TC .44 Mag

cdoc42 · January 9, 2025, 10:25 AM

I have a Thompson Center handgun with 3 different caliber barrels, one of which is a .44 Mag, 12" long. I am trying to find its approximate value so I can offer it for sale, but I've failed on Midway USA, MidSouth, TC website, True Value, and Gunbroker. Does anyone have any advice?

Pumpkin · January 9, 2025, 01:35 PM

eBay will have some in various condition.

**44 AMP** · January 9, 2025, 02:02 PM

12" is an uncommon length. Standard barrels were 10", long ones were 14" generally, though I've learned to never say never about such things.

Which barrel you have makes a difference in what its "worth". I have one of the 10" octagon "pencil" barrels, but there are also round barrels and there is even the .44 "hot shot" barrel, set up for shooting shot cartridges.

Auctions will tell you what items sell for, at auction. NOT what they are worth, as auctions introduce both time pressure and last minute bidding wars that artificially inflate the price.

You need to fnd a T/C collector/enthusiast website and discuss it with people there. I can't give you a valid value in today's dollars as I haven't been following the market for some years. When I got my Contender, barrels were in the $100 range, (when the gun cost $450) the last one I bought was in the $200 range, but that was many years ago, and prices have gone nuts in recent years.

cdoc42 · January 9, 2025, 02:27 PM

44AMP, my .45 Colt/.410 barrel is 10" and a .223 has a "Super 14."

The .44 mag is definitely 12" - called "Hunter."

I took it to Cabela's today, but they had no interest in buying it, nor could I get any advice on value.

Pumpkin · January 9, 2025, 02:41 PM

G2 Contenders had 12” bull barrels.

cdoc42 · January 9, 2025, 03:31 PM

I just found a bunch on the "Numrich" website. They apparently added 15" to 14" barrels in multiple calibers. The 12" bull barrel in .44 Mag is selling for about $350.

Pumpkin · January 9, 2025, 03:44 PM

Someone on eBay has a 12” 375Win for sale with plenty of bids on it.

Pumpkin · January 9, 2025, 03:48 PM

Are you keeping the Contender?

A 12” 44 Mag would give you some good ballistics and dampen some of the recoil. It might also have a faster twist than some of the older 44 bbls.

**44 AMP** · January 9, 2025, 06:30 PM

Quote:

A 12” 44 Mag would give you some good ballistics and dampen some of the recoil.

I'd be willing to bet it won't dampen the recoil as much as it sounds like it would, unless its ported or has a brake.

Ok, sure, longer barrel means more weight = less recoil, and that's true, to a point, and, depending on what you compare it to.

Yes, I would expect a 12" Contender to recoil less than a 10" in the same caliber. HOWEVER, what you may find out is that the Contender, while large is LIGHTER than most revolvers or semi autos.

My 10" .44 Contender has more felt recoil and lots more muzzle jump than either my 6.5" S&W Model 29 or my 7.5" Ruger Super Blackhawk, let alone a real heavyweight like my Desert Eagle.

First time I fired my .44 Contender the recoil and muzzle flip surprised me so much I said a bad word out loud at the range!

Just checked some reference material, 2 inches of barrel might add 2 ounces or a bit more, but the 10" Contender lists at 4 ounces lighter than a 6.5" model 29 or a 7.5" Super Blackhawk, so even with a 12 in barrel it will be slightly less or at most the same weight.

44caliberkid · January 9, 2025, 06:51 PM

Watch prices on eBay, a lot of Contender barrels and parts are sold on there.

Pumpkin · January 9, 2025, 06:59 PM

I was refering only to a 10" bull or octagon barrel Contender.

I shoot a 250gr cast FP over 11grs of Unique. It has a 7.5" octagon barrel, the one with removable shot straightener and recoil is pretty nasty with full power loads.

It is however a nice light pistol to shoot warm 45 Colt equivalent loads in.

Edit: A 12” Contenders non-vented velocities are a fair amount, 100-300 fps more than a 6.5” or 7.5” revolver.

Nathan · January 12, 2025, 12:56 PM

If I hear this correct, it sounds like you have a used OEM T/C barrel 12” in 44 mag blued.

The basic cost analysis is a new OEM barrel probably sells for about $500. Considering it is used, it needs devalued for wear, valued for caliber, length, other characteristics.

I see G2 as a minor reduction, OEM as a minor deduction, 44 mag as a deduction, 12” as a deduction blue as a deduction.

Depending on condition, I would guess it would sell for $350 in better condition if you found someone looking for a 12” 44 mag in blue.

To someone more like me, you are looking more like $200-$250. Why? Why would I want a 44 mag G2 barrel? I have a 5” 44 mag 629. Why do I want a std caliber barrel, just not interesting to add to my collection. At $200, I’m more interested. I’m sure there is a group interested at $300 albeit a smallish group. As an aside, I did pay $250-300 for a 17 hmr, 30 Herrett and 7-30 Waters just 2 years ago….2 were SSK barrels.

Pumpkin · January 12, 2025, 01:41 PM

Respectfully, I don’t see how being a 44 mag is a negative if someone were looking for a heavy hitter from hunting pistol. There may be newer more powerful rounds available today but that doesn’t make the 44 any less powerful than it has been all these years.
There are more good heavy bullets offered today than ever before, not counting the discontinued Hornady 265gr Interlock, one of my favorites.

