What's your favorite Contender cartridge?

[Tatume]

Hi Folks,

There are some really good ones out there. My favorites are the 10" 357 Maximum and 14" 309 JDJ. My Maximum is a rechambered 357 Magnum barrel that Mike Bellm made up for me. Mike does really nice throats, which contributes bunches to accuracy. Mine has the T/C Silhouette rear sight, which is very nice. My 14" 309 JDJ barrel sports a 2x Burris Posi-Loc scope, which does a great job. The 309 JDJ is my only 14" barrel, the rest are 10".

I like the 30 Herrett and 30 Bellm too, but don't use mine very much. I also have 7mm TCU and 223 Remington, but also rarely use them.

I've always been intrigued by the 6.5mm JDJ. It looks like a super deer and hog cartridge, with less recoil than the 309. Do any of you shoot this one?

So what are your favorite Contender cartridges, and why?

Take care, Tom

[jimb16]

7TCU and .44 mag for me. I've also got .222 Rem, .223 and .410. Got rid of the other barrels since I just didn't use them.

Update: added a .30-30 barrel to the group!

[John Allen]

I like the 44mag and the 221 fireball.

[dragonrider]

I have two favorites, a 14" 30-30 w/muzzle tamer, and 12" 7-30 Waters. Also have 44 mag, 223, 357 max (former mag), 7mm super mag (sucks), 30 Herrett, all are 10" and all are ok but they don't match the fun I have with the first two.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

did the 357 max just a PITA looking for brass i know it will work for deer
hunting but i know a 44mag is just a better round sold my 14" 357max
and got a 14" 44 mag barrel and a 14" 22LR i will get a 30/30 AE when
money permits

[**oneshot**]

22hornet!

[WALLNUTT]

10" 357 Max and 14"430JDJ(rechambered from old 6 groove barrel)

[Doc Highwall]

I have a 375 Winchester 10" barrel.

[TCFAN]

I like the 22LR, 32-20 and the 22Hornet. It is hard to pick a favorite from those three.........Terry

[Guesser]

221 FB and 41 Magnum. Both are 10 Bull Barrels with the old style silver soldered front sight. My favorite frame is a first generation, 5 digit SN.

[pupsdad]

second the 22 hornet

[Westwindmike]

My favorite is the 14", 7-30 Waters.

[dougader]

Used to have a Super 14" in 30/30 and it was scary accurate. I've thought about getting another one and adding a 223 barrel, too.

[kenyerian]

22 hornet, 44 mag, 45 colt, 7 tcu, Barrels come and barrels go but I'll never get rid of my 22 hornet.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

.30 ...

[gandydancer]

218 Bee. 21" bbl 45/70 16" bbl with Brake & 45 Colt 14"bbl GD

[fcvan]

I don't own one but my brother has 3 barrels, each 10", .223, 357, and .41 mag. I really like the .223 barrel. I went shooting with my dad and he set up a soda can at 50 yards. One handed, he shoots and said 'I can't believe I missed.' I said I don't think so and we checked the can. PCM ball ammo (2 bucks a box at the time) punched a perfect round hole through and through. Dead center in the "O" in Coke. Those contenders are wicked accurate.

When I started working up loads for the 225-415 boolit my brother and I proof fired them in the contender first as it is a very strong action. Single shot loads with Unique were zippy and tight, but of course they won't cycle a Mini 14 or an AR rifle. For that we used 4227 and those loads cycle the semi autos at half pressure. It's very hard to beat a contender for fun and accurate shooting.

[stubshaft]

My .17 Ackley Bee and 6mm TCU for j-words and the venerable .30 Herrett for cast.

[Forrest r]

It's a toss up between the 22 match bbl & the 9mm bbl. both are excellent 50/100yd plinking rounds.

[ubetcha]

14" 30-30 bbl with scope. Use it for IHMSA silhouettes. RCBS 165gr sil and 18gr SR4759. Very fun to shoot