Author Topic: New to Contenders (Read 1914 times)

Bearcat 74 · « **on:** September 05, 2009, 09:47:57 AM »

Just got a SS Super 14 30/30 with the muzzle break and a 2x22 Tasco, Leupold double turn in bases. I have shot a .223 about 5 times in a TC once apon a time. I am shooting Federal blue box 150's, that is all the guy had, and they seem to do ok, minute of water bottle at 60yds. I can reload, but what are some good factory loads for these? It will be a deer and very very rare hog gun. I am not concerned about bullet drop, I usually can't see over 60yds where I hunt, so anything works. I figure a pair of shooting sticks is a good idea, any good way to shoot off hand if need be?

Anything else I need to know?

I really like shooting this thing, there is zero recoil, none. I am used to my .44 S&W Mountain Gun, this 30/30 is down right pleasant next to it.

Thanks!

Noreaster · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2009, 10:21:22 AM »

Sounds like a nice setup. I am also new to Contenders and I wondered how the 30/30 would be for recoil. The hornady leverevolution round would seem like a decent Contender round, maybe hold onto some velocity down range with the flex tip. I don't know how it would compare to the 150 grain federal you shot. Got any pics?

mb4859 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2009, 10:51:27 AM »

I just got mine this week also. I bought the 45/410 barrel. Now I have about decided I need a 30/30 and a 22lr. Everybody seems to like the 30/30. It sounds like a good first high power deer/hog barrel to get and the ammo is cheap.

Bearcat 74 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2009, 02:03:01 PM »

I would like to have a 22lr barrel as well. I am a .35 fan, so a .35 Rem would be groovey as well. Cheap 30/30 ammo is a plus though.

Here's a picture:

Bearcat 74 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2009, 04:40:38 AM »

Fired a few more this morning. I am still getting used to the contender, front forearm rested on a bag, no rear grip support, right elbow on a sand bag, 3 shot group at 60yds is the size of a quarter, 5 shots is a little bigger than a quarter. I think if I could get a bag under the grip it would improve even more, the way my bench is though it would be tough.

I can see why these are so addictive.

Dezynco · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2009, 04:03:35 AM »

I've got a Super 14 Contender also, it's scarey accurate with almost any ammunition that you cram in it. I mostly handload my own ammo, but factory ammo works OK too. I'm not a fan of muzzle breaks, but they do help to keep the recoil down. My barrel does not have the muzzle break, as I said, I just don't like 'em.

With 150 grain bullets (any brand) loaded with BLC-2, I can put 3 shots that you can cover with a dime at 100 yards! Of course that's with a good rest....

Shooting sticks are not a bad idea, and as far as offhand shooting, you'll just need to practice, practice! That's why so many of us who shoot Contenders do a lot of our own handloads - to keep the cost down. You might consider one of those Lee Loader kits that you whack with a mallet or block of wood. That will get you started reloading your own ammo for $50.00 or so, including the powder, bullets, primers, and the loading kit.

highwayman · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2009, 11:26:47 AM »

mine is like dezynco, it likes just about anything!! try some federal 125 hps, rem 150's, win 150's hps, even the le ammo but it does have some muzzle flash to it. if you hand load 125bt. shoot great out of mine. this is what i will hunt with this year.

hunterspistol · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2009, 05:05:35 PM »

Offhand? Not having a photo to work from, try turning your scope power down until eye relief is WAY on out there! You see, the higher the power, the closer the sight picture via magnification. If your ocular (rear lens) is set for your eyes then, you should be able to drop power and gain distance on the scope. Of course, sometimes it's limited.

chiefs50 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2009, 09:46:02 AM »

I am sure you will enjoy your .30-30. I have a Super 14 in that caliber and use it for Michigan Whitetails. Mine does not have a muzzle brake or tamer and the recoil is still very manageable. Remington 150 grain Core Locts work fine for "off-the-shelf" ammo. I handload 125 or 150 grain ballistic tips and have been well satisfied with performance so far.

Mike

critter44 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2009, 10:41:07 AM »

Another super 14" Contender user here. I reload for the 30-30 using 125 gr Nosler BT's and IMR 4198. Accuracy is under 3/4" at 100 yards (3 shots, sandbags) and I have used the load to collect 8-10 whitetails from close to farther than I should have shot. Most are 'bam-flops'.

The deer I hunt are not big bruisers, though, and run from 110-165 lbs. If I were hunting heavier animals, I'd use at least 150 grainers.

I have not used them, but I have a sneaky feeling that the new factory leverlution ammo would be the 'bees knees' in the Contender.

Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

mb4859 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 09, 2009, 03:18:43 PM »

You guys are driving crazy. Every time I think I have my mind made up about which caliber to buy for my deer/hog gun I read a post like this and change my mind. I guess I'll have to do like the rest of you contender heads and just buy one of each caliber.

Dezynco · « **Reply #11 on:** September 10, 2009, 09:53:28 AM »

What's really great about the 30-30 in a Contender is that you have the extremely wide range of bullet choices that are just not available in factory loads. With the exception of the Leverlution ammo, ammo for the 30-30 is only available in flat points (for lever action rifle like the Winchester and Marlin). The 30-30 doesn't really shine until you start handloading for it with "spire points". In my "Load Data USA" manual for the Contender, the loading tables for the 30-30 have the most pages.

