307 Rimmed

[longwinters]

I currently have a 7-30 Contender and really enjoy it.  I was thinking of getting another barrel in more of the .30 cal range, hoping for not much more recoil, but would consider a break if necessary as I don't enjoy big recoil.  I also do not want a caliber that I have to jump thru hoops to resize brass for.

Anyway, I am wondering about calibers and maybe in particular the 307 Rimmed.  Can you tell me what this caliber consists of and what it would do?

Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.

Long

[Graybeard]

It's properly called the .307 Winchester and yeah it has a rim. It's NOT for the Contender and I see no major advantage to it in the Encore over a variety of other higher performance rounds. For the Contender the .30-30 AI or the .309 JDJ are the .30 caliber performance rounds.

[longwinters]

Hey GB,  which would you prefer for black bear?

Long

[Ladobe]

Personally I'd opt for the 309JDJ (I've had 2 of them) over the 30-30AI (I've had one and a couple of straight 30-30's).    But I'm a sucker for JDJ's.   The 309 is normally a little faster than the 30-30AI with the same bullets - but not enough to matter.   Since you said you don't want to do much with brass forming the 30-30AI will be your choice.   Simply fire 30-30 ammo or fireform loads in the AI chamber.   

Neither needs a brake unless you're so recoil sensitive that the 7X30 is the absolute max you can deal with.   I don't like brakes, so I'd rather load either of these down a little (if it was actually needed) rather than add a brake.   Gives you another option if you want to try one of these out "brake free".   

[Graybeard]

I agree no brakes for me and I'd chose the .309 JDJ as well for bear if a .30 caliber was what I had to have. But I'd personally go with a .35 instead of a .30, just me.

[longwinters]

Both the JDJ and the 35 are intrigueing to me. 
Guess I'd better doing some reading up.

Thanks guys.

Long

[SD Handgunner]

As has been stated the .307 Winchester is nothing more than a Rimmed .308 Winchester. Both of which produce more case head thrust than the Contender is capable of withstanding. There are some that have chambered an Improved version of the .307 in the Contender but I would think extra care would have to be excersiced in loading for it to not stretch a frame.

I've never had a .309 JDJ (that may change in the future at some point) but I have loaded for, shot and hunted with a .30-30 AI. Mine was an older Super 14 .30 Herrett Contender Barrel that SSK rechambered for me. I was more than pleased with the .30-30 AI that I had. Both Fireform and Full Power Loads were more than accurate enough to satisfy this old handgunner, with 5 shot groups from the bench at 100 yards coming in at 1" or less.

From all the loading data I have seen on the .309 JDJ and my experiences with the .30-30 AI velocities are going to be very similar with bullet weights up to 150grs. with the .309 JDJ having a slight advantage with 150's. If however you are wanting to shoot 165gr. bullets or heavier the choice would obviously fall to the .309 JDJ. 

Good luck with your quest. Mine never quits as I am constantly looking for something new.

Larry

[Ken ONeill]

Of the calibers mentioned, here's one more vote for the .309 JDJ. I have been running a 165 @ 2400 fps from mine for a dozen years.
Now, theres black bears, and there's BIG coastal black bears ! For the latter I want the .338 JDJ No. 2, or the .375 JDJ if I'm limited to T/C's, although my preference since 1999 has been the FA .475 Linebaugh. Feels better in the Devil's Club and bear tunnels of S.E. Alaska.

[Graybeard]

I just bet it do Ken. To me that's no place for a single shot regardless of chambering even tho some seem to insist on using them even in such thick stuff. Iffen I'm going into the thick brush with dangerous stuff that can bite back and eat me I'm gonna have a big bore revolver with me regardless of the hunting tool used as primary. I don't expect to ever be able to afford such a hunt but if I did I think a revolver pushing a .475" 420-440 grain bullet would likely be my choice for the job.

[338JDJ]

It's properly called the .307 Winchester and yeah it has a rim. It's NOT for the Contender and I see no major advantage to it in the Encore over a variety of other higher performance rounds. For the Contender the .30-30 AI or the .309 JDJ are the .30 caliber performance rounds.

Hate to correct you graybeard but I believe your wrong. I have a 7mm super bower and it is based off  the 307 case and I shoot it in my contender.

[Lone Star]

Hate to correct you graybeard but I believe your wrong. I have a 7mm super bower and it is based off  the 307 case and I shoot it in my contender.

The wildcat Bower cartridges are not loaded to the high pressures of the .307 WCF, they were designed for and are loaded to pressures safe in the Contender.  That is around 42,000 CUP in cases having diameters around 0.470" ahead of the rim.  The .309 JDJ is loaded to these pressures and is safe in the Contender.  The .307 WCF is loaded to pressures around 52,000 CUP - that pressure will damage a Contender in a hurry with a case of that inside diameter.  Smaller diameter cases can be loaded to higher pressures - the .223 Remington for example is loaded to the same pressures as the .307 WCF but is safe due to its much smaller inside diameter.


.

[Graybeard]

It's properly called the .307 Winchester and yeah it has a rim. It's NOT for the Contender and I see no major advantage to it in the Encore over a variety of other higher performance rounds. For the Contender the .30-30 AI or the .309 JDJ are the .30 caliber performance rounds.

Hate to correct you graybeard but I believe your wrong. I have a 7mm super bower and it is based off  the 307 case and I shoot it in my contender.

What the hell is it you THINK you are correcting me on? Try and make a bit of sense here OK?

I said the rimmed .307 he asked about is the .307 Winchester and no one who is a reputable gunsmith will chamber it in a TC. So tell me what the hell your Bower has to do with what I said. HINT: NOTHING is the correct answer.

[JD338]

Hey Long,

The 309 JDJ is a pretty good round for whose big UP bears. Its based off the 444 Marlin case so there really isn't many hoops to go through. I shot a hog with the 309 JDJ a few years back and it really did the job. My buddy also shot a Red Stag (500 lbs+) with one, one shot kill!

Give me a call when you get some time.

JD338

[338JDJ]

It's properly called the .307 Winchester and yeah it has a rim. It's NOT for the Contender and I see no major advantage to it in the Encore over a variety of other higher performance rounds. For the Contender the .30-30 AI or the .309 JDJ are the .30 caliber performance rounds.

Hate to correct you graybeard but I believe your wrong. I have a 7mm super bower and it is based off  the 307 case and I shoot it in my contender.

What the hell is it you THINK you are correcting me on? Try and make a bit of sense here OK?

I said the rimmed .307 he asked about is the .307 Winchester and no one who is a reputable gunsmith will chamber it in a TC. So tell me what the hell your Bower has to do with what I said. HINT: NOTHING is the correct answer.

My appologies graybeard... I should have read your post better. I thought you were saying that you could not use the 307 case in a contender....I dont know what the hell I was reading! and how I read it that way.
Thank you
338JDJ

[Hopalong7]

Longwinters, You're already shootin' the 7 X 30 which is pretty close in performance to the 30-30 or 30-30AI(that will cause sparks somwhere, but is basically true.).Well they all do best with 120-130 gr bullets in about the same velocity range.   The .309 with 165-180 gr is definately a step up in performance(about the most you can get out of a .30 caliber in a Contender).  GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt