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Offline dadsturn

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next suggested step
« on: January 14, 2007, 01:11:39 AM »
Ok, everyone. I mounted a scope on the 44mag. and sighted it in. Used Magtech 240 sn rounds, and repeatedly put
ALL shots within the 3" center @ 100 yds., after sighting in. Zeroed @ 50, 4" drop @ 100.  Went through 100 rds. yesterday.
So, now I'm looking for the NEXT step in hunting calibers. I am continuosly suprised at the accuracy, low recoil of the 3030 and the 44. I would like to get a rifle cartridge above the 3030 without reloading, that wont hurt after 50 rds.
You were all right about one thing for sure......its addicting to shoot these guns. Whats somewhat funny is the look on
peoples faces when you bring the target back everytime with no center left from the 100 yard range. From a pistol!
By the way, the Magtech ammo shot very clean, accuracy was consistant.
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2007, 02:22:01 AM »
The 45-70 would be a nice addition. Using trapdoor loads is not bad in the recoil department in my opinion.
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Offline longwinters

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2007, 10:18:47 AM »
That is the tough thing with the Tenders and deer calibers.  Unless you want to go 30-30 (which is a great round for the pistol) there are few calibers you can use without reloading.  I have a 7-30 waters and you can get factory ammo for it.  I reload myself, but it is out there.  For my money there are just too many great calibers for the Tender to not reload.  If you are looking for any kind of excuse at all to get into reloading having a Tender will do it.  If youre looking for the ease of factory rounds and lots of choices you would be better off going the Encore route.

Long
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Offline lovedogs

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2007, 11:26:42 AM »
Hey, dadsturn... it sounds like you're ready for something in the .35 Rem. class.  It's a great deer caliber and slightly more jump than the .30-30.  Some don't like the challenge in reloading for it though.  But it can be quite versatile and those who understand it usually come to love it.  You can even use pistol bullets and/or cast in it.

I almost got into one a few years back but didn't like the small shoulder or the lack of rim for a Contender.  A friend of mine built a wildcat .35-.375 KAP and I liked it.  It's a .375 Win. necked to .35 cal.  So the small shoulder and rimless issues are taken care of.  Plus the .375 case is really stout.  It'll outdo the .35 Rem. by quite a bit if you load it up.  But you can keep it mild if you want to.  It had the same advantages of being able to use a wide variety of bullets.  The bbl. shot six elk with 200 gr. Hornady SP's and a number of antelope and deer.  It's a real good wildcat that's very versatile.  All you need is a .357 Herrett bbl. and a reamer to get started.
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2007, 02:24:51 PM »
The  .35 Rem. does sound like a good idea.  ;D
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Offline dadsturn

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2007, 01:40:16 AM »
The 45-70 might be too much even from a 14" for me. I dont know, what is the difference
between the 44 and the 45-70 in suggestive recoil? Also, If I go to a higher rifle round, I want
it to be good out to possibly 300yds. The 35 doesnt sound bad either, but I may just have to
reload, or move to the encore. I just know now that it will get boring shooting 100-200 yads. with
these barrels I have now, and I will be looking for something with better range and knockdown
out to 300. My biggest problem is that I cant stop shooting. 3030 ammo is $10/box, 44 mag in 240-250
are $20/50 rounds of soft points. Very cheap when you compare my 300wsm or the 270wsm ammo.
If the damn gun wasnt so much fun to shoot, and wasnt as accurate, it would be a mute point. I see
many handgun shooters with thier s/w 460-500's that dont go past the 50yd targets. This to me is a waste
of a challenge to place time after time within the 10 ring at 100-300 yards.
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Offline Heavy C

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2007, 06:42:22 AM »
Sounds like you might be a good candidate to start reloading if you're shooting that much.  I started out with the Contender and have added some Encores to the collection.  It really opened up options in terms of calibers.  Right now my collection consists of:
.223 Rem
.44 Mag
7-30 Waters
.308 Win (Encore)

All are a blast to shoot with and the 7-30 has been my favorite along the way, but that .308 is starting to win me over.  Eventually I do plan to start reloading; not so much to keep cost down, but to really work up some custom loads for each of my barrels.
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Offline MnMike

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2007, 05:29:46 PM »
I think the 7-30 will give you a caliber that is different enough from your .44 to be interesting. It is flatter shooting and has less recoil. The factory loads, while hard to find, are OK. Handloading is great, but you just asked for barrel recomendations.

mike
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Offline handirifle

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2007, 06:10:59 PM »
I'm not sure any of the calibers available to a contender will be good to 300yds, maybe some of the JDJ rounds, but I'm not sure.
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Offline SD Handgunner

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2007, 08:05:13 PM »
Handloading some of these cartridges for the Contender is purly a joy. The Contender allows the use of Spitzer Shaped Bullets in these cartridges that were traditionally restricted to flat nose bullets for Lever Action Rifles. The use of the Spitzer Bullets in an of itself adds range to these cartridges in that these types of bullets slice through the air with less resistance.

