I want to publically thank Mike Bellm for the trigger job he did on my T/C Contender. It was right at the 2# wt I requested and turn around was less than two weeks. I just got a chance to fire my Contender yesterday with a new to me (rechambered hunter barrel) 444 Marlin barrel from Mike. The barrel I bought used (thanks Gonehunting) and I was using factory loads, a Weaver 2X and Mike's trigger pull which helped me to group the 240 grainers into 1" at 50 yards. Couldn't try them at 100 yards as the range was flooded at that end and it was raining again. Honestly, with these loads, the recoil was very moderate and a box full went fast and easy. Will be interesting when I load up with my 325 gr cast SSK bullets. Any and all load data would be appreciated and I hope you all have as fun a time as I did at the range....RW

RW
Was that a 12 or 14" Hunter Barrel? I picked up a 14" 44Mag and am looking at the 444 as a possible rechamber for it. Just the way to get more used 444 brass for the .308 BELLM!

Did Mike do the Rechamber on this one?

KENTX now in TN Memphis area

KENTN, that was a 14" Hunter barrel and yes Mike did the rechamber. I to have a lot of 444 Marlin brass as I shoot a 358X444 Marlin also. I think I'm also going to try some of Northern Precision's pointed .44 caliber bullets. I believe you can get them in weights up to 370 grains. With the MB it is actually fun to shoot with the factory light bullet ammo...RW

Thanks for the kind words, RW.

In regard to the brakes..... factory Muzzle Tamer brakes are quite effective and are certainly an excellent value compared to having a custom brake done.

However, with my brake, the top ports are not pointed toward the center of the barrel, but rather at a more vertical angle that just does clear a front sight, for those who use iron sights. I also use two more ports top side than TC does and thus get more venting total and more depression of the muzzle since the two extra ports are top side.

Whether it is a virtue or a character flaw, I am always exploring possibilities and have things in the works which could make the brakes much more cost effective to do than the way I go about it in my small shop. Whether this particular venture will come to fruition or not remains to be seen, but if I don't try, I will never know. But the bottom line is that I would like to see my brake available as a production item and a more economical custom option as well.

I started out doing these brakes on rifles, and they are really effective, especially with large belted mags & medium bore sizes. Makes sissy guns out of them.

Word of caution about the .444 Marlin. Factory ammo produces about 1950 fps with 240 gr. bullets from 14" Hunter Contender barrels, yet there are those shooting 300 gr. and heavier bullets in excess of 2,000 fps, which has to be really pushing the limits. Just because you can get away with it does not mean you should do it.

Chambered right, the .444 Marlin will shoot along with some of the better varmint cal. barrels. For all the discussions about the awesome power of the .375 JDJ and .45/70, the fact remains that the .444 Marlin represents the most power you can milk out of the Contender at safe pressure levels. The "Marlin" name may not carry the high dollar braggin' rights that some people thrive on,
but the fact remains that the energy and useable trajectory of the .444 is at the top of the heap, especially when handloaded with good cast bullets which will pick up over 50 fps additional velocity over the same weight of jacketed bullet.

Plus, the argument that the .444 Marlin is too much for the Contender and all the .444-based wildcats are ok is ridiculous.

If you want and/or need pure horsepower and accuracy from the Contender, .444 Marlin is it.
And of course, you don't have to dump a lot of money into custom dies to do it...... and think of all the excellent .44 Mag. bullets there are to choose from!

Thanks again.... enjoy!

Mike

www.bellmtcs.com

Mike,
If you get caught up and do a run of 444's I'd love to send mine out.

A true fan of the 308 Bellm and soon be done 222

KEN-Tx this week KEN-TN next week