Contender pistol ...best cast bullet round?

[Shooter6br]

Have the urge to get a Contender pistol (used) What are good cast bullet calibers? Thanks[smilie=s:

[fryboy]

357 mag , 30-30 is also a good one and the 375 winnie can be a hoot but often many molds produce way fat boolits for it ermm add 44 mag to that list as well

edit for add ... if going the 30-30 route the 14" barrel is much better than the 10" ( and all in bull barrel configurations )

[stubshaft]

7mm TCU, 357 Maxi, 30/30, 30 herrett, I have shot all of them in sillywett and they were hard hitting and accurate. If I had to pick one with the optimum powder capacity it would be the Herrett followed closely by the TCU.

[dale2242]

30-30 is my favorite. Try 10 gr Unique with any 150-180 gr boolit.....dale

[leadman]

I second the 30-30 in a 14" barrel, or the 300 whisper/ 300/221. More velocity with heavy boolits can be had in the 30-30 over the 300 Whisper if you hunt.

I had a 375 Win and never got really good accuracy out of it with cast or jacketed.

The Ackley Improved 30-30 is a little easier on brass with a touch more velocity available over the standard 30-30. Can fire factory 30-30 in it also, albeit with a little loss of velocity.

[Shooter]

44 Mag. is good if you seat the boolit far out.

[ButcheN]

got to be 45-70 govt with paper patch loads. with the old saddle back rear sight it is a long range hammer, well off bags anyway. I love mine. you don't have to hot load it to get long shots out of a 14".

[TCFAN]

My vote would be for the 32-20. Really a 30-20 since it has a .308 barrel. A very fun cartridge.

[canyon-ghost]

I have a lot of these calibers. The 32-20 is great for 100 meters and easily done, love mine. The 7mmTCU just requires dies, 223 case. It's fun to 200 meters and a little further. The 30-30 is getting up there in recoil but doable. Really depends on whether you want to hunt, shoot paper, or do competition.

A Contender is a heck of a gun, even for a single shot.

[aaalaska]

Either the 44 or the 45, both shoot cast great.

[Artful]

Shooter6br, what are you trying to use it for - paper punching only - killing critters - ?

makes a difference to me - what caliber's do you have molds for now?

What calibers do you reload for? You can't go wrong with factory chambers like
32-20, 30-30, .357 mag, .44 mag, etc
obsolete or hard to find like .357 max or 375 bigbore may be more challenging -
wild cat 300 whisper, 30 or 357 herrett, 6 TCU, 6.5 TCU or 7 TCU while not really hard to make
but require more experience in my book. although you can buy remington 300 blk ammo now if you can find it.
If you got an Encore instead of contender you could do your 6BR for it as well.

Best cast boolit is easiest 30 cal and larger and paper patch easiest with the straight wall cases.

[Tatume]

You don't say what barrel length you want. In 10" barrels, the 357 Maximum is probably the best deer hunting cartridge, and is a great cast-bullet cartridge.

[Bret4207]

357 Max or 35 Rem. The 35 Rem is a lot easier to find.

[Shooter6br]

99% paper shooting Maybe Whitetail deer use mainly

[Wayne S]

99% paper shooting Maybe Whitetail deer use mainly
I see where you have 1300 posts so you should have one or two molds:bigsmyl2:
Yopu didn't say what length, given your 99% paper and 1% hunting The easiest to find used & to fit your needs would be a 30-30, easiest & most flexable with it's long neck to shoot cast, next would be the 7 TCU, nexy would be the 30 Herrett, but it requires forming & cutting 30-30 brass, no big deal, just something to consider plus both the Herrett & the TCU will require special dies, and they too can usually be found used.
All the others won't be as accurate at 100 yds.

[onesonek]

I would go with the .35 Rem.

