Author Topic: Help! Need advice on Contender Carbine Barrel (Read 2502 times)

cherokee5425 · « **on:** September 06, 2011, 01:50:02 PM »

I presently have 3 Contender Carbine's 1. S/S Carbine 21" in 30-30, 2. Blued 21" in 17 Rem, 3. 21" Blued .223 Rem. I am thinking of getting another Carbine Barrel. Of the new ones available (23") I'm thinking of either one in .204 Ruger or 7-30 Waters. I know everyone will say,"what do you intend to use it for". Well. I also have an Encore in 209x50, .243 Win, .35 Whelen S/S Pro Hunter, .450 Marlin Kataden, so with the Contender in 30-30 I have enough deer calibers. In Contender Pistol Barrels I have a 14" s/s .22 Hornet and an older 10" .221 Fireball. If you had to pick from the current offering's what would you pick?

Slowpoke Slim · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2011, 04:08:20 PM »

OK,

What do you intend to use it for?

How about a 6.5 JDJ or Bullberry to fall in between what you have now. Or, go bigger with a 375 Win or JDJ. Or a 358 JDJ to share bullets with your Whelen?

wallacem · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2011, 10:45:23 AM »

I love my 7-30 carbine bbl, but it is a duplication to you with the 30-30 bbl. Just load light bullets in the 30-30 and you can almost do everything the 7-30 can do. Beyond that, hell, just buy anything you see, it is a great investment. We all have more than we need when it comes to guns. Wallacem

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2011, 11:15:05 AM »

Well I guess you could go for a 30 carbine, TC offers one in the rifle barrel. I have one in a super 14 stainless and is fun to shoot, ammo is around 17 to 22 dollars a box of 50 at gun shows if you are not into reloading.

Deaconllb

Dezynco · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2011, 01:17:08 PM »

How about have Match Grade Machine build you one in 300 Whisper? Or 7mm TCU? How about having EABCO send you a neat 6.5 BRM? When you've got everything you really need, why not pop for a Wildcat, just to keep things interesting?

OleFreak · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2011, 05:01:33 PM »

I love my T/C 23” SS 204 Ruger. Have the same in a Remington 700 VLS and the Contender is just more fun. I only have a little over300 yards to play in and the Remy gets almost boring while the Contender makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. The 204 makes a real mess of little critters but the buzzards gotta eat too.

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2011, 10:40:27 AM »

Quote from: Slowpoke Slim on September 06, 2011, 04:08:20 PM

OK,

What do you intend to use it for?

I agree with Chris... you never said what it would be used for so there is no way to recommned anything viable to you.

can comment on the two you did mention you are thinking about... the 204 is the easy choice of the two since you don't want another deer cartridge with so many already on hand. But, the 204 is not much different than your 17 Rem - another near duplication on uses.

FWIW

cherokee5425 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2011, 01:30:19 PM »

That's pretty much what I was thinking. I am wanting to get into some varment hunting and I like setting at the bench shooting targets also. Love the 17 rem barrel. Sure wished they still offered the carbine barrel in .22 Hornet. I had a S/S 21" years ago but foolishly sold it. I still have my 14" S/S in .22 Hornet. I wouldn't mind maybe one in 45/70, but I'm still undecided. I have ammo and dies for the 7-30 Waters, that would save some money since I don't have anything for the .204 Ruger.

Bullseye · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2011, 06:19:15 PM »

If you want a 22 Hornet, put a WTB ad in the classifieds here. I bought one a while back and have seen others listed. It is rare, but not impossible to find.

I do like the 22 Hornet.

Ladobe · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2011, 11:36:27 PM »

Well, some folks might call Buffalo varmints, but for smaller varmints I doubt you'd want the 45-70 (although I have to admit I shot a heck of a lot of them with all the 375JDJ pistols I've owned just for fun and practice, and a few with the 416 Rigby Encore pistol).

Having done P&V hunting for well over 5 decades (and with Contenders for 4+ of them), I can say the skies the limit on good cartridges for P&V on the Contender platform if you reload and consider custom barrels (upwards of 250 cartridges). Varmint size and ranges shot helps decide which ones, but if you're like some of us you'll end up with most of them anyway over time.

