Author Topic: BIG BORE CONTENDERS? (Read 1369 times)

MACHINIST · « **on:** March 14, 2006, 02:07:13 PM »

I would really like a contender barrel in either 454 or 460.I know that the pressures are to high for the contender.My question is how much difference are the above mentioned round to the 45-70 or the 375 jdj catridge?

TC Cowboy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2006, 02:49:44 PM »

hey machinist, it's me again. I dont want to tell another hunter what to do, but i have a suggestion. from your yesterdays post , i gather you are just getting into the handgun world with the 35 rem contender you just obtained. I also saw your post where you are wanting a 223 from lovesdogs, thats great but let me suggest getting a rimfire barrel for your contender.practice with that, get used to the sight picture that comes with using a handgun, when you are proficient with that , mix in your 35 rem,or say a .223. the point is get used to shooting properly without opening up pandoras recoil box. I am afraid if you go to the big bores before you are ready you will lose your enjoyment, like i did years ago when i tried it to fast, and you will feel like you made a mistake.go slow , have fun , the big bores will be there when your ready

good hunting!

jhalcott · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2006, 03:12:59 PM »

cow boy is correct! IF you are not familiar with the brutish recoil from the big bores you can do harm to yourself. Both physical and mental harm. Many men scare the wits out of their wives and kids by giving them a "reasonably"mild gun to shoot the first time. This shock to their senses ruins any future use of firearms. I start my grand kids with an air pistol,then an air rifle.Once they can hit targets with those we go on to .22rf's.After that 22 cf's,etc..! I have carpal tunnel syndrome from years in the steel mill and thousands of big bore rounds from 44 mags,358JDJ and 45-70 handguns. Start small and shoot the big bores for game NOT fun.

doncisler · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2006, 04:42:27 PM »

operating pressure of the .460 is 65,000 psi (not CUP). way more than the contender is meant to handle - 65,000 is about the same as 30-06 and three times the pressure of a .45
not sure what a .454 operates at - manuals appear to go up to 60,000 psi.
contender tend to get nervous much over 40,000 psi.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2006, 04:44:13 PM »

Quote from: MACHINIST

I would really like a contender barrel in either 454 or 460.I know that the pressures are to high for the contender.My question is how much difference are the above mentioned round to the 45-70 or the 375 jdj catridge?

The 454 Casull and 460 Mag operate in the high 50,000 to 60,000 PSI range, where the 45-70 is in the high 30,000 to 40,000 PSI range. The contender can't handle the 454 Casull or the S&W 460 Mag rounds. I own a Encore in 454 Casull and shot it quit a bit, it is a hand full. I just had it rechambered to 460 Mag and put a muzzle brake on it and it is still a hand full. If you are not a big bore handgun shooter, you need to work up to these rounds. If you try to jump right on them you will develop a severe flinch and never really get the full potential of the round. JMHO.

You will find out that the 45-70 can be a hand full in that contender. :shock:

doncisler · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2006, 04:56:59 PM »

i have no idea what pressures the 375 JDJ work under, the t/c complete reloading manual doesn't list a single pressure for this cartridge.
i assume (there's that word again) that they must be pretty heavy for the contender if they can push a 220gr bullet at 2200fps and a 300gr bullet at 1900fps.
those are right up there with 460 s&w mag and 500 s&w mag numbers

MACHINIST · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2006, 03:09:59 AM »

I have owned over 20 pistols/handguns over the last 10 years.I am only new to the contender /encore thing.I owned one encore before but it was a little much for me,I only shot it a few times and hated it.The encore was chambered in 30.06 and it was a andfull so I sold it but I have always wanted to hunt with a pistol.I have hunted alot with my revolvers but I have always wanted a good single shot and the other day I shot my freinds contender in 35 and I thought that the recoil was alright,so I went and bought myself one.I plan on buying a 17hmr barrel for my contender for fun shooting and squirrel hunting.I cant wait till the weather gets a little nicer so I can get some shooying in.

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2006, 04:36:40 AM »

Machinist:

You can do 454 and 460 in an Encore, but not a Contender. Both are commercially available for Encore.

TC Cowboy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2006, 03:07:08 PM »

machinist, sorry to assume you just had got into the handgun game, hey my advice is only worth 2 cents anyway

you will enjoy the 17 hmr, it is extremely accurate in my contender, by the way it interesting that your first 2 caliber choices mirrored mine, the 17 hmr and 35 rem, i also have a .223 and finally , the new 6.8 rem spc, anyway , good hunting to you

EdK · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2006, 04:25:34 PM »

You mentioned wanting to have a Contender in 454 or 460 if it were possible... later mentioned that you found 30-06 in an Encore to be something you hated...

