7-30W Carbine barrel

[charles p]

Bought a 21" 7-30W barrel for my Contender from someone on GB about a year ago when I was convinced my 3-yr old grandson was going to be left handed.  Now at 4 1/2 he is as left handed as one can be and his younger sister appears on the same path.
 
Installed an old 3X9 Leupold on the barrel and sighted it by looking down the bore.  First shot at 25 yds, scared me.  It was almost dead on.  Moved out to 50 yds and discovered I needed to move to the right about an inch.  Next two three-shot groups were perfect ragged hole groups.  Boy was I impressed.  I left it alone for now, since I expect my grandsons first few opportunities (out of mine or his dad's lap) will be at 50 yds or less.
 
The loads were 120 grain Hornady bullets shot in necked down 30-30 cases.  The resised case had a double step below their shoulder, but someone on here told me that was normal and not to worry.  After firing, the cases look perfect.  Neck and body perfectly formed.
 
The day after shooting the carbine at the range, the webbing between my thumb and index finger was sore for several days.  I wonder if a 223 might be a better choice for a youngster.  What do you think?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[dpe.ahoy]

Find a 21" 223 barrel and have them practice and play with it.  If deer hunting, put the 7-30 barrel on and they will never know the difference.  DP

[yooper77]

My daughter at ages 12 & 13 yrs old, used my T/C Encore 24" 223 Remington barrel with 60 grain Nosler Partitons and H-4895 powder to harvest two whitetail buck during Michigan's September youth hunt.
 
I am hoping to upgrade her to my Weatherby Mark V Sporter in 7mm-08 Remington, using resized 308 Winchester brass and Nolser 120 solid base bullets and H-4895 powder.
 
yooper77

[Doublebass73]

Make sure you check his eye dominance before you get him shooting lefty. My oldest daughter is 100% left-handed but right eye dominant. My youngest daughter is 100% right handed but left eye dominant.

[Elwood]

I never let my boys shoot the 7x30 waters untill they were around ten years old. It is a powerfull round for such a light rifle.
I cast a few bullets now so a cast load at moderate velocity wouldnt be to bad at 7 or 8 years old.

[SD Handgunner]

A .22 LR Barrel for the Contender Frame would also provide hours and hours of low cost, low noise and low recoil practice while teaching the grandsons (and granddaughters) to master the Contender.
Larry
 

[Camp Cook]

I have started my now 5 year old when he was 3 1/2 out on a 16.5" 22LR Contender barrel he now also has a 21" 410 barrel.
 
When it is time for him to move up into centerfire barrels I will mount my 18" Contender barrel in 10mm and/or my 21" 223 barrel but I have no intentions of him hunting deer with either of these yes I know that it can be done but there are far better choices he will use these to learn how to shoot accurately.
 
For deer hunting I would set him up with my 14" s/s 45 Colt carbine barrel (yes it is legal up here to mount it on a carbine) I would either load it with Hornady 200gr or 250gr FTX and or 250gr XTP's...
 
My older son now 27 years old started hunting when he was 10 I bought him our first T/C Contender carbine a 21" factory tapered 30-30 worked great for him when he grew up he wanted to use my Rem 700 Mtn rifle in 280 Rem so I took over the Contender...