not as readily available and as cheap. I buy a lot of used molds to play with, and finding them in 41 is fairly rare, but when you do, they are often cheap. Picked up a hollow point mold in a pawn shop a few years ago for ten bucks.

The good news is you really can't go wrong with whatever choice yo make and can readily sell the barrel and replace without a lot of net cost, if you change your mind.

Good shooting,

Jackpine

[detox]

My 300 Whisper (14") has a 10 groove 1/10 twist barrel with a .309 diameter freebore. This is perfect for the little RCBS bore riding bullet.

[curator]

Luckydawg13,

If you buy your barrel from someone other than T/C you are more likely to have one that shoots boolits more accurately. I have a few T/C barrels for my Encore, and ALL have their lousy "cone-leade" chambering. Instead of the chamber ending where the mouth of the cartridge would be with a small "step" then a throat of bore diameter gradually tapering into the rifling, the T/C chambers end in a cone. This allows for early-gas blow-by and is detrimental to cast boolit accuracy. In most chambers it is almost impossible to seat a bullet out far enough to touch the rifling without resorting to custom extra-long brass. I use Starline .445 SuperMag brass in my T/C .44 Magnum barrel to solve this problem which it does quite nicely. Would have been better to have a proper chamber cut right from the factory.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Luckydawg13,

If you buy your barrel from someone other than T/C you are more likely to have one that shoots boolits more accurately. I have a few T/C barrels for my Encore, and ALL have their lousy "cone-leade" chambering. Instead of the chamber ending where the mouth of the cartridge would be with a small "step" then a throat of bore diameter gradually tapering into the rifling, the T/C chambers end in a cone. This allows for early-gas blow-by and is detrimental to cast boolit accuracy. In most chambers it is almost impossible to seat a bullet out far enough to touch the rifling without resorting to custom extra-long brass. I use Starline .445 SuperMag brass in my T/C .44 Magnum barrel to solve this problem which it does quite nicely. Would have been better to have a proper chamber cut right from the factory.

yes I'm looking at MGM new or used but it will be from them

[Moonie]

I would suggest adding 414 and 445 to the choices. The 414 gives you the ability to shoot 41 mag or the 414 SM and the 445 gives you the choices of 44 special, 44 mag or 445 SM.

[johnnysespresso]

Luckydawg13,

If you buy your barrel from someone other than T/C you are more likely to have one that shoots boolits more accurately. I have a few T/C barrels for my Encore, and ALL have their lousy "cone-leade" chambering. Instead of the chamber ending where the mouth of the cartridge would be with a small "step" then a throat of bore diameter gradually tapering into the rifling, the T/C chambers end in a cone. This allows for early-gas blow-by and is detrimental to cast boolit accuracy. In most chambers it is almost impossible to seat a bullet out far enough to touch the rifling without resorting to custom extra-long brass. I use Starline .445 SuperMag brass in my T/C .44 Magnum barrel to solve this problem which it does quite nicely. Would have been better to have a proper chamber cut right from the factory.
That is the kind of info on TC barrels I've been looking for. Thanks

[flint45]

I like the .357 max in a 12 inch barrel.

[selmerfan]

.357 Max. I have one for my Encore and wouldn't want anything else. I've had a .454 Casull in Encore also. Star line is now making .357 Max brass.


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