Author Topic: 309JDJ (Read 1942 times)

SAS98M · « **on:** September 08, 2011, 05:23:00 PM »

Well it's here...The rechambered barrel I sent to JDJ to have done in 309 JDJ ,so happy I don't know weather to crap or go blind..... The chamber in this thing looks buttery smooth-I can't wait to get some stuff loaded and run a few down the pipe.

Many thanks to the fine folks at SSK for the very rapid turn around on this,I was told prolly 5 weeks to get it done-well I don't think it's been even 2 and it's back along with the Hornady die set and load sheet for the 309.

Now for the fun part-annealing cases,forming,loading,fireforming,reloading etc.... the way I look at it I'm gonna start with a few loads from the JDJ spec sheet and go from there or..... does somebody have a round that they've found tried and true ? I'm open for suggestions.

Oh and also it is a super 14 barrel .30 Herrett tube to start with.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2011, 02:31:49 AM »

SAS98M, Oh... you're gona love it!!! I loved my Herrett for a lotta years....and still do, and...it is fully capable of doing anything I need to get done, but the 309 is just a great step up. A lot more range and it really shines with the heavier pills. I think the best "tip" I could pass on, if you don't know already know, is to use a 308Win sizing die as an initial step in preparing your brass. .444 brass doesn't come cheap and you'll save some by using the 308 die first

. Good luck with it.
Walt

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2011, 03:05:19 AM »

I use RE 15 behind a 165 Nosler BT for 2400 fps and have always been satisfied. However, JD has always recommended the 4350's for use in the .309 JDJ. I'd start there.

SAS98M · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2011, 06:04:29 AM »

Hopalong, Thanks-I am already using a 308 sizer (cases lubed good w/quick shot?) getting scratches on necks using two different dies-looks like I gotta find new sizers....and some light case disfiguring at the neck/shoulder meeting point-any tips on this part ?

Ken, I have both powders on hand and just happen to have Nosler 165's too-maybe I'll work up loads using both and see what works best out of this tube..... I do know this-I couldn't get the .30 Herrett to shoot worth a damn ( maybe just a "mind" thing-too much work to get a batch loaded ) .

HHI-7420 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2011, 11:05:53 AM »

SAS98M, try some AA-2520 also(works real well with 150s). Pat

SAS98M · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2011, 04:56:32 PM »

Well,Barrel's here,attached,brass/bullets made up did some scope adjusting while fireforming a few the other night and --"Holy freakin wow" is this thing impressive...... I'm really surprised at the recoil or better yet the lack there of...... This thing shoots like a dream,I was shooting 10% underloads for fireforming using IMR4350 and was very happy with my findings. I now have worked up a batch of fireformers using RE15 at -10% and a batch of "full on" loads just to see how they work out. I'm also gonna "wring" a few out and see what they'll do at a distance(over 150 yds.) too. I'll post my findings later this week.

Thanks again to all that have posted in reference to the 309 JDJ---> that's why I now own one. SAS

Fire Fox · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2011, 11:32:50 PM »

I hope you have better results with the 309 that I had from ssk . I never got the velocity from it so I went to the 30-30 Ackely Improved using 375 win brass reformed as well as reg 30-30 brass. In a 16 in barrel it exceeded the 309 by at least 100 fps with all bullet weights. Best of luck.

contender hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2012, 03:41:09 AM »

SAS , How did the 309JDJ loading go and any kills yet , from what I've heard its a super deer cartridge and more !!

dave22250 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2012, 09:17:33 AM »

Whats the hype on the 309JDJ the 308 will shoot just as fast or faster with the same bullets plus brass is everywere and cheaper,I have a couple JDJs not the 309,but the 309 compared to 308 winny,it does'nt do anything that a 308 could'nt do.

Keith L · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2012, 09:50:28 AM »

It does it in a Contender. The 308 takes and Encore.

dave22250 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2012, 10:00:09 AM »

They did make the 308 in contender but was discontinued

Junior1942 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:07:08 PM »

What will a 309JDJ do in a Contender that a 30-30 won't do a lot cheaper and easier? Serious question.

contender hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:09:22 PM »

Probably discontinued because of to much pressure for the contender frame , I don't have a 309 but its one of the best cartridges offered for the contender for deer sized game . I have a nice 12'' ssk bbl. in the 375JDJ same case necked down to .375 instead of 30cal. but the 375 has quite a bit of recoil and I think the 309 would be a little milder .I've been kicking around the idea of a 309 to replace my 7x30 waters which I feel is a little on the lite side , and I want it in a carbine .

dave22250 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:47:15 PM »

