44 Mag 10" internal choke barrel > useful??

[alan in ga]

bought a 10" Bull barrel of ebay. When it arrived it turned out to be a 44 mag internal choked barrel. Easily removed the choke so I was glad it hadn't been mistreated. Now, do I keep it or trade it? I don't think I have any use for a shot barrel, and would think it might not shoot too well with bullets and choke removed. I have not shot it,,,just thought I'd ask some guys who would know!
Opinions? Trades?
thanks, Alan in GA.

[Gregory]

My first Contender, purchased used, was a 10" 44 Mag with the choke tube. I used it a few times for squirrels with the hot shot cartridge but mostly it was used for deer without the choke tube.  It worked ok. It shot the 180gr JHP's best. Try yours out and see how accurate it is.  Then decide if you want to keep it.

[Questor]

I would take issue with the seller on this one. Those are two different barrels: 44 magnum vs. 44 magnum/hotshot.  It should have been represented correctly and I believe you should be due a refund if it was not represented correctly, regardless of how it shoots.  

My 10" 44 barrel is good for 2" groups at 50 yards.

[alan in ga]

but I got the barrel reasonable enough to probably do ok. The seller did offer to refund which made the deal ok,,and will still take it back if I want to return it. I just figured I might trade it for a barrel I want.
alan in ga.

[myronman3]

i have one i aquired on trade here at gbo.  guy didnt tell me it was a hotshot barrel, either.  i figured i would try it before i would judge it.  took the tube out, and had to do a little work to get it to work on my gun; but no big deal.  it shoots just fine, and has a nice balance to it.  i intend to keep it.

[alan in ga]

it would be easy to cut and accurately crown to 8" on my lathe. Wonder if it would be too short?
alan in ga

[myronman3]

is your barrel have a rib to it?   if not, you night want to think seriously about that.  mine has a rib, so i dont think it is practical.  
if mine didnt have a rib, and i had access to a lathe i would for sure.

[alan in ga]

mine is a plain bull barrel with open sights,,NO rib. Easy job on my lathe. I think 10" is short enough tho,,don't you? I see where some have 8" barrels. I might do it. It would be scoped anyway so sights would go too.

[myronman3]

i would go for it then.  that extra inch something when the choke is removed aint gonna do you nothing anyhow.  unless you would want to make a muzzle brake on it, then it would be the same concept as the taurus raging bull.   but with a pachmyer grip i dont see the need for the brake.  mine shoots easy enough.

[Flash]

I wouldn't modify that barrel before shooting it. That type isn't produced any longer and the collector value should be considered in the not so distant future. The vent rib barrels are bringing a higher price than the plain barrels but there is always going to be someone out there that absolutely has to have one of those. Sure, you can still get them cheap but so were Colt Single Actions in their day. I would recomend that you screw the choke in on occasion to make sure the threads aren't damaged but I definately wouldn't cut it off.

[Questor]

Chopping it would probably eliminate it's resale value.