Game possibilities for .30-30 Contender

[Warbeast]

Hello Folks,

A long wanted Dream came true and i got a hold of a nice Super 14 Contender in 30-30wcf.

I would like to hunt with it and explore the world (of Handgun hunting).

What are your experiences of suitable game for this rig?

I plan on getting accurate with it from field position up to 100 yards and plan to limit my shots in this distance.

Any recomondations on a sutable Bullet and optik would also be aprecuated.

So far i am leaning towards 130grain ttsx and either a Reddot or a 2.5x.

Thabks alot for sharing your wisdom in advance.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[rookhawk]

I built loads for 30-30 single shots that were quite stout with pointed Nosler Ballistic Tip 150gr bullets and 168gr bullets for boar, deer, etc. Plenty of energy and excellent accuracy once you get away from the round-nose bullets required of lever guns.

The part I cannot answer is what you can do with power and accuracy using a powder that will burn fast enough to get you to velocity out of a pistol barrel length. That I do not know, but you'll need to do some research to figure that out.

 

[meigsbucks]

I was an avid handgun hunter for years. I used Contenders in .223, 7/30 Waters, .357 Herrett and .45/70.
The Super 14” came about because the original 10” was highly inefficient in the .30/30. It prompted the development of the .30 Herrett which was efficient in the 10”.
On an HHI antelope hunt in WY, I watched a guy drop an antelope at ~200yds with a .30/30 using a 125gr Nosler BT. The .30/30 was a popular round in the Contender, but bullet and powder selection is critical. .

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Hello Folks,

A long wanted Dream came true and i got a hold of a nice Super 14 Contender in 30-30wcf.

I would like to hunt with it and explore the world (of Handgun hunting).

What are your experiences of suitable game for this rig?

I plan on getting accurate with it from field position up to 100 yards and plan to limit my shots in this distance.

Any recomondations on a sutable Bullet and optik would also be aprecuated.

So far i am leaning towards 130grain ttsx and either a Reddot or a 2.5x.

Thabks alot for sharing your wisdom in advance.

Cheers,
Phil

Beginning that journey a bit myself... a lifetime ago I hunted with a Contender in .35 Remington and took some caribou with it. I regret selling that gun.

More recently I started shooting a couple of CVA single shot pistols, in .243 and 6.5 Grendel. They are fun to shoot and I have high hopes.

Enjoy the journey. Finding the right loads is a part of the fun.

 

[JimP]

Back when Steve Herrett was playing around with the Contender and rifle rounds in it he designed the .30 Herrett off of the 30-30 case. He found it worked quite well on deer and pronghorn. When he started to look at hunting elk with it he necked the 30 Herrett up to 357 for the ability to shoot larger sectional area bullets.

The 30-30 out of a 14" barrel you can expect velocities around 1900 fps with a 150 grain bullet and dropping down to around 1800 fps with a 170 grain one. One of the best powers that I have found for it is W748, this is the powder that I use in my 7-30 Waters out of a 12" barrel.

With factory loads you'll have a considerable amount of un-burned powder since they are designed for longer barrels than what you have with the Contender. This is where you really need to load your own rounds for this cartridge and use powders that are suitable for the shorter barrel of the Contender.

While I don't have a 30-30 barrel I do have a 30 Herrett, 357 Herrett, 7-30 Waters, and a 44 mag barrel for it. I have taken deer and elk with all 4 with the best results on deer being the 7-30 Waters. I was skeptical with elk and the .30 Herrett but it worked alright on a cow, but the 357 Herrett worked a lot better on a bull.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I would use it for anything one use a 30-30 rifle for.

 

[Warbeast]

I would use it for anything one use a 30-30 rifle for.

In my home country its only consideres valuable for roe deer.

The amerikans are pretty sure its suitable for whitetail.
So i guess feral pigs are also okay.

Useable on a elk inside 100yds?

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’ve never hunted elk, I know it would work, but I’m not sure I would set out with a 30-30 if I were after them.

 

[skydiver386]

As important as the optics is the mounting system. Most of us found that a few more screws attaching the base to the barrel are a good idea, and 3 or possibly 4 rings connecting the scope to the base. The 4 mounting rings keep the scope from sliding in the rings and keep the scope tube from flexing.

On shooting technique, you'll find that Contenders string their shots if the butt of the grip is interfered with in recoil. There is no real secret technique to shooting one other than consistent grip and trigger squeeze.

As others have already said, Win748 is the powder you're looking for.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

In my home country its only consideres valuable for roe deer.

The amerikans are pretty sure its suitable for whitetail.
So i guess feral pigs are also okay.

Useable on a elk inside 100yds?

In my opinion, with the right bullet, absolutely. With the right bullet I'd personally be fine with it on moose at those distances.

