Author Topic: small game hunting with contender carbine (Read 2119 times)

pastorp · « **on:** November 15, 2008, 07:43:02 AM »

Anyone hunt small game or pests with a contender carbine? What caliber do you use? Regards, Byron

blacknwhite · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2008, 09:48:30 AM »

I don't have a contender but I do hunt small game with an Encore. The best combination I have put together yet is a side folding stock and a 16 1/4 inch .223 barrel. You can fold that thing up to super small. I am currently working on some loads, with slightly reduced powder charges and FMJ bullets. I am going to try the FMJ's because they will not expand at all and will simply punch a .22 cal hole in the squirrel, rabbit etc. The ballistic tips I have so far do a bit of a number on smaller stuff unless you make a head shot (which I always try to do). I know many folks preffer smaller guns for small game but with the right load I would much rather carry the .223.

Ahab · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2008, 11:20:38 AM »

I too use an Encore in .204 Ruger. Sweet combo.

sk330lc · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2008, 12:02:09 PM »

I hunt with a 18" 221 Rem Fireball , On a G-2 frame. I love the little 221.

Preacherman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2008, 01:08:36 PM »

Me and my son both have 17 HRM bull barrel Contenders,his 16 in. mine 23in.
both exteremly deadly on squirrels.Longest shot for me so far 50yds.
Preacherman

Grumulkin · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2008, 01:43:56 PM »

I've hunted small game with my Contender in 222 Remington. That would be groundhogs, rabbits and a deer.

Possumcop · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2008, 02:56:31 PM »

I shoot squirrels, armadillos, groundhogs, crows etc. with my G2 Contender 17 HMR carbine. It started out as a 23” barrel, I cut it to 18” and re-crowned. It will shoot dime size groups all day long from the bench with Hornady 17gr Varmint Express. The price of ammo is kinda on the high side for plinking.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2008, 12:27:51 AM »

I use 16.5" 22lr with a 3X x 9 rifle scope....sometimes I have the carbine stock on it...sometimes the pistol grip. LOVE it both ways! Mine loves REM SubSonics. I've taken four squirrels out of the same tree at one time. When spring gobbler season comes around, I switch to a 16.5" .22WMR rigged up the same way. GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

Grumulkin · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2008, 02:32:12 AM »

Quote from: Hopalong7 on November 17, 2008, 12:27:51 AM

I've taken four squirrels out of the same tree at one time.

I always have trouble getting all my squirrels to line up for my one shot kill.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2008, 05:22:12 AM »

It's all in how you whistle at them. Walt

skb2706 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2008, 07:48:19 AM »

All the time. I have carbines set up in .204 Ruger, 6mm 30-30 AI and .221 that we use to shoot prairie dogs several times a year.
Also hunt coyotes, foxes and badgersw with them. Never had a problem. We use both original frames and G2s.

jason280 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2008, 12:39:07 AM »

I use a 21" .22LR barrel with a Williams rear peep sight (no optics). I have quite a few rifles that use rear peep sights, and the .22 T/C is good practice for me.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2008, 01:23:30 AM »

I have and use these for smaller game:
1- 16 1/2" Bullberry in 22 LR Match with 3x9 Burris Quad scope.
2- 20" Bullberry in 222 with Burris 4x12 compact target scope.
3- 22" T/C Custom in 22k Hornet with 4x12 compact target scope.
4- 23" T/C bull barrel in 223 with Nikon 2x7 scope.
All these shoot extremely well. They are used on my old contender frames as well as my newer G2 frames. I have a walnut youth stock for the older Contender frame so when one of the grand kids want to go along they have a gun thats fits them.
I'm always in the market for more barrels. Looking for a 17HMR Bull barrel right now.

