Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: elkboy on December 19, 2023, 01:44:32 PM

Title: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: elkboy on December 19, 2023, 01:44:32 PM: Hello HuntWA gun experts-

Has anyone shot copper bullets from a TC Contender? I have a used TC Contender, with scope, in .44 Magnum. My late season whitetail hunts tend to be such close-range situations (20-70 yards), I have considered taking a deer with the Contender.

I am concerned with the low twist rate in the barrel, which I understand is not great for copper bullets. Does anyone have experience with non-lead loads in the Contender? Thanks!
Title: Re: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: fly-by on December 19, 2023, 02:04:54 PM: Velocity and bullet length will have a greater impact on accuracy than jacketed vs cast if you are at a marginal twist rate. My S&W 696 in .44 special shoots 240 grain cast or jacketed very well at about 850 fps. Unless your Contender barrel has an exceptionally slow twist you should be fine with cast or jacketed 240 grain at higher 44 magnum velocities. If you find it doesn't shoot 240s well, try a box of 180 grain XTPs. Should work fine if you avoid the shoulder.
Title: Re: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: 71Shovelhead on December 22, 2023, 03:27:53 PM: I have had contender since 1976 and have shot thousands of jacketed 44 mag bullets very successfully. Including killing deer and a bear. Can't count the number of small game I've killed with it.

Terry
Title: Re: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: GWP on December 22, 2023, 06:33:26 PM: I would try some. Best way to find out if accuracy is acceptable.
Title: Re: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: Caseknife on December 31, 2023, 08:32:02 PM: Barnes doesn't list a minimum twist for either the 200 or 225 XPB. I would try the 200 XPB and load it as fast as you can.
Title: Re: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: boneaddict on January 01, 2024, 09:12:37 AM: If I recall, it has to do with longer bullets. I'm not really sure how applicable that is for a .44mag. I guess shoot a couple and see
Title: Re: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: GWP on January 01, 2024, 06:33:49 PM: Just curious,
Which length and profile barrel do you have? I have a few Contender 44’s. One is the thin hex and it is BRUTAL to shoot. Better with a scope on it.
I have not shot any solid copper out of any of mine, so can’t help you there.
Title: Re: TC Contender pistol, .44 Mag: shooting copper?
Post by: GWP on January 01, 2024, 06:54:04 PM: 300 gn Barnes out of a 14” Contender pulled from another site.

“As I have mentioned before, I shoot a suppressed .44 "mag" at subsonic velocities for hog hunting, mostly. Mine is a 14" Contender barrel used with a shoulder stock, so accuracy - for me, at least - is better than with a pistol stock. I have a letter from BATF assuring me that since my suppressor is welded on, I do not require an SBR to use it with the shoulder stock. I load 300gr Barnes "Busters" with H110 at roughly a 1050fps average. This load needs a Magnum primer, and is not as "silent" as I might like it to be. Accuracy is good, penetration on hogs is excellent. My other load is a 335gr Hard Cast from Montana Bullet Works over Universal and a Large Pistol Primer at about the same velocities. Accuracy is almost as good as with the Barnes, and it "hits" even harder. This load is "quieter" than my Barnes load. I have twice so far gotten two hogs with one shot using this load, and have yet to recover a bullet.

In my opinion, either load at "full power" velocities would be very effective on game from a .44 mag revolver or single shot pistol. When I take a break from "playing" with my .460 Rowland, I'll probably try some of these loads in my Ruger SBH.”