What are your favorite contender barrels? I'm thing about getting another barrel for my contender in stainless. I already have a 22lr match. I like the small caliber stuff. 14 cal would be interested but I have no idea if anyone is make stuff anymore. Years ago Bill EIchelberger send me some 10 cal rounds but I don't recall who his montana Smith was.
Favorite contender barrels?
- Thread starter robbor
- Start date
JayHHI6818
Silver $$ Contributor
I have way to many Contender barrels to have a favorite cartridge!
I started deer hunted with Contenders over 30 years ago with a 309 JDJ (444 Marlin necked down to 30 cal). Nosler 165 BT @ 2350 fps does a number on deer and I have shot 25 deer with it. Another great cartridge is the 257 JDJ. I also shoot IHMSA and have four 22 match chambers barrels. Last year I started shooting ARA matches with a 14 inch match chamber. Last Monday I shot a 2100 and 2350 with it.
I started deer hunted with Contenders over 30 years ago with a 309 JDJ (444 Marlin necked down to 30 cal). Nosler 165 BT @ 2350 fps does a number on deer and I have shot 25 deer with it. Another great cartridge is the 257 JDJ. I also shoot IHMSA and have four 22 match chambers barrels. Last year I started shooting ARA matches with a 14 inch match chamber. Last Monday I shot a 2100 and 2350 with it.
Attachments
I have a bull barrel 12 twist 16" SS custom SSK barrel in 22K Hornet that shoots lights out. I want one in 17K Hornet but my days of growing the collection of "stuff" is pretty much over. But the Hornets and Contenders seem like a perfect fit to me.
old_heli_logger
Gold $$ Contributor
I have this exact same barrel. It's unbelievably accurate with iron sights
centerlineseal
Gold $$ Contributor
10" 7-30 Waters using 120 Nosler BTs over W-748. Used primarily for Antelope.
paperpuncher
Gold $$ Contributor
Have a 6mm Bullberry from way back in the day. Its a 15" quick cool octagon looks pretty neat shoots lights out too
First, .223 Rem, hands down a good choice for your 2nd bbl. Then 6mm TCU, great little wildcat, easy to form and load. From there, it depends, I've grown to liking small stuff, .17 and such and seldom shoot anything larger than 7mm.
Some vendors you may want to check out: MGM for custom barrels, Bullberry for custom barrels and other bits, Ed's Contenders for preowned barrels and other bits. There are others, but that's a high light list.
Beware, Contenders [and Encores] are very addictive.
Some vendors you may want to check out: MGM for custom barrels, Bullberry for custom barrels and other bits, Ed's Contenders for preowned barrels and other bits. There are others, but that's a high light list.
Beware, Contenders [and Encores] are very addictive.
Bought my first Contender in the early 70’s. It was a 10” octagonal 221Fireball w/2.5 Bushnell Phantom scope. My 1st shot at a chuck +/- 90yds convinced me that someone at Remington had a clue. Dummy like, I let that one get away but I was bitten. Years later a call to JD Jones and a good check bought me a 14”SSK. A real hammer! Then TC started Fox Ridge, acquired a 15” from them. Now that the coyotes have decimated the chucks, it mostly sits idle, but it is hands down my favorite.
“If you can, it can!”
“If you can, it can!”
Depends on what you're looking for. IMO one of the best all around hunting cartridges in the contender is the 7-30. Easy to find barrels, brass, and dies.
The whole TCU line is excellent. Dies for all but the 7mm are a little tricky to find.
25 caliber rounds do especially well in the Contender and bullets tend to be available and inexpensive. Unfortunately they're less common than other options.
The 357 max is probably the easiest round to mess with, and very economical.
I'd look to MGM or Bullberry and have exactly what you want built. I have a pile of both and quality is always excellent.
The whole TCU line is excellent. Dies for all but the 7mm are a little tricky to find.
25 caliber rounds do especially well in the Contender and bullets tend to be available and inexpensive. Unfortunately they're less common than other options.
The 357 max is probably the easiest round to mess with, and very economical.
I'd look to MGM or Bullberry and have exactly what you want built. I have a pile of both and quality is always excellent.
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