Okiecruffler
September 24, 2004, 06:51 PM
FINALLY. After many annoying busy weeks I finally got the new Contender barrel out to the range. This barrel started life as a 14" factory 44mag barrel that I got rechambered by David White. He also put one of his Maximizer breaks on it along with a 6 screw scope mount. The work was absolutely flawless, and total time from the day I sent it to the day it returned was about 5 days.
First shot was a remington factory load just to get my scope set. As soon as I pulled the trigger I heard at least 3 people on the line blurt out obscenities, I think one of them was me. This puppy is LOUD! And your whole body feels it. Recoil was actually only a little heavier than my hot 44 mag loads. Took 4 shots to get the scope lined up, then I shot a 3 shot group with the factory stuff that went over 3 inches. That simply won't do.
I only had 3 reloads to try, all on the light end with IMR 4198 and 240gr Hornady HPs. Best of the 3 went right at 1.75" and I'll bet with some work I can do much better.
Interesting side note. I used 4 vertical rings to put my old 2X NcStar scope on the barrel, full knowing I was about to kill it good. All in all, between myself and the 2 guys who wanted to give it a try, it withstood all 29 shots with out so much as shifting zero. I'm still in the market for a good scope, but that's pretty impressive.
So today, I learned many things. One, my "stick in the ears" ear plugs will not do for this barrel. The muffs are required, along with a little tylenol. Second, no matter how crowded the range is, when you're shooting a 444 with a muzzle break you will have 20 feet of free space to either side of you.
First shot was a remington factory load just to get my scope set. As soon as I pulled the trigger I heard at least 3 people on the line blurt out obscenities, I think one of them was me. This puppy is LOUD! And your whole body feels it. Recoil was actually only a little heavier than my hot 44 mag loads. Took 4 shots to get the scope lined up, then I shot a 3 shot group with the factory stuff that went over 3 inches. That simply won't do.
I only had 3 reloads to try, all on the light end with IMR 4198 and 240gr Hornady HPs. Best of the 3 went right at 1.75" and I'll bet with some work I can do much better.
Interesting side note. I used 4 vertical rings to put my old 2X NcStar scope on the barrel, full knowing I was about to kill it good. All in all, between myself and the 2 guys who wanted to give it a try, it withstood all 29 shots with out so much as shifting zero. I'm still in the market for a good scope, but that's pretty impressive.
So today, I learned many things. One, my "stick in the ears" ear plugs will not do for this barrel. The muffs are required, along with a little tylenol. Second, no matter how crowded the range is, when you're shooting a 444 with a muzzle break you will have 20 feet of free space to either side of you.