Looking for opinions on 309 JDJ in rifle bbl lengths

[Slowpoke Slim]

Title says it,

Looking for a rifle bbl for my Contender that my daughter (she's 12) can shoot for elk sized game. Recoil is a factor, so no really big boomers need apply here (that means the 375 JDJ, etc, is not in the mix and I think 30 cal is about the limit here). I've seen a 23" 309 JDJ for sale with a brake on it. Normally I'm against brakes, but for my daughter it may be the ticket. I'm not familiar with the 309, but I assume it's about like 308 win ballistics? Out of a 23" rifle bbl, what kind of velocity can I expect with a 165 to 180 gr bullet?

I know brakes are loud (which is why I don't like them), and I have no intention of letting her shoot it or hunt without good hearing protection.

I do reload and don't mind forming/fire forming brass for her, she's not going to shoot it high volume anyway. She already has a good deer barrel, but it's way too light for elk sized game.

I plan on standing/sitting next to her with my 338 win mag or 375 h&h anyway, so I can help/drop one if needed. She's shooting my Contender because she's left eye dominant and I have a safe full of right handed guns.

Thanks.

[Graycg]

I have a 22 inch stainless bull barrel that was a 30-30 but has been rechambered for 308 b e l l e m which is basically the same as 309 JDJ without the special dies- you use 444 marlin brass and 308 winchester dies.  Given the bull barrel. scope and mount and the use of 165 grain bullets, the recoil isn't bad at all, as a matter of fact, it kicks a lot less than a 30-30 94 carbine...stock design has lots to do with it.  I think you should go for it.

regards,
 Graycg

[Steve E]

I had a factory 30-30 rifle barrel rechambered to 309 JDJ and it was shooting pretty close to 308 Win velocity if I remember correctly. I had a Muzzle Tamer installed and it did 'seem' to cut down on muzzle rise but boy did it increase the noise, I needed muffs and ear plugs to shoot it from the bench.

                                                    Steve E..........

[LaOtto222]

As always bullet selection and placement are paramount. It does not matter what you are shooting. A 375 H&H will not kill (or take a long time to kill) if it is not put into the right place with the right type of bullet. I think the 308/444 or 309 JDJ is enough gun to do the job. With that said, you do not have to load a 309 JDJ up to full strength. Since you reload - Start her out with lighter loads and work your way up. You need to do this any way to develop an accurate, safe load. She can get used to the recoil as you work your way up. You may find that she and the gun does best when 200 fps under max velocity. That should still be enough if you use the right bullet and she puts it in the bread basket.

As far as barrel length - The longer the barrel, the more velocity you will get - but more importantly you get more weight. That translates into less recoil. As far as performance is concerned 20" up will do the job, but a 24" will feel a little better than a 20" - That is just my opinion.

JFYI - I recently read a story about a guy hunting moose with a 7mm Magnum. He thought he was under gunned. While out hunting he ran across an old spent 30-30 case. He picked it up and asked one of the guides what someone would be doing with a 30-30 out where they were at. The guide told him that probably half of the moose shot by the natives were shot with the 30-30. He said he did not feel under gunned any longer. Moral of the story - It is a matter of picking your shot and putting the right bullet where it counts.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Gray,

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like yours is a close enough duplicate to compare with. What kind of velocities are you getting with your 165 gr loads?

I was hoping to hear from some more folks that actually have the 309jdj. I realize it's much more likely to have Contender bbls in handgun lengths instead of rifle lengths, but I was hoping there were a few guys out there shooting them.

Steve,

I take it you no longer have the 309 bbl? What length bbl were you using? Also, the impression I have is that you just run the marlin brass through the jdj sizing die, is that correct? Or is there an intermediate sizing die?

Thanks

Laotto,

I have a 375 h & h, and a 338 win mag. I would unleash neither of these on my daughter. I've killed elk and seen elk killed with everything from 270's up to my 375 h & h. They all work. There's no comparison to an elk killed with a 270 and an elk killed with a 375. Seen it. Done it. Killed my first centerfire rifle elk with a 30-06. I normally use my 338 win mag. Pure elk poison, turns them off like a switch. I've never shot an elk in the butt, so I have no idea how long it would take one to die that way. Thanks for the hunting tips.