Most Useful Contender Barrel

[WestKentucky]

There have been several contender threads lately so I figured now is a good time to pose a question I have been asking myself the last week or so. What is the most useful Contender setup. Not the best for X situation but generally the most useful and most adaptable barrel.

10” is common and compact for contender standards.
Rifle and carbine lengths can do it all.
Bottlenecks are amusing in pistol form.
Big handgun straight walls are impressive out of longer than normal barrels
Herrett, JDJ, Waters, TCU are pretty sweet, but good luck at Walmart.

So, nail it down, what’s the most useful? Caliber, length, and reasoning.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd say a 12-20 gauge, so you could run the adaptors in. Or is that cheating.

 

[Barbaroja]

My dad really likes his 16” 45-70 barrel. He hunts with it a lot.

 

[Obturation]

I bet a 45-70 will do whatever you need , if there's a 50-110 that'd be good too but costs more to feed.
460 SW mag is very capable too. I don't own any contenders or encores or anything like that - but I want to get into them some in the future . I'm interested . I'm under the impression they're a strong action and gtg for full power loads, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[WestKentucky]

I bet a 45-70 will do whatever you need , if there's a 50-110 that'd be good too but costs more to feed.
460 SW mag is very capable too. I don't own any contenders or encores or anything like that - but I want to get into them some in the future . I'm interested . I'm under the impression they're a strong action and gtg for full power loads, correct me if I'm wrong.

Your generally correct. Some of the heaviest rounds can cause frame stretch over time. On topic of 50-110, I was randomly handed a 45-120 cartridge recently. I can’t even imagine firing the thing.

 

[troy fairweather]

Your generally correct. Some of the heaviest rounds can cause frame stretch over time. On topic of 50-110, I was randomly handed a 45-120 cartridge recently. I can’t even imagine firing the thing.

It's not to bad, most are black powder, the Remington I last had in 45-110 was still pleasing to shoot and it was under 8lb.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

One choice only?
I'd have to choose the Super 14 in .35 Remington.
All the power I would need with lots of impact energy, and the 14" barrel would carry in a chest rig to stay hands free.
Stealing a quote here, 'It hits above it's weight'.

Some of the heaviest rounds can cause frame stretch over time

Yeah, I remember watching a pal with a plumb worn out .44 that had been through the wringer with
wound out 265 grainers.
Fall open described the gun better than break open.

JT

 

[Fyrstyk]

For just about all uses, small game, target, and big game up to mule deer size, I would say a 10" 357 Max is the most versatile caliber in the Contender.

 

[bullseye308]

Back in the day I had a super 14 in 30-30 and you can load it from mild to wild just switching bullets and loads. 125 ballistic tips extend the range, and 180 flat points knock deer over hard. You can shoot bunnies up to small bear if you are up to the task. Or going the other direction a 17 Rem. Amazingly accurate and an eyeball shot will drop just about anything with no skin damage.

 

[Anchorite]

Most useful to one may not be so useful to another, but we all know that. At one time I thought a T/C was the perfect platform for 95% of the hunting situations anyone could face in North America, and I liked the 15” or shorter set-ups.

Back in those days I had a Super 14 30-30 that I had Don Bower punch out to his 30 Alaskan and that was the bees knees to my way of thinking at the time.

 

[Keyfer 55]

My 12" 44 mag has been on the frame the most.

 

[Barbaroja]

My 12" 44 mag has been on the frame the most.

As far as versatility it’s Hard to argue the 44 mag when your handloading it.

 

[Random 8]

If I had to do everything I would ever do with a contender, considering commercial ammo available and use from IHMSA silhouette to medium big game, any of. 30-30, .300BO or 7.62x39 would suffice. I'd want the 14" barrel as my use is past revolver range. If commercial ammo is off the table, I'm going 7TCU, or perhaps 7IHMSAR

 

[WestKentucky]

I started this thread while working a deal on what I thought the ideal setup is. I can think of better situationally, but I cannot think of anything better as a general use barrel. I can think of what is essentially an equivalent setup... which will be here Tuesday. I’m growin. The TC collection in 2021 apparently.

