Contender Barrel Project

[TeamTurpin]

OkieCruffler, I spend quite a bit of time sailing on Lake Texoma. Actually, I may be down there again in April. My #1 fav lake.

[OkieCruffler]

Interesting, I was born in Guthrie and still spend a bit of time up there. Small world.

[bluetopper]

I only have two Contender barrels, 223 and 7TCU. I shoot 34 grain hp bullets in the 223. Two great cartridges and very inexpensive shooting fun.

And I'm just east a bit, in Paris.

[OkieCruffler]

I shoot out at Paris at Maxie and the skeet club. World just gets smaller.

[Viper225]

I have a 6mm BullBerry Improved.
This is based on a shortened 30-30 case necked to 6mm, and Ackley Improved.
Best I remember this is how I formed the cases.
30-30 Sizing Die
7X30 Waters Sizing Die
25-35 Sizing Die
6 BB IMP Sizing Die
Trimmed the case to length. Could have been after the 25-35 sizing die.
Inside Neck Reamed

One Bad Looking Case when you are done. On the Box my data says 70 grain Ballistic Tip, 2930 fps

I would probably have went with a 223 Super 14 barrel if I were to do this one over again.

I have a 6.5X30JDJ also based off a 30-30 case only full length. Not nearly as much trouble to form cases. Good performance also.

A 6mmx30-30 AI might not be terrible. I would get ahold of someone with one first and see how much of a pain it is to form cases for it.

My vote is for a 223 barrel. Brass is easy to get. No problem with case forming. Reasonable performance. Reloading Dies are cheap. You should already own them.

If you decide a 6-TCU sounds good, contact me for a Die Set. I have a set of Thompson Center Dies (Hornady Duracrome) I would part with.

Good Luck

Bob

[44 AMP]

... really any of the cartridges that can be chambered in a standard AR 15 style rifle can be chambered in the Contender,

I know this isn't where you're going, but this made me wonder, if it fits in an AR it works in a Contender? does that include the .50 Beowolf?

[OkieCruffler]

I've given that one alot of thought. Pressure wise it would be iffy, 52Kpsi on a 7.62X39 base, but with careful handloading you could get away with it. But the thing I can't get around is the fact that even with the 45/70 you don't have much meat left in the chamber walls, a 50 cal eats that much more. I do know one fella who shoots a 50-70 and I believe that JD is still chambering those, but that's a whole different pressure world.

[Noreaster]

Check out KTP used guns on line. They have a large T/C barrel selection and they just purchased an estate with a ton of T/C barrels in great shape. They probably haven't had a chance to enter all of them on the web site yet.

[steveno]

I have shot a 50-70 TC barrel and it is really thin. I think you could probably feel a tight cleaning patch on the outside of the barrel. recoil wasn't that bad (but I was a lot younger then) and the pressure is low

[OkieCruffler]

Great, I've just spent the last hour searching for 50-70 supplies.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

44... you did catch me there... TC never made a factory 50 cal Contender barrel AFAIK, but I know there are a few aftermarket barrels... ( I'd like to get my hands on a 50-70 barrel, as I have a worn Martini in that chambering, I could interchange light loads between the 2...

as far as the 50 Beauowulf, sounds as if the case is not strong enough for "normal" loads, so the Contender would likely be fine with light enough loads to get any kind of life out of the brass... that said, once you get to .501", you've approached the size limit of the frame, without doing something "funky"

but you got my general intention

[nicknitro71]

I have both a Contender (.17 HMR, .45 ACP, and .357 RM) and a Competitor (.243 W and .44 RM). I would not dare shoot a .243 on a Contender! Actually I would not even load a hot .44 on it!

If you want to shoot rifle cartages (any of them), take a good look at the Competitor Pistol, I surely love mine.

[OkieCruffler]

I've loaded hot 44's, heck I've even loaded hot 444's in my contenders without issues. Also carefully loaded a 358 without issues.

[nicknitro71]

A 240 gr .44 RM has about 1200 ft-lbs of energy, a .243 W 105 gr about 2000 ft-lbs, a 180 gr .30-06 S about 3000 ft-lbs.

The Competitor can handle anything including things like the .458 WM (over 5000 ft-lbs).

All I am saying, use the right tool for the job! Having an handgun explode in your face will sure make a helluva day!

[OkieCruffler]

No flies on the Competitor, I just never cared for the feel of it in my hand. And let's be honest, that's not what you would call a handsome pistol. I passed on one a few months ago, 10" 308 barrel. fella was wanting $300. Should have picked that one up.

[nicknitro71]

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!

It's a bad-ass gun regardless and @ 1/2" MOA @ 100 yards, accuracy speaks for itself.

Again, nothing wrong against the the Contender, I have one with 3 barrels, but knowing a thing or two about metallurgy and engineering, I just won't trust it with powerful ammo.

[nicknitro71]

And the Contender so I won't be accused of being bias!