So im having issues with the search function and instead of digging for 2 hours through every post I thought id give us something to talk about. I'm wanting a 444 marlin barrel for my contender however MGM doesnt have it in their list of calibers. I've emailed them asking if it would be possible to get it done anyways and they are looking into it. Just wondering if they say no what are the limits of the 445 super mag. What would be the reasonable limit on size of game? What kind of range would be reasonable? Ive looked at all this on paper but I want actual experience. Thanks guys.

MGM will be able to make a 444 Marlin Contender barrel for sure 👍🏻, but if they aren't willing to, the 445 Super Mag is more than capable of handling anything that you'd want to shoot with it. Power wise it's in the 454 Casull category. Get some 300 gr Sierras or A Frames and kill whatever your heart desires.

Might consider contacting SSK Industries for the 444 Marlin BBL.

Ssk is out of my price range lol they will make it but he wanted me to promise it was fora G2 and it's not so probably a 445 if its in the454 range

There is a 444 contender for sale over on Gunbroker right now. Not mine or a friends I just noticed it for sale.

Yeah I saw it but it will be a couple months at least before I can afford it tax time for sure im just working out exactly what I want at the moment

What barrel length were you considering?

The standard load for the 300 gr Sierra FP is 30 gr of H110...it's powerful

13 I was thinking

The only thing I really have to hunt around here is whitetail and coyote but I was wanting something that could be used on elk or bear or some other exotics potentially in case I ever get to go to Africa or after something large... Then ill have a gun im comfortable with though I do like the fact that 44mags can be shot out of the 445 I don't have a 44 right now but I've got dies a few hundred cases and bullets and a Dillon square deal set up for 44 so that is a plus as long as it has the power cause the trajectory isn't much different than the 444

Bellm will rechamber a S-14 T/C barrel in 44 mag to 444 Marlin. You could pick one up fairly cheap on Gunbroker.com, and then send it to him. I have a S-14 Hunter stainless barrel that was done by him and is very accurate. I'm only using Hornady 300 grain XTP's loaded over 35.0 grains of AA5744 for 1625 fps. The bullet is seated in the bottom crimp groove to get it close to the lands. I could load it hotter, but like you I'm only killing whitetails and hogs.

The 445 will run within about 10% of the 444 in the shortgun so unless you intend on maxing out the 444 you won't be losing much, and quite frankly the critters won't notice. You may risk frame stretch pushing the 444 to the limit in the 'Tender. I used to have a 45/70 barrel and I reached my limit before the gun reached it's ;-)

I have no problem with all the recoil my super 16 45/70 can throw my way. If I was going to do a recharged I could do it myself for the cost of a reamer so I was thinking about that. No one wants to do a 444 for an original contender frame which is fine. I'm thinking now about just getting a 44 mag barrel or trying to stub and thread the one my dad trashed.... Ran a 451 bullet through it out of a 44 on accident and bulges the chamber. But I think I could cut it off measure it out and make sure the bore is good then thread the stub and the rest of the barrel together and re cut the chamber.... Anyone have experience stunning contender barrels? Just curious I can do all the work myself. Glad I went to school to be a machinist lol

Also im wandering why a 13 inch mgm is cheaper than a factory t/c barrel.... Thats why I was going to go with mgm to start with....

As far as I'm concerned, with the right bullet, there is no limit. What the .445 gains you is range with added velocity. Any of the standard .44Mag bullets would be suitable for deer. You'd want something tougher for elk/moose like a +300gr WFN, 270-300gr Speer. For anything bigger than that, there is the A-frame, Barnes Buster and Punch bullet.



Not really. The .445 does its thang with powder capacity. The .454 does it with pressure....and powder capacity but mostly pressure.

I'm thinking I might just buy an encore at tax time.... Frames are cheaper than I thought and I always wanted one... The more I read the better the 445 SM sounds so even if I go that route it'll probably be my first barrel since ill mainly be shooting deer or light cast loads for smaller game

I have a 10" barrel for my Contender in .445 SuperMag.

It is quite the handful and one of my favorite cartridges. An absolute beast in that small package.

It pushes a 240gr XTP at 1,977 fps and a 325gr WFN-GC at 1,684 fps.

Most impressive. To me, at least.

Sounds like what I'm after

Prolly too late to the party, but the 375 JDJ is another option. It's a 444 Marlin necked down to 375. 300 grain bullets at 2000fps. Not too shabby.

There's one coming up for auction over here.

Another option would be to find a CVA Scout Pistol in 44 magnum, and rechamber it to 445 or 444.
I just had a 357 Scout rechambered to 357 Maximum. I would consider the CVA Scout to be in the class of an Encore strength wise. They chamber it in 243 Winchester.
Every one I have handled had a great trigger. They open easy, and you can let the Hammer Down, and then Recock without having to break the action open. They have Bulgara Barrels, and shoot great also.
If Tony would make a stock set for them to get rid of the plastic, they would be as good as a Hunting Handgun gets.
I have put an EGW scope base on both of mine. A big improvement over the factory base.

Bob