.357 Max or .44 Mag

[hylander]

Of these two which would be better.
I am leaning toward the .44 but I hear it is painful to shoot from the Contender (recoil).
Also which Lenght 10, 12 or 14", I am thinking a 10" would be more handy.
Shot's would be out to 125yd. (Deer) and Accuracy is a Must.
Or should I buy a Super BlackHawk.

[Gregory]

I started hunting weith a Contender back in the mid 80's with a 10" 44 Mag.  It worked very well.  I used 200 gr JHP bullets out of this barrel with good results and recoil wasn't too bad.

I sold that barrel and now own a 14" 44 Mag, a 10" 357 Max., and a 10" 300 Whisper.  I've settled on the 357 Max as my #1 deer barrel.  Good accuracy and more comfortable to shoot than the 44.  The 300 Whisper is as light as I'd go for deer.

You must be a handloader to consider the 357 Max, in my opinion.  If you planning to shoot factory loads go with the 44 Mag.  Ammo is everywhere.

[PDM1]

I have a TC in 44 mag both in 10" and 14" also a super blackhawk in 10.5."  The accuracy of the 14" barrel is amazing.  I use it each month shooting 40 rounds in IHMSA Unlimited BB.  The recoil with the 14 is not that bad, the 10" is far worse.  The super blackhawk accuracy is not up to the contender.

[Bullseye]

I shoot a 10" 44 Mag and recently sold my 10" 357 Max.  I prefer the 44 over the 357.  The 44 does have more recoil, but it is not painful recoil like the 357 Max in my opinion.  The 357 Max has a very fast sharp recoil and a lot of twist.  Last time I shot 50 round through it my wrist hurt for a few days and that does not happen with any of my other calibers and I have some big ones.

[GrampaMike]

I was researching recently “Twist Rate” and read an article on “Recoil and Twist Rates”.  I just tried to find that same article to post here, but cannot.  If I remember correctly the worst “twisting/wrenching” during recoil is a barrel length that is 25%-30% of the twist rate.  That would mean that a 44 mag that has a twist rate of 1:38, the worst barrel length for “twisting/wrenching” would be a barrel of 9” to 11”.  I do not know the Twist Rate of a 357 Max.  But it makes sense because of so many complaints of the 10” 44 mag.  I think it was a NRA article, but cannot be sure.  Mike.

[mdc1]

I have a 14" .44 mag also.  A buddy and I both bought the barrels at the same time but I got mine mag-na-ported.  Comparing the two, mine is definitely more pleasant to shoot.  I've probably shot 8-10 deer with it over the years without a problem.

[EdK]

and I'll be sure to keep that in mind going forward. However most 44's are running 1-20" and 357's 1-18" so I don't think it would explain any significant difference between these two rounds. It might be useful for comparing say a 1-9" 7-30 Waters in 14 inch to a 1-20" 44 mag in 10 inch.

[mag41vance]

If only one choice, it would be the .357 max. It will shoot from .38 WC's up to the 225gr spire point in the Max case. That's variety! The .429 is a dime a dozen cartridge.
  I'd get both but start with the Max

[GrampaMike]

You are right EdK...

My 44 Mag rifle (NEF) is a 1:38 twist, not the contenders.

Please ignore my previous post.