New Contender owner

[onausable]

Been away from this board for awhile. I've not had a Contender for years and just recently picked up another and have contracted the fever. I have .223, 30-30, 35 remington and 44 mag super 14 barrels. It's going to take me awhile to get thru the old posts but I'm interested in your take on the Super 16 barrels. I don't run across them very often and saw one at a gun show this weekend. Didn't give it much attention because it was in .223, a caliber I already have. I've also heard good things about the 7-30 Waters on the Contender platform and wonder if I should be considering one.

[Davemuzz]

I have the 7-30 Waters in a 14" barrel, scoped with a 2.5-8X Leupold EER handgun scope. It shoots best with a 120 grain Hornady over H-414 (I can't recall the grain weight). But it will shoot one ragged hole at 100 yards with this load...from a bench. The recoil is less than the 44 magnum. Great load, great caliber.

Dave

[EdK]

You really shouldn't find the 7-30 waters to do much the 30-30 won't - unless you are really pushing the ranges. Of course there's nothing wrong with feeding the fever!

[Davemuzz]

Edk,

Correct me if I'm wrong.....but shouldn't the 7-30 have less recoil over the 30-30....much like the .243 has less recoil over the .308? When you neck down a case to a smaller diameteer bullet I believe you "always" (I hate to use the word "always" as there are\could be exceptions) get less recoil because you are "pushing" less mass?

Dave

[EdK]

You are correct - there will be less recoil with the Waters. This is more due to a bullet of lesser weight than diameter but true just the same. The Waters will also be a little flatter shooting and have the advantage if the ranges are running on the long side (as I mentioned earlier).

[giturgun]

   Have a 30 - 30 in a 16 with a 10 x Burris on it . Shot it just yesterday . Grouped around 3/4 inch. 170 GN  don't know what powder it was.  I like the barrel and have shot several 1/2 inch 5 shot groups with it over the years. Has a nice short lead in it and likes 125 to 150 gn bullets very good.  Since a 16 can be used as a carbine I am only going to purchase that length from now on anyway.