357 mag 10 or 14 inch ?

[qwikrick]

looking to get new 357 mag barrel for my contender, should I get a 10'' or a 14'' ?

( or should I just go with a max ? )

[Richard P]

 I've never seen a 14'' that was a T/C factory barrel. Possibly there are some floating around that were from Fox Ridge--the custom shop.  It depends on what you plan for its use whether you'd want a 10'' or 14'' or go the ''max'' / ''super mag'' route.  The 10'' is available and offers a good choice for plinking or close range hunting.  It's pretty handy with a 4x scope on it. 
    If you need a bit more range and power the step to a 14'' ''max'' wouldnt be difficult.  It does give up some compactness.  If you dont want to go all the way to a 35 Rem it makes a good choice.   rp

[Grumulkin]

I would go with the 10 inch barrel which would still give you at least twice the barrel length that most 357 Mags have.  If you don't mind extra expense for brass, the 357 Maximum would be better.

[shot1]

If you just want a 357 mag and not the max a 10" works very well. Remember with the closed breach and the 10" barrel on a Contender you really out do a revolver even with a long barrel. I have killed deer with my 10" 357 mag Contender out to 107 yards using the 180 Hornady XTP and 13.5 grs H-110 and you don't really need any more gun than that. If I was going to get a new barrel and it was going to be used strictly for deer hunting I would go with a 14" 357 Max because I could stretch the yardage for a kill out a ways over the 357 mag. But for plinking target and hunting the 357 mag will be cheaper to feed.

[Curtis]

Personally I am partial to the 10" tubes.  To me the Contender moves further into "specialty pistol" or as some say "hand rifle" territory with the longer barrels.  With the 10 inch, I can think of it more as just a big pistol.  That said, I do own a couple of 14er's.  I have one in 22rf with a rifle scope and my 7-30 waters for deer justifies the extra length in my mind.  It will reliably kill further than I'm confident to shoot.  Other than that I have 22rf, 223, 256, 7tcu, 30 herrett, 357 herrett and (2) 44 mags all in ten inch versions.

Curtis

[qwikrick]

thanks to everyone for all the input .

I was thinking of going with the ten and so far it looks to be the favorite. not that I need it but its always fun to get something new for my contender.  
so far I have
14'' 30-30 hunter
14'' 223
12'' 45-70 hunter
10'' 44 mag
10'' 22 LR
 

maybe later I can get the 357 max in a 14 or 15 just to have something to look forward to in the future.

[jbwell]

I have the 357 Max in 10" & 14", used them for silhouette shooting.
The 14 will really push a 180/200 grain bullet.
Just got a 24" Custom Shop barrel from Ed's to make a carbine.
Remember, with the max barrel you can still shoot mags & specials.

[gs50401]

10 inch or maybe a 12.

[luckydawg13]

14" max

[Darrell H]

I love the Mag and the Max and I like short barrels in the straight-walled cartridges!  My .357 Mag is 7.5" and my .357 Max is 10" long.  Some numbers for you...The 7.5" .357 Mag shoots 158 gr JSP's at 1700 fps.  The 10" Max shoots 180 gr XTP's at 1700 fps.  Here are my guns:

The Mag:


The Max:


Have fun deciding! 

[qwikrick]

I love the Mag and the Max and I like short barrels in the straight-walled cartridges!  My .357 Mag is 7.5" and my .357 Max is 10" long.  Some numbers for you...The 7.5" .357 Mag shoots 158 gr JSP's at 1700 fps.  The 10" Max shoots 180 gr XTP's at 1700 fps.  Here are my guns:

The Mag:


The Max:


Have fun deciding! 


I think I may end up making the same decision you did and get one of each 

[Darrell H]

Now that sounds like a great idea!   

[EdK]

This is what I have done:

10" 357 magnum
12" 357 maximum
14" 35 Remington

[buckeye509]

I am partial to the 10" barrel in 357 Magnum, and the 12" Barrel in 357 MAX made by Bullberry.