357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
#169442
03/07/2016 11:25 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
OP
Pooh-Bah
|
OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209 |
I am trying to decide what barrel to get next for my contender. I found a new article in a magazine last week on the G2 Contender in 357 mag. The accuracy in that article showed three inches at twenty five yards. Is that normal for that barrel? My revolvers do better than that.
I have read that Thompson Center did have a problem with the accuracy of their 357 mag barrels years ago. Has that problem been corrected?
I was just wondering if I should consider a 357 mag barrel for my contender or due to such problems try something else. I want a barrel that I can afford to shoot a lot but would also be good for deer to 125 - 150 yards. The 357 max looks good but I do not have time to reload at this time. I can either shoot or reload and I love to shoot.
Last edited by REDHAWK1954; 03/08/2016 9:27 AM.
Michael Joe Moore
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#169443
03/07/2016 12:51 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725
500WE
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725 |
I have 2 10" and 1 14" .357 Magnum Contender barrels and all have been excellent. All of them will shoot better than 3" at 100 yards.
Last edited by 500WE; 03/07/2016 9:36 PM.
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: 500WE]
#169444
03/07/2016 1:00 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
OP
Pooh-Bah
|
OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209 |
500WE, who made your barrels? What caliber are your barrels?
Last edited by REDHAWK1954; 03/07/2016 1:20 PM.
Michael Joe Moore
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#169446
03/07/2016 2:35 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920
billa
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920 |
If I were buying a barrel to deer hunt with factory ammo I would buy a 35 Remington. Several of my friends have been very successful in the deer woods with factory Remington 200 grain Core-Lok. (green box) ammo. Good expansion, full penetration = dead deer. Accuracy with factory ammo & TC factory barrel. Sub. 2" groups at 100 yards with a LER scope. Kill deer out to 200 yards.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... " Matthew 28:19
Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since! HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#169448
03/07/2016 4:02 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
The accuracy in that article showed three inches at twenty five yards. Is that normal for that barrel? Not sure what was wrong with that barrel, but I've never had a T/C barrel that wouldn't do that or better @ 100 yards and often MOA. My MGM made 7-30 Waters and 218 Bee barrels will do sub 1" @ 100 all day long. Some factory 357 barrels have been known to have a long leade, and I know one guy who can chamber 360 DW brass in his factory 357 barrel, but even that barrel will shoot the mags fairly accurately. I would look into MGM if you are wanting a barrel made. You can get a custom MGM barrel, 13" or shorter, for $250 bucks. That is less than I have seen some factory tubes listed for.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: s4s4u]
#169449
03/07/2016 4:14 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105 |
I own a 10" T/C made one. It'll shoot better than I can hold it.
It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: Russell]
#169451
03/07/2016 5:28 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
OP
Pooh-Bah
|
OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209 |
What twist rate is best for stabilizing 140 - 180 grain bullets in a 357 mag?
Michael Joe Moore
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#169452
03/07/2016 6:19 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
Wouldn't need any faster than a 20. If going MGM it is the only choice you have for a 357 I believe.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: s4s4u]
#169454
03/07/2016 9:16 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
|
Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
I have a 10" stainless .357 Mag barrel from MGM and had them build it with a 1-14" rate of twist for 180+ grain bullets and I wanted fast twisted anyway. I'm a fan of fast twist short barrels.
Shoots like a champ.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: Zee]
#169455
03/07/2016 9:25 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
|
Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
I have a 10" stainless .357 Mag barrel from MGM and had them build it with a 1-14" rate of twist for 180+ grain bullets and I wanted fast twisted anyway. I'm a fan of fast twist short barrels.
Shoots like a champ. Like fast twist barrels....hmmm What a surprise!
Ernie the Un-Tactical
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#169456
03/07/2016 9:35 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725
500WE
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725 |
500WE, who made your barrels? What caliber are your barrels? I should have been clearer. Since the topic was .357 Magnum barrels, that's what I was talking about. All of those .357 barrels were made by T/C between 1979 and sometime in the late '80's. I own about 22 barrels made by T/C and SSK, some of which will shoot 1 MOA, or better on occasion. The .357's are my most accurate straight walls.
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: 500WE]
#169457
03/07/2016 9:48 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920
billa
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920 |
I thought the original topic was what Contender barrel to buy for deer hunting if shooting factory ammo?
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... " Matthew 28:19
Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since! HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: billa]
#169460
03/08/2016 12:49 AM
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596 |
If I were buying a barrel to deer hunt with factory ammo I would buy a 35 Remington. Several of my friends have been very successful in the deer woods with factory Remington 200 grain Core-Lok. (green box) ammo. Good expansion, full penetration = dead deer. Accuracy with factory ammo & TC factory barrel. Sub. 2" groups at 100 yards with a LER scope. Kill deer out to 200 yards. The 35 is a deer hammer, the only thing I would ad to this would be is the 30/30, for factory ammo.
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: racksmasher1]
#169462
03/08/2016 9:38 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
OP
Pooh-Bah
|
OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209 |
billa, I just changed the wording in my original post. I did mean to be asking about the accuracy of TC 357 mag barrels but I am open to the other chooses for deer hunting.
The reason I was looking at the 357 mag is because I like to shoot a lot and do not at this time have time to reload. 357 mag ammo is easer to find and pay for but I am open to other barrels that I can get suitable hunting ammo for. 35s are very hard to find around hear but 357 mags and 44 mags are everywhere.
I would like to be able to shoot this barrel a lot but also feel good about hunting with it out to maybe 125 yards.
I had read bad things in the past about the accuracy of some of the TC 357 mag barrels and was asking it that problem had been corrected. I was also curious about what twist I should get to stabilize 140 - 180 grain bullets.
But like I said above I am open to other suggestions. I hope my original question is clearer now.
Michael Joe Moore
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#169463
03/08/2016 12:12 PM
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596 |
billa, I just changed the wording in my original post. I did mean to be asking about the accuracy of TC 357 mag barrels but I am open to the other chooses for deer hunting.
The reason I was looking at the 357 mag is because I like to shoot a lot and do not at this time have time to reload. 357 mag ammo is easer to find and pay for but I am open to other barrels that I can get suitable hunting ammo for. 35s are very hard to find around hear but 357 mags and 44 mags are everywhere.
I would like to be able to shoot this barrel a lot but also feel good about hunting with it out to maybe 125 yards.
I had read bad things in the past about the accuracy of some of the TC 357 mag barrels and was asking it that problem had been corrected. I was also curious about what twist I should get to stabilize 140 - 180 grain bullets.
But like I said above I am open to other suggestions. I hope my original question is clearer now. Then go with the 44, you can get a 125 yards out of that easy!
|
|
|
Re: 357 MAG BARREL FOR CONTENDER
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#169481
03/09/2016 1:26 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920
billa
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920 |
I suggest a 44 magnum barrel based on your revised criteria. My first big bore handgun was a 44 mag Contender in 1977. Bagged my first big game with it. You can probably find low cost reloads. Although I will admit that for the best economy 38 special / generic 357 mag ammo will be cheaper if you are shooting alot!
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... " Matthew 28:19
Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since! HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
|
|
|
|
1 registered members (Okie Hunter),
48
guests, and 2
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|