Best 300 yard Contender caliber?

[jrb]

I've done a lot of reading lately and i am having a hard time on which caliber to get.  So if a person is shooting a contender carbine with a 16.5 inch barrel and a scope... What would be a good caliber on whitetail/mule deer sized game at 300 yards?  I used to have a 7-30 waters and I always felt it was a 200+ yard gun.  Been looking at 300 savage, 309 jdj, 7 mm jdj #2, 6.8, 30-30 improved.....  What are guys using?  What do you wish you had?  Most of my shots are 150-250, but would like to be able to make 300 if i needed to.  I have been using an encore carbine in 30-06 for several years... Good set up.  Now loooking for a lighter gun but still a good hard hitting 300 yard gun. Thanks.

[jbj-displays]

6.5JDJ in 16 1/2" would work all day long. The 14" versions with 140 grain bullets have been doing it for years!
That's just one of many that would fit your needs.
Justin

[Slowpoke Slim]

I would go with a 309 JDJ and either 165 or 180 gr bullets. I would also go up to a 20-24" bbl, but that's just me I guess.

[Ladobe]

Hard hitting, 300 yards, Whitetail, scoped 16.5" barrel.  The barrel suggesting a factory barrel it sounds like.  That needs confirmation, so I'd suggest you pick a flavor, commercial factory or custom wildcat to get a more definitive answer, narrow the field. 
 
If you reload AND wildcat custom barrels the possibilities come by the dozens.   Over the counter cartridges in standard factory barrels far less to choose from.  Between them too many to list not knowing which flavor you're asking for.

[jrb]

Thanks for the replies. 


More background: I like the 16+ inch barrels because they are a legal rifle and when I strap them on my backpack they don't hang up in the brush and they don't look like a periscope above my head when I'm sneaking in the wide open.  I've gotten really into short guns, other wise I'd just take my 7mm rem mag.  My  favorite for about the last 5 years has been my encore which is 31 inches long and is a great set up, but weighs 6 pounds 13 ounces.  I figure I could get down to 5+- pounds in the contender.  A guy can spend several thousand dollars and get a short 5 pound bolt action rifle or a regular guy can spend several hundred dollars and buy himself a new contender barrel and still have money left over for diapers and preschool


Probably will have a barrel made unless I can find what i'm looking for on ebay.  MGM seems to have the best prices at $350+.


I don't handload, but my good friend does... so if all things were equal I'd lean towards over the counter, but I more interested in good performance out of a short barrel to 300+- yards.


I've got a line on a 7mm jdj #2.  So if that 6.5 with 140's is good I would think the 7mm #2 with 140's would work also.  I've read that the 7mm #2 gives 2400fps with 140grn bullet.  Just emailed SSK for more info. 


The 309jdj sounds great and I would jump on one if I could find one.  A new one is spendy to get built and the 300 savage has similar ballistics in a less expensive barrel and I can run factory ammo or handload.  Seems like everybody likes the 309.  300 savage is similar to the 309 and is either loved or hated according to the web.  If anyone has some experience one way or the other about the 300 savage I'd love to hear it.


 I have borrowed my friends reloading manuals and the back of the nosler book has been good on comparing energies based on velocities.  But velocity info on short barrels is hard to come by.  But it does seem that just about everything I look at has a 300 yard energy of 800-1100 pounds.... as in they all seem to be pretty similar within my short barrel and contender caliber parameter.


Thanks and Keep the info/data coming

[jrb]

So I've been reading up on the 309 jdj and 308 belm... 165grain ballistic tip at 2400 fps is 1300 pounds at 300yards.... that sounds pretty good.  Anybody have some numbers from personal experience... Thanks

[Ladobe]

I've owned two 309JDJ's, both 14" SSK barrels.   AA2015 and Reloader15 will drive a 165 around 2400.  300 yards is no problem with a 14", won't be with a 16" either.   Easy enough to form with a 308Win full length die (although I had custom dies for all my wildcats).  Will be plenty accurate for hunting while shooting to fireform, albeit at a reduced MV.   The "B" word is ignored around here, same with the 308 B.
 
Personally, I preferred my four 375JDJ's, 14" all SSK; 6.5 & 7 Super Bowers and 30 Alaskan Bower's that were all 14"/15" (I preferred the 356Win case for the SB's, but the 307Win was also commonly used).   But then I hunted the west where much longer shots were common, and on up to much bigger game, so the extra versatility was a factor.   Most accurate for long range of all of them, the 6.5 Super Bower wins hands down.
 
Problem you'll have with any of them is finding rather than having to order a new custom barrel to get a 16".   TC did make some 375JDJ barrels that could be cut down, all the rest are custom only.  16" barrels are not going to be easy to find, if at all, or any length Super Bower.   Optimum barrel length for Contender carbines is usually considered around 18"-20" when having a custom barrel made.   Naturally you can have one made any length you want.  FWIW
 
 

[Groo]

Groo here
 If you are talking Contender then a wildcat is about the only game in town.
 I have an SSK in 300 whisper with a 16 1/2 in bull barrel and thumbhole stock.
 JD said that the shorter barrels were more accurate than longer- and the pistols would sometimes out shoot the rifles 12 to 14in bull barrels..
 I would suggest a plastic stock contender with a 16 to 18 in bull barrel , light scope and a 6.5, 309 ,or 338 jdj.
 I also have an SSK 14 in 45-70 throated for JD' 500 gr loads and a friend has a 375jdj
 100 yds shots are simple if you can standup to them. [The 45-70 had done 3shot cloverleaf groups with 500 Horady 458's-- I think their radar guided or something]

