Are factory .444 Marlins safe in an old style contender?

[finisher]

Just purchased a ported Super 16 in .44Mag.  I have given some thought to the idea of a .444 Marlin rechamber so I can go after a broader variety of game at given ranges. I know these barrels are awfull hard to come across. It's pretty versitile even in .44Mag. Would almost seem a shame to alter it.
I DO NOT RELOAD so I am limited to factory ammo. (would love to, but between four kids the wife and life, I just haven't made it happen).
1)What concerns should I have in respect to pressure safety and wear and tear on the frame?
2)Would it be better to upgrade to a G2 (if they are stonger)?
3)Would I be better off buying a 45-70 that was alredy set up to go? (.444Marlin Vs. 45-70?). What are the pros and cons of the two?
4)Just how much beating can the old Contender frame take.

[spinafish]

If it were me I would go with the 45-70. It has a good reliable record in the Contender.  Alot of a discussion on the .444 Marlin. Some have had Contenders so chambered and have had no problems for years and others have had blow-ups with them,probably more barrels and frames ruined with the .444 Marlin than any other cartridge..(from what I have read).  No real experience...The .444 Marlin is available in very few factory loads,but there is a wide range of factory loads for the .45-70(with the largest amount being safe in the Contender).

[Iowa Fox]

The contenders were not designed to withstand the 444. Enjoy your super 16 just the way it is as the 44 mag is a great cartridge. I have a factory 15"444 barrel for my encore, the recoil is beyond horrible. Save your money to rechamber and buy some reloading tools for the 44 and have fun.

[Hopalong7]

     That S-16 44 barrel is not an easy bugger to find(I did not call it rare)assuming it is a factory job.  If it is I believe I'd leave it like it is and enjoy.  The .445Super Mag would be another option too(just to confuse the issue a little more).
Walt

[quickdtoo]

Factory loads are what was stated as used in this blown up 444 Contender.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,246396.msg1099424949.html#msg1099424949

[MePlat]

This comes up every now and then and the answer is always the same.  SSK Industries chambered barrels and rechambered barrels for the 444Marlin years ago for the old Contenders and as far as I know still does. (I know about the 430 JDJ and am not talking about it.)
I had one many many years ago so am not full of beans.
I seriously doubt JD Jones would chamber anything that would be too much for a Contender.
So my answer would be go ahead and have it rechambered.
The only thing is if the barrel may be something of a collectors item I may not.
Call SSK and talk to them.
They will know more about it than us on here.  Especially the ones that has never owned one or even held one much less shot one.
They are the ones that go on heresay. 
 

[Ladobe]

This is a topic that has been discussed in detail many times on GBO over the years, with various opinions whether they be based on experience, fact, speculation or just hearsay passed on by ACE's.   A search will turn up those old threads for further reading.
 
That said, I agree with MePlat that talking to JD would be a smart move as of all the Contender custom barrel makers he's pushed the Contender envelope the farthest the safest and has the most experience IMO.   Also agree with Walt, barrels not come across often should probably not be rechambered.   I stepped over that line myself for a couple of Bower 30 Alaskan's in the rare 6 groove barrels, and was chastised by some staunch collectors for doing so.
 
FWIW
 
   

[Swampman]

I've shot a Super 14 .44 Magnum barrel that was rechambered by SSK to .444 with factory ammo.  It was fun to shoot, but it wasn't ported and it twisted in your hand pretty bad when you fired it.

[finisher]

Appreciate the input, everyone. I've always been the keep it simple type and perhaps the 45-70 is the way to go on that. Besides .44 Super 16 is a nice set up the way it is, although the .445 does sound very interesting.
 
How much of a boost would I get with that and how much accuracy is lost when putting .44Mags through the .445?
 
I suppose I could go rifle in  the .445 and use my .44Mag Blackhawk as a back up, seeing how the ammo is compatible.
 
At a given range, say 75yds tops, is going after elk in Oregon unrealistic even with excellent shot placement?
 
I like to travel very light in order to cover alot of ground quickly and thats why I like the TC carbines.
 
Or, again, maybe the 45-70 would solve all my questions. Thanks. 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Personally, I would not hesitate to poke an elk with a 300 gr 44 mag at 100 yards or less, especially from a 16" closed breach Contender. I would use a flat nosed hard cast bullet with a gas check, loaded to max safe pressure and make sure I had a sharp knife in my pack. I know you said you don't reload, but there are a few ammo makers that offer such a load over the counter.

I think if you tried the 44's in the 445 barrel, you would find you're battling the same issues those who've tried the 45 Colts in the 45/410 barrels. Accuracy tends to be horrible, and mine was no different in that respect. I tried several different load combinations in my 45/410 barrel and it wouldn't hit the ground, let alone a target.

I have a 20" carbine in 45 Colt, and with Cast Performance 335 gr bullets loaded to "Ruger" levels, I'm sure no elk would shrug off one of those at 100 yards if I hit them properly.

My vote would be to pick a heavy hardcast round for your 44 barrel and "go for it". Practice a bunch first so you know you're gun and load. You could trade it for a 45-70 barrel, sure, but I don't really think you'd gain that much truthfully. Either one should do the trick.

[DEACONLLB]

I own a re chamber super 14 in 444 marlin that I picked up with a contender and it came as an extra barrel in the package. In doing some research on it I found both pro and con and and yes I have seen the blowed up contender so I called Hodgdon and talked to an expert and was advised that I could use Trailboss powder with a 240 grn xp bullet and it would be safe and  a lot of fun to shoot with a velocity from a 14 inch barrel around 1200 FPS with mild recoil and mild muzzle blast. I would not even think of trying factory loads in it and I even went so far as to have the barrel engraved with a caution to use only reduced loads.I reload for it and the start load was 13 GRN. with a max of 17. The man at Hodgdon said I would have no problems in killing deer out to about 75 yrds. It Is a fun barrel to shoot, now having said all that I would not re chamber a good barrel when that 44 mag. will do all you wont it to do and if you need more killing power then go with the 45-70, The G2 is no stronger than the older contender although they look stronger because of that extra metal on the side like an Encore.
 
Deaconllb
 
Deaconllb

[finisher]

Thanks again.
Did alot of reading last night and I think I will stick with the Super 16 .44mag  just as it is,  backed w/ my 5.5 Blackhawk.
I know what I can do with targets using my BH, but I have never attempted taken anything down.
Like an old fundamentalist would say, get up close and as personal as you can, and place the shot.
I feel pretty good now about my purchase and thanks to all of you, probably saved a chunk of money that I can now blow on ammo!