Author Topic: Gunsmith for Contender rechamber? (Read 580 times)

hubcap · « **on:** August 13, 2004, 08:54:16 PM »

I've got a 44 Mag barrel I want converted to .444 Marlin. Anyone had this done or know where I can get the reamer to do it? Thanx

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** August 16, 2004, 03:38:37 PM »

Do yourself a favor and get an Encore. They are made to handle the higher pressure cartridges. I have seen a lot of converted 44 barrels at gun shows and I'll never be convinced that they are safe. Too easy to overload one. Just my $.02, KN

crawfish · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2004, 01:14:52 AM »

SSK will I'm sure. They make a few wildcats based on a full length .444Marlin then necked to size. I have a .411JDJ in a 12 inch Mag-Na- Ported SS Contender which is just such a wildcat. BTY it is for sale if you are looking, comes with dies, formed brass, and a bunch of bullets. I have everything covered with my other .41s'. The .411JDJ is becoming a safe queen.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2004, 05:23:34 AM »

Try MikeBellm Custom TCs. He rechambered a 30-30 Win for me to one of his wildcats called a 308Bellm which gives 300 Savage velocities and uses 308 Win dies and 444 Marlin brass.

rickyp · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2004, 10:56:40 AM »

if you are not set on the 444 marlin but still want more power then the 44 mag. you can always have it rechambered to a 445 super mag. you will be in the same ball park as the 444 marlin with less pressure on the frame and T/C does or did makes a factory barrel in the 445 super mag. so you know for sure the contender will take the round.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2004, 05:03:42 PM »

I believe in one of our long phone conversations JD told me SSK will not rechamber to .445 SM but will to .444 Marlin. Forget the reason at the moment but seems it had to do with unsafe load data floating around for the .445 that greatly exceeds safe pressure levels in the Contender. JD is VERY safety conscious and won't do it unless he is SURE it is safe.

rickyp · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2004, 02:40:43 AM »

I have No doubt that JD Jones knows what he is talking about. he is one of the best in the biasness.

I am unsure why fox ridge will make a barrel that he feels would be unsafe in the contender. We all know he works with T/C custom shop

http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com/productpdfs/g2pistolcalchart10-27-2003.pdf

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2004, 11:03:40 AM »

I have no clue Ricky. It was a good long while back that JD and I had that conversation and I might be remembering some of the details wrong. I have been known to suffer from CRS at times. But I'm pretty sure that's what he told me once when I asked about a .445 rechamber. One thing to remember tho is that just because someone else thinks it's safe doesn't mean he has to.