Author Topic: What bullets for Contender .223 Carbine  (Read 593 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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What bullets for Contender .223 Carbine
« on: December 28, 2005, 10:19:35 AM »
I have a .223 Contender Carbine barrel that I have had for 20 years.  I've never taken this barrel out and shot it.  Therefore I don't know what it likes or don't like.  My wife used it a few times and liked it, but she quite shooting about 12 years ago, and I don't remember what she was shooting through it.    I'm thinking about using it this winter, to carry on the handle bars of my snow machine.  It's short enough not to hang out on each side.  I need something I can get to fast, for when I run across a wolf on the trail.  something I can use before the wolf gets into cover.  Need to know what bullets others are getting it to shoot well with.  I would prefer 60 or 70 grain bullets if they will work, since wolves are the prime target.
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Offline Grumulkin

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Contender Carbine
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2005, 12:50:01 PM »
It's unlikely your .223 Remington Contender will like 60 or 70 grain bullets since it has a 1:10 twist.  I have an Encore in .223 and it keyholes the longer heavier bullets.  Staying with 55 grain or less bullets should work fine.

On the other hand, I have a .222 Remington barrel for my Contender that handles Speer 70 grain bullets in front of a compressed charge of Winchester 760 just fine (about 1 MOA).  It would probably do better with lighter bullets.

In any case, if you use the proper bullets (Barnes comes to mind) your .223 should do fine on wolves with the lighter bullets.  Also, if you experiment with different powders, you may find one that works for you with the heavier bullets.

Offline poncaguy

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What bullets for Contender .223 Carbine
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2005, 01:06:41 PM »
Wally World Winchester white box 45 grain are super accurate, don't know if they would be heavy enough for a wolf though. Rib cage shot would put them down for sure.......

Offline Sourdough

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What bullets for Contender .223 Carbine
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2005, 04:56:34 PM »
Our wolves are about the size of a southern whitetail doe.
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Offline grodon of the north

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What bullets for Contender .223 Carbine
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2005, 08:14:27 PM »
I think most Contender 223 bbl's have a 1 in 12 twist. I'd try the 53 gn. Barnes Triple Shock or the 60 gn Nosler partition. I've been shooting the Barnes over BL-C(2) to about 3100fps. 3 shot groups around .75 moa. CCI sm rifle primers (21" bbl.)
Works well on both coyotes and Sitka Blacktails.
I also tried the Noslers but they didnt group near as well and could only push them to about 2950.
Hope ya get one of them Wolves. That'd be sweet. :-)
Hurrah fer mountain doin's- :D

Offline Gary paugh

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What bullets for Contender .223 Carbine
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2006, 04:54:35 AM »
I got hornady 60gr sp to shoot good out of my carbine 1-12" barrel.
Did well on deer should do good on wolfs.

Gary