Contender Carbine in 30-30

Dr T

Dr T

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Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
1,618
Location
Colorado and West Texas
I have a G1 Contender and I am contemplating putting together a carbine in 30-30.

The gun was originally, and still is, configured as a pistol. As far as I can tell, I don't have legal issues for converting to a carbine and back to a pistol (Unless the BATF has changed their minds recently).

As long as the serial number is above 196000, I believe that it will accept a G2 barrel.

Questions:
1. Am I correct in these assumptions?
2. Does anyone have any experience with a Contender Carbine in 30-30 with lighter (110-130 gr) bullets, either for accuracy or for performance on game up to the size of West Texas white tails (ranges up to about 175 yards)? I have read that the 30-30 is supposed to be very accurate in the Contender and that the lighter bullets are supposed to have acceptable terminal performance on deer, but I would like some real world feedback on both issues.

Thanks,
Dr T
 
I can't answer any of your questions, but I am interested in it because I also have a g1 contender that I was recently toying trying to do something with. I was thinking about building a 44 mag SBR with a suppressor. I have the gun the barrel and the can, just need a stock....
You should be able to improve 30-30s ballistics out of contender by using a pointy bullet.
 
My G1 handgun with the 10" Octagon barrel has the most vicious recoil of any gun (rifle or handgun) I own. But the Encore carbine in 460 S&W may be getting close...
 
I have a 30-30 14” on a braced pistol frame. It’s together but I haven’t had a chance to really wring it out much at all. I only have a dozen shots through it with loads that were atrocious in my 336 so I truthfully don’t know what it is capable of, but it was not abusive in any way and I really liked what I saw out of it.
 
I have a handi rifle in .30-30, and think it makes a great intermediate power single shot carbine round. It is a rifle round, but doesn't beat you up even in a light carbine.

I have loaded some .308 spitzer bullet rounds but haven't had a chance to really do much in the way of load development for them or use them on game yet. The main issue I found is that you have to pick carefully because lots of the bullets designed for .308 won't expend reliably at .30-30 velocities, especially when you get out past 200 yards or so. And if you are staying within 200 yards, you don't gain much of anything with the higher BC and might as well stay with one of the very effective bullets designed for the .30-30 round. .30-30 is a great round for gas checked cast bullets too, if you are so inclined.

Bottom line, .30-30 is awesome in a small single shot, with more reloading options than you can shake a stick at (especially in a single shot).
 
I think 175yds might be pushing it a little far for light Bullets in a 30-30 from a short barrel.
 
Look into Leverevolution powder if you reload. It gets you about 200fps more from a 30-30. Add in a pointy bullet and it gets it a bit further. Nothing magical though.

The Waters is also worth a look if you're buying another barrel.
 
I have been shooting a 10" bull barrel Contender in 30-30 for 20+ years. I use the 130 grain Hornady spitzer SSP over 36.0 grains of IMR 3031 for 1960 FPS. Exceptionally accurate out to 100 yards, but I have never shot a deer with this load at much over 60 yards. Every deer i shot with this load in this gun were DRT with a behind the shoulder shot. Can't ask for better than that.
 
Rex in OTZ said:
7-30 Waters?

That seemed to be a thing in the 1980's.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/7-30-waters-vs-30-30-win.586774/

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...topics/4355267/T_C_Contender_G2_Carbine_7_30_
Click to expand...
I also have a 7-30 waters. It’s a 10” and is a wonderful shooter. It’s only real drawback now is bullets. The 7mm trend is to heavier bullets like 140 or heavier. The 7-30 really shines in the light and fast bullet territory but very few good bullets are readily available under 140gr.
 
high country said:
The main issue I found is that you have to pick carefully because lots of the bullets designed for .308 won't expend reliably at .30-30 velocities, especially when you get out past 200 yards or so. And if you are staying within 200 yards, you don't gain much of anything with the higher BC and might as well stay with one of the very effective bullets designed for the .30-30 round. .30-30 is a great round for gas checked cast bullets too, if you are so inclined.
Click to expand...

There's a number of good bullets out there for the 300blk though on the market now. You can push them a little faster with a 30-30 to stretch the range a bit over a regular 30-30 or 300blk.
 
I've had plenty of good luck with my 14" 35 Remington and 14" 44 Mag. I've had a 30-30 in 14" and found that the 110 gr. Carbine and 125 gr. Nosler both work well in THAT barrel out to 150 yards for expansion and 170 gr hard cast for good pen on hogs. If you have the patience and the right components for loads you can have plenty of luck I think with a 30-30 carbine barrel. I think that with a 16" or better carbine barrel in a TC you won't have any issues getting .up to effective velocities using 30 WCF bullets or using bullets intended for 300 Blackout/300 Whisper. Keep plenty of 3031, RL7, 5744 and for really interesting fun Trailboss.
 
gotboostvr said:
There's a number of good bullets out there for the 300blk though on the market now. You can push them a little faster with a 30-30 to stretch the range a bit over a regular 30-30 or 300blk.
Click to expand...

There are definitely lots of good bullet options that work well, just worth noting that you need to make sure it is one that is designed to expand reliably since lots of .308 diameter bullets are designed for higher velocities. Good point on the house increasing number of bullets designed for 300blk.