Slowpoke Slim · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2008, 05:20:09 AM »

My daughter uses a factory bull bbl 22lr for rabbits and squirrels. Sure wish it was a lighter barrel. Shoots great, but she has trouble with the muzzle heavy weight balance.

pastorp · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:57:13 AM »

Hay Slim, I've got a 21" tappered barrel in 22lr I might trade you for the bull barrel. PM me if you are interested and we'll get that little girl fixed right up. Regards, Byron

Blackhawker · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:59:30 AM »

I use .223, 30-30, and 30 Carbine on prairie dogs. I also have two 14-inch barrels in 223 and 30-30 that work very well.

pastorp · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2008, 01:03:11 PM »

Preacherman, How does that 17HRM kill for you. I've read they are really accurate. But does those little bullets blow up? Regards, Byron

sk330lc · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2008, 01:32:00 PM »

Pastorp,
I'm Not Preacherman But I hunt with a 23" 17 Hmr and It kills well out to 120Yards. (Farthest shot)
On ground Hogs, the Speer TNT's Do Nice they leave a Quarter Sized exit Hole on the 3 I've shot using them . The Hornady V-max Don't exit on Ground hogs At-least the 7 I've shot with them haven't. There Like Jello when you Pick them up.. The Speer 20Gr FMJ works great on Squirrels. Just pick your shots well and always have a Good back stop. They kinda just poke a .17 size hole in them. Farthest shot on Squirrel is about 30 Yards. Fun little cartrage Just expensive to shoot!! Hope this helps

Bullseye · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2008, 03:33:48 PM »

I use a 22lr for squirrels and a 223 for bigger small game. I would really like to have a 22 Hornet carbine barrel. Thought about ordering a triangular Hornet barrel that the TCA is offering this quarter, but it is a little pricey for someone that just built a new house.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #19 on:** December 07, 2008, 12:34:37 PM »

I use my .17 HRM and .22 Hornet barrels on woodchuks. The .17 is deadly on them, I don't believe I have have ever wounded one as long as I did my part. Bang, flop, don't move again! The .22 Hornet works just as well with the 40 gr. V-max bullets, except it adds some distance. I might try my .30-30 barrel with some cast bullets this winter. I wouldn't use the .17 on anything small that I wanted to eat unless I had a good head shot. It has a way of turning the animal to jello inside. The .22 Hornet I can hand load.

White Foxx · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2008, 05:42:19 AM »

Have a 22LR, and a 17 HMR, had a Hornet, sold it

Darn fool that I am...
The 22 shoots just fine, almost as well as my 541 and the 17 shoots even better. It would not keep up with my Anschutz 1517 MPR, but then a half dozen other Contenders and a Cooper could not either. So, no complaints from me! I find that regardless of caliber that it shoots better than it has a right to, and as always I am looking a getting another barrel, probably a 17 Fireball, in 25 or 26 inch bull. I am not quite ready to shell out all the cash that is needed, for dies and so on.... but I am working on it.

Would not have any other varmint gun!

White Foxx

Ladobe · « **Reply #21 on:** December 10, 2008, 02:30:31 PM »

Have done varmints and predators for many years with my Contender carbines (and pistols) as my primary type of hunting, and most of it at long range. I do have a lot of custom wildcat barrels just for the LR varmints and preds, but also use several factory barrels. Favorites are the 17HM2, 17HMR, 17 Ackley hornet, 17 Ackley Bee, 17M4, 17 Rem and 221 Fireball, but I also use a bunch of 25, 6mm and 6.5mm wildcat cartridges when the winds pick up or the ranges get extra long and have but no longer use several .224 caliber standard and wildcat barrels as well.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2008, 02:09:04 AM »

I have a 16.5" 22LR match chamber that I use for grouse and gophers and I just purchased a new to me 21" factory 223 barrel with 40gr V-Max and H322 powder it is giving me 3385 fps average velocity and gives me 1 1/2" X 1/2" 200 yard 6 shot groups that I am going to use for coyotes.

I'm heading off for the holidays into Alberta, Canada next week and there are tons of coyotes to go after there, I can hardly wait to give the 223 a work out...