Super 14, 30-30, stainless and synthetic. Stainless for weather concerns, synthetic for weight and hard use. 30-30 because it’s plenty for most situations, and there’s the added bonus that in normal times you can buy it at just about any hardware store, Walmart, or rural gas station in America. The 14” gets plenty velocity while also staying somewhat compact enough to be holstered. An SBR in this setup goes a step further and will happen for me at some point, but until then I keep it as a pistol.

The equivalent would be the same exact setup except in 223 rather than 30-30, and for all the same reasons. I give 30-30 the edge in hunting power, 223 the edge in accuracy. The argument could be made for other calibers as well, like @JT-AR-MG42 said above for 35 Remington and a whole host of others (44 mag, 357 max, 7-30 waters) but the chances of walking into a store looking for the ammo and walking out with what you want is slim. Maybe 44 mag or 357 mag, but highly unlikely for most of the others.

So on to that trade... an AR pistol for another contender. If I kept the AR I was going to spend another 2-300 on to get it to my liking, and I didn’t really feel like that was a good move either financially or on the gun meter. In trade I got a pile of contender parts that theoretically could be assembled into a complete gun, but will not be until such time as I get a tax stamp for SBR. Stainless 14” barrel with cheap BSA scope and really nice scope bases ($350 barrel roughly on Gunbroker) stainless gen 1 frame that is pristine ($500+ recently on Gunbroker) a synthetic stock which is already in the spare parts bin (60 at optics planet). Now I’m off to order another pistol grip because all of mine are wood and I want a grip to match the forend.

 

[CraigC]

The .30-30 is a good one, as is the 7-30. Brass is easy and bullets are plentiful. I just got a 6.5JDJ barrel to scratch a very old itch and it would cover much the same ground but brass for it is problematic. Add a rimfire barrel and you're set for 99% of your handgun hunting needs.

I bet a 45-70 will do whatever you need , if there's a 50-110 that'd be good too but costs more to feed.
460 SW mag is very capable too. I don't own any contenders or encores or anything like that - but I want to get into them some in the future . I'm interested . I'm under the impression they're a strong action and gtg for full power loads, correct me if I'm wrong.

The Contender is limited in that regard. Anything physically bigger than the .45/70 is out and pressure is limited according to case size. The 55,000psi of the .223 is fine for its case head size but not for a .45Colt. As the case head grows, the pressure has to come down. This why they developed cartridges like the .375JDJ specifically for the Contender. Only the Encore can handle the .308/.30-06 class, belted magnums or handgun cartridges like the .454 and .460. It's a larger and more robust action.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

My uncle swore by his .30-30TC.

He contended (yes, yes I did) that is was the most practical loading in the most practical gun for woodland whitetails in northern Minnesota. He loaded his own and while I don't recall his pet loading, it would not work in our Marlins/Winchesters for projectile profile and length.

A buck a shot a tag was his motto!

Todd.

 

[CraigC]

My uncle swore by his .30-30TC.

He contended (yes, yes I did) that is was the most practical loading in the most practical gun for woodland whitetails in northern Minnesota. He loaded his own and while I don't recall his pet loading, it would not work in our Marlins/Winchesters for projectile profile and length.

A buck a shot a tag was his motto!

Todd.

And the upshot to the Contender is that you can utilize spitzers which go a long way in gaining back what is lost ballistically in a pistol length barrel. Some of the lighter bullets that are usually considered varmint bullets in larger rifle cartridges (.30/06 or .300Mag) become good medium game bullets. I've always heard the 125gr ballistic tip touted as a favorite. The .300Blk has expanded the selection of this type of bullet as well. The Barnes 110gr would be my first stop. Plus there's no need to crimp.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Most practical overall? 45/410. Take deer or quail with the same gun. More practical than the hotshots because of the full size 410 and no rifling/ straight flute choke.