Your 223 barrel will work fine for P&V as well to fair ranges, but if your ranges can get long you might consider something in 24, 25, or 26 caliber. Lots of choices for all of them on the Contender.

If you like the 22 Hornet, you'd love the 17 Ackley Hornet even more. I've had 4 of them, and they retired all of my 22 Hornets.

FWIW

bobg · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2011, 11:50:32 PM »

Sounds like the 204 Ruger is just what you are looking for. Mine isn't a TC but a Savage. Great shooting rifle. I found a set of dies for it in the classifieds on here. I grabbed them in a hurry.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #11 on:** September 09, 2011, 05:30:09 PM »

I have 10 carbine barrels for my Contenders which include a 21" factory tapered blue 17 Rem & a 21" factory tapered s/s 223 and just sold my 23" bull blued 204 Ruger barrel due to never using it.

So for me you have the 17 Rem & 223 already so I see no need to double up and go with a 204 = I'd suggest a 375JDJ or 45-70 I have a 21" factory tapered s/s in 375JDJ and a 22" bull s/s 45-70 and both are a lot of fun.

I also shoot a 18.6" barreled Robinson Arms XCR-L in 6.8spc and would love a 21" factory tapered 6.8spc Contender carbine barrel this would fill the gap between my 223 & my 308X444.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2011, 06:51:41 PM »

Looks like what ya need is a fun one.

I would say ya need a 357 Max., run 38 specials, 357 mags or the Max. I have 2 of them in the NEF rifles, would like to find one in the 21" factory for the Contender. Of course, I really like my 35 Rem, could be used for (and has been used for) most N.A. game short of big bears. A very well mannered, over acheiver in a classic cartridge. DP

pastorp · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2011, 07:58:06 PM »

I would look for a 25-35 or a custon 25cal on the 30-30 case like the 25bullberry imp.

Just cause I like quarter bores.

Regards,

stoutstuff · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2011, 07:00:58 AM »

My only carbine barrell (so far) is a 23" tapered .204. My only coyote (so far) too!

camotrky · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2011, 11:44:04 AM »

I have a 204 and love it, also have 50. cal. m/l contender barrel and 45/70, just picked up a 6.8 spc T/C barrel loaded up a few 110 vmax, man that shoots nice.

Doc T · « **Reply #16 on:** October 03, 2011, 04:40:48 AM »

I vote for the 300 Whisper. It is one of my favorite cartridges in a Contender....10", 14", 20".

Doc T

wallacem · « **Reply #17 on:** October 09, 2011, 07:29:52 AM »

you did not mention owning a 357 mag bbl. I am a firm believer in owning a 357 max bbl. with it you can shoot from a 38 spl all the way up the the 357 max, which is close to the 35 Rem cal in power. In fact, if I could only own one cal, it would be the 357 max. Wallacem in Ga

Camp Cook · « **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2011, 01:19:15 PM »

I understand where your coming from my for fun carbine barrels are a 18" blued factory taper in 10mm and a 14" s/s bull in 45 Colt...

greenrivers · « **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2011, 11:25:12 AM »

Whatever you decide to do, DO NOT BUY THE 45-70 barrel. They are addictive and you will find all the other barrels collecting dust. Just a word of warning!

sobeit · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2011, 02:29:12 PM »

Cheap fun ! I built myself an old model contender with a 23" ,17HMR.......shot the best group of my life with it..1/4"..3shot..100yds....

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:31:46 AM »

The biggest gap that I see in your present collection is a rimfire...either 22 or 17. I've had 22lr, 22mag, and 17HMR for some time and like all. My newest is a 17HM2(wish they were still offer by TC) 23" heavy barrel that I immediately cut to 19" and recrowned. It holds great, handles like a dream and is wicked accurate. Even though I already have a 21" taped 22lr, I'm thinkin' 'bout getting a 23" 22lr heavy barrel and cutting it down similiar to the Mach2

.
Walt