Thanks for the input Alfred. Today I found out for myself. I bought the barrel from mpmax on the classified ads. I got to the range (boy was it crowded!) and ran some of my mid-power cast re-loads through it. Accuracy was very good, at least as good as I can hold it. The recoil was pretty zippy even with mid-power loads. I can imagine it would be a real handful with a heavy load. I already have a 14 inch scoped heavy barrel 44 mag for my contender, and it is a tack driver, but VERY heavy. The little 8 inch octagon barrel was much lighter and a real blast to shoot with the iron sights. I might wind up shooting this more often than the 14 inch barrel.
Safe shooting,
Lee H.