Author Topic: Contender in 30-30 (Read 1611 times)

m67176 · « **on:** June 30, 2008, 10:25:52 AM »

Got a friend that inherited a Contender w/ 14 in barrel in 30-30 in excellent condition. He wants to sell it to me for 350. Need opinions on this caliber in a handgun for Deer.

Kurt L · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2008, 12:28:52 PM »

I dont have it in a pistol but I have a 26" Encore that shoots great.and you will Find
a lot here that shoot the pistol barrel with great results with 125,130.150 bullets.

highwayman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2008, 12:59:47 PM »

i have the same set up and i love mine. so far i found handloads in 125gr.,150gr remmys or 160gr.leverevolution(what i hunt with) shoot great in my pistol at 100yards. i only killed one deer with it. one shot one kill.

steveus · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2008, 02:11:30 PM »

I love my TC 14" .30-30 barrel. It shoots .75" groups @100yds with factory Win. 150gr. and better with handloaded 130grPSP. Just can't believe what a whitetail killer it is, you'll love it. Good out to 200yds easy. And the price sounds good. Steve

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2008, 02:45:33 AM »

I've got one and love it. I'm shooting 150 gr. Hornady SST with 32 gr. of 3031. It is an accurate load. I haven't shot a deer yet with it, but have full confidence in it. I wouldn't pass that one up if it is in good condition. Is a scope included?

chiefs50 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2008, 03:53:55 AM »

I have one of the older, 14", six-groove barrels. Extremely accurate with factory or hand loads, and not bad recoil-wise. I load 125gr and IMR 4064. I plan to use it this deer season. I hunt in da U.P. where most shots are under 100 yards; but I'd feel comfortable shooting at 150 as well. I think a lot of folks dismiss the old .30-30 simply because they want something more "exotic". If it's a "woods" deer rifle you are looking for, you can't really go wrong with the .30-30. By the way, it's a great cast bullet shooter as well.

Mike

Steve P · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2008, 08:46:58 AM »

Contender can do what the lever actions can do and better since you can you pointy bullets. $350 is a good price. Hope you grabbed it. Bulk Remington core-lokts in mine keep moa out to 200.

Good luck,

Steve

blhof · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2008, 01:30:22 PM »

I have a 14" barrel with a brake that is a tack driver; took a deer at 75yds, prarie dogs at 100+ yds with 125 spire pt. The deer was taken with Federal factory 180gr. shot to scopes point of aim when I first got it. I've since used 170gr cast and the spires with = results once the scope was re-adjusted. I buy my ammo at Wally-world at the end of the season; almost as cheap as loading my own.

Keith L · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2008, 03:55:44 PM »

Who factory loads the spire points? I have never seen anything but round or flat nosed 150s or 170s.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2008, 04:01:52 PM »

I also have the 14" 30-30. Great shooting and a lot less recoil than I expected.

sasu · « **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2008, 06:42:13 PM »

Quote from: GRIMJIM on July 03, 2008, 04:01:52 PM

I also have the 14" 30-30. Great shooting and a lot less recoil than I expected.

I have two 30-30 barrels, 10" and 14". The recoil really cannot be too bad, because the 30-30 is just a kiddies' training caliber.

bilmac · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2008, 02:02:19 AM »

Years ago I had a 10". Buddy and I went to the range togather to sight in for an antellope hunt. He had a brand new 6mm Ruger. He was pretty disgusted when my pistol was shooting smaller groups than his rifle. I didn't keep it long, not because it wasn't a great gun, I just decided I wasn't a pistol hunter.

irold · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2008, 01:46:14 AM »

After reading the above posts , I having doubts about posting ......I must be the only stinker in the crowd ! Back in the early eighties, I had a 10" ioctigon. in the 30/30 , recoil was very stout , it really wasn't very accurate ( 3 inch @ 100 ) and the biggest reason I no longer own it ....I lost several deer , with what i thought were god shots. I believe I was using a 130 grain Horn Spire point , the single shot speciality bullets were not out yet....believe I was getting zero expansion , just a pencil sized hole through. That being said , obviously all the others are having good luck with the old 30/30 . go with the flow. Sounds like a good deal , even if you don't like the caliber , trade the barrel for what you want ! Good luck

steveus · « **Reply #13 on:** July 06, 2008, 04:46:55 AM »

