Bargain 44 Mag Barrel or expensive ornament

[redspud]

Well, I thought that I had just made the deal of the century.  I found and bought a 44 mag barrel for my G2.  This barrel is in great shape, a TC 10" octagonal barrel with ports and a gadget on its muzzle end that has been referred to as the "choke".  Then I found out that the forearm from the G2 would not work and the one that I needed was out of production and difficult to find.  I went to two gun shops and two gun shows and had absolutely no luck at all in finding what I needed.  I was even further discouraged when I was told that the one that I needed was so rare it was a collector's item.  So I went to Ebay and found the second bargain of the century.  Now I have one sweet looking handgun that brings a tear to the eye of everyone that doesn't have one, but wants one.

My question comes from my unfamiliarity with this thing that I've been told was the choke.  It has rifling, but actually has a smaller inside diameter than the main section of the barrel.  I can not imagine why this short stub of a barrel extension would have rifling if it is a choke.  I also cannot imagine why its inside diameter is less than the rest of the barrel, unless it is a choke.  I bought the barrel for deer.  I thought it would be a hoot to harvest a nice buck with a handgun instead of my 50 Hawkin.  I have no use for or interest in shooting shot through this.  

I have heard of a choke wrench and this barrel extension does have two flats on it, I suppose for engaging flats on a wrench.  If this choke is removable, if that is what it truly is, what needs to be done about exposed threads?  I wouldn't want to shoot it with exposed threads.  I'm eager to make noise and big holes, but I'm proceeding with caution until I have this mystery unraveled.  I figured that if anyone could help with this issue, it would be GBO.

Can anyone help, please?

Thanks

[KN]

It is a choke, and do not fire 44 mag rounds in it without removing the choke first. It sounds like what is called a hot shot barrel. Made to shoot 44 mag shot shells that TC once made. I have a box of them and am not overly impressed with the concept. I'm not sure if TC even makes them any more but you could easily make your own using shot capsules. My understanding is that the "choke" was primarily to shred the shot capsule as it exited the barrel.   KN

[rickyp]

KN is right,
you have a 44 mag hotshot barrel. the choke is for shooting the T/C hotshot capsules out of (no longer made) the choke will barrel the plastic and stop the spin to improve  the pattern. You can still use the speer shot capsules. they are really good for nothing but mice and snakes at very close range.
If you got this barrel just for deer hunting you may not be very happy with it. the trough is cut longer then normal 44 mag barrels, You may or May not get good accuracy from this barrel I do know it will be hard to find a load that it likes.

This barrel and forend are no longer made they are not that hard to find. Ed of www.edstc.com sell them for around $85.00 for the barrel.