Accuracy from the .44mag barrel...

[.Dirty-.30]

Gonna pick up my first Contender this weekend. Was wondering what you, who are regular shooters of the .44mag barrels use. I have about 5 boxes of the 240gr XTP bullets and blue dot and unique on hand. Will check manuals for a confirmed recipe but wondered what you guys think of this bullet in these pistols?  Also is the Loads handbook for the T/C provide any good info, they are the little booklets you can get for around $7 from shooting supply houses?   Thanks,  .DT

[kynardsj]

While I haven't owned a 44 mag Contender I've owned about a half dozen in other calibers along with about as many Encores. For me, jacketed was always more accurate. Find the right powder to go behind those XTP's and you ought to have a great shooter. It may or may not be Blue Dot or Unique. The loadbooks that just cover one caliber are pretty handy. They'll pick up and list data from other manuals and powder companies. Also you can go to the website of the company that makes the powder you have. There'll be load data there too. Good luck and good shooting.

[Bullseye]

That is my bullet of choice.  I use IMR 4227 though, decent velocity and good accuracy without the blast, flash and recoil of H110, even though the H110 will give you more velocity.

[Larry L]

My first Contender was a 30-30 10" barrel followed quickly by a 44 mag. Mine has the screw in choke for shotshells, vented rib. I guess I've had that since the 70's sometime. I've found the Contender to shoot best at or near max loads. You'll get a lot of unburned powder with powders that perform best in the 44 mag if you don't stay hot enough. The 240 XTP is a good bullet for a wheel gun but I've experienced far too many of them turned to dust at short yardages from a 10" Contender. They are as accurate as any bullet you'll load but it's not a fabulous hunting bullet. I've had much better luck with Remington bullets in 180gr and 240 gr. The Sierra 180 is another good bullet.Your better powders will obviously be slower than most pistol powders but Blue Dot has shot some great groups from mine. H110 and 2400 is what I mostly use though. Be sure to use magnum primers. And call yer banker. That way you can avoid introducing yerself when you start buying barrels.....lots of barrels.....lots and lots of barrels...they're a freakin' disease!

[ironglow]

  I have had .44 mag rifles in H&R and CVA..and have used most anything on deer and the .44 mag flattens them good   Today I use the 240 gr XTPs with 4227.
      Check here for loads:   http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

[smousefam5]

I shoot 265 gr. Hornady FP's in front of heavy charges of 296. Lil Gun has worked well too.


My .44 is a Super 14 barrel.

[.Dirty-.30]

Thanks for all the info and warnings about the dreaded barrelitis that comes with these!! Will pick it up these weekend, but can't find dies anywhere. Have 20 rounds of factory to fire, that might hold me a week or 3 till dies come back to the major supply houses....

[Artful]

Gonna pick up my first Contender this weekend. Was wondering what you, who are regular shooters of the .44mag barrels use. I have about 5 boxes of the 240gr XTP bullets and blue dot and unique on hand. Will check manuals for a confirmed recipe but wondered what you guys think of this bullet in these pistols?  Also is the Loads handbook for the T/C provide any good info, they are the little booklets you can get for around $7 from shooting supply houses?   Thanks,  .DT

I used cast boolits, Unique load was middle of the road as I recall like 9.5 grains was the sweet spot, The loads handbooks that I have looked at are just looking at other manual's and putting them together in one booklet.  OK I guess,  As far as accuracy - my light practice load would hit the standard turkey target as a head shot so say 3-4" groups at 150 yards - maybe a little better if the shooter wasn't over caffeinated.

[Bigeasy]

Just noticed, Natchez has Lee 44 mag die sets in stock
 
http://www.natchezss.com/Category.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=LE&prodID=LEE90512&prodTitle=Lee .44 Magnum Carbide 3 Die Set
 
Larry

[CLEAN DEAN]

  I have had .44 mag rifles in H&R and CVA..and have used most anything on deer and the .44 mag flattens them good   Today I use the 240 gr XTPs with 4227.
      Check here for loads:   http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
[/quote      +1 On that............. I've also had good performance and (fine)accuracy with Hodgdon powder "H-4227" & the Hornady bullets.