Author Topic: Contender Carbine for a youth shooter (Read 2207 times)

Ranger413 · « **on:** December 18, 2010, 03:06:05 PM »

My son (9 years old) will be ready to join me in the deer woods in a couple of years. He's right handed but shoots long guns left handed because he's left eye dominant. I'm strongly considering a Contender Carbine for his first deer rifle. Mainly because I already have an Encore and love it and I think the Contender would be just right in size (encore's a little big for him). Its ambidextrous as well. I guess I'm not a fan of left handed bolt guns - they're hard to get in youth sizes.

What opinions do y'all have for caliber choice. Looking for lower recoiling yet deer capable (.223 isn't enough in my opinion). I was thinking of 44 mag as I already reload for that.

rescue_171 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2010, 03:36:08 PM »

I have a 30-30 in a contender with a Limbsaver recoil pad that has very little recoil... My son loves to shoot it.

Slufoot · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2010, 03:37:07 PM »

Hello Ranger, I've owned a Contender pistol for 22 years and it still shoots great. I have never owned or even shot a Contender carbine but I have handled a few of them and always thought they would be the perfect gun to start a youth with. Since you said that you reload I feel like a 7mmTCU would be a great youth deer rifle. I had a 10" 7TCU barrel and it was the most accurate barrel I ever owned, I shot several groups under a half inch @ 100 yards with it. I also shot one doe with it using a 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip and it worked great.
The 7TCU will give you alot more range and alot less recoil than the 44 Mag. Another choice might be the 6.8SPC Rem., although I have only shot one at paper in a pistol barrel, it should make a good low recoil deer rifle. There are really lots of good choices in the Contender for what you are looking for, these are just a couple to ponder on!

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

Ranger413 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2010, 04:59:56 PM »

Slufoot,

One of my shooting buddies and I just rebarreled a Savage rifle for 7TCU. He's also got a couple of contender barrels in the chamering. I hadn't given it too much thought, but being that he's got the dies I could get started fairliy quickly. I might start seriously shopping for a Contender. Maybe I can pick one up in a lighter caliber for now and work on getting the "deer caliber" in the next year or two.

I make oil · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2010, 08:14:58 PM »

I like the 7/30 Waters or the 30/30. I am putting together a rifle for my wife and it will be 7/30 Waters. I bought my son a Youth Handi Rifle in 7mm08. I was going to get him a Contender but for what the Handi cost I couldn't pass it up.

Flynmoose · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2010, 12:13:13 PM »

I have a G2 carbine in 357 Magnum. With the right load it
should do the trick to 100 yards. As always, proper bullet
placment will win the day!
FM

bilmac · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2010, 01:29:29 PM »

I had a 7/30 carbine. Great gun.

Anonym · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2010, 08:49:26 AM »

I agree that the Contender is probably the perfect rifle for your son. I have one and love it because it's short, light, and very easy to handle, which are the characteristics you want in a youth set-up as well!

I have a 21" tapered 30-30 barrel with mine, and it's not bad to shoot at all. There's a bit of a muzzle jump, but the recoil should be very manageable for him. Probably not a "precision" set-up, but definitely a great deer rifle!

Here in Indiana, we can't hunt deer with rifles unless they're chambered for "pistol calibers" with certain case dimensions. If there was a carbine length 44mag for the contender (non custom), that's what I'd pick up to hunt with. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll change the rules next year and let me shoot the 30-30.

Of what's offered, the 7-30 Waters and the 45-70 Gov't both sound like great deer cartridges as well!

Preacherman · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2010, 01:09:00 PM »

My 2 cents the 6.8spc is an awsome round for deer in a carbine:bang flop very low recoil.
Preacherman

David D. · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2010, 02:34:55 PM »

Being as you do reload the options are many. Myself I would set him up with a Tender rifle that even after hes full grown he will still want to use. Several good choices have been mentioned already. Two of my favorites would be the 30-30AI and my #1 favorite the 6.5JDJ, a killing machine!!!!!!!!

Ranger413 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2010, 04:01:08 PM »

I mentioned earlier that I have an Encore and really like it. Has anyone worked up an Encore for a younger shooter? Doing some searching for complete guns, frames, barrels, etc. it seems like the Encore is easier to find a set-up for than the Contender Carbine.

Thanks,

Ranger413

Ranger413 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2010, 07:58:23 AM »

Well, I may be wishy-washy. Now I'm back to thinking of the Contender. Now, after doing some research, I think a contender with a 6.8 SPC barrel would be the ticket. Maybe cut it down from 23" to either 18" or 20" for the boy.

Thoughts?

Slufoot · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2010, 03:38:55 PM »

Hey Ranger, The 6.8 SPC will make a fine deer rifle for your boy. Just remember the main thing is putting the bullet in the right place, so make sure he gets plenty of practice time and he will do just fine with it.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

I make oil · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2010, 03:30:37 AM »

By the time you buy a barrel and spend the money to have it cut and crowned you could just go ahead and buy a custom barrel that is already the length you want. Also there are lots of good calibers in 21" factory barrels. I would go with either a 7-30 Waters or a 30/30. Both are easy to shoot and lots barrels out there also buy a .22 barrel for him that way he can shoot cheap rimfire from the same gun and get used to handling it.

rusty shackelford · « **Reply #14 on:** December 23, 2010, 03:53:18 AM »

that is what i did my son is 7 and we put together a 16" 30-30bbl and a cut down walnut stock he loves it .

