planning buys for contender pistol/carbine/SBR barrels

[WestKentucky]

I love my contender and am getting things lined up to SBR it, I currently have s 10" 7-30 waters and a 16" 44 mag. With those two rounds I have the top end of the power spectrum pretty well covered as I don't want anything stronger than 44 mag.
I do want a couple more centerfire barrels for this frame, but am not yet sure what I will be looking at. I want a lower power barrel for rabbits and squirrels, and a long range barrel for game up to coyote size. I already reload a number of calibers, so I'm open to those, or others. What I currently load...32swl, 32sw, 38 spl, 357 mag, 44 spl, 44 mag, 30-30, 7-30 waters, 9mm, 270win.

For my squirrel to coyote barrel I'm back and forth between 357 max shooting max, mag, and spl... or the 327 fed shooting fed, 32mag, 32swl, 32acp, 32 sw (if it doesn't squib). I'm open to other suggestions as well.

For my longer range barrel my thoughts are to get another 7-30 with maybe a 14 or 16 barrel, or drop down in size to something smaller in a fast bottleneck, .204, 20 vartarg, 223, 22tcm, 222, 17 rem fireball, even up to something along the lines of a 6.8 spc. I am wide open here, and kinda want to grow my die inventory. I don't want to go longer than 16" on any of my barrels at this point, and will not stock the gun with a shorter barrel to avoid NFA issues until my stamp is in and all is legal...So I have time. What would you all suggest for my barrel purchases? Chamberings and length, experience if you can provide it.

 

[witchhunter]

West, I shoot a .221 Fireball that I just love. 14.8 grains of 2400 sends a 40 Sierra hp at 2870. I have killed pdogs right at 300 yards with it. I suppose a .223 would be a good bet, but at 10 grains more powder per shot. A lot more noise and recoil, for a little more versatility. your 7-30 should do well for the bigger stuff.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'm thinking a 30/30 AI in a 14" or 16" barrel would be my pick shoot 30/30
out of it. your brass is fire formed and it will still shoot the 30/30 good
and every wall-mart has it

 

[WestKentucky]

Walmart...what is this place you speak of? My ammo come from my bench, and my components come from reputable shops...brass from all over. Recently traded one box 30-30 factory loads I planned to tear down for 200 brass. Another 30-30 derivative would be really nice since brass is so readily available.

 

[cfullgraf]

Like witchhunter, I have a 221 Remington Fireball barrel. Mine is 22" long from Bullberry. It beats the pants off my 221 Remington Fireball Remington 700 in the accuracy department.

 

[PapaG]

I'm getting pretty attached to my 223 barrel. Seems to do well with everything from the Lyman 55 grain gas check at anywhere from 1150-1600 fps, 55 grain bulk bullets from 1500 to 3100, and 63 grain at recommended load levels.
Cast bullets loaded backward (bullet, not the case) lubed and unsized with a pinch of Blue Dot are great on small game up to 50 yards when loaded to 22 lr velocities.
Playing with a 30 30 barrel in carbine length and it shows promise also.
My 10" 30-30 continues to frustrate me.

 

[witchhunter]

I know you shoot .256 Win already. Look at the ballistics of that from a 10 inch barrel compared to a 25/35, not much.

 

[WestKentucky]

I do plan to get a .256winmag but kinda want to wait for some reason. It's a beast of a round though. Packs a lot more punch than it should. I'm getting into a groove where I think I am settling on the 219 zipper but I'm not certain yet. Probably but not 100%. It is a 30-30 derivative and with modern bullets in a single shot could be mighty quick. Would serve as both potmeat critter gitter as well as longer range songdog anchor. If I go this route then I fill 2 roles with 1 barrel....but what's the fun in that?

 

[dastardly-D]

Thompson barrels

....The Thompson single shots amount to nothing short of a super accurate handgun ! I bought one from a fellow with a shoulder stock and forearm with a 16'' barrel in 45/70 . What a thumper ? As far as I understand this old barrel is grandfathered in as legal as both rifle or single shot pistol ? Anybody else have any of these older 16'' barrels ?

 

[WestKentucky]

16" is legal rifle length. There is no max legal handgun length.

And my 44 mag is a Super 16. Pretty slick in a carbine, too nose heavy to use as a pistol unless shooting off of a bipod or sandbags.

 

[dastardly-D]

barrel length

......Thanks WestKentucky ! So then it is totally legal to switch this combo back and forth............