i blame my friend...

[Joe S.]

So we were at the range the other day and my buddy breaks out his contender pistol with 30-30 barrel and let's me shoot it. Now I can't stop thinking about it!

I'm a 444 marlin guy and I think I want something in 444. I'm thinkin 12-14" barrel, with muzzle brake and a nice set of wood stocks. What frame would hold up to a 444 pistol tho? Encore or contender?

[luckydawg13]

for the 444 i would get the Encore hands down. i don't think that you can buy a factory
barrel for the contender in 444 from T/C i have seen custom barrels made in 444
for the contender you my wont to look at the 445 too

[Joe S.]

Nah if/ when I get one itd be 444 marlin all the way. From what I gathered TC made a "hunter" barrel in 444 for a little while.

[7-30 Waters]

If you intend to get a 444 Marlin, the Encore frame will be your best bet.  Yes the G-2 Contender frame can handle the 444 Marlin, but no sense pushing the envelope. 


As for barrel length I would recommend a 15" barrel in mid varmit contour with a slight taper so the barrel ends up at 8/10". 


Encore barrels start with a 1" tube and can be made to any contour. The extra weight of the heavier barrel with take some of the recoil and make it a pleasure to shoot.  You may even want to consider a muzzle break as a extra feature.  Recoil will definitely be reduced.

[Joe S.]

Muzzle brake is on the list. Friend showed me a link from somewhere that does brakes on TC barrels. He said this guy is the "guru". We'll see. Hate finding new stuff I can't stop thinking about. Lol

[7-30 Waters]

If you have any intention of reloading and shooting cast bullets then this is the place to go for bullets specifically designed for the 444 Marlin:


http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_5_11


http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_34&products_id=65

[martineta]

I hate recoil.  I'd get the 30-30 barrel, load Nos 125 ballistic tips for it and kill every deer in the universe and do it without rattling the fillings out your teeth.  You are hunting deer and not Grizzly Bears right?

[Joe S.]

That's right. But man I just love that triple fo!

Saw a fella shooting a MOA Maximum in 358 win the other day. That's another nice one!