What barrel should I buy?

[Dan Walker]

Howdy,
I'm just getting back into contenders. I just ordered a G2 pistol frame and am wondering what caliber to start with? I'm thinking about a 14" 30-30. I could plink and small game hunt with cast bullets and reduced loads.(I have a mould). I could crank up the horsepower for deer and antelope. I already have reloading dies and brass for this caliber.
I'm also interested in 7-30 waters for the same reasons as above. I would need to buy dies for it though.
The 7mmtcu intrigues me as well.
Then there's the ever popular 357 max. I had this one when I had my last contender.
Decisions,decisions,decisions.
Help me out guys.

[poncaguy]

I have 15" 223, 357 Max, and 45-70 barrels . 223 my favorite, but 357 Max is a close 2nd. I would say the 30-30  would be best for what you want to do.........but that 45-70 makes me smile....

[BCB]

I have both the 30-30 and the 7-30.  I have shot both of them extensively with jacketed and cast bullets.  Both have their good points.  But if I had to choose, it would be the Waters.  I believe mine has the edge on accuracy.  The velocities for given bullet weights are a bit better in the Waters.  The 30-30 has a better selection of heavier bullets but I don’t think it matters all that much with the short barrels and all the powder room the 30-30 has.  I’m not getting rid of my 30-30 barrel any time soon, but I will take the Waters any day of the week.  Ken Waters sure developed a winner with this wildcat—now a factory round.  Good-luck…BCB

[flyfisher]

Going with BCB on this one...a 7-30 Waters would be quite a versatile and worthwhile caliber to obtain.  Close, I suppose, to the 30-30, but if you want to shoot smaller game, the 7-30 being slightly smaller would probably be better.

The best answer I can give:  get a barrel for each type of hunting you do, and then buy a backup for each barrel, followed by a backup for those barrels.  Then you'll be sure to have just the right one!

[flatlander]

If you've got dies and a mold for the 30-30, that would be the economical way to go to start. You can always pick up a smaller caliber later if you need it. I'm a big 7-30 fan, but for a reloader who already has the equipment for a 30-30, I can't say it would be worth the extra to go to the 7-30 immediately.

[xphunter]

Ditto on what flatlander said, even though I prefer the 7x30 Waters over the 30-30 if I was starting from scratch.

[Dan Walker]

Where should I look for the best deals on these barrels? I've been cruising ebay and gunbroker.com. I intend to give ed from ed's TC a call on monday.
Any other sites I should be checking?
Thanks guys.

[Steve P]

Keep checking the contender ads here on Graybeards.  Also EBay, Auction Arms, Gun Broker, and the IHMSA website lists barrels.  I have all the barrels you listed.  My 7-30 is magnaported 14" with scope.  Have taken deer with it.  My 30-30 is 10" Octagon with highrise rings and Leupold 2x scope.  Very quick to pull out and very accurate.  Used as back-up here in WA during rainy late seasons.  Scope if dry and long range, open sights if scope wet or foggy.   Never hit a deer, but shoots great out to 200 on the sillywet animals.   Have only shot my 10" max for silhouette.  Would be good deer gun out to about 150.  My load pushes a 210 cast about 1350.  Sometimes the rams go a little slow.  This could be my cast bullets, or just not pushing it fast enough.  I have 7TCU in 10" 14" and 15" XP-100.  Would not be afraid to use any of them on deer out to 200 yards, but they hit where you aim.  

Now that my novel has started your eye lids to droop, my vote would be the 30-30 14" with a scope.  You can push that Nosler 125 Ballistic tip pretty fast.  The Sierra 110 HPs are great for chucks and other varmints.  You can use the 165 BT for bigger Mulies, Hogs, etc.  Little more versatile than the others, you already have the dies, and don't have to fire-form brass.

Just another nickels worth to add to your bank of knowledge.

Steve  

[btracker1]

At least one of each :shock:  :-D