whitetails@200 with contender, what caliber?

[25-0mike]

im looking for a wildcat that i could shoot whitetails out to 200 or so with low recoil that would be safe in an old style contender. ive seen this 257 raptor advertised anyone know about this one? im a big 25-06 guy and it sounds good to me but id like to hear from some of you guys with the experience. i've done some reloading but never any wildcats with fireforming involved.any help would be appreciated

[Catfish]

The Contender will not stand high presure loads in the larger dia. cases, that`s why TC brought out the Encore. With the larger frame recoil seem to me at least, to be a lot eaiser to manage. I`m setting up an Encore with a .460 barrel. All I have to do not is work up a load and a drop chart and it will be ready to go. We have to use straight walled cases here in Ohio, but if you don`t you could use a .243 or a .308 and not have to mess with brass forming ect.

[25-0mike]

yeah across the river here in ky. we can use any centerfire cartridge. im really looking for something with the lowest recoil possible, so i can actually get my moneys worth and enjoy my new barrel. i also have an encore and have thought abought a 25-06 barrel for it but im afraid that it would be a beast

[Noreaster]

Don't know what a 6.8mm would do, but it's offered in the Contender frame. Low recoil.

[Curtis]

No personal experience but 30-30 AI comes to mind.  Contender pressures, easy to form, managable recoil in a 14" barrel and should still pack enough steam at 200.  Maybe 309 JDJ but depending on what you consider "low recoil" that may be out.

Curtis

[Redhawk1]

im looking for a wildcat that i could shoot whitetails out to 200 or so with low recoil that would be safe in an old style contender. ive seen this 257 raptor advertised anyone know about this one? im a big 25-06 guy and it sounds good to me but id like to hear from some of you guys with the experience. i've done some reloading but never any wildcats with fireforming involved.any help would be appreciated

Contact Gary Reeder, he came up with the 257 Raptor. It will work well in the Contender. They are having a sale on barrels that ends today, and they have a few different ones on there sale list on his site. http://www.reedercustomguns.com/bossgone.htm

You can also go to his forum area and get information from guys that shoot this round as well.

[Ken ONeill]

The .257 JDJ, 6.5 JDJ, .309 JDJ, .30-30 AI are all outstanding choices. I consider the factory 7/30 Waters inferior to those 4, but it will work also, as will the .30-30, but the old warrior is on the edge of acceptable power from a handgun @ the longest distances. I use all of them but the Waters regularly. My pick of the litter for whitetails, pronghorn  and such is the .257JDJ.

[jpred1]

A 25-06 should be fine for whitetails and I wouldnt think recoil would be intolerable. My 7mm-08 is perfect in the encore frame.Pistol shots are harder to make , so you need a lil forgiveness from the gun for human error.Never owned a 25-06 before , if its close to what I have, no worries either way.

[jhalcott]

 I've used the 6.5 JDJ, the 7TC/U and 7/30 for 200 yard deer with the 14" contender. I have used the 30-30 ,358JDJ and 45-70 14" for sightly shorter kills. Since you are LOOKING for a wildcat,I'd consider the 6.5JDJ or 7tc/u IF recoil is a problem. The 309 has a bit more thump but can be used at really long range,in excess of 300 yards,with proper loads and practice. It seems to dote on the 165 grain bullets.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive made a couple kills on whitetail at 150 yards with my 730 waters loaded with 120 nos ballistic tip and it did real well.

[DANNY-L]

7-30 waters,mild recoil,great performance with the 120gr

[Richard P]

  Yes, I'd concur on the 7-30W, but dont overlook the 7 tcu.  I believe Handloader mag recently reviewed the 7 tcu in a rifle.  Richard

[Flash]

The 7x30 will work fine for the caliber but if you want to go with a 25 caliber, it's the 257JDJ all the way. That's about the fastest 25 caliber round you're going to get in the old style Contender. If you have a G2 Encore frame, just go with 25-06.

[TMAKER]

25-06 wont work on a G2 will it?

[25-0mike]

25-06 is for the encore

[Redhawk1]

25-0mike, check this out..

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=183178;article=175694;title=Gary%20Reeder%20Custom%20Guns

[Jay HHI6818]

6.5 JDJ would be a good low recoiling 200 yd deer gun. I shot a buck last year at 240 yds with my 309JDJ.

[Flash]

25-06 wont work on a G2 will it?

Yes, my error. I meant the Encore, not the G2

[crash87]

ive made a couple kills on whitetail at 150 yards with my 730 waters loaded with 120 nos ballistic tip and it did real well.

Same here, and the hornady 120 SP will also do the job. ?? Why a wildcat? If it absolutley has to be a widcat and/or a 25 cal., the 25 bullberry comes to mind. If,100 gr bullets at 25-2600fps is not enough stuff, go with the improved version. 6.5 JDJ has also been proven time and time again.
                                                                          CRASH87

[Elwood]

7-30 Waters is awesome out to 300 yds in the pistol configuration!
How far can you accurately shoot a handgun anyway?
You dont need no stinkin heavy encore.
Elwood

[Daman]

I think if it was me I would go with the 7-30 or the 30-30AI. I am making plans for a 30-30AI for my wife now. It will either be a Handi or an Encore rifle which ever she likes more. Tim (quickdtoo) seems sold on the AI and is where I have gained my confidence in the Wildcat round. I don't know how it perform out of a 14" barrel though.

daman

[Poppy]

In a Contender package don't overlook the 6.8 Remington SPC.  I have one and it is very mild recoil.  Also have in the Encore a 7.62x39 in a 15" package.  Good deer cartridge, very mild recoil, fun gun to hunt with.

[streak]

The 8mmJDJ is a good one for the Contender at 200 yards, you can call SKS Industries and they will send you a reloading sheet with various and ballistics. It is a wildcat developed by J.D. Jones and it consist of necking the 444 Marlin case down to 8 MM. A good selection of different bullets for different game is available.

[hoser1268]

The 25-06 encore is a great pistol barrel and the recoil is not bad at all.  It is a fine whitetail cartridge .  In the contender the 6.8 Rem is great.  I took and antelope with mine at 200yds with the 85 gr barnes tsx factory round from silver state.  The 110 vmax from Hornady would be perfect for whitetails.

[nomosendero]

No personal experience but 30-30 AI comes to mind.  Contender pressures, easy to form, managable recoil in a 14" barrel and should still pack enough steam at 200.  Maybe 309 JDJ but depending on what you consider "low recoil" that may be out.

Curtis

Yes, I have one of those. The last animal I took with it was an Antelope at 187 yds. I load the 150BT to 2,400fps, which is fine out to nearly 300, I prefer 250 & less.

[southernutah]

we have quite a few hunting for  mule deer out here  witha  223 so a little whitetail shouldn't be a b problem. Use a good hunting bullet.