super 16" .444 mar?

[single shot shooter]

Does anyone know if T/C ever chambered the super 16 barrels in .444 marlin?
thanks
SSS

[RonF]

No.  The .444 is viewed by T/C as being too powerful for the Contender frame.  There are (were?) some custom shops who chambered it, but not the factory.  It is, I believe, available in the Encore, however.

RonF

[tipiguy]

If the 444 is too much then how does the 375 jdj remain safe?  Both can be loaded with 240 grain bullets.  I would think the 444 would have more surface on the chamber or does the bottleneck/shoulder on the 375jdj somehow reduce the pressure.  I too am curious.

tipiguy

[RonF]

I do not believe the loading data that JD presents for the 375 JDJ achieves quite the pressure of the .444 Marlin.  We are operating these rounds near the limits of the Contender action, and small differences in pressure are the difference between success and failure.  Have you seen the picture of the rechambered .444 barrel that failed?  It floats around the internet occasionally, but I don't have a link to it.  I wouldn't want that to happen to my gun!

RonF

[tnwill]

In my 358 JDJ barrel, I can't use a lot of the loads JD lists in his loading data with out running into pressure signs. I have never had my 444 Marlin barrel show signs of excessive pressure. I believe that all the 444 marlin based wildcats can be loaded to a point that would be too much for a contender frame. These just have to be loaded in moderation, paying close attention to what YOUR gun is telling you.

[kirkwhitaker]

the 444 marlin falls into the same catagory as the 45-70...with ammo loaded to what would be considered "modern" standards..it is fine..but if you hot rod it...it will be too much...look at the  loads listed in the tc listings for the 45-70...they fall almost where loads for the sharps and marlins and such are....the 444 marlin at normal factory pressures is not too much..but you would not want to shoot the hot buffalo bore heavy ammo in it...it would be at max pressures and not very good for the frame...same goes for the 250 savage..and 300 savage..with loads at or below normal factory loads folks have used them in contenders..but dont' load them to 50000 psi...it will be too much for the frame...40k is fine...there were a long disertation on backthrust done by a member of one of the other boards....all boils down to knowing what levels it can take....if you want to hotrod...get an encore...if 2200fps with a 240gr is kosher with you....then it will work in the contender....that is basically where jdj data is...at that level...his 375 will do 2400 with a 220, 1900 with a 270 and 1700 with a 300 (approx)....hope this helps....stay safe....
kw

[Tad Houston]

Heres a link to that blown .444

http://www.ourpeak.com/ralphw/tc/

[tipiguy]

It is like a train wreck.  You keep looking at picture after picture...you don't believe what you are seeing...but you keep looking...  

It is amazing that people don't die when something like that happens.

Tipiguy