[redneckdan]

Lazy mans 30 herret would be optimum in my opinion. Take a standard harret barrel and use a neck/throat reamer to open the chamber up to take a 30-30 run through a herret die. Great big long neck for keeping the loob grooves/check out of the powder space. Optimum powder capacity for real world high velocity cast. Cheap brass, no trimming.

[uscra112]

Here in Ohio I have to use a straight wall cartridge, so opted for .357 Max. Now I'm a fan - not much that you can do with the .35 Rem that the Max won't do, and it's even easier to reload.

Gotta try that idea of lengthening the neck on my .30 Herrett, though!

[Wayne S]

Lazy mans 30 herret would be optimum in my opinion. Take a standard harret barrel and use a neck/throat reamer to open the chamber up to take a 30-30 run through a herret die. Great big long neck for keeping the loob grooves/check out of the powder space. Optimum powder capacity for real world high velocity cast. Cheap brass, no trimming.

Interesting, YOU know of anyone that does such work ?

[Tatume]

Interesting, YOU know of anyone that does such work ?

http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/

[Tatume]

357 Max or 35 Rem. The 35 Rem is a lot easier to find.

The 35 Rem is good in a 14" barrel, but in a 10" barrel I believe the 357 Max is better. I like the 10" barrels because they are so convenient to carry. With a 180 or 200 gr bullet at 1800 fps it makes a very effective hunting gun.

[ButcheN]

The 35 Rem is good in a 14" barrel, but in a 10" barrel I believe the 357 Max is better. I like the 10" barrels because they are so convenient to carry. With a 180 or 200 gr bullet at 1800 fps it makes a very effective hunting gun.

He is spot on for punching paper and a whitetail or two. the 35 cal is a great way to go. There are more molds for a 30cal and some will say the 7mm is better for paper, but the whitetail or two puts the 35 out front for me. It is large so you can paper patch with less fuss too. Now if all I was going to do was punch paper it would be the 7mm TCU I have had 2 one 10 and one 14 and they will group great. they are to small for me to paper patch but with a gas check it's just as good.

But I still love my 45-70 with heavy paper patch bullets for the long shots!

[part_timer]

Another Max fan here.

[quilbilly]

I love my 32-20 barrel. With open sights it outshoots all the others and it loves either of the Lee 115-120 gr cast boolits. Any coyote within 150 yards or cottontail within 75 yards is in serious jeopardy even with my old eyes. The 32-20 barrels doesn't particualrly like hot loads but loves those cast boolits leaving the barrel at about 1450 fps. The flat point gets 17" of penetration at 50 yards in soaked phone books.

[Artful]

99% paper shooting Maybe Whitetail deer use mainly

I'd go 357 max then - you can use loads from 38 spl to full blown 357 max
easy to find 35 caliber molds from 90 - 300 grain - factory ammo available
and has good rep for lethality.

Less recoil than larger calibers or cases with larger powder volume in same 35 caliber.

[725]

+1 for the .30 Herrett. I shoot mine with an old group buy mould that was designed for the 7.62 x 55 Swiss. .30 cal bore rider that is just uncanny in the 10" bull barrel. Last year's deer fell to a 125, dare I say it, jacketed Sierra. Ran almost 40 yards. I'm not really used to them going that far and I didn't like it. This year it will be a cast boolit for sure. Contender is a great, fun gun to hunt with. great with cast boolits.

[Olevern]

30 Herrett would be my vote. Once you get your brass formed you're set.
More effecient than 30-30 (less powder used to reach a given performance level.)

[redneckdan]

Interesting, YOU know of anyone that does such work ?



4 D will rent you a chamber neck/throat reamer. Probably a better option then sending it off to spanky over in Colorado. Not sure if his son taking it over has changed the lead times but I have heard some horror stories. Since you would only be reaming the neck and throat I see no point in boring it true in a lathe first before reaming, not gonna fix much. This will take out most of the long throat that plagues the earlier 14 twist herret barrels.