I'm quite sure that if you could have your wish granted you would wind up hating it as much or more than the Encore/30-06. The 454 is considered by many as fairly vicious in the Encore - never mind if it could be chambered in the much lighter Contender.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2006, 04:29:40 PM »

EdK, has it right, if you did not like the recoil of your 30-06 in an Encore pistol, you won't like the recoil of the 454 Casull or 460 Mag. I had a 15 inch 30-06 Encore barrel for my Encore and the recoil in my opinion was less than the 454 Casull. Again that was my perception.

Catfish · « **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2006, 09:09:37 AM »

Machinist,
Forget your idea of a big bore in the Contender if you thought the Encore had to much recoil. The recoil of the Contender is far more than with the same round in the Encore. I have 3 Contenders frames and 2 Encore frames and don`t really know how many barrels at present and really love big bores. Heck I have 2 - 500 S&W`s, but I don`t like shooting a 44 mag. barrel on a Contender frame.

swampthing · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2006, 03:15:35 PM »

Whats wrong with a good ol' 45 Colt throwing 300g hardcast slugs easily over 1450 fps from a 12" contender, if you "want" more juice, that 45-70 throwing 350's at the same speed should fill the bill.
I am very pleased with my 12'' .44 mag, I load it "down" with faster pistol powders and it still launches 280g hardcast LBT's @ 1280 fps, with the slower powders 1500fps is a cinch.
Last I checked big bores were .41 and bigger.

lovedogs · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2006, 06:45:05 AM »

Machinist,

Lovedogs here. You and I are getting pretty well acquainted so you know where I stand on some things already. These fellows are giving good advice. With your .17, the .223, and your .35 you'll be equiped for most anything you need to shoot. If you still want to go bigger I'd suggest trying a Super 14 in .44 mag. I don't know if your Contender is the newer G2 or the old frame. If it's the old frame you're in luck; you can get a Pachmayr Decelerator grip for it. The Super 14 with the Decelerator grip is quite nice to shoot, actually easier than your .35 with a wooden grip. The .44 also has the advantage that you can load it down to practice with. Slower loads shoot just fine, can be used on smaller critters, and are quite pleasant to fire. Maybe I'm cautious but if I needed anything bigger than the .44 I think I'd reach for a rifle. Fun is fun but in my humble opinion shooting something too big or mean with a pistol is bordering on a stunt. In some instances it can prove inhumane and it can get dangerous, too. Just my point of view.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2006, 04:30:52 AM »

Hey Machinest,
If you want to stay with the Contender, go with the .375 JDJ. This is by far the heaviest recoil handgun that I have shot. IMHO, it is more then the .454. When I was sighting in my .375 JDJ it was a painful experience. Now I am far from being recoil sensitive and love the feel of a hot handgun. Also don't get me wrong, I love my .375 JDJ and shoot it all the time.

If you really want to go with the .454 or .460 have at it. But those are mot guns to go plinking with. They will qualify as a great hunting handgun for anything in the north american continent.

Doncisler,
I also would like to know the pressures of the .375 JDJ round. With the amount of recoil, it must be up there. :wink:

Turk · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2006, 02:31:29 AM »

Machinist,

I totally agree with Swampthing. The 41 mag., 44 mag. and 45 Colt and will stop deer size and larger game in NA. I shot the following calibers from either a Contender/Encore or wheel gun 357 mag., 41 mag., 44 mag., 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 444 Marlin, 480 Ruger and 45-70 Govt. To be quite frank when you move up in pressure felt recoil increases. The 454 Casull in SRH is the worse recoiling gun I own and it is not pleasent to shoot with the 444 Marlin coming in second. My brother in law asked me a very interesting question after I had fired the first 24 rounds through the Casull and which I might add with a hurting and swollen palm (I now use a shooting glove). The question: Why to shoot something that hurts you? He's probably is right. The big bores do have a purpose for larger game for for fun shooting they stink. I also agree with lovedogs, concerning hunting dangerous game with a handgun. Let's see a 500 Smith will stop a Brown bear but you miss your first shot and the big boy wins and has supper. On big danergous NA game I'll use my 9.3x62 mm Mauser. The advantage of the Casull is you can shot 45 Colt in it. Come to think about I think I'll sell my 454 and put the money toward a Winchester 38-55 highwall.

Also I personally like the Contender over the Encore for handling and shooting but once the pressure goes up you need the Encore.

Turk

Remember to pray for our troops.

Tom W. · « **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2006, 06:03:13 PM »

I kinda like the bigger rounds for plinking. I also handload everything that I shoot in my centerfire pistols, revolvers, and rifles. I haven't had much of a chance to do much shooting with my new Encore, but what I did get to do in the "learning session" showed me that the recoil from the 15 inch 30-06 is there, but it doesn't twist my wrist or elbow like my old S/A .44 mag SBH, so therefore it doesn't hurt. I think I'll save up for a .460....