contender

[ringneck 1]

I have a 223 on now putting a bigger one on
some input on diffrent cal.for deer
thinking about 7mm08 or 270
never shot a deer with a pistol so this will be my next yr. venture
thanks Ted

[Rocky Raab]

Ted, you can't get a Contender barrel in 7-08 or 270. Neither the original Contender nor the new Contender G2 are rated for that kind of pressure.

The much stronger Encore pistol/rifle will handle them, but not the Contender.

You said you have a Contender in 223, so let's work with that frame. I's strongly recommend either a .30-30 or a 7-30 Waters barrel for your deer hunt. The choice would depend on whether you reload or not.

The 7-30 is perhaps the best Contender deer cartridge ever invented, but factory amo is very limited. Reloading it is easy and rewarding.

If you depend on factory ammo, the .30-30 is almost as good. The new ammo from Hornady with the pointy tip would be ideal.

Get a 14" bull barrel and use a good variable scope. My 7-30 wears a 2-7X Burris LER (Long Eye Relief) scope, but any LER scope in the 1-5X is just as good. Don't go higher than a 2-7X, because you'll lose too much field of view. Get the best mounts you can - pistols are sharp kickers in these calibers!

[Handgun'r]

Ted,

As Rocky mentioned, the Contender's (old & new) are pretty limited on calibers as of late (unless you visit the custom shop). The newer G2, which replaced the older Contender frame, appears like a smaller version of the Encore, and looks beefier than the old frame in comparison, but, in category, it's still kept along the lines of the older frames as far as calibers are concerned.
I've read where they are structurally stronger, and it appears so, but since they share the same barrel interchange ability as the older frames, TC decided to play it safe and keep them on the same level. Good idea.

The recommendation of the 7-30Waters is a very good one, and is about the only 7mm cartridge available in that configuration that is worthy of being used for deer. I load for it, but I don't shoot or own one currently. Mainly, a friend's gun.
They also had the 7mm TCU, but that was designed as a sillhoutte round initially, and is marginal "at best" on deer.
Many will look at the fact that a .45-70 barrel was/and is offered in the Contender/G2 and wonder why not the 7mm-08, or others.

It has everything to do with the cartridge's pressure, which is transmitted back to the head, or the face at the breech end. The .45-70 has a large rimmed head, and also runs at much lower pressures than most rifle cartridges, so it functions very well and safely there, as does the .444 Marlin.

One round that I absolutely love chambered in the Contender is the .357 Maximum. I have had several over the years since it's inception around 82-83', and they all were decent shooters.
Currently I have a Super 14" Contender chambered in the Maximum and I'm getting 1995fps. safely, using 170gr Sierra JHP's.
Anything that I've shot with it over the years, goes down in a pile 90% of the time. Very devastating.
I'm currently building a custom 20" carbine based on that round, and I can't wait to run it through the wringer.

Good luck Handgunning.......

Bob

[ringneck 1]

thanks.I did not realize those barrels were not avaliable for the contender .and old dog does learn new things.I will go with the 30 30 for now I got till spring to choose
thanks Ted

[ringneck 1]

Did some research on here and found some test Rocky did .good read.Now I found out the new barrels dont fit as tight on the old frames.any thing to this
Ted

[Rocky Raab]

It depends on what you mean.

The current barrels are compatible with all early frames (but not all early barrels will work with new frames - hope that's not confusing) Simple explanation: new barrels are fine.

There can occassionally be a slight misfit between a barrel and a frame, due to the size of the mounting pin hole. The pins can also be off-size. There are three/four points where tolerances can be off: the barrel hole, the pin, and the two frame holes.

For the best accuracy, they should all fit snugly. The holes can be polished to the same size, and a pin can be ground (or bought oversize) if your barrel(s) and frame don't match up.

But there is no across-the-board fit problem that I'm aware of.

[ringneck 1]

thanks Ill probably be back with more question
I dont post much.But this is a top of line forum
Ted

[Handgun'r]

Rocky,


Read somewhere where someone had developed an accurizer pin that was adjustable for that problem.
Don't know the validity of it all, as it was sometime ago, but it sounded feasible at the time.

I know adding adjustible features only drives the price up on an already expensive item, but, you'd think that they could make some type of system that would allow variations from wear and/or tolerances to be remedied.