[fryboy]

he says that after i sold my impossibly long throated 30 herret lolz , while i do love both my herrets the 30-30 makes sense for a new guy on a contender ( dont worry it'll be addicting enough that a single barrel will soon have company ) but any factory pistol caliber is also a good start , the encore does open the possibilities immensely however ....

[Junior1942]

..... I like the 10" barrels because they are so convenient to carry. With a 180 or 200 gr bullet at 1800 fps it makes a very effective hunting gun.It's also a more effective kicker than any mule. I tamed mine down to 1500 fps in order to save my wrist. After you've woods hunted for a week with a 14" T-C, hunt a week with a 10" T-C. You'll save the 14" for targets.

[dragonrider]

I have several barrels for mine including a 14" bull barrel w/muzzle tamer in 30-30. It's just a joy to shoot. I won't comment on accuracy because I no longer chase the elusive tiny group but of the barrels I have that is the most enjoyable, comfortable to shoot. Add to that the wide range of boolits available for use and the fun is almost endless.

[bearcove]

For hunting a 12" hunter barrel in 35 rem is hard to beat. Mines not a target gun,but put a red dot on it and you have a 200 yard deer pistol. Beware of factory 357 max barrels long throat with forcing cone instead of a proper throat. Get a 357 mag barrel and get it rechambered to 357 max. That will cut most of the old throat out.

[bobthenailer]

Mabey im just unlucky bught i had a contender barrels in 7mm tcu and 32/20 and they refused to shoot cast with any degree of competive accuracy after trying several bullet designes & different powders, however they shot jacketed excellent .
I used the same cast bullets in my 7mm ihmsa and XL 32/20 with excellent accuracy .

[JSH]

My .02. I fy a are after papaer, don't waste the time or the money looking at a factory chambering. Yes they can shoot great,but, they can be trying at times to say the least.
I have a few factory barrels and a few custom barrels. I won't say one is any better than they other. I will say I think it is way easier to get the custom to shoot than a factory barrel.
Also one thing I will touch on. Everything you know about loading for a lever gun or bolt gun doesn't always apply to a TC format.
jeff

[midnight]

I'll go with the 45-70. It's a real beast as a pistol but I found a 16¼ in muzzle tamer barrel at a gun show (they don't make it anymore) and made the littlest carbine you ever saw. I don't think it's as long as my arm. There are dozens of molds available in any weight you want. Nothing takes a deer down quicker than the 45-70.

Bob

[bearcove]

Yeah, and anything that begins with a 4.

[Leadmelter]

I have a great time punching holes with my 30 carbine bull barrel using the Lyman 130 gr CB.
Uses little powder and a mellow recoil.
They are all good, I own 17 barrels and the original frame and a G2.

Gerry

[canyon-ghost]

Everything you know about loading for a lever gun or bolt gun doesn't always apply to a TC format.


Amen to that.

Ron

[No_1]

+1 on that barrel. I have one set up as a carbine. Fun with light loads of unique, easily handled with trapdoor strength loads and plain ole ugly with heavy charges of 4198 or 3031 but deadly with any of the above.

R.


I'll go with the 45-70. It's a real beast as a pistol but I found a 16¼ in muzzle tamer barrel at a gun show (they don't make it anymore) and made the littlest carbine you ever saw. I don't think it's as long as my arm. There are dozens of molds available in any weight you want. Nothing takes a deer down quicker than the 45-70.

