TCC 300 Savage

[pab]

Anybody out there have any experience with a 300 Savage in a Contender?

[Graybeard]

I had a 10" barrel rechambered to it once by SSK Industries. I sure regretted it later. Using book loads to keep pressures within safe limits for the Contender it gave no more velocity than did my .300 Whisper barrel. It truly roared like a cannon when it went off and the concussion could be felt even by folks on the next bench. You could feel the heat of the ball of flame coming out the end of that barrel on your face.

I always thought of doing it again in a longer barrel but never did. If you make one up I'd suggest not less than a 14" barrel if you want a handgun. But since this is the TC Rifle forum I assume that is what you're looking for. I'd say as long as you get a barrel 20" or more long you'll like it. But be aware the Contender really isn't the platform to be pushing the limits of this round. If you can't live with factory level performance get a .309 JDJ instead.

[Lone Star]

I have a 15" Bullberry in .300 Savage and it has been my favorite deer barrel.  I shot dozens of Kodiak Island blacktails with it along with my hunting partner (who had a similar barrel for his Contender).  We both used 150 BallisticTips - but with different powders - at 2350-2400 fps.  Remington 150-grain factory ammo gave 2352 fps, so the only real advantage to handloading was being able to choose a better bullet.  We killed deer from 15 feet to over 250 yards, usually with a single shot.  It is a truly wonderful chambering for the Contender in a longer barrel.   I can believe GB's comments on a 10" version....many years ago I read of someone else who had one of those, and it too as a noisy monster with marginal performance.

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[pab]

I was looking for an elk cartridge on a TCC platform for my 11 year old granddaughter and '' Cartridges of the world'' says it is a good elk cartridge so factory ballistics would be fine.  I was trying to stay away from the excessive recoil of some of the larger calibers and this is about all that would work on a TCC though 30/40 Krag might. Any ideas?

[northern hunter]

I would get a carbine barrel in 730 waters and use Barnes X or Nosler partitions,low recoil and great performance.It will handle deer out to 250 yards dunit and I have shot 2 moose with it,young bulls about the size of full grown bull elk,both were under 100 yards.Two Nosler partitions on one and 1 Barnes X for the other,barrel was a 21stainless carbine.Both of my daughters shot the rifle very well.
Shoot once and carry a sharp knife.

[pab]

Actually, I thought about the 7x30 but have a problem with using a 30-30 on elk much less anything smaller. I have just come up with a 300 Savage Bellm barrel and testing will begin after turkey season.

[skb2706]

Why not a 30-30 AI ? great option in a Contender...IMHO

Personally I wouldn't recommend a 7-30 Waters for elk even tho that is exactly what I use with Barnes triple shocks. All the internet "experts" whine and cry but of course they weren't born and raised in elk country. I'm not taking long shots and I have plenty of time to pick and choose what to shoot. Back before Al Gore invented the internet we shot tons of elk with our 30-30s and 32 WSs...now they're bulletproof.

[pab]

I thought about the 30-30AI but the ballistics are very similar to the 300 Savage and the advantage of factory ammo as I haven't made up my mind whether or not to reload for this caliber or not, then I came up with the 300 Savage barrel.

[skb2706]

You really limit your options with factory ammo no matter what you want, particularly if you are elk hunting with a Contender and wanting reduced recoil.

[pab]

I realize that and testing will determine whether or not I will reload. Reduced recoil isn't as much as a problem as finding a proper platform for her to shoot, including size and weight of the rifle as relating to power. If she can kill turkeys with a light youth 20 gauge with 3'' 1&1/4 oz loads she should be able to handle the recoil. Since I already have the youth stock for the contender, I thought this might be the way to go. This also gives me a chance to play with a 300 Savage which I have never owned but always wanted to. Also gives me a way for her to practice with the same rifle with cheaper ammo.