contender as youth rifle also accuracy question

[hvallaster]

I am considering purchasing a contender rifle for my kids to hunt with. Do any of you us it for this purpose. It looks like i will have to cut a couple of inches off the stock.
I also am having trouble geting any hard data on what we will be able to expect from the rifle as far as accuracy. calibers im considering are 6.8spc or .243. Any help would be appreciated.

[Lone Star]

Contender accuracy varies from good to outstanding.  While the chambering matters somewhat, barrel quality is most important.  IME factory Contender barrels are at least good, some excellent in accuracy.  The two chamberings you mention should give all the accuracy potential needed for children to become successful game hunters.


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[skb2706]

A few years back I set up my son with a G2 carbine in 730 Waters. He used it quite successfully and then moved on to bigger and heavier rifles. Now I use it and won't ever carry a bigger rifle unless the task calls for it.

[skb2706]

A few years back I set up my son with a G2 carbine in 730 Waters. He used it quite successfully and then moved on to bigger and heavier rifles. Now I use it and won't ever carry a bigger rifle unless the task calls for it. I guess for me whatever makes a good youth rifle also makes a good adult rifle assuming the fit is correct. The animals I hunt and shoot don't know how big or old the hunter is. My son factory barreled G2 carbine is very accurate to well beyond the distance any newbies hunter should be shooting...with a .204 barrel attached we can shoot pds at 400 yds.

[yooper77]

hvallaster,

You can get a contender barrel in 6.8 Remington SPC.  Were you referring to the caliber of .243 and not a specific cartridge?  Something like 6mm PPC or 6mm TCU.

For the contender I like the 7-30 waters or 30-03 Winchester, 30-30 Winchester if you don’t reload.  Either of these are light recoiling and extremely accurate.

I wish T/C would come out with a pro-hunter youth stock other than just walnut for the Encore.

yooper77

[Elwood]

I set up a Contender carbine in 7-30 Waters for my wife to hunt deer with. She quit hunting when our sons began hunting deer. Both of our sons have killed deer with this rifle. It is a totally neat little rifle. It weighs next to nothing, shoots 3" groups at 300yds, and takes deer down fast. I prefer that a kid use a rifle that has a hammer on it instead of a safety, as it is easy for me to see if the rifle is ready to fire or is on "safety".
I have heard good things about the 6.8 SPC. It would probably do great for a youth gun.
Taking your kids hunting is the most fun you can have in the outdoors! Enjoy.
Elwood

[LHitchcox]

I have a .30-30 AI barrel for my contender. I put a Limbsaver slip on pad over the factory pad, and the LOP is better for me. When I use the gun as a youth gun, I take off the Limbsaver and the LOP is about right for the kid. I am using 150 gr. Remington Core Lokts at .300 Savage velocity. Works like a dream. I am considering using 125 Noslers to further reduce the recoil.

All in all, it fits my needs very well. During the summer it wears a .223 barrel for varmints, and in late September or early October it gets the AI barrel back. I chose this setup because I am a lefty and I wanted a rig that I could use as well as the kids.

Leon