30 Herrett and 357 Herrett are only better than 30-30 and 35 Rem respectively, out of a ten inch or shorter barrel.

Ive got 22LR (8"), 22 Mag(10"), 22 Hornet (10"), 222 (10"), 223 (14"), 44M (8"HS octagon), two 30 Herrett (10" & 14"), 357 Herrett (10"), and then a 221 FB (10" octagon) that i have to do some lock work on so it opens on my frame. All are T/C branded.

Here is my 44 mag barrel with the hotshot choke removed

I would like a few more, namely a 6.5 Grendel.

I also have a pair of savage strikers, 22 mag and 22-250.

 

[Keyfer 55]

Most practical overall? 45/410. Take deer or quail with the same gun. More practical than the hotshots because of the full size 410 and no rifling/ straight flute choke.

30 Herrett and 357 Herrett are only better than 30-30 and 35 Rem respectively, out of a ten inch or shorter barrel.

Ive got 22LR (8"), 22 Mag(10"), 22 Hornet (10"), 222 (10"), 223 (14"), 44M (8"HS octagon), two 30 Herrett (10" & 14"), 357 Herrett (10"), and then a 221 FB (10" octagon) that i have to do some lock work on so it opens on my frame. All are T/C branded.

Here is my 44 mag barrel with the hotshot choke removed

I would like a few more, namely a 6.5 Grendel.

I also have a pair of savage strikers, 22 mag and 22-250.

I'm also thinking a Grendel would be a fine round.

 

[horsemen61]

I want 6.5 Grendel one!

 

[WisBorn]

The only Contender I have ever owned was a 14" 30-30. Keep it two seasons and traded it off. I felt that anything it could do I could handle with my 9 1/2" Super Redhawk 44 mag.
I still am a fan of Contenders but really don't know why

 

[Keyfer 55]

Most practical overall? 45/410. Take deer or quail with the same gun. More practical than the hotshots because of the full size 410 and no rifling/ straight flute choke.

30 Herrett and 357 Herrett are only better than 30-30 and 35 Rem respectively, out of a ten inch or shorter barrel.

Ive got 22LR (8"), 22 Mag(10"), 22 Hornet (10"), 222 (10"), 223 (14"), 44M (8"HS octagon), two 30 Herrett (10" & 14"), 357 Herrett (10"), and then a 221 FB (10" octagon) that i have to do some lock work on so it opens on my frame. All are T/C branded.

Here is my 44 mag barrel with the hotshot choke removed

I would like a few more, namely a 6.5 Grendel.

I also have a pair of savage strikers, 22 mag and 22-250.

I think my next barrels will be a Grendel.

 

[Keyfer 55]

It's not to bad, most are black powder, the Remington I last had in 45-110 was still pleasing to shoot and it was under 8lb.

I would like to have a 45/70 to 22 hornet adapter.

 

[GarrettJ]

I bet a 45-70 will do whatever you need...

I have a 14” .45-70 barrel. In pistol form, it’s downright unpleasant to shoot. A 300gr. bullet with a case full of Trailboss is manageable. But then, I can get the same ballistics from a much more efficient .45 Colt case.

I don’t know that I’ve tried the .45-70 as a rifle on the SBR frame. Maybe I should give that a try at some point. The SBR is a G1, and I typically only shoot the .45-70 on the stronger G2 frame.

Super 14, 30-30, stainless and synthetic...

Not a dig at you, just a general comment: I never understood the 14” and 15” barrels. They are long enough to be awkward to carry and shoot offhand, but just too short to build into a non-NFA rifle. Adding an inch or two of barrel doesn’t make the gun any more awkward, but gives you the option of running as a rifle or pistol.

I wouldn’t try to dissuade you from SBR-ing your Contender. I’ve had one for 15 or so years. Makes an excellent suppressed package.

 

[PO2Hammer]

10" 30-30.
Less recoil than 44 Rem Mag, good range, wide variety of bullet choices.