Choices 6.8 spc, 7-30 waters, .30-30 Contender Carbine

[7br]

I am considering a carbine length barrel in one of these calibers for a light deer rifle. Would probably use full length gas checked bullets for hunting and cast for practice. I have a couple of 7mm moulds, a .277 mould and the lyman 311299 mold. I do shoot an ar15 in 6.8. I already have a 18.5" 7tcu barrel, but am a little leary about using it.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

[NVScouter]

I have had both 7-30 and 30-30 barrels. The 7-30 shoots flatter but I enjoyed the 30-30 more, not as sharp for recoil. Depends on what you want since both will do 200y well.

[oldgeezershooter]

You might consider the 7mm-08 also.

[Tatume]

The 7mm-08 is too much for the Contender. I doubt if any reputable gunsmith will even make the barrel.

My opinion, the 30-30 is the best choice.

[NVScouter]

Yeah the Encore can handle those but even the 250 Savage is too much unless loaded down a bit for a Contender.

[seaboltm]

7-30 Waters is awesome and would be my first pick in a Contender carbine, followed by 30-30, with 6.8SPC bringing up the rear. I love 7mm anything, so that impacts my choice. If I wanted ammo I could find anywhere and needed to shoot bullets in excess of 160 grains for whatever reason, 30-30 gets the nod. If bullets under 150 grain are to be primarily used, 7-30 gets the nod. For 150-160 grain bullets, toss up. It never made much sense to me to load 125 grain bullets in a 30-30 case when the better choice is 120 grain 7mm bullet in a 7-30 case. For reloaders, case capacity has meaning, and the 6.8 just can't compare with the 7-30 or 30-30 in carbine length barrels. In pistol barrels all three are probably close to even money. Now, a 6.8-30 cartridge may be neat, especially with blown out side walls and 40 degree shoulders, but that is not a factory option. Yes, I know the 6.8 SPC is based on the 30-30 & 30 Remington family, but it is shortened substantially.

[singleshot]

30-30 gets the nod especially with cast, and particularly with your 311299 mold.

[ohland]

My G2 7-30 will push a 120 grain J-word @ 2650-ish. Lethal to 250 yards with no hold-over. 275-325 and up is in the rainbow trajectory category. Also the rainbow unicorn pony category as well (a fantasy you COULD talk about, but you shouldn't).

[ShooterAZ]

I have both, and with cast the 30-30 is more versatile. The 7x30 is a bit more flat shooting, but in 7mm not nearly as many choices as to molds and boolit weights as in 30 Cal. If you are going to hunt with "full length gas checks", the 7x30 does fine, I use mine (14" pistol) for 200M Silhoette and hunting deer & antelope.

[Larry Gibson]

Agree with the 30-30 being the more versatile cartridge. Probably why I have the 21" 30-30 Contender Carbine barrel:smile:

Larry Gibson

[cheetah]

The Contender extractor is the weak link for me. Based on some stickiness of average .223 REM loads, I'd discourage hunting faith in another 50kpsi rimless case - I don't see interchangeability with the AR. The Lee cast 7mm is tons of quiet fun but no load for big animals. With jackets, the 7-30 is incredible with Reloder 15 but in the end I'd stick with the 30-30 as it can work either fast or slow.

[quilbilly]

Why are you leery about a 7mm TCU??? None of those other calibers (with the possible exception of the 30/30) will do anything that the 7mm TCU won't already do with a lot more efficiency? I have had a similar T/C Contender 18" barrel 7mm TCU carbine for over 10 years and it still may be my most accurate carbine barrel (sub MOA routinely) with the Lee 130 gr RNGC and 4198 powder. If I wasn't hunting deer with a 45 muzzleloader, it would be my first choice for our local black tail deer out to at least 150 yards and that is at the relatively mild muzzle velocity of 1950 fps. My terminal ballistics tests on wet phone phone books with a plywood simulation of a rib indicates this caliber's capabilities far exceed its appearance. Arguably, the only thing the 30/30 adds to the mix is its capability on black bear.

[Rick Hodges]

I have a 21" Bullberry Barrel for my old style Contender Carbine in 7-30 Waters. I use 120 and 130gr. J-words in it. It is accurate and flat shooting to 250 yds. and death on whitetail deer. I love it. The 30-30 may be better with cast...but I sure won't give up my Waters.

[Thundermaker]

You'll have a harder time getting 6.8 brass.

[seaboltm]

6.8 brass is easy to get. Even the local feed store here has 6.8 spc ammunition, and the local gun shop has ammunition, brass, and bullets. Expand that to midway and gunbroker your problems are zero.

[TCLouis]

30-30 and then use cast to plink/practice/hunt.

7-30 too

[JeffinNZ]

6.8 brass is easy to get. Even the local feed store here has 6.8 spc ammunition, and the local gun shop has ammunition, brass, and bullets. Expand that to midway and gunbroker your problems are zero.

However .277 moulds are not as available. That along would stear me towards 7mm or .30-30.