I have the 308 in an encore and the 375 also to me high end loads in the 308 seem almost as hard of kick I would keep using the 7-30 or even a 6.5 Jdj they will take a deer down with ease milder to shoot and brass is easier to obtain than 444 to load,but my original post was that the book speeds for the .308 dia.bullets for the 309 0r 308 the 308 you can still get slightly better speeds with the 308 book speeds with 309 150 grn horn 2500 but 308 showing 2618 same bullet so its faster and flatter.
Jd Jones data shows max with 150 grn sp at 2460.

contender hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:57:04 PM »

When you put all the avail. contender cartridges for deer together it seems like there just not that far apart . I put together the bullet weight and velocity for the 6.5JDJ, 7X30 , 309JDJ , 30-30 with a 14'' bbl. the 6.5 is on the low end at 2100 fps with 120 gr. 7x30 is 2200 with 140 gr. the 309 is 2400 with 150 to 165 the 30-30 is 2000 fps with 125 gr. clearly the 309 has quite a bit of an edge but will the animal know it . I still think the 309 in a 23'' carbine would be a slammer , 165 gr nosler ballistic tip at 2800 fps. , that might compare to the 308 , 300 savage and even the 30-06 !!

Here is a good link[size=78%]http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/sept96deercombo.html[/size][size=78%] [/size]

Gswag · « **Reply #15 on:** March 06, 2012, 04:11:32 PM »

I have grown to love the 309. It shoots tiny groups and hits like a hammer. I've taken 2 hogs at 100 yards and 60 yards, an axis doe at 225, a red stag at 125, a Muley doe in W KS at 355 yrd and a couple coyotes at over 200 this season. It hasn't let me down yet.

Now, I don't know where you got your 6.5 JDJ data from but it's off a good bit. My 14" 6.5 JDJ does 2400 easily with the 120 ballistic tip. The beauty of this guns is that they all just about shoot the same trajectory with all the same sight in points. Makes it easy on me

. The one exception is the 257. It seems to shoot like a laser.

Elwood · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2012, 05:42:54 AM »

I have never heard of a 308 contender.
Are you certain?
Elwood

Keith L · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2012, 06:54:09 AM »

I have never seen or heard of a factory 308 Contender barrel. Odds are that someone made one or more at some point in time.

Junior1942 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2012, 08:57:19 AM »

Quote from: Junior1942 on March 06, 2012, 12:07:08 PM

What will a 309JDJ do in a Contender that a 30-30 [in a Contender] won't do a lot cheaper and easier? Serious question.

Well???

Da-Law-Dawg · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:26:05 AM »

I'm with Gswag on the thoughts on velocity numbers.

My 14" SSK 6.5 JDJ is running 2250fps running 129gr Hornady SST's. I'm running IMR 4350 over Federal 210's and running 2+ grains below book max. Bumped upwards towards max, I'd say she would top 2300 fps.

contender hunter · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2012, 02:21:37 PM »

You guys might be thinking of Mike Bellm , he specializes in contenders with his gunsmithing and he has what he calls the .308 Bellm , pretty much the same as the 309JDJ , both on the .444 marlin case . Here is his link .

[size=78%]http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=562[/size][size=78%] [/size]

338JDJ · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:40:56 PM »

My favorite caliber in T/C was the 309JDJ till I got my 338JDJ. I still love shooting it. Very easy to handle recoil. Its a real killer on medium size game out to 300 yds, farther if you practice with it. I have taken my animals with it. Mine shoots sub MOA all day long with my load. I shot the best group of my life with my 309JDJ. Hope this helps.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2012, 02:10:46 AM »

Quote from: Junior1942 on March 07, 2012, 08:57:19 AM

Quote from: Junior1942 on March 06, 2012, 12:07:08 PM
What will a 309JDJ do in a Contender that a 30-30 [in a Contender] won't do a lot cheaper and easier? Serious question.
Well???

Run a bullet weighing 40 grains more, 300 fps faster. It will shoot noticeably flatter and kill larger animals farther. I like the .30-30. I've owned an early Super 14 barrel since 1978 and have shot it a lot. I've owned a 309 JDJ barrel since the late '80's, and its also seen plenty of use..
We can like the .30-30 as much as we want to but it is absolutely not in the same league as a .309 JDJ.

Jay HHI6818 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 10, 2012, 02:55:15 PM »

My first "custom" Contender barrel was a 14 inch stainless 309JDJ and probably my favorite. Few years ago I had 16 rounds left after hunting season was over so I shot them up. I probably got lazy the last 5-6 shots and opened the group up. This is my second 309JDJ barrel and both were extremely accurate.

Shot this guy 2 years ago at 240 yds with a Nosler 165 gr BT.