Question for you contender fans....?

[Zeebob]

After getting a NM Blackhawk in 45colt last year and becoming addicted to casting I have gotten the itch for a scoped hunting pistol that will reach a bit farther than my 45colt with open sights..

I had a contender years ago so I am familiar with their capabilities...but never used it for hunting deer or hogs.. I sold that one and I regret it!

I have been considering the 14" 30-30 or 35 Rem barrels...mainly because the brass is easy to get... I reloading for just about everything I shoot, so what ever I get will get fed handloads...

Which of those two barrels would be the most versatile? What bullets/boolits should I be considering?

Z

[contender1]

Well, you can see by my handle, I also enjoy Contenders. I'm a HUGE Ruger fan, and own a lot of them, including several in 45 Colt. I also own several Contenders & barrels, and got into using mine as a hunting tool back in the mid 1980's. I have since taken over 100 whitetails, an elk, and many other things with mine.
Personally, my go to caliber & barrel is a 14" 7x30 Waters. I'm able to get 30-30 brass easily, and it is VERY easy to fireform & make into 7x30 Waters. It has low recoil, deadly accurate, & is one of the very few calibers I have duplicate barrels in. And, both of my 7x30's can shoot the same reload accurately. I have taken almost all of my whitetails with neck shots. Why? It ruins no meat, and the dear drops DRT. I'm getting sub MOA accuracy at 100 yds with both of mine. I also WAIT on the shot presentation before I pull the trigger. I use a 150 grn Nosler Ballistic Tip for deer, and used a 150 grn Barnes for the elk.

That is some food for thought.

However, you have asked about the 30-30 & the 35 Remington. If brass is absolutely no problem in the 35 Rem, I'd opt for that if hogs were on the serious list. I have found that 30-30 brass is MUCH easier to come by, but the heavier punch of the 35 for hogs would be a big factor. But, if deer is the preferred game, then I'd opt for the 30-30 in the Super-14 barrel. There is an abundance of good quality 30 cal bullets out there to select from that are excellent deer stoppers.
However, once I tried my 7x30 many years ago, I sold my 30-30 barrel.

You have to decide the parameters of your needs to decide what to choose.

[charlie b]

If you don't mind a little extra work the .30 Herrett was my favorite. 14" barrel and 3x scope. Did not hunt hogs but it was good for whitetail. I did want a 7x30 Waters when it came out but I sold the gun before I got the barrel.

[Moonie]

I had a Contender, was my first center fire purchase when I turned 21. I've had a NMBH in 45colt for a couple of years and also made a similar decision but I went bigger, I have an Encore in 270 Winchester and planning to purchase a 460 S&W pistol barrel soon.

[paul h]

I no longer have my contender, but if you're looking at shooting cast for hunting, I'd say you simply can't beat the 35 caliber. There are three chamberings I'd consider: 357 maximum, 357 Herret and 35 rem. All are great rounds and for me it would come down to if you found a good deal on a used barrel. If I was going for a new barrel, I'd get another 357 max as it really doesn't give up any performance to the larger cases, burns a tad less powder and I prefer to stick with the smaller dia cases that reduce backthrust on the contender frame when it's an option.

The 357 Herret is also a fine round and it's really not a big deal to trim the cases after forming them. Used dies are generally quite reasonably priced, or often a used barrel will include a set of dies.

I had an encore briefly but just didn't care for the bigger bulkier gun as a handgun. Fine choice as a rifle, but I'll stick the contender for a handgun.

[Zeebob]

Thanks for the feedback. Hadn't really thought much about the 7/30 waters..but I may have to consider that one as well! I like the 7mm bullets and most of the hunting I do for deer will be at less than 200yds...most 100yds or less. The 7/30 waters in a 14' barrel may be the route I take..

Z

[FLHTC]

From the two cartridges you mention, I'd opt for the 30-30. For deer I'd use 150's and for hog 180's. The 7mm bullet does have a better ballistic coefficient but the 30 caliber selection is broader. The 30-30 loaded with 150's is definitely a 200 yard gun.

[crappie-hunter]

357 Max or 30/30 both are killers . I have both ,and want another 357 Max. in carbine length real bad,the 10" is very accurate. and also a handful with hunting loads,but not unmanageable.

[No_1]

I have a 14" 35 Remington but would prefer a 14" 30-30 because I like a rimmed cartridge in single shot guns otherwise I see no difference considering my hunting / shooting needs.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I had the 357 Max got fed up looking for brass all the time sold it and bought a 14" 44 mag and did not look back
if i could use a bottleneck case in my State to hunt Deer i would run with a 30/30 AI

[R8ed]

I've had my Contender since the late 80's, but I'm far from an expert. I've had problems with factory 35 ammo having the shoulder too low, resulting in dented primers but FTF. I put the 35 away until recently and stuck with .22lr, .223 and 17HMR.
Mike Bellm's web site has some good info on setting up for shooting necked rounds.
Now 35 Rem ammo and brass is hard to find, but GRUMPA here on the forums sells 35 made from I believe .308.
I haven't tried GRUMPA's cases yet but have contacted a few of his customers and they all had good things to say about his brass.
The 35 Rem is a lot of fun in the Contender. I too want to hunt with it and just recently started learning what I need to do to get it to shoot the 35 reliably. This includes learning head spacing, hand loading and soon casting.
If you are an experienced hand loader this should be no problem for you.
I'd go with the 35.

[str8wal]

I'd suggest a 30-30 AI. You can shoot regular 30-30 in the improved chamber, quite accurately in fact, but the added capacity of the AI really shines when you start pushing 200 yards.

[RP3543]

I love my 14" 35 Rem. barrel. You will find cases hard to locate. I recently purchased 100 cases from Grumpa, they were perfectly formed and shot well...highly recommend them. I primarily use a gas checked RCBS 35-200-FN in #2 alloy and have been pleased with the 50 yard groups (about 3/4-1" with iron sights). I'm switching to a Williams rear aperture...Hopefully that will improve my sight picture (Eyes are getting old) and accuracy at 100 yards.

[Zeebob]

Thanks for all the input guys. I am going to go with a 14" 7-30 Waters. Looks like the biggest hurdle will be finding a pistol locally...so far they seem pretty scarce.

Thanks again..
Z

[contender1]

I think you will find the 7x30 Waters a nice caliber & do what you desire. I also own a bunch of other calibers, and one of my favorites are my (2) 357 Maximums. I have one in 10" & one in 14". Both are good, but for my type of serious hunting & all, my Waters is my go to caliber. If you were closer to me, I'd offer to let you try a bunch of different ones to see what they do!

[Tenbender]

I have a 7X30 Waters 14" and a 357 Max. in a 10". I deer hunt with the Max because it is 10" and a bit lighter. A 7X Burris on the waters and a 3X Burris on the Max. My longest shot with the Max on deer was 197 yrds. I have killed ground hog's 300 yrds and more with a 110 gr. 7X30. You can't go wrong with these two and I would bet the 30 30 and 35 Rem. would be great also. Just remember the 357 Max. will do everything a 35 Rem. will do with a smaller case and less powder. Cases are easier to come by also.