139's in a 7-30contender

[jhalcott]

any experience with this weight bullet on deer from a 14" contender?
 I have tried several different cast bullets and 120 gr jacketed ,and 139 Hornady's in my barrel. The 139's AND factory ammo are the most consistently accurate, keeping groups under an inch at 100yards. I am concerned about terminal effects on deer sized critters. I have NO doubts about the effectiveness of the factory ammo.

[Lone Star]

You'll have to be more specific, there are four different Hornady 139-grain bullets, each with a different construction.  And what range - impact velocity matters a lot....

[jhalcott]

I only have the Hornady SP 139's and range is ONE of the worries i have about them! I'm sure I can get 2200 fps but I'm not sure how much more I can get.I haven't seen any pressure signs yet and I still have some 4 grains to go before I get to Hornady's book max. The book says these bullets LOW velocity limit is about 2300 fps. I'm considering loading some up and doing a penetration test to see what happens as I work toward max power.

[ShootnStr8]

jhalcott,

I've taken a number of deer with my Contender chambered for the 7-30 Waters using 139 SSTs.  I use fireformed RP 30-30 cases, CCI 200 primers and 35.2 grains of W748.  This is clearly a max load and I'm getting 2200 fps according the chronograph.  SD is around 18. I've also had excellent results with max loads of IMR 4064 and IMR 3031.  

I've stuck with the W748/139 SST load for 3 reasons:

1) It is a slightly more accurate load grouping 5 shoots @ 1.5 inches @ 200 yards.  3 shot groups @ 100 yards are usually around .75 inches with a long raged hole being the best.  

2) 40.3 grains of W748 and 100 Hornady HP will hit a bit higher @ 100 yards and at the same point @ 200 yards out of my barrel thus offering me a great load for groundhogs without adjusting the scope (a 2-7X Burris).  Velocity is 2550 fps and SD is also around 18.  

3) The 139 SST really does the job on deer.  I've never had a problem.  Put one the boiler room and the deer will go down.  I can't say first hand how they perform beyond 100 yards though.  All my shots at deer have been well under 100 but I can't imagine them not doing the job out to 200 yards.  

Other loads that have been effective on deer are (using the above brass and primer):

a.  35.5 grains of W748 and 130 grain Sierra SSP (Velocity 2160 fps).
b.  36 grains of AA2520 and 120 grain Hornady SP (Velocity 2214 fps)
c.  36.5 grains of W748 and 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip (Velocity 2382 fps; SD .

My barrel does OK but not great with the 130 Sierras accuracy wise.  Loads (b) and (c) are as accurate as the W748/139 SST load @ 100.  I've not shot them at 200 yards.  

The usual safety rules apply.  Back off 10% and work up slowly.  

Also if you are actually getting 2200 fps with the 139s, then I would be reluctant to go higher.  2200 is about as fast as those puppies are going to go out of a Contender without dangerous pressure.  My understanding is that one does not always get deformed primers, sticky extractions, etc. when pressure limits have been exceeded.  This seems to apply especially to 30-30 based rounds in a Contender. Contender frames can be stretched by hot loads.  

I appreciated a reply given to someone who was seriously hotrodding a load and saying, "But there were not any pressure signs!"  The reply was, "A bullet leaving abarrel is a pressure sign!" So please be careful.

Blessings!

ShootnStr8

[jhalcott]

thanks 8 .I'm using 33.5/ 748 and 4064 and getting 2180 to 2220+ with the 139's. Accuracy is sub 1 inch at 100 yards,though not really in the same place! 4064 shoots a little to the left and lower than 748?? I shot some clay birds at 200 yards for grins and actually HIT them :shock:  So now I've just GOT to try some phone book penetration tests.! IF(big if) I can put them into a 3 to 4 inch group from field positions at 200 yds,I should be able to drop a deer reliably, even if the bullet does NOT expand.

[ShootnStr8]

J,

Congratulations on you excellent results! I've got to try the 200 yard clay pigeon thing.  What a blast!

I sure like the Hornady 139 SSTs and sounds like it is so far so good for you with the SPs. Yea, the IMR 4064 loads were low for me too.  I'll be curious to see what you think of the expansion/penetration.  

I did play around with wet newspaper and the 139 grain SSTs.  They expanded nicely.  

I used 2 plastic cat litter buckets laid end to end filled with wet newpaper @ 100 yards.  The buckets were 15 inches deep and had plastic lids.  If my memory serves me correctly, the bullets expanded several inches in and drilled a 1.5 inch or so channel through the first 15 inches and into the next bucket.  It traveled about half way through the second bucket.  I was impressed with how the newspaper was shredded.  The bullets mushroomed down to the cannelure while retaining 80 to 90 percent of their weight.  There was no jacket separation.  

I've found similar performance on deer. I shot one doe (approx 135 lbs.)quartering toward me through the front shoulder.  The bullet went into the animal making a 1.5 inch or so wound channel.  Damage continued through all of the internal organs in the path.  It drilled through the intestines but I couldn't see that it entered into the opposing hind quarter.   Unfortunately I couldn't find the bullet to see how it expanded or how much weight it retained.  It was getting dark and I ended up giving that deer away.

On broadsides (which are most of my shots by far), the bullet passes through leaving about a 1.5 inch exit wound.  

So if you aren't satisfied with the SPs then you may want to try a box of SSTs.  I'd be interested in knowing if the SPs and SSTs have the same POI.  

Blessings!

ShootnStr8