Load DataTitan ReloadingRepackboxLee Precision
Inline FabricationWidenersRotoMetals2Reloading Everything
MidSouth Shooters Supply
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 21 to 40 of 40

Thread: Contender for White Tail

  1. #21
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    1,822
    And here I thought this was going to be a CAST BULLET discussion

    ..

  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master

    Wayne Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Hampton Roads, Virginia
    Posts
    13,617
    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.
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

  3. #23
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    NE Oklahoma
    Posts
    786
    7-30 and 375


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #24
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Justin Texas
    Posts
    167
    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.

  5. #25
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Lenawee County , MI
    Posts
    1,324
    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

  6. #26
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    1,822
    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.
    ..

  7. #27
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Justin Texas
    Posts
    167
    maybe I will bump it up to the 165s or even the 180's then.

  8. #28
    Boolit Master marshall623's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Va.
    Posts
    697
    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 .



    Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
    Jesus said ( Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ) Matt. 11:28

  9. #29
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Ga.
    Posts
    112
    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.

  10. #30
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    550
    The 375 JDJ loaded with the NOE 235 gr Ranch Dog.
    Really this is the Cast BOOLITS forum
    beltfed/arnie

  11. #31
    Boolit Master Rapier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    NW Florida
    Posts
    1,451
    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.
    “There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
    Cervantes

    “Never give up, never quit.”
    Robert Rogers
    Roger’s Rangers

    There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
    Will Rogers

  12. #32
    Boolit Buddy eastbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    303
    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.

  13. #33
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Justin Texas
    Posts
    167
    Quote Originally Posted by tctender View Post
    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.
    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.

  14. #34
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Justin Texas
    Posts
    167
    Quote Originally Posted by Rapier View Post
    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.

    Didn't think about that one. Thanks

  15. #35
    Boolit Master


    Walks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    3,028
    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.
    I HATE auto-correct

    Happiness is a Warm GUN & more ammo to shoot in it.

    My Experience and My Opinion, are just that, Mine.

    SASS #375 Life

  16. #36
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Justin Texas
    Posts
    167
    Quote Originally Posted by Walks View Post
    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.
    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

  17. #37
    Boolit Buddy

    tarbe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Romance, MO
    Posts
    160
    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.
    Scrounging for pb...

    USMC 0351

  18. #38
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    oklahoma
    Posts
    2,479
    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.

  19. #39
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Cochise County Arizona
    Posts
    23
    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.

  20. #40
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Justin Texas
    Posts
    167
    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.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check