Reload question 7-30W in 21" carbine

[charles p]

I have a 21" Contender barrel that I have never fired.  I have a supply of 120 grain Hornaday bullets an I wonder if they will work at 7-30 velocities.  I have always used SSP bullets in my pistol barrels.  What velocity might I expect in the 21" barrel?  What min velocity to I need to get proper results on whitetail deer from a cup and coe rifle bullet.

[hendog]

I have been using the Nosler 120grn BT in the 7x30 waters for years.

[southarkrob]

Between my niece and another kiddo that hunts with us...3 deer have fell this year to the 7-30 waters my 9 year old neice shot a big doe and an 8 point on opening morning of Ark youth weekend this year...she made 2 different 80 to 90 yard shots and dropped both deer in their tracks...the bullet she used was the 120 gr Sierra Prohunter...she got pass thrus and each had tremendous blood loss...that same evening a kid hunting with me shot a doe at 75 yards and hit her behind the front shoulder and I saw where she ran and fell....he was using 120gr Nosler BT's..not a drop of blood...If I hadnt seen her shaking a tree when she fell it would have been very tough to find her. She has shot a lot deer with that 7-30 and I had loaded 140gr BT's...every deer she shot with those ran and we had a hard time finding them. I think I am going to stick with the 120 gr sierras for her. 

[cwlongshot]

I have had excellent results on game with my Contender in 7x30 with a Speer 130 and Nosler 120 ballistic Tip bullets.

CW

[RicMic]

Couple years ago I used the 7x30 Waters in a 23" G2 to take 2 does in succession, 6-8 seconds apart.  I used Nosler 120 ballistic tips over a compressed load of IMR-4064 for about 2750fps.  I did not like the G2 frame, sold it, should have kept the barrel though.  Live and learn.

RicMic

[Drugstore Cowboy]

RicMic,

Why did you sell the G2?

[RicMic]

After using the original Contender for over 30 years the G2 just does not measure up, just personal preference.

[freddogs]

This last summer I set up my contender with a 23" G2 barrel. I shot 120gr. Nosler ballistic tips that I didn't chronograph. I shot an antelope at about 200yds with it in WY. The bullet did come apart  (killed antelope) so I'm curious about velocity. I think there may be plenty of velocity in a 7X30 rifle barrel for most bullets to expand normally. I might go to a heavier bullet if I was going to hunt deer.

[hoghunting]

 I have a 14" Contender that is extremely accurate with the Hornady 120 gr SP. I also used the 120 gr SSP until they were discontinued, then tried the 120 gr SP at Hornady's suggestion for a replacement. With RL-15, they have been very deadly on deer and hogs, and some of the hogs have been in the 300 - 350 lb range. Some have been head shots, but most have been directly behind the shoulder, lung shots.

[SHOOTALL]

The factory load 120 gr FP nosler is 2700 fps out of a 20 inch winchester. I have shot 139 gr hornady spire point bullets that work fine. Look at some of the other reloading manuals to see what the same bullet is loaded to in other 7mm rounds.

[JASmith]

... What velocity might I expect in the 21" barrel?  ...

I have just implemented an online muzzle velocity estimator that may help. 

http://shootersnotes.com/applications/velocity-estimator/

You will need the cartridge capacity in grains of water (case completely filled), the cartridge length, plus the usual load data.  The reference load needs to use the same powder as the one you use and the charge & bullet weights need to be the same or less than the reference load.

Let me know how it works!

Thanks!

[deersearch]

Im with hoghunteron this one, I too have a contender with 14" barrel that drives tacks at 100 yard useing hornady 120 gr sp. I shot my deer this year at 75 yards with a pistol . It went 80 yards and left a blood bath to follow.  I load up 31 grains of h335.  I use the same round when I track and its stopped every deer so far.