Bob

[BCB]

I’ve shot cast from the 223 Remington, 30-30 Winchester, 7-30 Waters, 44 Magnum and 445SM…

The only ones that I found acceptable were the 30-30 and the 7-30. The Waters probably has the edge over the 30-30…

The 223—groups about 2” at 25 yards. Tried ½ dozen different boolits—put the barrel away to use 50 V-Max in it…

The 44 Magnum—the O.C.L. needed to be about 4” long to touch the rifling—if you have ever tried that with a 44 and can get that length, it might work for you. Otherwise, that barrel has been in the gunsafe for several years—untouched…

The 445SM—a chamber made from a 44 Magnum barrel. It is still difficult to get the boolit to touch the rifling or near it. And that is with a 429650 (320 grains) boolit. Groups around 2.5” to 3” at 100 yards. O.K. for deer, but not shooting at 12-ounce beverage cans…

The 30-30—acceptable. Will clang a 5.5”x11” steel target at 200 yards with ease from a bench…

The 7-30 Waters—groups in the neighborhood of 1.0” to 1.25” at 100 yards. The 5.5”x11” steel is in big trouble at 200 yards also. Twelve-ounce beverage cans are pretty much dead at 150 yards when a good rest is used…

Both the 30-30 and the 7-30 Waters are equipped with 4x-12x Burris ‘scopes…

Good-luck…BCB

[marshall623]

7-30 waters loves cast boolits as does 7 TCU

[McKee Boykin]

I would opt for the .338 Woods Walker myself.

[Ole]

357 Max.

190 grain Ranch dogs up to and including 2000 FPS and any amount below that.

[uscra112]

For hunting a 12" hunter barrel in 35 rem is hard to beat. Mines not a target gun,but put a red dot on it and you have a 200 yard deer pistol. Beware of factory 357 max barrels long throat with forcing cone instead of a proper throat. Get a 357 mag barrel and get it rechambered to 357 max. That will cut most of the old throat out.

+1 to the Max chamber. Lengthening a .38 or .357 barrel is the only way. But you can buy a reamer from Dave Manson for very little more than Bellm charges to do it for you. I did, and I ain't sorry at all. Just make sure Dave understands that you're going to ream a 'tender barrel. The SAAMI pilot is .346 diameter, and you need .350 for this job. Dave will grind a short straight section at .358 as a bullet seat, so the guidance problem that the stock SAAMI chamber has will be eliminated. Using a SAAMI reamer is probably why so many OEM T/C barrels in .357 Max don't shoot well.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

you cant go wrong with a 44mag or a 30/30

[Blammer]

for first one I would go with 35 remington.

[pls1911]

Make it easy on yourself.
The most ecooimical and versatile round is easily the 30-30.
I have .45 Colt, 45/70, 357, 7mm TCU, .223, 35 Rem, and 30-30... they're all scary accurate , but day in and day out the 30-30 with a Ranch dog 165 bullet and 25 grains of reloader 7 answers the call for pigs, deer, and all sorts of critters without the brutal beating from the 45-70.
The ratio of power and trajectory vs physical abuse ranks the 30-30 simply better than the rest. The 35 Rem is a close second.

[donald duck]

Contenders are a lot of fun shooting. Great for testing light loads. Look down the barrel to see if it is clear, no problem. .38/.357 is a good place to start, CAUTION adding different calibers is contaigous!! THERE IS NO CURE FOR CONTENDER FEVER!!

[Longone]

I've been kicking this idea around also and the more I read the better it sounds. I am thinking I would start with caliber that I currently cast for and see how that goes, it would be a paper puncher only.
Does anybody make barrels that you could chamber to a wildcat?

Longone

[Leadmelter]

Longone
Check out SSK Industries. I had them make a 357 AMP barrel from a 357 Mag barrel. It shoots great. I have a custom 41 JMP barrel. Both have their T"SOB mount.
Very large selection of calibers to choose and a very knowledgable staff on the TC.
The barrel I have been using lately is a 375 Win.
They are all a great selection.
Gerry

[dragonrider]

I have two favorites, 30-30 and 7-30 Waters.

[TCTex]

Have the urge to get a Contender pistol (used) What are good cast bullet calibers? Thanks[smilie=s:


Don't take this the wrong way, it is just what I am currently shooting cast bullets out of in "MY" TC's. It is not BS or what you could shoot, but what I am actually shooting.

