Tell me about these rounds…..Contender

[nksmfamjp]

I have an SSK Contender built by JD Jones in 1994, I believe. I remember ordering from him as a kid with a little money and not sure what I wanted. He walked me through it himself and built me a great 375 JDJ. SSK Khrome, arrestor brake, Pachmayrs, 15"…..I was sure I needed that 375!

Fast forward almost 30 years….I think I'd like a few lighter deer, varmint and paper worthy barrels with less recoil….

So tell me more about the 7-30 Waters, 30 Herrett, for deer and/or 17 hmr, 22LR, 22 hornet for small game and paper. Also, what do folks use 6mm TCU for?

Are you limited by expansion to about 1800fps impact velocity or are bullets like the Vmax capable of expansion at slow velocity like 1500fps? Are shot velocities key like with rifles, or can bullet selection improve this?

 

[Ernie]

7x30 Waters and the 30-30-AI would be my two favorite deer cartridges in the Contender.
7x30 Waters is simply the 30-30 case necked down to 7mm and Improved. The 120 NBT has been a long time favorite for deer and antelope.
30-30 AI, is the Ackley Improved version of the 30-30. The 125 grain NBT has been a long time favorite for deer and antelope.
6mm TCU is a 223 Remington case that has been necked up and improved (Improved beyond AI)
It has also been used for deer and antelope but works great as a paper and varmint cartridge.
The 223 Rem is one of my favorite cartridges for a specialty pistol. I would get a premium barrel and a 7, 7.5 or 8T barrel and shoot 70-80 grain bullets in it.
I don't have experience with the Herrett family of cartridges.
20 Vartarg, 20 Tactical, and the 204 Ruger would also be great varmint cartridges in the Contender.

 

[Ernie]

The Waters and the 30-30AI are around a 250 yard deer/antelope cartridge in a 14" or 15" barrel.
A lot of bullets working minimum impact velocity is around 1800 fps.
A LRX and others have a slower minimum impact velocity, and that can stretch you out a little further too.

 

[Critter Picker]

Back in the day (70's) I had a ton of contender barrels. Then a divorce and they went away. I remember seeing the barrels in pawn shops for 20 to 25 dollars.

I think the 7-30 Waters would be a great whitetail round. I'd probably go with a 129 interbond. I really liked the hornet barrel for Jack rabbits and woodchucks used 45 gr hornet bullets and 52 Speers. The 22 LR will shoot as well as a rifle in most instances.

Great guns, would like to see them come back.

 

[Ernie]

7mm TCU

https://www.hornady.com/assets/site/hornady/files/obsolete-data/7mm-tcu.pdf

 

[Ernie]

7x30 Waters

Shooter's Reference Load Data for 7 - 30 Waters

 

[Ernie]

30-30 and 30-30AI data

.30-30 & .30-30 AI ?

I've almost always used the .30-30 lever action with 170 gr RN or FN bullets at traditional 2100 fps levels. It penetrates very well, is reasonably accurate and has always done whatever I've asked of it. Recent discussions over on Marlin Owners, and remembering what my good friend Jim Lawrence...

forum.nosler.com

 

[Ernie]

30-30AI
.30-30 Ackley Improved (T/C Contender Super 14) Data

------------------------------------------------------------------------
110gr Hornady V-MAX / 35.0grs. IMR-4198 = 2700 FPS
110gr Hornady V-MAX / 37.0grs. A.A.2015BR = 2700 FPS
110gr Speer Round nose / 34.0grs. RL-7 "not chrono'd yet"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
125gr Nosler BT / 34.5grs. H-4198SC = 2689 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 34.0grs. IMR-4198 = 2683 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 34.0grs. IMR-4198 = 2627 FPS

125gr Nosler BT / 33.5grs. IMR-4198 = 2617 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 38.0grs. A.A.2520 = 2560 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 36.0grs. A.A.2015BR = 2550 FPS

125gr Nosler BT / 38.0grs. A.A.2230 = 2507 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 36.0grs. H-322 = 2498 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 38.0grs. IMR-3031 = 2480 FPS