[jrb]

Thanks for the replies!
The actual reloading data is very useful thanks.  I did a quick search for super bower info and didn't find a whole lot.  Who chambers for super bower calibers.  I'm still liking the 309 jdj, medium sized bullet, appears to have decent veloctiy... which equates to good energy.  I've been looking for about 3 months and have pretty much resigned myself to ordering a custom barrel.  The used 16.5 barrels seem to be selling for $290-$380... may as well buy a custom for not much more.  I haven't ruled out an 18' barrel... it's only 1.5 longer...we'll see.


Since I've decided to get one built it's become a much tougher decision.  When I was looking for used I figured I'd be happy with what I could find, but I just wasn't able to find much.  I did find a little more data on the 7mmjdj #2... sounds not to bad.  But it's a choice between 140 grain bullet at 2400ish and a 165grain bullet at 2400ish.... the sectional densities appear the same and I think for me I would prefer the extra energy


I've had the frame and a 10" 22 for about 10 years.  I've bought the scope already... luepold 3-9x33... very light... same as the one on my encore.  Been waiting to buy a stock and forend incase I find a package deal.  I prefer thumbhole stocks on the short carbine... it sure helps with the encore over a traditional stock.  B&C makes a thumbhole carbelite and Brown makes a kevlar/graphite thumbhole... I'll start with the standard plastic contender stock and see how beat up I get.


I'm not against the 6.5's, but based on the info I've found I don't think they are what I'm looking for, it seems similar to my old 7-30 waters.  Never shot anything beyond 110 yards with the waters and it was effective.  Just figured if I'm going down this road again I'm going to get something with a little more oomph.  But I'll do a little more homework. Thanks.

[Ladobe]

The Bower cartridges:  While Marc Sheehan took over for Don, AFAIK he is not chambering any barrels, at least had not for a very long time now.   Pretty much means the barrels out there is all there is unless you get the cartridge specs and have your own reamers made.
 
 
There's 6.5's and then there's 6.5's for the Contender.   I know of one at least the 7X30 can't even begin to stand shoulder to shoulder with (nor can the 309JDJ). 

[Hopalong7]

   Of your 5 original picks, I have 3.  The .300Sav, 30\30AI, and 309JDJ.  I'm shootin' pistol mind you but we're only talking an inch or difference it seems.  The 30\30AI is wonderful at shorter ranges with light bullets, but is far outclassed by the JDJ at longer ranges.  I don't think the Savage (mine is a rifle 99) can come close to the JDJ at pressures that are safe in the Contender.  So for me it's the 309 hands down for longer shots.  I use the 165BT's almost exclusively, and my 14" SSK barrel shots them like a lazer.  Good Luck
Walt
PS I also shoot a 6.5JDJ a lot and absolutely love it, but at the ranges you're talking I'll take the 309 every time.

[SHOOTALL]

7X30 waters or 7 BC

[Camp Cook]

The Contender combo I have that I would hunt big game out to 300 yards with is my 21" barreled 375JDJ carbine loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 2290fps (see avatar pic).
 
It is crazy accurate I have repeatedly put 3 shots into 2" - 2 1/2" @ 300 yards and it hits like the hammer of Thor = I wouldn't hesitate to take a moose at 300 yards with this combo I even took it grizzly hunting one year didn't score on a griz but took a very nice/fat 6' spring black bear @ 90 yards with it...     
 
My 21" carbine barrel in 308X444 chambered by he that cannot be named on this site loaded with 150gr Rem Core Loks @ 2620fps would be my second choice with this load it is more like my 250 yard combo if I were to streach it out to 300 + yards I would work up a load using a higher BC 150gr/165gr Accubonds.
 
 

[Slowpoke Slim]

jrb,

You are not going to like the factory butt stock. I finally got an aftermarket stock for my carbine. Makes a big difference. The factory stock comb height is far too low to adequately sight down a scope. You end up "hovering" your cheek above the comb because you can't get a good cheek weld. Uncomfortable at best, difficult to get off a fast shot when needed, and painful at worst. Shooting "bigger" calibers will give you a "smack" to the face as the rifle comes up in recoil.

The smack wasn't an issue with the rimfires or 6mm's.

I would still lean towards the 309 JDJ, since the Super Bower's are sadly extinct (too bad, I think a 24" 30 SB shooting 180's would be perfect). And I would lean to 165-180 gr bullets. Lighter bullets and you may as well just go 30-30 AI, because in that short of barrel the light bullets are wasted in the big cases.

[Jerry J]

I'm getting 2630fps out of my 21" JDJ with 120gr Hornady V Max. A SSK rechamber of a 7TCU barrel.   Jerry J

[jrb]

Hello all,

Slim: What kind of stock did you end up going with?
Jerry:  What caliber did you go with when ssk did your 7mm tcu rechamber?


I hadn't really considered the 375jdj as a 300 yard round... i'll do some reading....


Thanks again,
JB

[Camp Cook]

For clarification I only consider the 375JDJ a 300 yard round when loaded with 260gr Accubonds.