Author Topic: .44 magnum Contenders ---10" barrel verses the 14" (Read 1113 times)

GhosTT · « **on:** June 30, 2004, 06:53:03 PM »

I am curious of all your opinions.

I live in Ohio so for hunting(deer) I needed a straight walled cartridge.
I bought a .44 magnum Super 14 barrel. And had it magnaported.

I'm very happy with it but I thought this might make an interesting thread.

I'd like to hear the opinions of all of you that own .44 barrels.
Both the pluses and minuses of both barrel lengths.
Hunting stories in detail are more than welcome :wink:

GhosTT · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2004, 06:59:10 PM »

I should add that this barrel is not just for deer.

I wanted a large bore accurate round for targets out to 100 yards,
and a midrange groundhog hammer.

Also downloaded, it could be used on small game, although I got a 22 match barrel that is more accurate than I am.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2004, 06:55:40 AM »

I have switch to 10 inch barrels for handgun hunting with straight walled cartridges. I like to be able to hold the gun and not feel like I have to look down a long tube to see the sights. I am shooting the 10 inch barrels open sights. Now if I want to shoot the longer barrels, I have them scoped and in both straight walled and bottle neck cartridges. I just find the 10 inch barrels easer for me to use. Some people prefer the longer barrels, to get a little more fps from there loads. You will get several opinions on the subject. But you will find what works best for you.

DropTheHammer · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2004, 07:22:55 AM »

I bought a 12" 44MAG and traded it for a 10" before I even fired it. Just think the 10s are alot easier to handle for the type of hunting I do....

Bullseye · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2004, 07:45:59 AM »

I prefer the 10"ers for rounds that are suited for it (smaller quantites of powder that do not need a long tube to burn). For the bigger capacity cases I like the 14's. I used to only hunt with 10s because I always shoot offhand, but over the years I have gotten to where I can shoot the 14's good enough offhand to take a deer out to 50 yds.

Major · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2004, 10:06:33 AM »

While I havent hunted with them all yet, every one of my contender barrels are 10-inch. They shoot fine for me and are easier to carry around all day too.

Lone Hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2004, 02:46:41 PM »

After 20 years of hunting with a 14" contender,I finally tried a 10" 44 Magnum barrel. It is now my favorite. For me it balances so much better.

Most shots I will take are under 100 yards. If I am in an area where shots will be longer I will switch to a longer barrel and a flatter shooting round.

Jeff

Whodaheck99 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2004, 12:46:16 AM »

The first barrel I ever got for my Contender was a 10" 44 Mag. Barrel. It was the only barrel I had for my Contender for 10 years, I must of put at least 10,000 rounds thur it, and it is still my the best barrel, I have. I have killed many deer with it and hogs. Most of all if my barrels are 10", because they are more balances, and easier to free hand with. Just my two cents. Steve

KYODE · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2004, 02:11:04 AM »

odd man out here :grin: i prefer 14"-15" barrels. i like the extra velocity and performance, regardless if it's actually needed.
i have no problem shooting them semi-offhand with the aid of my nylon sling that i carry the gun with.

mdc1 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2004, 02:18:00 AM »

I've been shooting the same set up as you have for (including mag-na-port) 8 years now and love it. I've shot at least one deer every year with it. Of the deer I've killed, I can only think of one I've shot with an offhand shot. I try to arrange my stands so I've got some kind of rest in each direction. I agree with the earlier posts that if you're going to do a lot of offhand shooting the 10 " would be better. I've got three barrels (7-30 Waters for Mich. deer, .22 Hornet for chucks) and they're all 14". Both of the deer barrels are topped with Bushnell Holo-Sites. They are much better for target aquisition if you're using a rest because they're not fussy about eye relief.

rickyp · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2004, 02:29:53 AM »

I have both 10 and 14 inch barrels.
most of my 10 inch barrels are for small game and the 14 are for big game. The reason are
When I hunt Small game I am on the ground and move quite a lot and when I am big game hunting I am in a tree stand. I find the 10 inch barrel is better for quick off hand shots, easy to walk trough thick brush and better balance but in a tree stand I do not need to move form place to place shots are not as quick and I use the safety rail for a shooting rest the balance is not as important.