In the 7-30 Waters I have excellent results with the 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips while in the .30-30 Winchester and .30-30 Ackley Improved I had good results with the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in Contender Handguns. With the right person behind the trigger that has had lots of practice either the 7-30 Waters or the .30-30 Ackley Improved handloaded with proper bullets can be stretched to 300 yards under the right circumstances.

Larry
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Offline BobT

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2007, 06:12:02 AM »
The .30-30 Ackley is a great round for the Contender and dies are available for reasonable cost. It sounds like you are shooting a fair volume of ammo so why not reload? Reloading is a very rewarding pastime for me and helps me get the most from my guns. My S-14 barrel in .30-30 AI will whack the 300 yard 10" plate every time if I do my part. I have never tried a shot at game that far with it but bullet expansion I expect would be the problem at that range. I had a .35 Remington barrel for a while but was plagued by misfires with factory ammo so it went away and I don't miss it. I'm planning an antelope hunt this fall and just took delivery of a 14" .308 PREDATOR barrel that I plan to use. It's basically a stretched .309 JDJ that uses modified .30/06 Ackley improved dies and .444 Marlin as a parent case. I haven't got to shoot it yet but I am chomping at the bit! Whichever way you go it will be fun, if you get a barrel you don't like for whatever reason you can always re-sell or trade it for something else.
Bob
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Offline lovedogs

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2007, 06:21:20 AM »
It sounds like you're talking REAL LONG RANGES for a pistol.  From what I've seen many can't shoot a pistol to 300 yds., and since I live in prairie dog heaven I see a lot of long-range shooting.  A good Super 14 in .30-30 does well for most shooting in a Contender.  But if you're wanting more range you might want to explore the 7-30, or the wildcat 6.5 JDJ.  I think probably the 6.5 JDJ is the best bet for really long shots but for what most of us are capable of the 7-30 and .30-30 do real good.
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Offline spinafish

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2007, 12:19:34 PM »
or the .257 JDJ
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Offline dadsturn

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2007, 01:26:05 AM »
Can the contender handle 270 or  270wsm cartridges? And if so, does anyone have experience with shooting them?
I know from experience that the wsm is a great round for deer, hogs. If the recoil isnt that bad, I would like to go this route.
I already have a 270wsm rifle, so ammo would be simple.
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2007, 01:37:20 AM »
Quote from: dadsturn on January 17, 2007, 01:26:05 AM
Can the contender handle 270 or  270wsm cartridges? And if so, does anyone have experience with shooting them?
I know from experience that the wsm is a great round for deer, hogs. If the recoil isnt that bad, I would like to go this route.
I already have a 270wsm rifle, so ammo would be simple.

No the contender will not handle the 270 or the 270wsm. The Encore is designed for the high pressure rounds. But the 270 wsm is not chambered for the Encore either, the walls of the chamber would be to thin and there for unsafe.
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Offline dadsturn

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2007, 01:50:07 AM »
oh well, just a thought. Thanks
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Offline crawford769

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2007, 07:02:30 AM »
it sounds like the encore is inevitable for you.  the encore can handle up to the belted mag case (7mm rem mag, 300win mag) but some say frame stretch could occur.  i have a 15" 30-06 and recoil is considerable, especially for shooting off the bench.  you can start off reloading pretty cheap with the lee anniversary kit and if you pay attention and follow the instructions it is easy and safe.   rewarding and enjoyment come to mind too.
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Offline blhof

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #17 on: January 20, 2007, 03:11:00 PM »
Reloading is the way to go.  It's not rocket science; just requires attention to detail, as pressures can get out of hand real easy when developing ideal loads and pushing the recommended max.  There's lots of good reading out there and any reloader at the range will usually help when asked.  I was forced into reloading when I picked up both a contender and Dan Wesson in 357 max.  I now can't imagine how I managed without.  I even cast; wheel wts can be had for free from any tire shop-as they pay a hasmat fee to have the lead towed off, which they pay by the lb. so less to the service is money in their pocket.  Gas checked hard casts can be pushed into the 2400 range with minimum to no leading.
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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: next suggested step
« Reply #18 on: January 20, 2007, 03:34:32 PM »
The 223 Remington is a logical choice if you are not reloading, lots of cheap factory ammo available everywhere. Good for hunting small game, varmints and targets at long range.

Cheese
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