**44 AMP** · January 12, 2025, 03:37 PM

Quote:

I see G2 as a minor reduction, OEM as a minor deduction, 44 mag as a deduction, 12” as a deduction blue as a deduction.

OK, an aftermarket barrel, stainless (or other non-blue finish) in a caliber other than .44Mag, and a barrel length other than 12" is worth more, to you.

Other people feel differently.

Nathan · January 13, 2025, 07:19 AM

@44AMP…I guess I didn’t make the opposite point very well. My point was that it has low interest to me and the barrels I usually buy, but with enough time, someone will come along looking for a 12” 44 mag and maybe willing to pay $350ish.

January 9, 2025, 10:25 AM	#1
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,770	TC .44 Mag I have a Thompson Center handgun with 3 different caliber barrels, one of which is a .44 Mag, 12" long. I am trying to find its approximate value so I can offer it for sale, but I've failed on Midway USA, MidSouth, TC website, True Value, and Gunbroker. Does anyone have any advice?

January 9, 2025, 02:02 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,433	12" is an uncommon length. Standard barrels were 10", long ones were 14" generally, though I've learned to never say never about such things. Which barrel you have makes a difference in what its "worth". I have one of the 10" octagon "pencil" barrels, but there are also round barrels and there is even the .44 "hot shot" barrel, set up for shooting shot cartridges. Auctions will tell you what items sell for, at auction. NOT what they are worth, as auctions introduce both time pressure and last minute bidding wars that artificially inflate the price. You need to fnd a T/C collector/enthusiast website and discuss it with people there. I can't give you a valid value in today's dollars as I haven't been following the market for some years. When I got my Contender, barrels were in the $100 range, (when the gun cost $450) the last one I bought was in the $200 range, but that was many years ago, and prices have gone nuts in recent years. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 9, 2025, 06:59 PM	#11
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 979	I was refering only to a 10" bull or octagon barrel Contender. I shoot a 250gr cast FP over 11grs of Unique. It has a 7.5" octagon barrel, the one with removable shot straightener and recoil is pretty nasty with full power loads. It is however a nice light pistol to shoot warm 45 Colt equivalent loads in. Edit: A 12” Contenders non-vented velocities are a fair amount, 100-300 fps more than a 6.5” or 7.5” revolver. Last edited by Pumpkin; January 10, 2025 at 07:14 AM.

January 9, 2025, 01:35 PM	#2
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 979	eBay will have some in various condition.

January 9, 2025, 02:27 PM	#4
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,770	44AMP, my .45 Colt/.410 barrel is 10" and a .223 has a "Super 14." The .44 mag is definitely 12" - called "Hunter." I took it to Cabela's today, but they had no interest in buying it, nor could I get any advice on value.

January 9, 2025, 02:41 PM	#5
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 979	G2 Contenders had 12” bull barrels.

January 9, 2025, 03:31 PM	#6
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,770	I just found a bunch on the "Numrich" website. They apparently added 15" to 14" barrels in multiple calibers. The 12" bull barrel in .44 Mag is selling for about $350.

January 9, 2025, 03:44 PM	#7
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 979	Someone on eBay has a 12” 375Win for sale with plenty of bids on it.

January 9, 2025, 03:48 PM	#8
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 979	Are you keeping the Contender? A 12” 44 Mag would give you some good ballistics and dampen some of the recoil. It might also have a faster twist than some of the older 44 bbls.

January 9, 2025, 06:51 PM	#10
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,270	Watch prices on eBay, a lot of Contender barrels and parts are sold on there.

January 12, 2025, 12:56 PM	#12
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,807	If I hear this correct, it sounds like you have a used OEM T/C barrel 12” in 44 mag blued. The basic cost analysis is a new OEM barrel probably sells for about $500. Considering it is used, it needs devalued for wear, valued for caliber, length, other characteristics. I see G2 as a minor reduction, OEM as a minor deduction, 44 mag as a deduction, 12” as a deduction blue as a deduction. Depending on condition, I would guess it would sell for $350 in better condition if you found someone looking for a 12” 44 mag in blue. To someone more like me, you are looking more like $200-$250. Why? Why would I want a 44 mag G2 barrel? I have a 5” 44 mag 629. Why do I want a std caliber barrel, just not interesting to add to my collection. At $200, I’m more interested. I’m sure there is a group interested at $300 albeit a smallish group. As an aside, I did pay $250-300 for a 17 hmr, 30 Herrett and 7-30 Waters just 2 years ago….2 were SSK barrels.

January 12, 2025, 01:41 PM	#13
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 979	Respectfully, I don’t see how being a 44 mag is a negative if someone were looking for a heavy hitter from hunting pistol. There may be newer more powerful rounds available today but that doesn’t make the 44 any less powerful than it has been all these years. There are more good heavy bullets offered today than ever before, not counting the discontinued Hornady 265gr Interlock, one of my favorites.

January 13, 2025, 07:19 AM	#15
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,807	@44AMP…I guess I didn’t make the opposite point very well. My point was that it has low interest to me and the barrels I usually buy, but with enough time, someone will come along looking for a 12” 44 mag and maybe willing to pay $350ish.