rifle reloads for contender

[tmar04]

just wondering. I recently bought a used (1985) contender. Haven't got a barrel for it yet. Have tons of .223 ammo, loaded for mini 14, up to 3200 fps. wonder if this is OK in my contender,when I finally get the .223 barrel. none of it is max loads, but close to it. they are just slightly over what the  contender reloading manual calls for as max loads. what do you think? ( one ex. 55 gr BT using H335  25.0 gr) also, 55 gr BT with 26.0 gr Varget. thanks to all for the info. just don't want to damage the gun. Or me!!

[Old Syko]

25gr. of H 335 under a 55gr. FMJBT with a CCI450 primer is a kind of a go-to load for a lot of AR shooters.  I use it in a 16" AR for a realistic 2910fps.  I reduced this load some years ago and worked up a similar load for the contender to no avail.  I now keep AR and contender brass separate due to their incompatibility in firearms and loads.  You may have different results, but it is never good advice to exceed max loads.  My contender won't handle the same ammo my ARs do, due to chamber differences and rifling twist.

[jhalcott]

  Old Syko said it best, chamber differences CAN make a big difference. My friend and I bought 7BR pistols thinking we could share reloading expenses. HIS chamber is so much tighter than mine my brass will NOT go in his gun. I have 3 different length 7TC?U barrels. They ALL have different chamber measurements..  When reloading ,always start low and work up.

[MnMike]

While any load should be worked up, the loads you describe are not overly hot (according to the Hodgden manual -Pistol section).

What I would do is load a few rounds stepping up to those loads and see if you see a problem.

Just another note, my Contender likes 45-50 gr bullets.

Good luck,

mike