revolver vs contender 44 mag

[sneekyhunter]

I am thinking of buying a 12 inch 44 magnum barrel for my contender,im hunting with a revolver with a 5 inch barrel and am wondering what kind of increase in velocity i will gain.Thanks for your time...

[358nutz]

I'd guess you would see about another 350 to 400 fps increase if not more.

[offhand35]

I have some experience in that regarding a 41 Mag.. but between two different revolvers: with a certain load in my 7.5" Redhawk hunter  41mag I clocked  1374 fps, while the same load in my 4 5/8" Ruger New Model Blackhawk I get 1256fps.
For a 2nd load, the 7.5" get 1409fps, the 4 5/8" gets 1286
That's a drop of 118 and 123 fps.

 I'm ordering a 10" Contender bbl in 41 mag, it will be interesting  to see how those 2 loads clock. Without the cylinder gap, I expect the increase to be substantial.

[rickyp]

the contender or encore  will do much better then any revolver, you do not have the cylinder gap to loose gas as well as the longer barrel
velocity will very, each barrel is a rule on it's self

[EdK]

I probably like the 14/15" single shot barrels the best - these are all in bottle-necked cases though. If you are going to stick with a straight-wall 357/41/44 magnum, I think the 10" length is just great. They handle extremely well - being the overall size of a 7.5" hunting revolver but with no cylinder gap (as has been mentioned) the performance is dandy! If you compare the gain you'll get jumping from your 5" revolver to Contender versus going from a 10" to longer T/C barrel you may decide it is not worth it.

[Lone Star]

How about some real data instead of wild guesses? 

Hornady #6:
.44 Magnum, 240-grain HP, 24.5 grains W296
7.5" SBH...1400 fps
14" T/C.....1650 fps

That's 250 fps more from a ported barrel that is in effect   just 5" longer.

Lyman #48:
.44 Mag, 240 HC, 23.5 grains H110
10" T/C....1554 fps
14" T/C....1644 fps

That's just 90 fps more from 4" more barrel.


.

[Lawful Larry]

Think more about the accuracy then the velocity.  I shoot a S&W 629 in .44 Mag and a G2 12" in same caliber.  The G2 is more accurate. 

Couldn't find any target data on the 629, but this should do:



The group was less then 1".

Lone Star's data is very accurate as to the velocity.  I as write this my data book is out in my reloading room so I can't go into anymore detail.   Both are accurate, but one is more then the other by a small amount.  I have taken deer with both and have no complaints on either. 

Go spend money and then go shoot and have fun!!!

[odie-wan]

Very nice shooting Larry!    I just got a 10" barrel for my G2 last week and I'm shopping for a used scope.  Hopefully I can put together some groups like that one before too long.

Sean

[Catfish]

If you have fat fingers DO NOT  get a .44 mag. barrel for your Contender. I`m a big bore fan and have handguns upto .500 S&W so I`m not afraid of alittle recoil, but I cannot shot any Contender that has even alittle recoil as that screw on the back of the trigger gaurd eats up my finger. If your going with larger calibers put them on an Encore frame, and save your fingers.

[Davemuzz]

If you have fat fingers DO NOT  get a .44 mag. barrel for your Contender. I`m a big bore fan and have handguns upto .500 S&W so I`m not afraid of alittle recoil, but I cannot shot any Contender that has even alittle recoil as that screw on the back of the trigger gaurd eats up my finger. If your going with larger calibers put them on an Encore frame, and save your fingers.

File the screw. Take out the screw. Apply some "goop" glue to the screw. Duct tape the screw. If that screw were causin that much grief to my fingers, I'd be givin that screw way too much grief back.

JMHO

Dave

[Catfish]

Dave,
   I don`t have to go to that bother. I have revolvers from .357 mag. up to .500 S&W plus I also have acouple of Encore frames for the larger cals. I like the Contenders frams for the smaller stuff though.