I'm in the same boat and have been shooting Contenders in rifle format for many years now. As things have progressed, I have even dropped down in bullet weight. My 7mm Bullberry (20" barrel) drives a 120 grain Nosler BT at 2651 fps while a 24" .300 Savage propels the 125 grain Accubond at 2740 fps. My 24" 30-30 uses the 125 grain Nosler BT at app. 2600 fps. All kill exceptionally well and don't leave me hurting excessively after using them. After a long drought of not pulling the trigger on anything, this past weekend I took a brute of a boar right at dark with the .300 Savage. The 125 grain AB performed perfectly.

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