rusty

Sourdough · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2011, 09:45:35 PM »

We started Sky with a Chipmunk, but he could not pull the cocking knob back by himself. At the age of 8 we enrolled him in a shooting program (I am an instructor there now). One hour of class then one hour of range work every Saturday during the winter. That is when the problem with the Chipmunk showed up. Also if the cocking knob slips while the child is pulling it back, and before it is full locked the gun will go off. The wife contacted the Contender shop, (Yes we have a guy that specializes in nothing but Contenders) bought him a .22 match grade barrel and a youth stock. She came home and converted my Contender to a youth carbine. It was perfect for him, (He was small for his age) the larger trigger guard release was a lot easier for his small hands to manipulate. He used it till he was 12. I got it back and switched it to a .223 barrel and now carry it as a survival gun. With the youth stock it fits easily in an arrow case for transport. It also fits under the seat of my Snow machine if I take the barrel off. When I take kids to the range I take the youth Contender, they think it is great a gun their size. With the .223 barrel there is just a hint of recoil, enough for them to feel, and it makes them feel like they are shooting a grown up gun. Take a small 12 year old girl (or boy) out hunting with you and give them a .223 where they can kill a Coyote or Fox out at 100 yards or more and they are now a Hunter.

One of my more promising students, (an 11yr old girl) took the Contender out with us on a 40 mile Caribou hunt. I thought she might be able to get a Fox or maybe even a Wolf. We were sitting in a blind, when a small herd of Caribou came by. At 40 yards her Dad and I were confident she could make a neck shot if she did not get too excited. That little girl put that 60gr Nosler Partition right where she needed for it to do the job, one down Caribou. Her Dad (An Army troop from Ft Wainwright) was one proud Papa. While it was not a big Caribou, (Medium size Bull) he had that rack mounted.

Giving a kid a Contender as a child is giving them a gun they can use for the rest of their life. As they grow they can upgrade it to larger size for what ever they want to shoot or hunt. With only one shot they also learn to be a more patient hunter and person. And in later years, with the 45-70 barrel it will take down Elk, or Black Bears. With other flatter shooting calibers it would be great for Mulies, and the 30-30 makes it a great Whitetail gun. So by all means start the kid with a Contender.

Dezynco · « **Reply #16 on:** January 09, 2011, 02:38:12 AM »

My 12 year old son really loves the G2 Contender, set up in 30-30 Winchester. I purchased a stock that was somewhat scratched up and cut it down, reground the recoil pad and refinished it. I load the cartridges down a bit for him so that he won't get recoil shy (150 gr. flat points with enough powder to get them up to about 1800fps).

I think any of the rimmed cartridges are good for a youngster, a little easier to pick out of the barrel. Also, the G2 doesn't have to be reset each time the hammer is lowered or the trigger is tripped. I mounted a nice older Burris 2-7x scope on there.

It is such a nice looking little carbine - he just loves it, and he's a pretty good shot with it out to 150 yards or so!

hunt4570 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 15, 2011, 06:54:55 AM »

Quote from: Ranger413 on December 18, 2010, 03:06:05 PM

My son (9 years old) will be ready to join me in the deer woods in a couple of years. He's right handed but shoots long guns left handed because he's left eye dominant. I'm strongly considering a Contender Carbine for his first deer rifle. Mainly because I already have an Encore and love it and I think the Contender would be just right in size (encore's a little big for him). Its ambidextrous as well. I guess I'm not a fan of left handed bolt guns - they're hard to get in youth sizes.

What opinions do y'all have for caliber choice. Looking for lower recoiling yet deer capable (.223 isn't enough in my opinion). I was thinking of 44 mag as I already reload for that.

The 223 works fine, I set up my contender for my daughter when she was about 11,small in stature, maybe 60 lbs(just a guess). 16 1/4" 223 barrel with a 64 gr softpoint bullet. The gun fit her great (youth stock), recoil was negligable and she was not afraid to shoot it.Practiced a lot, and she NEVER lost a deer she shot at...ever...6 or 8 deer over a few years, one shot kill everytime!!

Ranger413 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2011, 02:47:39 PM »

I've settled on the Contender. I've recently purchased one in pistol format and also bought a composite stock set and 22 l.r. barrel. I think that'll get us started in the right direction. Down the road I'll be looking to pick up a 6.8mm Rem SPC barrel. I really like what I hear about that round for youth shooters and deer hunting.

Ranger413 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2011, 06:37:49 PM »

I've been thinking of scope selections as well. For the .22 barrel I've got a Simmons in 4X that's been beaten up a bit. I think with a fresh coat of duracoat that'll make a fine optic for the 22. In order to keep things lightweight I'll mount it on Weaver rings and a base. For the 6.8 barrel (when I get it) I was thinking initially about a 2-7X scope. To me that would lighten things up for my son and also provide a wider field of view. After doing some searching and comparing I'm leaning toward a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9X40mm. I have one on my Encore 209X50 and love it. It only weighs 1 ounce more and is only 1" longer than the 2-7X that Bushnell has. Plus, Midway has a sale on 'em right now. The pistol barrel that comes with the pistol I purchased for my son's carbine set-up has a 14" .44 mag barrel with a scope. The base is Warne Maxima with an off-brand of rings. The Maxima base will likely move over to the 6.8 barrel and I'll get a set of rings to match. I've been really happy with the Warne set-ups I have on my Encore ML barrel and .223 barrel.