A good load of varget or cfe223 powder under a 130 grain spitzer bullet can realistically run 2500fps and retain around 1000fpe out at 250 yards. I think the lever evolution is better for the heavier bullets, Hogdon doesn't even have load data for it with 130 grain options. Still no long range wonderkin, but a bit more range than the traditional flat point bullets.
 
They make a 125 gr Ballistic Tip bullet, but I think a 150 gr ballistic tip bullet will get you that 175 yard range. They’re not super heavily constructed, so the bullet should expand at that range and velocity. (They recommend a minimum of 1,800 fps)

Shooting that 150 gr bullet powered by Leverevolution powder through a 25” T/C barrel? I bet you’ll get maximum velocity out of the .30-30 cartridge. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
WestKentucky said:
I also have a 7-30 waters. It’s a 10” and is a wonderful shooter. It’s only real drawback now is bullets. The 7mm trend is to heavier bullets like 140 or heavier. The 7-30 really shines in the light and fast bullet territory but very few good bullets are readily available under 140gr.
Click to expand...
The 120 balistic tips could be scooted out the 14" contender barrel at just over 2400 ft per second very comfortably. Those in the 120 grain vmax were my favorite 7-30 bullets
 
I think one of your assumptions, about G2 barrel fit on G1 frames, appears unanswered so far.

First of all, I have an Encore, so I can't speak firsthand about Contender barrel fitting issues. I know what T/C's official answer is, but I've also heard a few complaints about occasional compatibility problems on G1 frames.

If I was in your position, I would source a new carbine barrel from a Contender-specific supplier, such as MGM, Haus of Arms or E. Arthur Brown. I would also email them first to get their opinion in writing before ordering, asking particularly about their exchange policy in case you do encounter problems.


No doubt this is excessively cautious advice -- anyone else want to chime in with actual experiences here?


TC carbines are seriously fun. I've got two Encore carbine barrels: 22 K Hornet and a 357 Magnum necked down to .308. I put a Weaver-type scope base from EABCo with an integral rear peep sight on the latter:

ShadowMaster.jpg


FYI -- here is the ATF's 2011 letter regarding their stance on the Contender rifle/pistol issue. Your state-specific legal milage may vary: https://www.atf.gov/file/55526/download
 
Last edited:
I have a 14" 30-30 contender pistol that shoots very well with 130 grain spitzer flat base bullets. It shoots a 150 grain bullet well also, but the bullets lighter than 130 are disappointing. I occasionally use this pistol for deer with good effect.
 
I have both a first gen Contender pistol with a 10" bull barrel in 30-30. Nasty blast and I'm not happy yet with any load I've worked up, yet, but the Sierra 130 grain pistol bullet has the most promise. My Contender carbines, two that I still have, are in 223 and 22 lr but I bought a 30-30 barrel and it is great for accuracy with 130, 150, and 170 so far. Next up will be cast gas check bullets in 125, 165 and 170 weights. Fun guns.
 
7-30 Waters rifle barrel on a pistol frame w stock change works rather well. G1 vs G2 compatibility should only be an issue w grips, barrels work without issue.
 
The TC Pistol to Carbine change was a long fight, between the silhouette organizations and the ATF. The final outcome boils down to you can not put a stock on the pistol, and you can NOT put a pistol barrel on a rifle. So you can take the pistol barrel off, remove the pistol grip, install he rifle stock, then put the 16” + rifle barrel on.....it is then legally a rifle. Reverse the process , remove the barrel then the rifle stock, put on the pistol grip and then the pistol barrel and it is a legal pistol. You can not legally put or have the pistol barrel on with the rifle stock mounted. You must always meet the two numbers for a rifle, the minimum barrel length and the minimum OAL. Nothing has changed about that situation.

There are at least a dozen books that have been published with Contender specific load data in them, higher pressure than the Marlin or Winchester factory loads. Get yourself at least one for refrence.

I have owned 5 different makes of the 30-30 chambering in a single shot configuration. Shot and hunted deer and hogs with it for over 50 years. In a single shot the 30-30 is not your grandpa’s 30-30, unless you choose to make it so. The cartridge itself is very capable to 300, very easily, and with five top Production class wins in open sight silhouette competition at the International Championship level, is very capable of being not only accurate but very powerful in a single shot.

One of my 30-30 Merrill shots was on a 300 pound wild boar, head on, on the ground, in the swamp, south of Perry, FL. The 170 gr Speer Flat Point went full length, down the spine ending up in the left ham, near the size of a half dollar at 147 gr retained weight. The hog dropped on its face, in mid charge, at 30 ft. Hunting wild hogs in the swamp, on the ground, with a single shot handgun adds a bit of interest to the hunt.
 
WestKentucky said:
I also have a 7-30 waters. It’s a 10” and is a wonderful shooter. It’s only real drawback now is bullets. The 7mm trend is to heavier bullets like 140 or heavier. The 7-30 really shines in the light and fast bullet territory but very few good bullets are readily available under 140gr.
Click to expand...

I use 139 sst and 139 spbt,
 
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