 

[Hillcountry63]

I hunt with a Contender with a 14" 30-30 barrel often, topped with a 1-4 Burris scope. I also use a Contender in 44mag with a 10", Encore in 30-06 with 14" and a Ruger Blackhawk Hunter in 44mag with a 10". I've taken Whitetail, Mule deer, Axis, Hogs, Javelina, Blackbuck, various feral and exotic rams and goats and black bear with the 30-30 setup. Loads/Bullet weight varied based on target but from 125-180 have all worked good for me. Practice and be honest with yourself about range capabilities......a tripod will help a lot in the field.

 

[Cherokeetracker]

I hunt with a Contender with a 14" 30-30 barrel often, topped with a 1-4 Burris scope. I also use a Contender in 44mag with a 10", Encore in 30-06 with 14" and a Ruger Blackhawk Hunter in 44mag with a 10". I've taken Whitetail, Mule deer, Axis, Hogs, Javelina, Blackbuck, various feral and exotic rams and goats and black bear with the 30-30 setup. Loads/Bullet weight varied based on target but from 125-180 have all worked good for me. Practice and be honest with yourself about range capabilities......a tripod will help a lot in the field.

I hunt with a Contender with a 14" 30-30 barrel often, topped with a 1-4 Burris scope. I also use a Contender in 44mag with a 10", Encore in 30-06 with 14" and a Ruger Blackhawk Hunter in 44mag with a 10". I've taken Whitetail, Mule deer, Axis, Hogs, Javelina, Blackbuck, various feral and exotic rams and goats and black bear with the 30-30 setup. Loads/Bullet weight varied based on target but from 125-180 have all worked good for me. Practice and be honest with yourself about range capabilities......a tripod will help a lot in the field.

 

[rookhawk]

I used to hunt with 30-30 single shots. They are excellent single shots because you can hand load with typical .308/30-06 pointed tip bullets.

Nosler Ballistic Tip 150gr and 165gr with a powder that will burn entirely in your 14" barrel would be suitable for deer and boar.

 

[Cherokeetracker]

Hello Folks,

A long wanted Dream came true and i got a hold of a nice Super 14 Contender in 30-30wcf.

I would like to hunt with it and explore the world (of Handgun hunting).

What are your experiences of suitable game for this rig?

I plan on getting accurate with it from field position up to 100 yards and plan to limit my shots in this distance.

Any recomondations on a sutable Bullet and optik would also be aprecuated.

So far i am leaning towards 130grain ttsx and either a Reddot or a 2.5x.

Thabks alot for sharing your wisdom in advance.

Cheers,
Phil

As you may have already settled on an Optic I do not know. But I would suggest the Burris 3-12 w/ plex reticle. It will not black out at the higher magnifications. The 2-7 does black out. I use a Super 14 and have found that the 130gr in the Barnes works well. But also if you choose a heavier bullet then by all means go with a Premium bullet. Powders,,,, It has been suggested that you use 748 and it is OK but there is Leverevolution, which gives better velocity. You can also use RE7 It will get you there, and has been accurate with the Super 14. Those Super 14 are just as accurate as a rifle. Placement is Paramount and it does not matter what animal you are after you can take them with the correct placement. Those Speer 130gr or a cast bullet will take em down when you put them where it counts. Grab up some of the cast and the RE7 or even some 4895 and load up lots of fun practice rounds. Oh I have also used the Swift Aframe 170gr with Lever evolution powering it, while not real fast, it is plenty at closer ranges (under 100 yds) It will work. If you choose a Hammer bullet it will work or the CEB the petals should break off and split but I have had them stay close together, But Oh wow the exit is huge. Good Luck Have Fun

 

[wvhunt]

I agree with the others about careful powder selection. I had Super 14 in 223 and it was a flame thrower with the slower burning powders. It worked best with loads tailored to shorter barrels. I also agree that it should take anything a 30-30 rifle will.

 

[Brickman301]

years ago I used a 30-30 contender with a 14” barrel to take two whitetail does.
Mine was topped with a 2.5 power Burris scope. Both were taken with factory ammo, 150 grain Remington core-lokt. Was was taken at 75 yards the other at 35 yards. Both didn’t run far.
Lots of fun hunting with a pistol, but I carried it along with my rifle. As the years went on, I just couldn’t justify carrying around all that extra weight, for the few opportunities I’d get to use it.

 

[Boone66]

In my home country its only consideres valuable for roe deer.

The amerikans are pretty sure its suitable for whitetail.
So i guess feral pigs are also okay.

Useable on a elk inside 100yds?

Everything up to and including elk, under 100yds, I have killed elk with a 10in 30-30 with 165gr Sierra game kings.

 

[wvhunt]

As the years went on, I just couldn’t justify carrying around all that extra weight, for the few opportunities I’d get to use it.

Those 14" ones with a scope on top do get a bit heavy after awhile!