vanity barrel questions

[jsirm]

Hello all, I have been a contender fan for over 10 years and find myself getting back into shooting after a few years of neglect. I have decided that I need another custom barrel, not for hunting but for fun. My hunting barrels Are a 22 LR and 357 max, 10 inch with matching 2X scopes. this new barrel will probably be 12" and with a higher power scope. Something between 22 K-hornet and something 6.5mm cal? what do you suggest, Id love to shoot long range, I used to have a 7mm tcu and I think id opt for smaller bullets than that. The .22 and Max really do cover all my hunting needs. Im Imagining either a .218 bee, or a 6mm TCU. What do you have? What is your experience?

thanks

[Ladobe]

There are endless possibilities, but it all depends on what you deem "long range", whether factory or custom barrels, and whether you reload and wildcat.   

[jsirm]

Yes I reload, wildcats are fine, actually preferred, but Id rather not have to anneal and turn necks, been there, done that. By long range I mean out to 300 Yards I suppose. I cant get myself to want a 14 inch barrel, thats why I say 12 inch. I like rimmed cartridges, but never had any problems with the 7 TCU I had, thats why I am thinking about the 6 TCU.

thanks

[Ken ONeill]

I recommend the .257 JDJ or 6.5 JDJ, but also urge you to reconsider and go with the 14". My .257 is 14" ( 100 gr.@ 2620 fps), and my 6.5 is 12" (120 gr. @ 2300 fps). I've wished for years that I'd gone with 14" on the 6.5, too. That extra 100-125 fps that I'd get with the 120 is helpful.

[Ladobe]

Oh, you're only going to shoot mid range.       Even more options then, especially since you do reload and don't mind the easier wildcats.   I like many others too, but...

My personal first/second choices by caliber would be...

17DT/17MachIV
20 Practical/20 VarTarg
22SB/226JDJ
6X47/6SB
257JDJ/257JDJ
6.5SB/6.5JDJ

Can you tell I too really like wildcats.   The 17DT, Super Bower's and JDJ's are rimmed cases naturally.   

As you'll notice, the hands down quarter bore IMO is the 257JDJ.    Very fun barrels, I've had two SSK's and they'll shine big time at 300 yards.   

Picking only one would be hard if I was only going to shoot to 300 yards.   But if the shots could/would get much longer the 6.5 SB is my obviouse choice (it's good to 1K).

Also agree with Ken on the barrel length.   You can always shorten a barrel if you find you don't need it, but the extra velocity does help make the Contender pistol a short rifle ballistic wise, which will be important at 300 yards and beyond if the targets are small.

YMMV

[jsirm]

Yes Ladobe, Long range for me is pretty moderate. I know what you mean about squeezing every fps you can with a little extra barrel length, but I really think 14" is too long for my tastes. I might still get a 14" barrel, but be Ill have to be prepared to sacrifice 2" and the velocity with it.

So, 6.5 JDJ is probably the best option for me as a deer hunting round at longer ranges. But I dont shoot deer at longer ranges and I like heavy 357 bullets for that. So Im still thinking a 6mm TCU. I have found data in 4 of my manuals, some of it seems pretty fast. 80 grain bullets at 2700 plus. I think I would have confidence with this on our smallish deer at the ranges I shoot them at.

How much velocity do you think I would lose with a 12" vs. 14", 150?

How about twist, I probably wont shoot 100s, I guess 1-10" is fine, eh?

Thanks guys

[Ladobe]

So, 6.5 JDJ is probably the best option for me as a deer hunting round at longer ranges. But I dont shoot deer at longer ranges and I like heavy 357 bullets for that. So Im still thinking a 6mm TCU. I have found data in 4 of my manuals, some of it seems pretty fast. 80 grain bullets at 2700 plus. I think I would have confidence with this on our smallish deer at the ranges I shoot them at.

6.5JDJ for LR deer... not hardly.   So you are changing your original question huh, ... from just a fun barrel not for hunting to one that can also be used for deer?    Kind of leaves the 218 Bee out.   Makes it hard for folks to offer suggestions with merit when the specifications keep changing.   

For LR deer in either a 6 or 6.5 it's hard to beat the Super Bowers.