Contender for White Tail

I will be taking the contender hunting this year for the first time. It's actually the first time hunting in years. Now my question for you is of these four calibers below, which would you choose and why. A ask because I know they will all work great. I am just torn on which one I want to use. Due to the fact that I haven't been in a while, I will keep my shots within 100 yards. My thoughts on each below.

7mm TCU

Same as the 7-30. I know a lot of you has used this what is the average range you try to stay under?

7-30 Waters

Nice round and shoots well. I just struggle because I would really like to try the JDJ's more.

309 JDJ

I have only been to the range with this once and need some practice. I just picked up some Nosler 125, 165, and 180 grain ballistic tips. I think I am going to load some 125 and 165's and see how they do this weekend.

375 JDJ

I feel the 375 is a little excessive but it is the one that I have shot the best. If I use this one I will be using Hornady 220G FP (everything else I have is overkill). Actually, I do have some Speer 235 Semi Spitzers that will work well too.


I'm pretty excited about this trip to say the least. Your comments are appreciated.

Me... 7x30, only because I have no experience with the others you listed, and I know it will get the job done. Not very much help to you, is it? Pick one and run, don't make it harder than it has to be.

I do agree. Will get the job done. As far as the help. I do enjoy the discussion.

I really like the 7x30 Waters, and think that it's a fantastic round for most of the thin skinned game in the lower 48. It's super easy to form brass from 30-30, and has moderate recoil for a handgun. I use it on mule deer, antelope, and have even taken an elk with mine. It also does double duty as a silhouette shooting round. It's hard to go wrong with the 7x30 Waters.

I would shoot the one I shot best, and enjoy the ride. My personal one would be the 7-30 Waters, excellent round and does the job, my experience with it.

I’ve shot several deer with the 7tcu in a Contender. I shot the same gun extensively in IHMSA silhouette for several years. Although very accurate, the 7mm bullets penciled their way through a couple of deer with little or no expansion. I got the deer, but I was very disappointed in bullet performance. I’d suggest either using a caliber with bullets designed to be used in a handgun, or use a larger diameter cartridge. Use the 375jdj, there’s no such thing as “overkill”, dead is dead.

Shot several deer with the 7-30 Waters so it would be my choice , but if you want to go JDJ then pick the one you are the most comfortable with.

In the OP you mentioned that the .375 was the one you shot best. I wouldn't think it overkill if that 's the one you shoot best. Don't particularly disagree with the other comments, just noted that you shoot the .375 best. You've got some time to bone up on any of the others, if you like, but I think you answered your own question.

Wow. I knew that the 7-30 Waters was liked but I didn't expect most to go for that one. It is definitely a fun round.

NSB - What is your favorite Bullet - Powder for deer combo for the TCU?

725 - The plan is to take all 4 barrels to the range tomorrow and whichever one shoots the best for the day is the one I am going to work on over the next couple months to get ready.

My pet load in a revolver is a Hornady 158g XTP HP sitting on top of a full charge of WW296/H110. In a carbine I usually use a Hornady 180g XTP HP, again on top of WW296/H110. The carbine will give you an extra fifty yards of the same bullet performance you get out of the handgun.

I love the 7-30 waters but I would shoot the one I shoot best.

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Originally Posted by NSB

My pet load in a revolver is a Hornady 158g XTP HP sitting on top of a full charge of WW296/H110. In a carbine I usually use a Hornady 180g XTP HP, again on top of WW296/H110. The carbine will give you an extra fifty yards of the same bullet performance you get out of the handgun.

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I was asking what your favorite load was for the 7mm TCU. You said you have taken many deer with it. I thought about a 357 barrel but I have already spent too much on the ones I have.

Attachment 288924 .375 JDJ for me,220gr hornady at 2300 fps. i do have a g2 in 7-30 waters also and do like it, but the g2 in .375 just puts a larger hole in them.

