IMO 150 grain spitzer .30-30s in a 23" barrel are likely nothing to turn one's nose up at:
LeverEvolution in 24" test barrel:
.30-30, 160 grain - 2400/2046 @ muzzle, 2150/1643 @ 100 yds, 1916/1304 @ 200 yds, 1699/1025 @ 300 yds.
.30-30, 160 grain - +3" @ 100 yds, +0.2" @ 200 yds, -12.1" @ 300 yds.
The gun ought to be good on deer out to 200 yards and change. Not too shabby for a little rifle that came out of a pistol design.
You'd lose about 100 fps or more on the .308 with a 6" change in barrel length from 24" to 18.5", so 2400 fps on a 160 grain vs (2700-100 fps) on a 160 grain .308 in a bolt gun the same size as the Contender is (2600 - 2400 fps) = only 200 fps difference at the same bullet weight. IMO this is closer than one would normally think for the .30-30 Winchester.
