got my G2 frame but have question about the 44mag

[jeff223]

my frame is here but i have not ordered a barrel yet.i think it will be a 44mag.i think i want a 12inch barrel and i am going to scope it up.my question is this?what kind of accuracy can i expect out of this contender?do you feel a 44mag is a 75 or 100yd gun for deer?i am thinking about useing 240gr bullets out of this,what do you think?

[myronman3]

out of a contender (or any gun without a barrel/cylinder gap) you can expect quite a boost in velocity.  you will truely get magnum preformance from that set up.  if you can hit good at 100, the gun will be up to it.

[Deaf Smith]

If not than a 22LR should be your first barrel. The recoil of a 44 magnum an a G2 or contender can be rather painfull if you are not ready for it(and can still hurt if you are you may want to consider the 7=30 waters ot 30-30 may well be better for your needs and the felt recoil actually is easier to take. Shoot some friends barrels first befour you spend the money on a 44 it may not be the barrel for you and why spend the money if you can't or don't want to handle it in the end. JMHO
Jim L

[jeff223]

DEAF SMITH i under stand what you are saying but i must stick with a straight walled case for deer hunting in the shotgun zone here in Michigan.i would love the 7-30 waters or a 30-30.i was thinking about the 44mag or even a 357 max barrel.i see they only offer the 357mag from TC unless you get a barrel from the custom shop.

[Deaf Smith]

Does'nt kick nowhere as much as the 44. I had a 44 it just plain hurts. As for the barrel check with ed's Contenders and you can get a 357 max in just about any length you want. Eds is a great place to get hard to find barrels and his prices are good. Check with Ed's Contenders for your barrel you should have it within the week.

[tnwill]

If you want a 44 Mag , check on a Hunter barrel. I purchased a 12" 44 mag hunter from Ed's a while back and with 300 gr XTP's and a max load of h110 recoil is not a problem.  I mounted a 2x Leupold on it, and at 50 yds it will shoot one ragged hole.

[Lawful Larry]

Hey Jeff,
I just purchased a 12" .44 Mag barrel from Midsouth for $196.  I put a 2x Burris on it and it is one of my best setups.  It doesn't kick any more then my .30-30.  You will love this setup if you go with it.  As to load I shot a mild plink load of 9.5 grains of W231 under a 240 grain bullet.  

As to hunting round I load 20 grains of H110 under a 240 XTP HP.  This is a little thumper, but really not that bad.  Just remember it is not for plinking!  I don't wear a shooting glove, but do put on a leather winter type hunter glove and the felt recoil is slight.

Happy hunting and shooting friend!     :wink:

LL

[jeff223]

thanks everyone,i think the 12 inch 44mag barrel is the way for me to go unless i run into a deal on a 357max barrel.thanks for the load data also.a plinker load and a hunting load would be nice.

anyone shooting cast bullets out of their Contenders?

[Bullseye]

I shoot a 10" 44 mag without a scope for weight and I do not think the recoil is that bad, guess it is a subjective thing.  I also had a 357 Max for years and I would rather shoot the 44 mag.  The 357 Max has a sharp thump and a good twist of the gun in my opinion and hurts my hand more than the 44.

[myronman3]

i shoot cast out of mine.  310 grain pills over 9 grains unique, cci magnum pistol primer.  wonderfully accurate.  recoil isnt squat.  if you get a barrel and think it has a bit too much recoil; get a pachmayr decellarator grip.  a world of difference.

[Keith L]

The only downside I have found for the G2 so far is that Pachmeyer doesn't make a grip for them.  These grips do tame hard recoiling barrels.

[Lawful Larry]

Hey Keith,
I got in touch with Pachayer and they told me that new G2 grips are in R&D right now.  And that it should not be long before we have them.  They email was from ( lyman1@lymanproducts.com ).

I also talked to a fella ( Georgia Jim I think) that makes good quality grips and he will be getting to the G2 in the near future.  

They will be available in short time, I hope.

LL