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Originally Posted by Bloodhound689

I was asking what your favorite load was for the 7mm TCU. You said you have taken many deer with it. I thought about a 357 barrel but I have already spent too much on the ones I have.

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I didn’t say I took many deer with the 7tcu. I said I took several. I quit using the 7tcu because I couldn’t get the rifle bullets to expand well enough with the limited case capacity and the powders I was using.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eastbank

Attachment 288924 .375 JDJ for me,220gr hornady at 2300 fps. i do have a g2 in 7-30 waters also and do like it, but the g2 in .375 just puts a larger hole in them.

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Have you ever recovered a bullet from one of your deer? Curious as to what kind of expansion you get out of it?

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Originally Posted by NSB

I didn’t say I took many deer with the 7tcu. I said I took several. I quit using the 7tcu because I couldn’t get the rifle bullets to expand well enough with the limited case capacity and the powders I was using.

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ok. Well you have helped with the decision on that one.

Here’s what a Hornady 158g XTP looks like taken from the off-side of a deer. Shot out of a six inch barreled handgun, one shot at 35 yards and one at 90 yards. In a carbine the most expanded one in the picture will happen at 90-100 yards. That extra barrel length and velocity really shows up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NSB

Here’s what a Hornady 158g XTP looks like taken from the off-side of a deer. Shot out of a six inch barreled handgun, one shot at 35 yards and one at 90 yards. In a carbine the most expanded one in the picture will happen at 90-100 yards. That extra barrel length and velocity really shows up.

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That’s quite a difference

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Originally Posted by Bloodhound689

That’s quite a difference

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It it, but remember the smaller expanded one is still around .50”. Nothing to sneeze at. It just shows how much loss you get out of a handgun in a relatively short distance. Bullet placement is critical, not just ft/lbs of energy.

I have used a Contender Carbine in 7x30 Waters for many years. It does a great job with Speer 130 gr. spitzers.

And here I thought this was going to be a CAST BULLET discussion :(
[smilie=s:
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I don't think you said anything about the likely range you will be hunting? If it is relatively close range any of them would be fine. If it is longer range the flatter shooting cartridge you should practice with.

7-30 and 375


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I think I have decided to go with the 309 JDJ with 125 Gr. Nosler ballistic Tips. Just need another trip or two to the range to dial it in.

Had a good time at the range. Brought a friend with who has never shot a big bore. Started out with the 44 and then moved onto the hand cannons.

I have only owned 1 Contender that was in 44 mag + a 22 LR barrel and it never suited me so it was sold or traded years ago. Out of the calibers you have I also would probably choose the 7 x 30 Waters as I like the cartridge a lot but where I have to hunt I was always restricted to straight walled for deer.

Just one thing I will caution about since you seem to have made up your mind on the caliber , the 125 BT’s are quite fragile so be sure to aim for no big bones , I have seen these bullets do great tissue damage but not penetrate well and leave you a long tracking job. I look at them as varmint bullets. Just my 2 cents.

Jedman

The 125 Ballistic Tips work great on deer when launched at 2300 ft/sec from a 30 Herrett.
Not so sure if I would use them with the much faster 309 JDJ.
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maybe I will bump it up to the 165s or even the 180's then.

I run 150 Sierra's in my 30 Herrett , and they perform pretty good on whitetails . I would think the 150's would put the smack down on them out of a JDJ .



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I have all four of these calibers. The only two i have taken deer with was the 7-30 which is a carbie barrel with 120 gr and the 309 14'' with 150 ballistic tips. They both worked well. The other two will be used soon as possible. I would use the one i was most comfortable with. I believe the 309 wold work better with the 150 or 165 bt.I use the 125 bt in my 30-30 and 30-30 ackley and they do good in them. They are a little slower than the 309.