It's like a completely different cartridge. One of my favorite loads for the 30-30 for "farting" around is a 180 grain cast lead bullet with 5-6 grains of Red Dot (shotgun powder). Super accurate and it just barely goes "pop"!

kynardsj · « **Reply #12 on:** September 10, 2009, 10:29:01 AM »

When I had mine there was only one bullet for me. 125 grain Nosler ballistic tip. I sat these over a pile of IMR3031 and they were a deer's and a coyote's nightmare. If I had hog hunted with it I would have worked up a load with a 150 grain different style bullet but the NBT with it's boattail gave this caliber a whole new meaning to downrange performance. IMHO the 125 gr NBT does it's best work at 30-30 speeds. I've tried it in a .308 and the tissue destruction on a deer was just too much. I did shoot the 150 gr NBT in a 30-06 with great results. Good luck with your choice and congrats on the Contender. They are addictive.

David D. · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2009, 01:50:32 PM »

The 30-30Win. is certainly a good choice. Ammo cheap, compared to most, and easy to find. Most pistol length barrels are accurate. If you roll your own you may consider the 30-30IMP. Easy to form brass for, gets a little more M.V., and recoil with 125gr Nosler B-Tips is mild. And in a pinch most will still shoot 30-30Win. very accurate.

blhof · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2009, 02:52:47 PM »

I also have the 30-30 in 14" with a brake and love. It's been my venison getter the last few years with factory 150 Federal ammo from Wally world. All have been bang flops from 50yds to 175yds checked with a rangefinder before the shots. I get great groups with 150 cast GC bullets also. I've got some 110gr V-max loaded with Varget, that I've just started practicing with; to try on prairie dogs in South Dakota this winter.

Bearcat 74 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 13, 2009, 12:30:54 PM »

I have been shooting the Contender quite a bit. The Federal Blue Box 150's and the Win 170 PP shoot in the exact same spot. None were to be found around here so I went with 3 boxes of Win 150 PP, they shoot good but I had to readjust, no biggie. One 3 shot group was nickle sized at 60yds, two more were in the 1"-1.5" range. I am sure that this is a matter of my grip being inconsistent or the rest. I do not have a set of 30/30 dies yet, powders I have are imr4895, h4895, RL7, and H414. I was thinking of trying some H4895 with some 150's, not sure of what bullet though.

blhof, what kind of groups are you getting with the Federal 150's?

I shot today rested off the side of a tree, 2 for 2 on a pair of small jugs that had wondered out into the range and were feeding on clover. They appeared to be filled with water..............

wolf · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2009, 06:28:27 PM »

worth the wait. I was 17 when I fell in live with the contender now I'm 48. finally bought a .35 remington contender with the puma on the rock and some walther p99's for me and my wife in march of 2009 I never held one,fired one but knew I had to have one. the wife would have lined up on me with her p99 if she knew I bought the contender too. its now october and just can't take it anymore I've got to fire that thing. but first lets clean it. everything always comes apart so easy and surprize the hammer spring reared its ugly head as it shot across the floor with the cats chasing. everthing went back together fine except for that hammer spring. the hammer spring gods are not kind. well after 2 hours and almost biting the frame in half I found this website and it explained how to get the spring back in and also the grinding noise from the plunger and spring the reason for taking it a part in the first place who knew? you guys did! a very sincere thank you. time to head over to mom and pops for dinner. pops got a 100 yard rifle and a 25 yard pistol range on his property.the contender was hidden amongst the p99's and the 7mm rem.700 bdl. the wife, mom and pop did not want to shoot so that left me and the dirty,nasty little secret to ourselves. I sat down at the bench looked at the 25 yard range, looked at the contender and it bespoke to me. 100 yards boy. with that I slid a .35 into the chamber, locked it, cocked it, sited it, pulled the trigger, hammer fell foward and nothing. I forgot to take the safety off. I then broke it open, relocked it,cocked it,safety off, sited, squeeezed the trigger. it was nirvana, ring of fire, shock wave,recoil pushing my hands back I was dancing with the beast. I then ran down to check my p.o.i. I was using a terrorist target the osamma bin loggin, bullet landed low, hit upper chest I was going for the head shot, not bad for a gun I've never fired, sited in, dusk light conditions and eyes that a far from what they once were. I took three more shots two off paper and one closer to the coconut the lighting conditions go away quick at dusk here in Maine. sorry for the length of this post its not often that you get to feel like a kid at Christmas time again. thanks again. great website.

MePlat · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2009, 06:33:24 AM »

Here I go opening my big mouth but, if you can shoot iron sights off hand you can shoot this Contender offhand as well. If you can't shoot a scope offhand then you can't shoot iron sights offhand either so a ton of practice is in order.
This is from actual experience and a lot of observation at the range. If you can shoot you can shoot if you can't you can't. Irons or scope doesn't matter.

wolf · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2009, 05:33:33 AM »

hey meplat who were you referring to about the scope and iron sights and not being able to shoot?

MePlat · « **Reply #19 on:** October 24, 2009, 08:31:07 AM »

WOLF: Did you read the first post?

wolf · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2009, 03:39:57 AM »

Thanks MePlat: True some people might not know how to handle a gun and some should never be given a gun but from the looks of this website and all the experience you guys have I think that most of the people interested in a single shot pistol such as the Contender have gone to the next level of shooting and would push themselves and see how good they could become with your's and other members experience / advice on this website.