I've machined new pins on frames that were sloppy, and thought that a "T" pin that was flanged and permanent at one end, with the same design on the opposite side, only threaded into the pin, would work very well. Recessing the frame on both sides would work bettter and allow it to fit beneath the stocks.

Also, making a pin, or bolt, that threaded into the frame on one side, with a larger head on the other, would place it under tension, and only allow the barrel to rotate on the shaft of the pin.
Making these in various shaft diameter's, (or added shims) probably, would aid those with tolerance problems.

Just thoughts I guess........I guess I need an old frame to practice on:confused:

Bob

[Rapier]

This is a 357 SM carbine built on a Cadet action with a 16 inch barrel. It will do 2150 with a 180 Hornady FBSP and 2020 with a 200 Remington. It gets 1/2 inch groups at 100 and flattened Mr Bambi first time to the piney woods.

I think the pin you were talking about is the brain "child", be nice, of Mike Bellham. WE bought a couple at the first Sun Shoot in Tampa from Mike. Best results were groups of same size.

You do know that the 30-30 in a TC is not a 30-30 in a 94. If reloaded can do about 200 fps better than the rifle in a 14 inch contender and with spire points.

[Handgun'r]

Rapier,

Nice gun.................good groups....

It betters the factory barrels by quite a bit. They apparently cut the throat/leade pretty rough, and at a different configuration that doesn't lend itself to accuracy very well.
I'm getting 1 1/2"- 2" groups at 100yds. with my 14" TC using pistol (JHP) bullets. I can better that by 3/4" if I use my hand swaged jacketed HP's, or changing the ogive's of the factory bullets.
Any bullets with a shoulder (like Sierra's), that isn't rounded like Remington's, so to speak, aren't as accurate.

The powder's I use in my gun (and more than likely will continue using in my carbine barrel) is H110, W296, L'il Gun, and AA1680. I use AA1680 more for cast bullets, as well as some 2400 & 4227.

The 180gr. Saeco GC mould configuration is probably the most accurate in that weight....at least for me.

The .357 Max is just a venison hammer....period. I've got centerfire rifle rounds that don't drop them any faster. I think it works so well based on the HP bullets that I'm using though. They are devastating to say the least. Not too good for pelts though.
Cast works well there.

Good shooting..........!
Bob

[ringneck 1]

went to sports shop to order 3030 bar.standing around looking and seen conteder in show case .it was used got to looking at it
it was 35rem muz.brek lighted scope rubber grips holster .laid it back still have 223 on frame to practice with .let you know when snow melts how we get along .never hunted with a pistol its gone be fun .love them golden yrs.

[Rapier]

Ringneck,
Did you get a rifle barrel or a 14-inch pistol barrel? I did not mention the 35 Remington before because of recoil and the two calibers you first indicated were 270 and 284. I suspect by your comment about hunting with a pistol that your new purchase is a 14-inch pistol barrel and you do not reload, right? Hum, if it is a 14, your experience is only with a 223, me thinks you are about to have an enlightening experience. The emphasis is on lightning.

Ed

[ringneck 1]

14inch pistol bar. dont reload
rapier did you mean OUCH
Guess I should have stayed in Holiday in
Im not turning back now
Ted

[Rapier]

Ringneck,
I was afraid that it was a 14. Ouch? Let's say that the muzzle break on the 35 is not a decoration.

The 14 inch 35 Rem and 357 Harrett barrels can be pleasant to shoot and very accurate. However, they can also be the very worst of the factory chamberings for recoil. The recoil level can reach 36 pounds, without really trying (an 06 govt ball round in a 1903A3 is 18 pounds).

If you only have experience with a 14" 223 in a TC, I would suggest that you get a set of Pachmeyer grips and a recoil-absorbing glove, like a Past or Action glove. As you do not reload, you are talking full factory rifle loads, without the opportunity to start with a reduced load and work up, not much of a learning curve.

The good side? I think this may be where you learn to reload.
:)

[ringneck 1]

Thanks Rapier thats gone HURT
gone move to reload section for some HELP

["yote"]

Bought the .308 bbl and haven't looked back.

P.S. thought that you had the encore. my mistake.
My Contender has a 7mm Rem BR. Bbl.
130 Sierra @ 2300fps