The 375 JDJ loaded with the NOE 235 gr Ranch Dog.
Really this is the Cast BOOLITS forum
beltfed/arnie

If you have not hunted deer with the Contender, watch those radar ears and that Contender internal hammer safety when you cock the hammer, it sounds like a limb breaking in the quiet woods to a close deer.

no .375 jdj cast or jacketed bullets recovered, all pass thru,s. i shoot standing double lung shots, they some times go 15-20 yards with a blood trail on both sides ray charles could follow.

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Originally Posted by tctender

I have all four of these calibers. The only two i have taken deer with was the 7-30 which is a carbie barrel with 120 gr and the 309 14'' with 150 ballistic tips. They both worked well. The other two will be used soon as possible. I would use the one i was most comfortable with. I believe the 309 wold work better with the 150 or 165 bt.I use the 125 bt in my 30-30 and 30-30 ackley and they do good in them. They are a little slower than the 309.

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That was the plan. Took the four barrels out last weekend to see which I could get better accuracy with and the 309 was the winner. Now I will go in two weeks to dial in a load. Going to load both 165 and 180 Nosler Ballistic tips for this session.

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Originally Posted by Rapier

If you have not hunted deer with the Contender, watch those radar ears and that Contender internal hammer safety when you cock the hammer, it sounds like a limb breaking in the quiet woods to a close deer.

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Didn't think about that one. Thanks

I have a 7mmTCU 14" bbl for My T/C Contender.
You might try to find some of the Single Shot bullets that Hornady used to make.
Although I had good luck once with the Sierra 120gr HP. Went right thru a coyote with a 2" exit hole.
I used the #287405 over a light charge of Unique for 1st firing of new formed cases.
Sorry I can't give you an O.A.L. don't have any loaded ammo at this time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Walks

I have a 7mmTCU 14" bbl for My T/C Contender.
You might try to find some of the Single Shot bullets that Hornady used to make.
Although I had good luck once with the Sierra 120gr HP. Went right thru a coyote with a 2" exit hole.
I used the #287405 over a light charge of Unique for 1st firing of new formed cases.
Sorry I can't give you an O.A.L. don't have any loaded ammo at this time.

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I actually just picked up a 14" 7mm TCU in a package deal. Wasn't the barrel I was really wanting since I already had a 10" But I am excited to see how much different the 14" handles. I don't have any of the 120's you were talking about but I think I have quite a few Speers

Late to the thread, but glad you seem to have come to the (correct, I think) conclusion that bullet choice is probably more critical than which of these cartridges you use.

Of course, placement is always job #1.

I killed two deer with .357 Herrett Contender back in the 80s. Two data points is pretty slim...but the difference in wound channel and time to death between 158gr Hornady at 2,000 fps impact velocity and 180gr Speer at 1,700 fps impact velocity was dramatic.

I did not hunt again with the Herrett, but would have used the 158 again for typical broadside lung shots.

I have a 7x30 TC carbine (16") that has taken quite a few whitetails. i typically load the 120 hornady vmax. It perfoms like a quality big game bullet at the lower velocity of the waters. i have also loaded and shot the 100 grain hornady hollowpoint, but not at deer. I would not depend on the bullets marketed for hunting to perform well at those lower velocities. They are just too tough and are made to withstand 7mm mag velocities for the most part. I have never had a lot of ruined or bloodshot meat from the vmax, so I am satisfied. i think have recovered only one bullet and it was expanded to about halfway down the shank, just what you would want. They dont blow up, but punch right on through.

I have killed one buck with my 10" 7-TCU, using the 120 grain V-max. The bullet passed through with good expansion at 85 yards. They say that this bullet has the same jacket as Hornady used to use on their 7mm handgun bullet.

quick update to this thread. I took the contenders to the range the last two weekends prior to the hunt and had bad range days so I decided this year I would take the Marlin 30-30 and get some more practice in with the contenders before I take them. I am just not getting the groups that I should be. I know it is me and not the gun. Either way it was a good trip. I shot a good size doe (only allowed this year). I will get a lot more practice in this year and try again next.