22 Hornet-55 Bator
22 K-Hornet-55 Bator
7mm TCU-130 Soup Can
7-30 Waters-130 Soup Can
30 Herrett-120 Lee in the Contender and 150 Lee in the Encore
308 Win-170 Lee
338 Fed-200 RD
357 Mag-180 SIL/RCBS
357 Max-190 RD
357 Herrett-190 RD
375 Win-235 RD
375 JDJ-264 Lyman
414 SM-255 RD
445 SM-264 RD

[softpoint]

357 Herrett. I've had both a 10" and a 14" . Both were accurate, I killed hogs, sika, whitetail, and coyote with mine in the Tx. hill country. I used the RCBS 200 gr. cast and the 180 gr. Hornady SSP bullet. H4227 powder. [smilie=2:

[Shooter]

Don't forget the .32-20.

[Junior1942]

Here's the MidSouth 7mm Soup Can @ 137 gr RTL and @ 1657 fps from a 10" 7mmTCU after blowing through 14" of wet newspapers.

http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/photos/7tcu24t.jpg

[Larry Gibson]

99% paper shooting Maybe Whitetail deer use mainly

The 10" .357 Magnum barrel will suit your needs perfectly.

I've curently the following Contender barrels and shoot cast bullets in all of them;

Pistol barrels;
22 Hornet
.32 H&R
357 magnum
44 Magnum
45 ACP
45 Colt

Rifle barrels;
22 Hornet
223 Remington
30-30 WCF

I've had others over the years but the above serves most of my Contender needs these days.

Larry Gibson

[cabezaverde]

I have a 12" .35 Rem barrel that has had the clearance cut in it for a 30-40 Krag rim. So I just reform some 30-40 and have a rimmed 35 Remington. 20 cases will last a long time.

[kir_kenix]

I'm a big fan of the 30 Herrett as well. I think it is one of the most versitile rounds on earth. Also, most folks usually have quite a few 30 caliber molds around anyway, so its easy to start loading for. Yeah, having to buy dies suck, but you can usually get them used for fairly cheap (I have 3 sets now set up for 3 different barrels). Forming brass is not nearly as hard as it sounds. I usually form 50 at a time for each barrel and they last a looong time with mild to mid range loads.

30-30 is another good one if you don't want to mess with brass forming. TC does not know how to cut .357 mag or max chambers, so its worth buying a mag and having it reamed to the .357 max. I will eventually do this with mine. 45/70 is another good one if you are going to hunt someday.

Possibilites are endless with the Contender! From .17 mach 2 to .50 caliber muzzleloader...

[redneckdan]

375 JDJ is also a fun one. Brass forming is easy. It's max performance with 375-300gr loads also happen to be the upper limits for easy boolit loading. There are some decent 375 molds from the usual suspects and NOE has a few nice buys coming due in the next year or so.


-Dan

[Mark85304]

Have the urge to get a Contender pistol (used) What are good cast bullet calibers? Thanks[smilie=s:

Be very very careful. Contender barrels are like potato chips....you can't have just one.

I think any barrel/cartridge combination will do well. The .357 Magnum with 150-158 grn SWC, .44 Magnum with 240-265 Grn boolits are fun to shoot. For light recoil I'd pick the 22. Hornet or .22 K-Hornet with 45-65 grn, 32.20 Winchester with 100-130 grn (.308), or the .30 M1 Carbine in 115 grn boolits are a nice choice. By far my most accurate cartridges are the .30 Herrett with a 150 grn and the 7MM TCU with a 139 grn boolit (getting a new 7MM mould in a few months I think).

It it is real power you are looking for, try anything from SSK Industries or MGM. I can't wait to shoot my .444 Marlin. I am partial to big bore cartridges (.44 and up). They don't call these hand cannons for nothing. :)

I started with a .22LR in 10" Bull configuration in 1982 and just purchased a .444 Marlin in Super 14.

Regardless where you start, have fun.