hmmm...

[KYODE]

i'll go with 7mm-08 and 7-30 waters, i guess since you seem to be interested in 7mm. 30-30 would not be bad in a contender or .243 and .308 in encore. in the custom barrels i sure like a 6mm. 6x45,6x47,6tcu contender, or my 6br encore is sweet as pie. no one can pick just one. i just can't do it.

[Gregory]

I'm limited here in Illinois to a cartridge case that can't exceed 1.4" for the hangdun deer season in January.  I've got a 30 Bellm 13" Encore barrel I'm working with and just picked up a used SSK 10" 300 Whisper.  
I'm going to sight them in at 150 meters.  On paper, with 125 gr. or 150 gr. bullets I should be good to a max range of 200 yds.  Hope to try one or the other this season.  
Greg

[Graybeard]

If limited to factory barrel options I'd chose the 7-30 in the Contender and the .260 Rem. in the Encore I think. The 7-08 would be a near winner for the Encore but I think the .260 might be better for your needs.

If I weren't limiting it to factory barrels and were including custom barrels then I might go with the .257 JDJ for the Contender and the .257 Roberts AI for the Encore.

GB

[Doesniper]

My favorite is the 250 Sav. A.I. out of a 15" Encore barrel.  90g HP at over 3000 fps.

[Paladin]

Gegory
   unless the law has changed that needs to be a straight wall cartage, 1.125 or greater in length, 357 or larger

  GOOD LUCK

[Gregory]

Gegory
   unless the law has changed that needs to be a straight wall cartage, 1.125 or greater in length, 357 or larger

  GOOD LUCK

From the 2002-2003 Digest of Illinois Hunting Regulations:
"Centerfire handgun ammunition must be 30 caliber or larger, with a case length not to exceed 1.4", and available as a factory load with published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle."
Greg

[Paladin]

gregory you are right. open mouth insert foot

[HappyHunter]

Consider an Encore barrel in 25-06 rem.  I shot a buck at just over 160 yds this year.  Very fast and flat shooter used 115 gr nosler ballistic tip.  
This is a factory barrel.

[PJ]

Hey,you should go with an Encore 30-06 you could use it for deer and I know Arizona has some nice bear/elk.

[Thomas Krupinski]

Moe,

I think that the 7x30 and 30/30 would be your best bet in the Contender and for the Encore I think PJ has the right idea and go for a 30/06.  Seems like we got a whole lot more elk than deer.

Of course most anything will work for the javelina.  My son and I were drawn for HAM javelina in unit 21 coming up in February.  Did you do anything in the spring draw?

[Moe]

Remember guys...we are talking 12 INCH barrel

[KYODE]

go to this site and check out the article by a member on 10" 7-30 waters.
www.handgunhunt.com

[dammyankee]

:-) I have had plenty of barrels on my contender but when I take it deer hunting i always grab my 7-30 waters,I have the 12 inch hunter model which makes it effectively a 10 incher,It has taken numerous game for me and is as accurate as they come,With the factory 120 gr.It will do under an inch all day and with 120 Nosler ballistic tips it is unbelievable.I have shot three deer so far with it and none of them have gone more than 10 yards,The farthest one shot was 225 lazer ranged yards and hit square in the chest with the 120 Nosler BT.She dropped like a rock and never moved.

[flatlander]

Add another vote for the 7x30. It is fun to shoot and potent to 200 yards on the deer you describe.

[nomosendero]

In the Contender I like the 30-30AI in the Super 14. Some say that you
don't get a big gain in Vel. going to the AI but in the 30-30 your neck is
moved forward & you do get a decent gain. I get 2,400 FPS with 150 Gr.
Ballistic Tips. I use it on Whitetails here in Ar. & the last time in Wyoming
I took an Antelope at 187 Yards with the bullet still expanding very well.

[Moe]

Well I see this worked its way back to the 1st page. To fill my needs I found a VV 12" 6TCU in SS that is deadly and has little recoil. It has a 2x6 scope on it and shoots fine. I have only been drawn for deer once in the last three years(last year) and chose my 12 inch Encore in 6Br instead. Since then I have sold the Br barrel and will, probably, always keep the 6TCU. I do tend to rotate stock often but the 6TCU is safe...