Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What's your "Preferred" wildcat caliber

There seems to be a ton of calibers for the Contender, especially when you add in the Wildcat calibers.
What would you use or have used, that you'd call the best wildcat caliber for whitetail deer at 200yds or less?
What about the best caliber for coyotes, feral cats, bobcat and fox out to 200yds?

Right now, I use 7mm-08 for everything, including the above varmints, plus hogs and deer on the Encore platform. Only because I never know what will pass by.
I have a Marlin .17 HMR that I shoot stripper necks from the ponds and an occasional beaver.
I've already got 5 G1 Contenders, (4 pistols and 1 rifle) and pistol barrels in .45c and 30-30.
I'd like to explore the other calibers, like a .17 fireball or .221 Rem. and maybe the 35 Whelen.
But I'd like to get your input on your choice, before I start collecting different caliber barrels (you know that's addictive)
and still may not get what I was "looking/hoping" for.
Thanks

I am a reloader, so loading wouldn't be a concern.

There are so few wildcats these days that I think are worth it.

My father used to do pretty well with a 30 Herrett in a 14" Contender barrel.

In a contender, 22-30-30 improved or 219 zipper.
In a bolt gun, 7mmx300 win mag

But I own neither of these cartridges but if I were dreaming...

Well seeing as I've only ever had one wild cat, it's cot to be the 6.5x06!

Shot that round for 10 years. Can't go wrong!

I own or have owned just about all the Standard calibers for the Contender If i had to narrow it down for deer it would be the 7 TCU or the 30-30 AI ( both 14')for varmints the Fireball 10 inch these calibers have ALWAYS given me Rifle type accuracy

Jim

I'd like to have a contender or 1885 in a 225 win

30 "caliber"

My favorite wildcat is the 338-06 but in a contender, I like the 7-30 waters which isn’t technically a wildcat but pretty close.

6.5-06

Contender, .357 Herret

Rifle, 8mm06 AI

XP 100, 7mm INT.

30BR

.257 Roberts Improved and .280 Improved.

Anyone have hands-on experience with the 22 Cheetah or the 6mm PPC ?
Are they really that good as claimed?
I'd like to try them both out as well as the 30 Herrett and 7-30 Waters.

I think the 6br would be the "easy button" for you. No fireforming brass, amazing accuracy, plenty of power for your stated use.

Does this qualify as a 'Wildcat'????

PS: Contenders are ready to go for this one....

The 25-284 has been my favorite the last few years. Maybe a little retro but it has been so easy to load for and kills deer and hogs very efficiently. Next would be the 25 BR AI that kids and women love.

GreggH

That looks to be a good one. Do you have any data on it?

When I hunt a most always go my 243 ackley. Plan to build a 280 ackley. Have a wildcat I designed before Remingtons 6.8 Spc. Mine is similar but in 6.5. Never worked up a load. It’s been almost 20 years, OMG!