Accuracy potential vs bolt action handgun

[cobrad]

Howdy friends, I am planning to put together a .22 centerfire scope sighted handgun I can carry on my Harley for varmint shooting. Looking at TC, Savage Striker, and XP100. What kind of accuracy is generally expected out of the TC's? I shot a .375 JDJ last summer. I believe it would make a decent handgun for elk. Can this barrel be put on just any Contender frame? Thanks.

[poncaguy]

  I can usually get 1" to 1 1/2" with my 15" G2 Contender in 223, 2x Burris scope.

[xphunter]

cobrad,
You can have great accuracy from a break-open, but with everything else being equal a singleshot bolt action or even a bolt action with a magazine is going to be more rigid/stiff than a breakopen.
The other challenge for TC is you cannot free float the barrel like you can on a bolt rig or MOA Maximum.
Accuracy is dependent on several factors.
Depending on the level of accuracy you want, it may just be a matter of preference of what type you like the best.

[neald]

Hello,
 Last question first.
 All contender barrells will interchange with all frames,

exceptions,,
 New g-2 Blackpowder barrell must be used on G-2 frame(won't fit on older style)
Old single locking piece( my mind went blank on correct name) most barrels must have new style two piece latch installed. (not very expensive from TC).

 Question on accuracy,,

 I agree with last post, dependes on level of accuracy you want .
 
The contender will be more accurate than most of us can shoot anyway.
I can get 1inch groups with my 22 carbine barrel and 1 1/2 inch with my 357 herrett  14 in bull both irn sighted
 My 375 JDJ 14 " gets 2 inch groups and I think it should get better, but I start flinching.
 It is a hanfull, but I would not be affraid to take it hunting. I know MY limitations, 75 -100 yards at max.
 Good luck
Neal

[jhalcott]

  Co, you started talking about VARMINTS, then went to ELk!? how 'bout renting me a room? Where I am Elk are NOT on the Varmint list. What the others have said is true,to a point! The Contender CAN be made to be accurate enough for 3oo yard prairee dog shooting.It takes a lot of care full hand loading after you get an excellent barrel. I have shot cola bottles at 300 yards off a sand bagged rest with several Contenders.Also with an xp100 and a Wichita bolt pistol.I could get 3 or 4 out of 5 with a Lone Eagle in .308. The 375 jdj is made for the Contender and HAS been used for varminting by some rugged people.It is definately accurate enough in some hands(NOT mine) and powerfull enough for ground hogs to elk!

[cobrad]

jhalcott, guess I did jump around a bit. I do a fair bit of marmot shooting every fall, and do a few prairie dog trips every year too. I would like a handgun capable of 300 yd. PD's. I also like the ability to change barrels to something like the JDJ for elk. Primarily I want to use a varmint caliber with varmint accuracy, <moa. The elk are thick here. I have one bugling out side the window, again, at this moment. I shot a 450+ lb. bear with my .44 revolver a couple weeks ago, and am thinking a 200 yd elk handgun would make elk hunting very interesting.

[Qaz]

 Cobrad- you are starting down the same road I did one year ago. The problem is that the road forks shortly and you can't get to where you want to go following either one, at least I couldn't. I too ride a motorcycle and wanted to use it to go varmiting. Unless you a lot better shot off hand than I am, you are limited to about 100yds without a rest. Believe me I have tried and tried to use a Contender to varmit with but I really need that rest. If I shoot off the hood of my truck, I am good out to 200yds. I am good for 100 on P.dogs and 200 on G.hogs with a rest and I am talking consistantly. I love shooting the pistol but it has never worked out for the varmiting using a motorcycle. If you have had a better experience, let me know what you did and I will try it.

