Best Walk About Shot Caliber To Build- WHat Should I Build?

[Shawlerbrook]

Even before I read through all the suggestions ( and many are very good) I thought 25 35 or 256 Winchester. Another I’ll add is the 357/44 Bain & Davis.

[jonp]

357 Max?

[jwhite]

I just ordered a 32 H&R Contender barrel from MGM, should make for a pretty good walk about, woods bumming rifle. Cases are available, easy to load and easy on powder.
JW

[swamp]

I got a 7.62x39 barrel from them for my Contender. Makes a great lightweight carbine. Cast only thru it.
swamp

[barrabruce]

25 Jeffery

[georgerkahn]

One of my (many) regrets was having for a short time (sold it: needed $$$ for kid's meds) a Contender in 22-250. It was "scary accurate", light weight, and GREAT for small critters. The ONLY down-size is that it was not very quiet. Sadly, the 22-250 -- also called the Varminter by many -- has, at least in my area, faded into allllmost obsolescence -- but brass acquisition should not prove to be too much of a challenge.
geo

[besk]

I have read about a 223/25 that was easy to load for and very versatile. Necking up the 223 gives you a longer neck for cast boolits.

[czgunner]

I think 6.8 SPC would be a good choice.

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[cumminsnut76]

I do like the option of a necked up 223 or 223 derived cartridge just due to plentiful brass. What's out there using either 223 or 221 fireball brass? obviously I know the blackout but thinking maybe something in between the .224 and .308? Lots of great options.

[WRideout]

I have thought of a 25-20 or 32-20. I’ve also thought about something along the lines of a 30 Luger. All great ideas. Keep them coming

I have a revolver in 32-20 which I like very much except for the requirement to keep pressures low in a pistol. I also have a 7.62x25 Tokarev pistol. If you like to make your own cases, they are pretty easy when starting from .223/556 brass. I use the 100 gr Lee round nose in both of them. Also in the 7.62x38R Nagant pistol. Did I say I like 30 caliber handguns?

Wayne

[P Flados]

I do like the option of a necked up 223 or 223 derived cartridge just due to plentiful brass. What's out there using either 223 or 221 fireball brass? obviously I know the blackout but thinking maybe something in between the .224 and .308? Lots of great options.

Again, take a look at the 7 TCU. Very easy to make from 223 brass. Like a number of others, I have found it to be "cast friendly". More rare was the 6.5 TCU. I am not sure I have seen much on using cast in the 6.5 TCU.

[Shanghai Jack]

+1 on the Badger but I think I'd be forced into something like a 219 Donaldson Wasp - just because it rolls off the tongue.

[uscra112]

+1 on the Badger but I think I'd be forced into something like a 219 Donaldson Wasp - just because it rolls off the tongue.

The Wasp was known it its' day as having to be loaded to mind-stretching pressures to get accuracy out of it. And it was LOUD even in a full length rifle barrel.

[Shanghai Jack]

The Wasp was known it its' day as having to be loaded to mind-stretching pressures to get accuracy out of it. And it was LOUD even in a full length rifle barrel.

Yep but where else can you play with 220 swift velocities approaching 4000 fps and 63000 psi - not for the faint of heart and maybe not for the Contender in its full house loads.

[uscra112]

LOL! No maybe about it. Even the Encore frame will probable stretch at those pressures. Contender definitely will. My only Contender frame was stretched a good ten thou. Only after I'd bought it did I find out that he'd had a .22-250 barrel on it!

[Randy Bohannon]

25/45 Sharps, full length 223 case necked up to 25 cal. Very good accuracy.

[TurnipEaterDown]

LOL! No maybe about it. Even the Encore frame will probable stretch at those pressures. Contender definitely will. My only Contender frame was stretched a good ten thou. Only after I'd bought it did I find out that he'd had a .22-250 barrel on it!

Encore handles about what you would want to use in it.
Belted mag = OK. Factory had 7 mm Rem Mag if memory is good.
I know people were putting 416 Rigby in it when released.

Very stout.

More so than hands, if in the pistol...

[Ramjet-SS]

30-30 Ackley Improved pick up 5% and can easily be made from standard 30-30 brass it has a good punch but not bad recoil. Single shot so you can use spire point bullets or a good cast HP or WFN GC.

[chill45100]

How about either 218 Bee or Mashburn Bee??
Chill45100

[Jedman]

I have a handi rifle barrel I built in 256 win mag with 1-10 twist and it’s a really surprising performer with heavier bullets. I have the reamer and it allows a 2.00” OAL with most pointed bullets ( 75 - 100 grs. ) and is really not far behind the 25-35 . In a single shot where OAL is not an issue it’s a great little caliber that I would recommend.
Jedman