I feel the 14 inch barrels are best for "rifle" calibers and / or hunters not moving much and the 10 inchers are best for "pistol" calibers and / or for mobile hunters.

GhosTT · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2004, 11:16:02 AM »

Offhand shooting is not a problem. I have a 44 Super Redhawk for that(also magnaported).

K2 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2004, 11:30:38 AM »

It really is a personal preferance issue mostly. Get what you like and enjoy it! For Deer in Ohio you had it covered with the SR, can't imagine carring both into the field at the same time. I doubt the deer will know the difference. :wink:

Quote from: GhosTT

Offhand shooting is not a problem. I have a 44 Super Redhawk for that(also magnaported).

GhosTT · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2004, 11:37:40 AM »

LOL,

I wouldn't carry both.

Super red hawk for stalking,
T/C for a stand.

DropTheHammer · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2004, 04:48:57 AM »

Shot my 10" .44MAG last evening for the first time. Dropped the hammer on about 30 rounds. Recoil didn't seem too bad!

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 12, 2004, 09:38:35 AM »

Quote from: DropTheHammer

Shot my 10" .44MAG last evening for the first time. Dropped the hammer on about 30 rounds. Recoil didn't seem too bad!

I shot my Encore friday in 44MAG and it is like a pussy cat. I really do not know where people think it has a lot of recoil. I am shooting max loads in 240 and 300 gr. bullets. I just love the 10 inch barrel.

cbagman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2004, 05:51:42 AM »

Hello..

. I am like Kyode and shoot mostly 14 inch barrels with a few 12 inch ones. Please note I only shoot T/C Contenders so the following discourse is refering to that frame.. All are scoped and almost all are used to hunt with. I carry them in a Bandoleer Shoulder rig or a bandoleer type Uncle Mike's holster..When I get on a stand, I remove the holster rig and fasten it to the stand and place the Contender across my legs on top of some camo material or a small blanket... My sixty year old eyes have forced me to use scopes and I think the balance is better and more stable with the longer barrels. Velocity is generally always higher. I always brace on the stand or the tree unless the game is right near me and have shot deer out to 160 yards but not with a .44 mag (I was using a .35 Rem then).. On the other hand I shot a six point buck last year at 40 feet. I also think the powders I use burn better in the longer barrel and the blast is less. I shot a 10 inch 30-30 barrel once and about five shots was all I could take before selling it because of the sharp recoil and the big boom!! I don't even want to shoot a 10 inch T/C in .44 mag. In .44 Mag revolvers I like a 6.5 inch barrel in Single actions, and 6 or 6.5 inches in S&W.. I limit shots with revolvers to about 30 yards unless I have a Reddot mounted on it and then I will go out to 75 yards.. I have gravitated toward bigger bores in the thick stuff after having hunted with these Contenders for ten years and lost a lot of my own hide trailing deer thru briar thickets when using smaller calibers.. Robert Rourke wrote a book years ago entitled "Use Enough Gun". After trying it my way I found he was correct. The .44 magnum with 10 barrel will do the job though with proper bullets and shot placement at modest ranges, but I prefer 14 inch tubes. Taylor the load to the intended use.. That is my opinion anyway. By the way, there are some better suited chamberings than .44 Mag for any shots over about 80 yards. The rub is that your state requires a straight wall case if I read this right.. South Carolina doesn't so if the shot is open and the range is from 100 to 175 yards, I will use a .35 Remington or 7mm Improved chambering.. I just got a .356 Bellm Short barrel which I am about to load up some rounds for and test out at 100 yards. from cbagman :wink: