Which Contender Barrels?

Which barrel for hunting or "fun"

  • 45-70 Pistol

    Votes: 5 23.8%

  • 45-70 Carbine

    Votes: 3 14.3%

  • 375JDJ Pistol

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • 375JDJ Carbine

    Votes: 1 4.8%

  • Sub-22cal pistol

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sub-22cal carbine

    Votes: 1 4.8%

  • Other - please state

    Votes: 9 42.9%
  • Total voters
    21
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M

mtnbkr

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Dec 25, 2002
Messages
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Location
Manassas, Va
I just picked up a Contender. It came with a 357mag barrel. What other barrels should I consider? I plan to hunt and target shoot with this gun.

Also, which length barrel for a pistol or carbine platform?

Chris
 
I just bought a G2 Contender rifle in 375JDJ to go along with my SSK Industries T/C 375JDJ hunting pistol...great caliber with a lot of oomph..........
 
How "shootable" is the Contender pistol in 375jdj? Is it better suited to a rifle?

Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun......
Click to expand...
Funny quote considering my wife thinks my new Contender is ugly. No accounting for taste, that's why she married me I guess.

Chris
 
In pistol format I would suggest the 7-30 waters, the .44 Mag, and the .22 Reed Express for hunting. For Target I would go with the 7mm TCU.
 
I've had the pistol for many years and wouldn't consider getting rid of it.

My barrels are "other"

A 14 inch .223 barrel and scope. This pistol is by far more accurate at 100 yards than my Colt, Bushmaster and Deawoo .223 rifles.

The second barrel is a seven inch 410 SG barrel with the old removable tapered choke.

Believe or not, but I've got the video. :D
I was shooting clay pigeons with the mechanical thrower beside me, and I was having a ball launching the targets at different angles and heights.
When the box of 23 shot shells was empty it dawned on me, that little 410 had run almost a full box of shells with out a miss. :)

I haven't seen any other barrels I wanted to get.
 
Chris, it will shoot 45LC but the barrel's rifling is almost non existent. Just deep enough to satisfy the Feds.

A fellow at work gave me a couple boxes of 45LC to try out.
The choke has to be removed when shooting bullets. The choke design works VERY good with shot.
The bullets tumbled right out of the barrel. Totally useless.

I'm sure this barrel isn't made any more. Too bad it is amazing with shot, especially for a 7 inch barrel.
 
Chris - I would choose a 45-70 as an extra barrel but so far have just the .223 (14") and .44 mag (10"). I really do recommend the .223 in fact, maybe you shot it when over here. So darned accurate.

Yesterday I tried another guy's T/C and shot thru 30-30 - another one I think is great, and also his 45-70 - ''need'' one of those too!! :)
 
How tough is the 45-70 to shoot as a pistol?

After I get my big-bore, I want something small. I've been leaning towards the 17 calibers just because they sound so neat. :)

Actually, if I had the funds and time to play, I'd love to experiment with some of the sub-17 calibers out there. These folks have some neat info.

Chris
 
How tough is the 45-70 to shoot as a pistol?
Click to expand...
No problem Chris - tho it will depend on how heavy the loads are. This is a low pressure round and even stoked up, not the bruiser that a .454 can be. If you can handle a .454 then the 45-70 will be that bit ''softer'' if ''brisk'' LOL!

I reckon Chris, that if you enjoy .357 and .44 mag then, .223 and 30-30 in a T/C are a cinch. Almost seems a waste in a gun with that weight and stability (IMO) to go for the miniscule cals - tho no doubt a loada fun!
 
the 375JDJ is very shootable as a handgun, it does have a big recoil factor but is very accurate even with that...I shoot a 220 gr. Hornady FP at 2300 fps out of it for deer....with the G2 rifle it is supposed to be around 2600 according to one magazine that tested it....it is the caliber that JD Jones made famous after inventing it........It's a 444 Marlin case necked down to .375...................
 
Hell, any barrel is good. :)

But I guess you want a real answer...so here goes.


THE best, all around barrel I own is my 14" 7-30 Waters. Weaver scope base and Burris Zee rings with a Weaver 4-32 scope...can't be beat...will take hogs, deer, and paper with no issues. Its the magic 7mm bullet. :)

However, you will NEED to get, at the least, a 45 WinMag, 44 Mag, 357 Mag, 45-70, 223, and 22 long rifle for every other day that you might want to go shooting. :) You can never tell when you might need any one of those calibers...

I have the 45-70 set up, 16" with a muzzle tamer...and with factory loads will kill my shoulder if its configured as a carbine with the Rynite...but its a pussycat as a pistol...so I am leaving it up to the shooter as to what they might like.

D
 
I'm leaning towards the 45-70 now. I just found some load data using Trail Boss that has 400gr bullets doing about 900fps out of a rifle. That would make a nice "plinking" round. :)

That's interesting that the stocked version is tougher to shoot than the handgun. That's good to know.

DB, I'm afraid that's where I'm going to end up over the long haul. :)

For the big-bore cartridges, what's a good balance in barrel length? Is 14" long enough for good velocity?

Chris
 
What do you call big-bore?

45-70 16" is going to give you enough, IF you load out your own, to take anything in North America....including Bison...you can load these up past the pressures listed for the old Trapdoors.

As far as the recoil...its not that its EASIER as a pistol...its just not hammering against my shoulder. :rolleyes:
The Rynite shoulder stock is really small and narrow...almost like a stock from a Enfield JC...gives out more PSI...I am sure that with a decelerator or some such it would be more forgiving...

as far as barrel length...you can't beat the 14" length...It gives you plenty of barrel for good velocity and small enough to make it easy to tote around. They even make shoulder holsters for scoped TC's up to 14".

The ONLY drawback to these wonderful little toys is the scopes...pistol optics are generally harder to come by and a tad more expensive...I own Tasco, Burris, Weaver, Simmons, Leupold and TC factory (allegedly Burris)...and IMO the Weaver and Leupold are about the same in quality and fit/finish...

The best way to go however, no matter what scope, is to get at least two sets of rings, and place a third scope ring on whatever you mount. It will do more to let that scope live through the rather stiff recoil of the larger bore cartridges. The smaller bore cartridges you can go with two rings on a weaver base, TC Duo mount, or the Leupy dovetail mount...I have mostly weaver and the Leupy...no Duo ring...personal preference.

You will need to get at least one extra frame...that way your not constantly swapping barrels...then it grows...the sickness...welcome to your nightmare. :evil:


Also, just to add...just got me a jug of "cheerio's" to play with...I have a starting load of 12 grains behind a 400 gr. slug will do your 900 fps...I used to use Unique for my bunny-buster loads...but Unique makes my barrels heat up more quickly. YMMV
 
Can't go wrong with any of them.

All of mine are 14" bull barrels. I guess my all around favorite is the .223 followed by the .222, 30/30, 35 Remington, 375 Winchester, 204 Ruger, 17HMR, and 22 Hornet. I had a 10mm that was a real tack driver but I sold it for three times what I paid for it and used the proceeds towards a S&W 610 Classic.
 
I cannot imagine being without my 14" Stainless 7-30 Waters for deer season. Easy recoil,great accuracy and deadly on deer. :D
 
My most funnest is my 444 Marlin with muzzle brake (aka loudener)

My most accurate is my .223

Best all around is probably the 30-30 AI

Just picked up a 14 inch 22 hornet that shows great promise and a 6 inch 256 that's just a hoot.

As soon as my 41 barrel sells I'm picking up either a 7tcu or a 35 rem rimmed.

Most of mine wear Nc Star scopes, including the triple 4, haven't had too much trouble.
 
I've narrowed it down a bit. I'm trying to decide between the 45-70 and 375jdj in a pistol platform, probably 14".

45-70
Pros: easy ammo availability, 500gr bullets :what:

Cons: recoil maybe?

375JDJ
Pros: flatter shooting, lower recoil (based on reports) than 45-70, "neat" factor of different cartridge, proven results from Contender

Cons: cost of reloading gear, almost no chance of finding factory ammo

Chris
 
"I just picked up a Contender. It came with a 357mag barrel. What other barrels should I consider? I plan to hunt and target shoot with this gun."

The 357 Mag was also my 1st barrel as well about 16 years ago. Don't overlook this as a good target shooting barrel. Plus it is rather pleasant to shoot. Here is mine with my best 50 yard group 5 shot group.
357TCContender.gif
 
"The Force was with you there, YodaVader!"

:D Yeah I just hope it was not the Darkside that allowed me to shoot the group! :evil:
 
too nice, Yodavader...12" barrel? Did you do it with the blast shield down? :eek:


And as far as the 375 JDJ ammo goes...TC is actually MAKING the ammo for those who don't reload...but then I don't know how much it would cost...


D
 
DB, it's about $40/20, IIRC.

BTW, can someone tell me more about the 7TCU. I can't find much info on it.

Chris
 
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