Qaz

[xphunter]

The 300 yard varmint/PD is not a problem.  In fact, with custom barrels and forends they are going past 600 and it is just a matter of time (good conditions) before they reach a 1k PD.
200 yard elk with a Contender   I don't know enough of the JDJ cartridges in 33,35, and 375 to know if they work effectively at 200 yards.  You can surely take elk with the 375 JDJ you mentioned, but I would think the 338 JDJ (whichever is the right one in the contender) would be better in terms of trajectory and recoil levels.
Contenders are not my specialty so if I am describing something wrong, please correct.
I'm thinking Encore or bolt rig where your options are about endless.
A good forend that has been pillar bedded should work well with a bipod and still allows you to be portable/Harley/varmints.
What part of the state do you live in?
My partner and I hunt elk and sometimes deer every year in Colorado with our specialty handguns (using XP's, MOA, and a Striker).  About 9 years ago I did use a 338 Win Mag Encore handgun one year for elk, but other than that, it is XP's for me.

[jhalcott]

  The 375 jdj has a point blank range of about 185 yards with a 225 grain bullet. I nearly always shoot from some kind of rest .Caliber and firearm does not matter. I carry a walking stick/ gun rest when I am hunting.You MUST practice with the rest regularly to be consistent.  Not trying to be smart, but you will find a lot more T/c's than xp's around.My FIRST choice when I go varminting is my T/C 6.5 JDJ, Second is the xp100 in 7 br. Both are scoped with 2 to 7 or 8 x scopes.

[Hawkeye]

I did this same thing myself a few years back. I started with a .223 14" bull Contender barrel. Worked on loads until I could hit a Priairie Dog with 55grn bullets at 300 yds. Carried it a lot for PDogs, coyotes and such on my cycle. Used a 2x6 Weaver scope.
After a while I found a .375JDJ SSK barrel. I shoot it with the Nosler 260grn Accubonds for anything out to 200yds. It is a great barrel but....
I found a 338JDJ#2, what Ernie was talking about. It is a SSK stainless , 14" barrel with removable break and shoots like a demon with 180grn Nosler Ballistic Tips or 200grn Hornady interlocks. I have a Burris 3x12 BPlex scope on it.
With the .223 barrel and the .338JDJ#2, I can hunt anything in the 48. If I got out of the 48 I have the .375JDJ.
With three barrel you could be set but that won't happen cause you will want more to fill in the gaps.
Now if we are talking super accurate 22 centerfires, Ernie hit it on the head again. The XP 100 is the ticket with a heavy barrel, good trigger and action job. I have a 222 Rem Mag and it is a barn burner out to 300yds with the 55 grn Nosler Ballistic Tips and also a Sierra 60 JHP. I'm going to do some shooting next month out ot 500 with it at another range.
I also have a 3x12 Burris Ballistic Plex scope on it. It is too much fun in a PDog town or shooting clay birds on the 200 yd berm with the rifle shooters are trying to stay on a paper plate. 

Good luck in your venture.

Mike

[Qaz]

Hawkeye- what are you using for a rest that fits or can be carried  on a motorcycle  when you are shooting PD at 300yds. In the east our land rolls, even if it looks flat it is rolling, therefore you need to be elevated to see the groundhogs at any real distance. Any suggestions?

Qaz

[Hawkeye]

I carry my pistols in my hard saddle bags on my BMW road bike. I can put two pistols and 8-10 boxes of ammo with some water and a bag rest to shoot prone. I shoot in SW and NW Oklahoma where it is flat for miles. I have a couple of places I shoot that has some small knolls or hills around the area and I just ride up on one of those, lay out a mat, sand bag rest and umbrella. I glass and shoot as they move out of there burrows.

Mike

[jhalcott]

 
 Stoney Point PoleCat Bipod/Shooting Sticks Compact 16" to 38" Black
Product #: 560834
Status: Out of Stock, Backorder OK
Our Price: $44.99
Average Customer Rating:
Read the Review(s)
 
One of these MIGHT work! Collapses to about 16" and can be strapped to the bike or fit into the saddle bag.
  Midway has them.

[Qaz]

 Thanks Hawkeye, you must have a GS, they are sweet bikes.