To Irold in above post, I really do believe that the .30-30 needs 14" of barrel or more. Steve

BillinOregon · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2008, 05:04:58 AM »

Irold: I believe you. Those early, lightweight octagon barrels were famous for magnifying recoil, and the .30-30's performance in 10-inch barrels was one reason Steve Herrett and Bob Milek designed the .30-Herrett -- to be more efficient in a 10-inch barrel. I think if you had been shooting a bullet like today's V-Max or Ballistic Tip, you would not have lost those deer. I don't blame you for being disappointed. I bet if you tried a .30-30 Contender again in 14-inch bullet barrel with the aforementioned bullets, you'd become a fan.

highwayman · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2008, 01:42:55 PM »

anyone using federal 125gr. hollow points out of a 14'' barrel?

bilmac · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2008, 04:28:32 AM »

I agree that the old octagon bbls may not have been much, weren't they longer than 10"? My 30-30 bbl was an early bull bbl and I am pretty sure it was 10" It shot very well though it probably gave up some in the velocity. This was back in the old days when all these options didn't make life so confusing. Only two choices then.

w4dsb · « **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2008, 04:17:10 AM »

Quote from: Keith L on July 03, 2008, 03:55:44 PM

Who factory loads the spire points? I have never seen anything but round or flat nosed 150s or 170s.

No one factory loads spires because of liability issued with tube fed rifles. I tried to have some made by various companies years ago for my contender. This is the reason I started reloading my own

SLAVAGE · « **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2008, 05:16:24 AM »

Quote from: w4dsb on July 13, 2008, 04:17:10 AM

Quote from: Keith L on July 03, 2008, 03:55:44 PM
Who factory loads the spire points? I have never seen anything but round or flat nosed 150s or 170s.

No one factory loads spires because of liability issued with tube fed rifles. I tried to have some made by various companies years ago for my contender. This is the reason I started reloading my own

actualy hornady dose its ther leverevolution its a nice pointed tip but its mushie so it wount set off the primer in front of it in a tube gun i cant remember what grain they are but im thinking 160 or 165 i heard all way good things about them i shoot them my self in a 450 marlin
the big time 30-30 shooters swear by the nosler 125 grain BT especialy in the 30-30 AI's
i have a 14 inch hunter and love it
at your price i would snatch it up and shoot it if you dont like the 30-30 you can all ways trade the barrel for a different one

Dave

Quan Toi · « **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2008, 09:01:56 AM »

It's a great caliber but I think the price is awfully high. $200 is more like it unless it has a fantastic scope on it. Also you could have SSK rechamber it to a .309JDJ which is outstanding!

blhof · « **Reply #20 on:** July 21, 2008, 09:30:43 AM »

I believe he's saying the gun and barrel for $350 and if that's true; buy it as fast as you can, the frame alone (if in good shape) is worth nearly that and you can always sell the barrel or trade it. The price depends on blued, stainless, armour coat, and old style versus easy open new style. Check prices on the auction sites; averages are better than $350 and then add transfer fee and shipping.

giturgun · « **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:50:05 PM »

I also took it as the whole anchelada Jump on that thang now. I have a super 16 that I really like. Had a 10 x burris mounted on it and have shot some nickle size 100 yard groups with 125 weight bullets. I have never deer hunted with it but 125 plastic tips will just about blow a large ground hog in 2 pieces when shot right through the backbone at about 45 yards.
I am going to use it for deer this year. I already have my pro-point mounted and ready for load development.

If it is the whole pistol in good condition it will be worth it

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #22 on:** July 22, 2008, 01:33:08 AM »

Quote from: Quan Toi on July 21, 2008, 09:01:56 AM

It's a great caliber but I think the price is awfully high. $200 is more like it unless it has a fantastic scope on it. Also you could have SSK rechamber it to a .309JDJ which is outstanding!

I don't know where you got your prices, but $200 is impossibly cheap unless you are buying it from someone who needs money really bad, or robbing a widow who is trying to sell off her late husband's collection. A good frame is worth at least $200 alone.