G2 Contender for Deer / Elk hunting

[BruceRDucer]

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Do you suppose that a woman would be comfortable firing a G2 contender, in say....6.8 mm for Deer and Elk Hunting?

This is the Thompson / Center model G2.

We're just doing general research at the moment, but we are examining the factor of recoil with the Mrs. and her comfort level. She prefers handguns to rifles.

Anything at all you can tell me would be very much appreciated.

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[Smaug]

It depends on the woman. If the point is to bring home meat, I can't see why one would prefer a handgun to a rifle. T/C makes a nice Encore rifle.

Does she prefer handguns to rifles because she has shot low power handguns vs. high power rifles? (i.e. 9mm handguns vs. 30-06 rifles) In the same caliber, it seems like rifles would actually kick less, not to mention being easier to hit with due to higher stability.

 

[JJE]

Whoops - I didn't realize you were probably talking about the "handgun" version of the G2. My original response, below, is about the carbine version. A friend has a G2 carbine and at least one original Contender in handgun configuration. He shot mostly .44 magnum out of the original Contender (16" barrel), and heavy .44 mag loads were definitely capable of inducing a flinch in some people. I imagine any rifle-caliber cartridge shot out of the Contender handgun would have very heavy perceived recoil. If your wife is comfortable with heavy magnum handgun loads, then the Contender in a rifle-caliber is a possibility, although it may well be too much. Handgun hunting with rifle-caliber cartridges is definitely an expert's game, though.

ORIGINAL REPONSE:

I have a G2 with a .30-30 barrel and 2-7x scope that I'll be using for hogs and West Coast blacktail deer (smaller than whitetails). If I thought I'd be hunting elk or caribou I'd have gotten an Encore, since the G2 is limited to low-pressure, medium-range, .30-30-class cartridges. You can get Contender barrels in .375 JDJ and .45-70, but these are heavy-recoiling, short-range cartidges. The Contender is fine for deer, but if you're going for elk, the Encore would be a better choice.

Other than that, the Contender is nice to carry because it's light. And even though the rifle is light, the recoil isn't going to be bad (not counting .375 JDJ and .45-70 catridges) because you're going to be shooting a 6mm, 7mm or .30-30. For casual target shooting and small to medium game hunting, the Contender is a good choice. Don't forget that you can also buy .28 gauge barrels for the Contender for rabbits and game birds, as well as rimfire barrels.

 

[un_lucky]

Shoooting a 30-30 or 7-30 from a Contender is pretty painless. Kinda loud though.

 

[markk]

Shoooting a 30-30 or 7-30 from a Contender is pretty painless. Kinda loud though.

I find the goofy grin stuck on my face to be the biggest problem when shooting my .30-.30 Contender (pistol).

 

[BruceRDucer]

Thanks all. The answers about the 30-30 etc were very helpful.

Smaug, she has great difficulty with shoulder-fired weapons. It is a medical issue.

I have a real dilemma. She's just on the cusp of getting enough motivation to get a 20 guage shotgun to hunt with me. A rifle or equivalent is a possibility, so I am just looking at all the options.

For her, shooting is substantially therapeutic, in the psychological sense. It is good for her, and she enjoys small caliber handguns (.22/.38). Now, she will shortly decide about going to the next level. I just want to present all options to her.

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[MMCSRET]

I have and use a custom 6x47, 14" barrel on my old 5 digit S/N contender. I have a very early Burris variable mounted on it. I've taken deer and a lot of varmints with it in the 25 years I've had it. The 30-30 or such else would be even easier to use on deer. Good shooting!!!

 

[MCgunner]

The 12 inch hunter barrels have a built in recoil compensator that really works well, at least in .30-30. Not sure it could tame a .45-70 to that level, but if you can handle .38 wadcutters from a K frame, you can handle that .30-30. Not sure on availability. I bought my hunter barrel when they first came out for my old school contender. One thing, they are loud. In the open, it doesn't bother me, but in a box blind, I take my muffs. A 150 Nosler Ballistic Tip at about 2100 fps has taken 5 deer so far from this gun. It's very accurate and hits hard and the Nosler bullet works well at these velocities. I don't know about elk, but deer are hammered with this gun out to the longest shot I've made, 90 yards.

I've got a 7mm TCU barrel with IHMSA rear sight that I don't use anymore I've thought of scoping for hunting. You have to fire form the brass from .223, but it's a hard, flat shooting caliber with very little recoil from a 10" IHMSA stock legal barrel. It'd shoot harder out of a super 14. Recoil is very mild even un-ported. Bullet selection is good. All I've loaded in it is 150 Match Kings, though. Haven't tried any hunting bullets or shot game with it.

 

[BruceRDucer]

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Very helpful all. It looks like the 30-30 is a very good option. This will serve the purpose.