30 Carbine Contender Barrel?

[parisite]

Anybody have any experience, good or bad with a 30 Carbine Contender handgun length barrel? And are they still in production? Just seems like an inexpensive cartridge to handload 30 cal bullets in.
Thanks.........

[Keith L]

I have never had one.  The come up for sale once in a while, and I am sure one of the custom barrel makers could make you one if you wish.  It has never been high on my list of must have barrels.

[Blackhawker]

I've got a 14 inch barrel and it shoots as well as, if not better than, my carbine length T/C barrel.  In general, I can shoot 1.5 to 2 inches at 100 yards with multi-round strings when shooting from a rest.  I have shot (played around) shooting at large targets as large as prairie dog mounds out to distances at and over 400 yards with fairly repetitive results.  (That is, scoring hits on mounds of roughly 4X4 ft with repeatability when shooting off my knee in a sitting position)
I have a 4X scope on mine and it's a lot of fun to play with.  When shooting the long distances, I'm half way below center on my scope crosshairs in order to compensate the distance.

While you say the round is inexpensive, compare 110 grain FMJ or soft point bullets with those of .357 magnum 158 grain JHP's.  The price is the same.  With the exception of a few grains of powder, you can load the .357 for pretty much the exact same price.  So, overall, you can probably get yourself a .357 mag barrel a lot faster than waiting around until a .30 carbine barrel shows up.  My .357 pistol barrel is just as accurate as the .30 carbine pistol.

[Flynmoose]

I think the 30 carbine case is tapered slightly. A 357 is not, allowing the use of carbide dies.
FM

[Hopalong7]

     Yes....the little carbine round does have a slight taper to it....'bout .020" if memory serves ....but my RCBS .30 Carbine die set #18015 has a carbide sizer too.  Somehow, I've never come by a Contender barrel for the little round, but I've enjoyed my old 3-screw Blackhawk chambered for it for a whole lotta years .
Walt

[DEACONLLB]

I picked up a new in package ss from a member a year or so ago and I love mine would not take for it. I have a 2.5x7 scope on it and it shoots great with mild recoil. I have even thought of having MGM make me a rifle barrel but TC still list the rifle barrel on their web site.
 
Deaconllb

[Flynmoose]

Thanks for the info Hopalong, I was under the impression that carbide sizing dies were for straight cases only. This site is a great source of information for an old guy in Eastern Oregon!
FM

[Blackhawker]

It does have a taper or contour to the case but I have a carbide sizer for mine.  Despite being carbide, I still lube the cases.  If I don't, it's hell getting them in and out.  I tend to lube all of my cases, no matter if they're straight walled or carbide dies.  I find it tends to extend case life a bit.

I think the 30 carbine case is tapered slightly. A 357 is not, allowing the use of carbide dies.
FM

[wallacem]

If you are wanting a 30 cal small case to load, consider the 32-20, or sometimes called the 30-20 because TC makes it sized to .308 to use regular 308 bullets.  I have one and love it.  It loads up to about the same power level as a 357 mag in the TC, and seems to group a little better.  Kills deer fine.   Wallacem in Ga

[Blackhawker]

This is definitely another option.  The only drawback to the 32-20 that I can see is that the brass might not last as long and some bore diameters vary between manufacturers.  I believe that T/C always chambered the 32-20 in .308, however.

If you are wanting a 30 cal small case to load, consider the 32-20, or sometimes called the 30-20 because TC makes it sized to .308 to use regular 308 bullets.  I have one and love it.  It loads up to about the same power level as a 357 mag in the TC, and seems to group a little better.  Kills deer fine.   Wallacem in Ga

[Steve P]

I have the 30 carbine in Contender and Ruger Blackhawk.  Blackhawk is very fickle.  Brass has to be just right.  Contender is a little forgiving.  I have shot up to 165gr cast bullets in mine.  It does bark when fired but has enough bite out there to knock over silhouette rams at 200 meters if hit outside that "dead spot" in the middle. 
 
I found some military brass and use cast bullets.  Nice economical round to load.  Has it's unique qualities and is fun to shoot. 
 
There are lots of contender barrels out there.  Each has it's good and bad qualities.  Haven't found a single one that I haven't enjoyed....
 
Steve