My first reloads with a new (to me) Thompson Contender 44 ma
- Thread starter Alderman
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,459
- 9,296
Nice. You have a great load there.
JD338
JD338
OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
- 2
Very nice. Looks like it's ready to do some hunting.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,502
- 6,507
I'd say that'll about do. Fine load that'll do what needs to be done.
Contender pidtols are a blast.
I've got a 357 mag, 7-30waters, 4570, and 3030 barrels.
Haven't fired the 3030 yet but the others are ALL tac drivers.
And...you get so much more speed out of the longer enclosed barrel vrs a revolver.
My 357 contender is going faster at 100 yds than the muzzle velocity of my 6" revolver!
I've got a 357 mag, 7-30waters, 4570, and 3030 barrels.
Haven't fired the 3030 yet but the others are ALL tac drivers.
And...you get so much more speed out of the longer enclosed barrel vrs a revolver.
My 357 contender is going faster at 100 yds than the muzzle velocity of my 6" revolver!
- Thread starter
- #7
Well...I think all 4570 contenders have a built in muzzle brake...at least mine does.
AND the reload data is super flexible for the casing....all the way from "trap door" data to naughty stuff.
Its a little naughtier than a ruger redhawk 44 mag I used to have but not by much.
Being from wisconsin we shoot empty beer cans. (Lol) Years ago a buddy put one up at 50 yds and challenged me to hit it. I took dead aim at the logo through the 2.5 power scope off sandbags and let one fly. The can didn't even quiver and my buddy quickly laughed I'd missed. We went down for a look and dead center was a big hole left by the 300 grain bullet. I didn't think I'd missed but was shocked to see that big a bullet could go through both sides and not wiggle it!
I shot a few deer with my marlin 4570 but was disappointed in the lack of shocking power. All died but most made it about 100 yds. I've got some of the new nosler 300 grain bts to try out...thinking things might change....maybe a really good pistol bullet too!
AND the reload data is super flexible for the casing....all the way from "trap door" data to naughty stuff.
Its a little naughtier than a ruger redhawk 44 mag I used to have but not by much.
Being from wisconsin we shoot empty beer cans. (Lol) Years ago a buddy put one up at 50 yds and challenged me to hit it. I took dead aim at the logo through the 2.5 power scope off sandbags and let one fly. The can didn't even quiver and my buddy quickly laughed I'd missed. We went down for a look and dead center was a big hole left by the 300 grain bullet. I didn't think I'd missed but was shocked to see that big a bullet could go through both sides and not wiggle it!
I shot a few deer with my marlin 4570 but was disappointed in the lack of shocking power. All died but most made it about 100 yds. I've got some of the new nosler 300 grain bts to try out...thinking things might change....maybe a really good pistol bullet too!
Btw...that is a great 50 yd group...I've got a cheap 3 moa red dot on my 357....it shoots groups like that at 50.....I always say they land "inside" what I can cover w/the dot....its a blast to shoot for sure and I bought a lee turret press and some Berry's plated bullets to feed it! If you like plinking a contender "should be" on your list of must haves....lol!
- Thread starter
- #10
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,459
- 9,296
The 300 gr BST is an awesome bullet in the 45-70. It hammers deer at 2100 fps.
Not sure if you could safely reach that speed from a contender but I am certain that it would be a handful to shoot from a hand cannon.
JD338
Not sure if you could safely reach that speed from a contender but I am certain that it would be a handful to shoot from a hand cannon.
JD338
Looks like you have a shooter. You will be very happy with those 200 gr bullets on deer from that 44 mag. I have been shooting Contenders for a looooooooog time and have not met one that was not accurate with the right loads. Yes you pick up lots more velocity with them compared to revolvers. You also pick up more pressure with Contenders so you have to be careful working up loads. I found that many top revolver loads were too much pressure in Contenders but even with lighter loads the Contender had much more velocity than a revolver. Right now my favorite Contender for deer is a 14" MGM made Shilen SS barrel in 30-30AI. It will do 2670 fps using IMR 4198 and 125 Nosler ballistic tips and shoots 5 shots under 1" at 100 yards all day long. It just SMOKES deer.
Yikes...no brake on the 4570...that's gotta rock n roll. I wear peltor muffs when shooting or hunting w/brakes. You can hear great but they shut off at ignition. My 7-30 is braked too...wish it wasn't.
You're gonna love that 44....inexpensive to shoot and lethal for most anything.
You're gonna love that 44....inexpensive to shoot and lethal for most anything.
Partisan
Beginner
- Aug 5, 2013
- 150
- 0
You have a deer load there. ;-)
Contenders are great! I have 2 frames and 7 barrels. One in 44 Mag.
I remember buying a coy of "Shooting Times" back in 1979. They had a major article on the Contender in it. The cover photo was a Contender in 44 Mag with the then standard Herrett wood Grip and Sleek wood forend. When I saw that I HAD to have one...
Find yourself a good cast bullet target load and practice. You will amaze yourself what that Contender can do at some range.
Contenders are great! I have 2 frames and 7 barrels. One in 44 Mag.
I remember buying a coy of "Shooting Times" back in 1979. They had a major article on the Contender in it. The cover photo was a Contender in 44 Mag with the then standard Herrett wood Grip and Sleek wood forend. When I saw that I HAD to have one...
Find yourself a good cast bullet target load and practice. You will amaze yourself what that Contender can do at some range.
- Thread starter
- #15
I inherited my first Contenders from my father and really didn't have time to play with them much. My first three shots off the bench with a 223 14" barrel put three in 1" c to c at 100 yards. It was just dumb luck and is far better than my norm, but it gave me an indication of what these are capable of and built some interest. Normally I spray them around and spread them out but it's all fun. I recently added a 22 barrel to the collection and am presently working a deal to get a SS frame.
I haven't shot the 30-30 in a while so may give it a go soon.
I haven't shot the 30-30 in a while so may give it a go soon.
