Huntin with 14" 30-30 contender pistol

[gunsablazin]

I was out shootin my 30-30 with 150 gr flat nose bullets. At 100 yrds im shottin in 1.5" groups.
What do you guys think the max range for whitetail with a 14" 30-30 contender?

[hunterspistol]

   I'll venture a guess at about 150 yards, not accounting for the new Leverevolution ammo that just came out.

[blhof]

I've been shooting 155gr cast at a gong with consistent hits at 200yds. using the 14" barrel, but I've never taken a shot past 75yds and all were dropped on the spot.

[gunsablazin]

thanks help , looking forward to get a nice 8 piont with it this year.

[Catfish]

According to my Sierra manual max. point blank range, plus or minus 2 in. is 150 meters. So I would guess that your limiting factor will be at the range you can place the shot well.

[Graybeard]

Max range is an elusive critter and it varies by person and by the circumstances of each shot.

For the cartridge/firearm the limit has much to do with the bullet you are firing and the velocity it leaves the barrel. Small diameter bullets such as the .308" 150 grain bullet here need expansion to do the job correctly thus the range at which it drops below that needed to expand is a theoritical max range. It can never be longer than that.

But there are other factors at work here. How far away can you always place your bullets in the kill zone? That becomes your practical max range and that is gonna vary shot to shot as many factors influence it. You should practice shooting from many different field expedient rests to help you know that range.

But bottom line when it's time to pull the trigger is are you steady enough so that the bobbing and weaving crosshairs bob and weave only within the kill zone? Do you know the distance thus the proper hold? If so and you are comfortable with the shot then it's within your max range. If not then it isn't.

For me the .30-30 from a handgun is about a 175 yard round and I'd never wanna push it over 200 even if I felt I could make the shot cuz by then it's running out of that velocity needed to perform once the bullet arrives. Still that technical max is likely close to 250 but I like a margin of error to be on my side when taking such shots.

How's that for a nice simple short answer? 

[southarkrob]

the last time I hunted with a contender pistol I had a 14" 30/30 AI with a 2x6 bushnell scope on it and was sitting in one of my boxstands overlooking a long foodplot and had a coyote cross my foodplot at a trot and I doe bleated it back..it stepped out into my plot and I lined up crosshairs and let one fly.... I aimed for his front shoulder and he took off pushing his front end. I was thinking as I walked down there..."darn that was a long shot" right at 180 yards....and I don't remember holding over.... the coyote ran 10 yards and I had hit him thru both shoulders... I was shooting 150 grain Hornady SST's.. with that bullet I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer at 200 yds ...

[DesertRam]

I've recently started playing with a .30-30 AI (13" MGM barrel). Using factory loaded 150 grain flat points, I had real good accuracy out to 150 yards, which was as far as I shot it on paper. I shot one antelope with it at 130 or so yards with excellent results. This year I started handloading for it using 125 grain Ballistic Tips. They have shown real nice accuracy to 150 also. In October I shot two antelope with them - one at about 80 yards and one at 154 yards. Both were pass-through shots with great wound channels. My personal comfort zone is about 150 yards, though I think with practice and good shot selection I can stretch that to 200.

[jhalcott]

gunsablazin, I find the old story of keeping all the shots in an 8" paper plate as about right. What ever range you start missing is too far. Remember though, the excitement of actually hunting will increase the "wobble" area. I generally practice at distances much farther than I will really shoot a deer. I ALWAYS use some kind of rest when hunting.

[Steve P]

I use Nosler 150 BTs in my 30-30 10" with 2x Leupold scope.  It tosses IHMSA 1/2 scale chickens sitting at 200 meters about 2 feet.  It knocks the 50 lb rams over with authority.  I have taken it hunting many times with anticipation of getting a nice mulie out to 200 yards, but no such luck yet.  It has taken rock chucks and squirrels out to 200 but doesn't leave a lot to examine.

I use Nosler 150 BTs in my 7x30 waters 14" with 2x leupold scope.  It shoots better than the 10" 30-30 referenced above.  Last time hunting with it was about 5 years ago and I took a nice black tail doe at 275 paced off yards.  (I am a soccer referree and have my pace down to a science.)  One  shot thru the shoulders.  Dime size hole going in, 50 cent piece size hole coming out, dropped like a rock. 

I shoot about 5000 rounds thru my long range handguns each year.  Once or twice a year matches out to 500 meters or 600 yards are shot.

I have mentioned what I have considered my limitations above.  I had to do a stalk on that doe and got to within the closest range possible on a wide open ridge.  No more cover for me to hide to get any closer.  Both of my guns shoot minute of angle and both have knocked down hundreds of steel silhouette targets. 

I use Nosler bullets, but that is my preference.  Any bullet, designed by any US manufacturer, and designated as a 30-30 bullet, will expand at Contender near max velocities out to 200 yards.   If you shoot mid-range or moderate Contender book-loads, you limit yourself to about 150 yards.

If you shoot 3-4 times a year out to 100 yards THAT is your limit.  You need to shoot your contender at 150, 200, and any other distance you feel applicable.   You need to be able to hit that 8" paper plate at any of those distances.  Take out paper plates and place them at several different distances.  Put 10 shots in a row into that closest plate and start working your way out.  When you can no longer keep 10 shots in the plate, you are close to your max distance.

Keep 'em in the 10 ring right behind the front shoulder!

Steve

[SD Handgunner]

I just yesterday mounted a scope and sighted in a Super 14 .30-30 Winchester T/C Contender for a buddy of mine. The scope was an old Tasco Pro Class 1.25x4x. The ammo he had brought was Remington .30-30 Winchester Factory Soft Point Core Lokt Ammo. While I didn't chronograph this particular lot of ammo through this particular barrel, I have chronographed Remington .30-30 Winchester Factory Soft Point Core Lokt Ammo through a different Super 14 .30-30 Winchester Contender Barrel I had years ago.

In that barrel that lot number of ammo produced 2171 FPS average velocity. Given 2171 FPS and a Ballistic Coefficient of .193 I made a Ballistic Chart for my buddy. At 100 yards this bullet will be traveling 1761 FPS and have 1033 FtLbs of Energy. At 150 yards the velocity and energy numbers are down to 1582 FPS & 834 FtLbs, and at 200 yards the velocity and energy numbers are 1420 FPS & 672 FtLbs.

Given a 100 yard zero (where my buddy wanted me to zero it for him) this ammo will be -3.16" at 150 yards and -9.81" at 200 yards.

I did indeed zero this Contender to be dead on at 100 yards. The last group I shot of the day had 2 shots touching and the 3rd opening the group up to 1 1/2". However I was struggling with this scope as the crosshairs covered up most of my aiming point at 100 yards, so under different circumstances or with a different target I am convinced I could shrink the groups a little.

Given the shooting and the Ballistics this ammo is producing I would feel real comfortable at 100 yards with this Gun / Ammo Combination, and under ideal conditions maybe 150 yards.

I have far more experience with 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips handloaded for Super 14 .30-30 Winchester Contenders. Generally the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with a good load will produce 1" or slightly less 5 shot groups at 100 yards from the bench. The load I use exclusively with this bullet for Super 14 .30-30 Winchester T/C Contender typically pushes the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip out of the muzzle at 2375 - 2425 FPS from the various Contenders I have tested it in. I would feel much more comfortable out at 200 yards with this handload, but that's personal preference.

Good luck on your hunt.

Larry