125gr Nosler BT / 37.0grs. IMR-3031 = 2375 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 41.5grs. W-748 = 2473 FPS
125gr Nosler BT / 38.0grs. A.A.4064 = 2434 FPS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
130gr Hornady SSP / /33.0grs. IMR-4198 = 2588 FPS
130gr Hornady S.P. / 38.0grs. A.A.2520 = 2520 FPS

130gr Hornady SSP / 36.5grs. H-4895 = 2490 FPS
130gr Speer Flat Nose/38.0grs. H-335 = 2486 FPS

130gr Berger H.P. / 35.0grs. A.A.2015BR = 2371 FPS
130gr Berger H.P. /36.0grs. H-322 = 2346 FPS

130gr Berger H.P. /36.5grs. IMR-4895 = 2257 FPS
130gr Berger H.P. /35.0grs. H-322 = 2245 FPS
130gr Hornady SP /34.0grs RL-10x = 2450fps
130gr Hornady SP /36.0grs. RL-10x = 2580fpsMax. load
------------------------------------------------------------------------
135gr Sierra SSP / 33.5grs. IMR-4198 = 2517 FPS
135gr Sierra SSP /33.0grs. IMR-4198 = 2488 FPS
135gr Sierra SSP /38.5grs. IMR-4895 = 2435 FPS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
150gr Speer / 36.0gr.s IMR-3031 = 2450 FPS
150gr Nosler BT / 36.0grs. IMR-3031 = 2437 FPS
150gr Hornady / 36.5grs. IMR-3031 = 2416 FPS

150gr Speer Flat Point / 36.5grs. IMR-3031 = 2410 FPS
150gr Sierra / 36.5grs. IMR-3031 = 2396 FPS
150gr Hornady S.P. / 38.5grs. Reloader15 = 2390 FPS

150gr Hornady S.P. / 36.5grs. IMR-3031 = 2380 FPS
150gr Speer Mag Tip / 37.0grs. H-335 = 2372 FPS
150gr Hornady / 36.5grs. W-748 = 2370 FPS

150gr Hornady SST / 36.5grs. IMR-3031 = 2369 FPS
150gr Rem PSPCL / 35.0grs. H-322 = 2350 FPS
150gr Hornady S.P. / 37.5grs. A.A.4064 = 2350 FPS

150gr Rem PSPCL / A.A.2520 35.5gr = 2340 FPS
150gr Rem Core-Lockt / 36.5grs. IMR-3031 = 2311 FPS
150gr Hornady S.P. / 33.0grs. Re-7 = 2350 FPS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
165gr Hornady B.T.S.P. / 34.0grs. IMR-4895 = 2255 FPS
165gr Speer Spt.B.T. / 34.0grs. IMR-4895 = 2240 FPS
165gr Hornady B.T.S.P. / 31.0grs. Re-7 = 2126 FPS

 

[nksmfamjp]

The 120 NBT has been a long time favorite for deer and antelope.

Is that the Nosler Ballistic Tip? That is probably a good choice.

Wow! That 7-30 with the Hornady Interbond 139gr looks like a nice round!

The 30 Herrett is just a bit weaker:

How is the recoil compared to the 375 JDJ?

Any thoughts on the rimfires?

 

[nksmfamjp]

30-30AI
.30-30 Ackley Improved (T/C Contender Super 14) Data

Might be worth sending the 30 Herrett off for the 30-30AI upgrade!

 

[Ernie]

Might be worth sending the 30 Herrett off for the 30-30AI upgrade!

Will the 30-30AI chamber completely clean up the Herrett?

 

[nksmfamjp]

Will the 30-30AI chamber completely clean up the Herrett?

Not positive, but I read it will. The Herrett is a shortened 30-30.

 

[Ernie]

Excellent then

 

[Ricky C]

Hey, I have a 30 Herrett and the 375 JDJ. The 30 Herrett has much less recoil. I have taken a couple caribou with the 30 Herrett. This was years ago and I used the special single shot pistol bullets that Sierra made, the 30 cal was 135grs. The 375 works pretty good with the 235 TSX, I took a 6ft 6in black bear with it, only made it 30 yards. Found a perfect bullet in the skin on the far side. When I was a much poorer soldier years ago, the contender was a great way to get a "new" gun by picking up a new barrel. I plan on getting back to shooting my contenders more now that I'm retired! I'll throw the 222 Rem out there as a great target/varmint round.
Take Care