Shot a Contender for the first time today

[TeamTurpin]

Whew.  I'm glad that's over.  I was quite nervous before that first shot.  I had no idea about the kind of recoil to prepare for.

I bought my G2 from Ed a few weeks ago with a 7-30W barrel and ordered a couple boxes of Federal factory ammo.  After bore sighting the scope (on my neighbor's chimney cap), I headed to the rifle range this afternoon.  Adjusting the Burris 1.5X4 was harder than I expected, but the recoil was no big deal.  I chased shots around the target at 50 yds and finally got it close enough to the bull to move to 100 yds.  After more scope turret clicking than I ever thought possible, I got my shots grouping at 2-3" at 100.  With the sweet smell of victory in my nostrils, I called it a day.

I'm going to reload those cases with Nosler spitzers this week and see how those do.  But, I had a ball.  I've never fired a scoped pistol before, much less at rifle distances.  What a fun pistol to shoot.  I can't decide whether to just figure out this combination or go right out and buy that .375 JDJ.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I'd better figure out this one before I get too ambitious.


John in Oklahoma

[deerman406]

Good for you!! I will say that even with factory ammo that 7-30 waters is capable of groups of less than an inch at 100 yds. I get right around  .88"s at 100 with the Federal ammo and a bit better with my Nosler 120 grain BT's. I find the two best powders for me are IMR 4064 and H322 both produce great groups. Also make sure ya find the right COAL, my barrel likes them long. Shawn

[Bullseye]

You are doing good.  My first handgun 20 years or so ago was a Contender in 35 Rem.  It took me about 100 shots before I got the hang of it and started getting decent groups.  It has been nothing but fun and an addiction since then.  Those things keep multiplying in the safe.

[TeamTurpin]

There's no doubt that I was the weak link in yesterday's accuracy.  I was amazed at how difficult it was to hold the pistol steady--even using three sandbags.  I've plinked with handguns for years, but never competitively nor with a scope to show the unsteadiness.  My buddy was with me and we were readying our guns for a hog hunt next month.  With his Remington rifle on those same sandbags, keeping shots in the bullseye was childs play.  Watching the same target through the Contender's scope was like watching a paint shaker down at Home Depot.  There is definately a technique to learn here and mucho practice is needed.

For the hunt, I've ordered a Bog Gear tripod and pistol shooters rest.  In my practice, I may get off that concrete bench/sandbag and start practicing with that new hunting rest.  My, what fun this is.

[Ladobe]

You did just fine for a first go on your own, and you started with a great cartridge for them.   Better maybe with a rimfire, and something to consider getting anyway.   Technique is very important with Contenders by default of design, most handguns are, so learning them right up front will save you a lot of wasted ammo and make you a rifle marksman with a G2.    You can save ammo as well with technique when sighting in scopes.   Any firearm so borescoped can be center bull with as little as 2 shots if you hit paper with the first, and at most needing a little fine tuning to get a group centered.   FWIW, I've owned four 375JDJ's, and they are NOT the monster some folks think they are.   If you are not overly recoil sensitive due to medical or other reasons, learn good techniques they are very serviceable, and deadly killers on as big of game as you'll ever hunt.  With technique and use they are easily manageable one handed yet accurate enough for hunting at least medium to big game.
 
Have fun, kiss you family as you won't be seeing as much of them now you have a G2 Contender - and re plan your budget, with near another 250 cartridges to shot with it you now have another regular bill to pay.   

[billjoe]

My 375JDJ is a great round, but I must say it took me a while to catch on to it to shoot it accurately. It certainly is a bigger kicker than the 7-30.  I killed my first deer with it this fall.  The trick for me was to not hold it so tight. I was trying to over power it and that just doesn't work. Once I relaxed my grip, it all came together. Labode is correct when he says the 375 is not as tough to shoot as some people think they are- as long as it is ported.  My ported barrel kicks more horizontally than vertically and is much easier to handle because of that.  But, that said, my favorite JDJ is the 6.5 which I actually bought from Labode.  It is terribly accurate and very easy to shoot.  I hunt only deer with the contender and the 6.5 really does the job. It is truly a 200yd gun if you are practised up to that  point.  I mention this only because if you need to choose just one JDJ barrel (they are expensive), the 6.5 is definitely one to consider. 
Good luck in your contender adventure.  It is just as addicting as everyone says it is.
bj

[Ladobe]

Hey bj, nice to hear you are still getting good use out of the 6.5JDJ.    Rolling with handcannons and not trying to over control them is a great start on technique.   I never really "gripped" them much until after the shot/follow through, not until they were heading for or past the noodle.   
I never got to shoot any of the big boys on the TC's that came around/later after I stopped shooting, ie the 480 Ruger, 500S&W MAG, etc, but I would have liked to - and mine would not have been braked.
 
But a 375 ported?   Just makes them smorted!  LOL   With technique they do not need to be ported, IMO none of them do, just makes them louder fire breathing dragons than they already are.  Was the same with my Encore 10" 416 Rigby unbraked, not much different than a 45/70 and so still very manageable one handed shooting 400gr pills on the heavier frame.   I never used the 225Win based JDJ's for big game hunting, they were my long to extreme range P&V barrels where 200 was short range for them.   Of them I probably liked the two 257JDJ's I had the best with the two 6.5's a close second.  But in the states where legal to use they have all killed plenty of deer, pronghorns etc from the 226 to 7mm JDJ'son that case.   Maybe even bigger with the larger cals... the 30 Merrill RPM's were elk killers on the same case.
 
 

[billjoe]

Labode- you are an animal.  I admire your ability to shoot those short barrel large calibers.  I wear ear protection every time I shoot so the extra noise really doesn't matter to me.  I know the recoil would.  I would not say I'm recoil sensitive but the harder they kick the tougher it is for me to hit the mark.  Maybe it's all technique.  I guess I never quite figured it out then.  A loaner barrel would sure be nice for the guy try them out for the first time.  I really love that 6.5.  I got a nice buy that day! Thanks!
 
bj

[trex1310]

Congratulations. There is nothing like a T=C. My favorite barrel
is a 10" 7mm TCU loaded with a Sierra 140gr flat base bullet over
a nice helping of BLC2. It will ring the 200 yd. gong all day long
and with iron sights too.! It will also kill a deer graveyard dead.
Happy shooting.