44 mag

[cridertj]

i live in Indiana and we can hunt deer with hand gun rounds and i was wondering if anyone could tell me if t/c or any one else makes a 26" 44 mag rifle barrel ?

[sk330lc]

Yes they do But, you would have to go through their custom shop or one of the aftermarket barrel makers like. Bullberry , MGM , Coyote arms or the many other makers of Encore and Contender barrels.

[Varmint Hunter]

i live in Indiana and we can hunt deer with hand gun rounds and i was wondering if anyone could tell me if t/c or any one else makes a 26" 44 mag rifle barrel ?

Just curious - what do you intend to use a 26" 44 mag for?

[cridertj]

I am planning to use it or my 270-encore handgun for whitetail .why? Do you think the 26 " will be to long a barrel?

[encore58]

I am planning to use it or my 270-encore handgun for whitetail .why? Do you think the 26 " will be to long a barrel?

You won't need anything longer than 18 inches for this caliber. All the powder will be well spent past about 12-14 inches.

[cridertj]

I was thinking most lever action rifles are around 20 - 24 " so a 26 would not be to bad and I would be use to the weight and length. But I may be wrong. I think a 24" barrel is the shortest rifle barrel t/c makes isn’t it?

[sportsman223]

  Before you buy call and talk to Jeff @ Match Grade Machine he built a 44 Mag barrel for me 20inch long. And a 357 Max barrel for  the IN reg's
    You will not find a more honest person or barrel builder out there he will build what ever length or chamber you want.
       As for TC custom shop I have had some of there barrel's some shot great some not so great, all my future barrel's will be built by MGM

[encore58]

Before you buy call and talk to Jeff @ Match Grade Machine he built a 44 Mag barrel for me 20inch long. And a 357 Max barrel for  the IN reg's
    You will not find a more honest person or barrel builder out there he will build what ever length or chamber you want.
       As for TC custom shop I have had some of there barrel's some shot great some not so great, all my future barrel's will be built by MGM

Good advice.

I have a 18.5 inch 44 mag  Bullberry in stainless with rifled sights that is really accurate and nice handling. I talked to Fred about barrel length and he informed about the powder being spent well before 14 inches. I also own a Winchester Trapper lever action with a 16.5 inch barrel with XS sights that is real fun to shoot. Unless you have issues with short barrels on rifles I would not go over 20 inches. My preference was closer to 18 inches but to each his own.

[rpharder]

 I have a Marlin 1894 with a 16 1/2 and a 24 barrel. I was thinking the same thing about getting a long barrel for my contender. I never compared the two Marlins but does the longer barrels have a negative effect on the bullets since the powder is consumed in the 12-14 inches of barrel length?

[encore58]

I have a Marlin 1894 with a 16 1/2 and a 24 barrel. I was thinking the same thing about getting a long barrel for my contender. I never compared the two Marlins but does the longer barrels have a negative effect on the bullets since the powder is consumed in the 12-14 inches of barrel length?

The data I have read seems to indicate the velocity will decrease at a certain barrel length and continue to decline. I imagine around 16 to 18 inches with the 44 mag but I have not chronographed and cut down a barrel like Bullberry has so I just pick the experts brains that I trust. Good question. I personally like my rifles to carry as light as possible and do not need extra length for balance. I prefer a carbine barrel where it makes sense.

[jw4570]

Yep,

with pistol calibers, the longer barrel may not give you much.  I'd say up to 20" (or 21" like the old contender barrels). 

But 16-18" would be just fine too.

Why are you seeking a 44 MAG specifically?  how about a 357 Maximum (or is that too long of a case for Indiana?)?  The 357 Max will shoot flatter, but it's really not the end of the world for either of these calibers at their effective ranges.

JW

[cridertj]

44 mag is very popular and i do not know much about the 357 max . what is the shortest barrel that make for the encore with out going custom

[sportsman223]

TC does not make a 44 in an encore rifle without going through there custom shop. And you can get any length you want
  I have a 357 Max built by MGM in a G2 this is the best handgun round for the Ind reg's if you reload.
 I have had a 44 in an encore 20inch custom barrel all I shoot know is the 357 Max this summer I am going to MGM build another one for an encore.  Just my $0.02

[jy951]

T/C does make a 44 Mag Encore Barrel you can buy off the shelf stock no 1616.  It's often available at midwayusa.com.  I purchased one not long ago.  I also live in IN.  It is 24", blued and does not come with sights.  It shoots pretty well.  I've thought about chopping it to 16-18". 

[30-06man]

I think a 24" barrel is the shortest rifle barrel t/c makes isn’t it?

Nope they have the 18 or 20 inch(not sure which) Kathadin Barrel in 500S&W and 460S&W. If I were you I would look into the MGM line and go with say a 17inch barrel and use it for my rifle.

[jason280]

A .44 in a 20" barrel is a nasty little animal, and makes for a very handy rifle.  I remember clocking some 200gr loads in a Ruger .44 Carbine that topped the 2000fps mark, so you should be able to get a 265gr bullet to respectable velocities.

[teddy12b]

Hello fellow hoosiers.  I was looking for one of these barrels about a year ago.  I know TC made the blued barrel but I couldn't find one.  I ended up buying a Legacy Arms Puma 44 mag.  Couldn't be happier with it and it's not much more than another barrel.  I hope you can find of these barrels and let us know how well it shoots.  I'm very curious about this.

[jy951]

you can buy one right here:  http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=612299&t=11082005

I purchased one and it shoots pretty good.  Should have no problem taking a deer with one at reasonable ranges.